rock operas

Tonight on the show, we celebrate the 50th Anniversaries of Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar with selected songs from each of the respective 1970s musicals. Godspell, composed by Stephen Schwartz (with the book by John-Michael Tebelak) was a musical based off of parables from the Gospel of St. Matthew, while the rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar (music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice) was originally a rock opera concept album (a la Tommy) in 1970, and transferred quickly to Broadway in October 1971. The Original Cast Album for JCS was nominated for the top Grammy in 1973 - Album of the Year. Jesus Christ Superstar, a musical rock opera depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ, was later re-made into a Golden Globe-nominated movie in 1973 (the one with Ted Neeley and the late Carl Anderson) and an Emmy-winning LIVE Television Special (starring John Legend as Jesus) in 2018. Godspell debuted off-off-Broadway on May 17, 1971, and was also adapted for the big screen, also in 1973. Both musicals have been performed on stages all over the world the last 50 years.