Birmingham brings Gold to Jesus Christ Superstar
Tonight’s Jesus Christ Superstar at the NIA, Birmingham was given the golden touch as Ellie Simmonds got a chance to hang out backstage with the cast – including Melanie C and Ben Forster.
The Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary rock classic Jesus Christ Superstar is currently on its first-ever arena tour which sees award-winning musical comedian Tim Minchin as Judas Iscariot. Three million album selling pop icon and former Spice Girl Melanie C is the only female lead as Mary Magdalene, and BBC Radio 1’s former Breakfast Show host Chris Moyles has made his major stage debut as King Herod.
The ITV primetime show Superstar gave the UK public the chance to decide who would play the starring role of Jesus, with a panel of live show judges led by Andrew Lloyd Webber. In the end Ben Forster was picked for the lead role.
“Jesus Christ Superstar began life as an album followed by a sell-out arena tour of the US. Our very first show was at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where we played to over 13,000 people. Tim and I have always wanted to take Superstar back to its roots and we are both delighted that it will finally play an arena tour in the UK in venues where many of the world’s great rock acts have gone before. We’re thrilled to have such great talent in the cast for the new show – they are all true ambassadors of UK entertainment. The re-mastered album sounds fantastic and we hope that fans both old and new will enjoy it.”says Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Celebrating 40 years since it first opened in London’s West End, the Jesus Christ Superstar arena tour kicked off in London on the 21st of September before visiting Glasgow, Newcastle, Manchester, Cardiff and currently Birmingham. The show will also visit Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool and Nottingham. The tour culminates in Sheffield on the 21st of October.
Melanie C adds, “I have been lucky enough to perform at arenas across the globe and to star in London’s West End but taking on the role of Mary Magdalene in the incredible Jesus Christ Superstar has to be one my most exciting challenges to date.”
The original multi-million selling Jesus Christ Superstar double-album, released in 1970, became a No.1 hit record in the US charts and spawned the live show phenomenon.
Pictured with the cast tonight is Ellie Simmonds the Paralympian swimmer who in total has won four gold medals for Great Britain in 2008 and 2012 and holds the World Record in the 400m freestyle.
Tickets for the UK tour priced £45-65