A timeless work, Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera set against the backdrop of an extraordinary and universally known series of events seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. The main characters are all familiar to anyone with a knowledge of the New Testament and this show follows the last week of Jesus Christ's life. It contains hardly any dialogue and is quite gritty within the realm of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber's canon.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a product of its era, fused with 1970's rock, gospel, folk, and funk as well as modern colloquialisms and energetic choreography. The themes that appear throughout Superstar are fame, revolution, radicalism, and humility. This was the second collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, who had previously created Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat together.

Superstar was introduced as an album first, and Lloyd Webber and Rice were able to streamline the score more effectively than they otherwise could have. In addition to making the work itself better, the album promoted the work so well, so when it finally hit the stage, everybody knew the entire score and the show had a built-in fanbase.

Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of Jesus in the final days leading up to his crucifixion. Loosely based on the Gospels, Superstar focuses on the personal conflicts between Jesus, his disciples, the people of Israel, and the leadership of Rome. Special attention is also played to the fractured friendship between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, as well as Jesus's relationship with Mary Magdalene, a devoted follower. 

The concept album of Jesus Christ Superstar was staged on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. Some critics hated what they saw as a brash production (including a drag queen King Herod) and Lloyd Webber made it no secret that he was not a fan of the original Broadway production which was directed by Tom O'Horgan, renowned for his work on Hair. 

The negativity also garnered protests by Christians who were offended by the insinuation  that Jesus and Mary Magdalene had a physical relationship. They also thought the whole production made a hero of Judas, not Jesus. Protests later followed across the Atlantic, when the West End show premiered at the Palace Theatre.

Lyrics by Tim Rice

Music by Andrew Lloyd  Webber