Jesus Christ Superstar to open on Broadway in March 2012

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's production of Andrew Lloyd Webber (score) and Tim Rice's (lyrics) Jesus Christ Superstar, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will open at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre on 22 Mar 2012, following previews from 1 Mar 2012.

No casting as been announced for the Broadway run.

The production began life at Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival, were it opened at the Avon Theatre on 3 Jun 2011, following previews from 16 May 2011, and will play through to 6 Nov 2011. The production received excellent reviews: This production is an absolute miracle (Globe and Mail); The best show you'll see this year (Toronto Star); A sparkling production literally pulsing with life (Toronto Sun).

Following its run at the Stratford Shakespeare Festivel, the production will play at the La Jolla Playhouse from 18 Nov 2011 to 31 Dec 2011.

Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the last week of Christ's life. The zeal with which Christ's followers are hailing him as the Son of God becomes a source of dismay to his disciple Judas Iscariot. Fearing that this tide of religious fervor will provoke brutal repression by the occupying Romans, Judas must make his fateful choice between faith and betrayal.

The score contains the musical numbers: "Everything's Alright," "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Could We Start Again Please?" and "Superstar."

Variety said of Des McAnuff's helming of Jesus Christ Superstar, "McAnuff has managed to come up with a vision that is faithful to the original but manages to make it seem fresh to an audience in 2011."

Previously to becoming artistic director of Canada's Stratford Shakespeare Festival, McAnuff served as La Jolla Playhouse's Artistic Director from 1983 through 1994, and from 2001 through April, 2007. Under his leadership, the Playhouse garnered more than 300 awards, including the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Production's directed by McAnuff which began at the La Jolla Playhouse before transferring to Broadway include: 'Jersey Boys' (4 Tony Awards); 'Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays' (Tony Award); 'Dracula, the Musical,' The Who's Tommy (5 Tony Awards).

McCnuff's other Broadway directional credits include: 'Guys and Dolls,' 'The Farnsworth Invention' and 'A Walk in the Woods.'

The production at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival features Paul Nolan (Jesus), Josh Young (Judas Iscariot), Chilina Kennedy (Mary Magdalene), Mike Nadajewski (Peter), Marcus Nance (Caiaphas), Lee Siegel (Simon Zealotes), Bruce Dow (King Herod), Brent Carver (Pontius Pilate), Aaron Walpole (Annas).

The cast also includes Matt Alfano (Thaddeus), Mary Antonini (Elizabeth), Jacqueline Burtney (Mary - Martha's sister), Mark Cassius (Matthew), Ryan Gifford (Bartholomew), Kyle Golemba (Thomas), Kaylee Harwood (Sarah), Melissa O'Neil (Martha/Maid by the Fire), Laurin Padolina (Rachel), Stephen Patterson (James the Lesser), Katrina Reynolds (Esther), Dominique Roy (Ruth), Jason Sermonia (John), Julius Sermonia (James), Jonathan Winsby (Phillip) and Sandy Winsby (Andrew).

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival production's creative team features choreography by Lisa Shriver, set design by Robert Brill, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley and sound by Jim Neil.

Jesus Christ Superstar was the third musical written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. It began life as a recording (released in 1969), and had its world premiere at Broadway's Mark Hellinger Theatre (now Times Square Church) in Sept 1971 - winning the 1972 Tony Award for Best Original Score. The production, which ran for 21 months, was directed by Tom O'Horgan, and featured Jeff Fenholt as 'Jesus,' Ben Vereen as 'Judas' and Yvonne Elliman as 'Mary Magdalene.'

Jesus Christ Superstar was revived on Broadway in 1977 and 2000.

The musical premiered at London's Palace Theatre in 1973, directed by Jim Sharman, and starring Paul Nicholas as 'Jesus,' Stephen Tate as 'Judas' and Dana Gillespie as 'Mary Magdalene.' The London production ran for eight years, and became London's West End longest runniung musical (It is currently the West End's fifth longest-runniung musical). The show was last revied in London in 1996.

In 1973 the musical was adapted into a film releazed in 1973, directed by Norman Jewison, and starring Ted Neeley as 'Jesus,' Carl Anderson as 'Judas Iscariot' and Yvonne Elliman as 'Mary Magdalene.'