By: Diego Bobadilla

Broadway returns to the Segerstrom Center of the Arts with iconic musical phenomenon Jesus Christ Superstar 50th Anniversary Tour.

The 90 minutes concert-style production with no intermission narrates the last few days of Jesus Christ’s life through the eyes of Judas.

Director Timothy Sheader brings a new modern twist to Tim Rice and Andrew Llyod Webber’s historic 1971 Billboard Album of the Year. The production is a modern take on the bible story which has Jesus in white sneakers and a man bun. Herod in Drag, and Jesus’s apostles doing choreography that could easily be done into TikTok videos. The choreography is great as it brings the stage alive, has very unique moves, and helps the story move along quite nicely.

Tim Rice lyrics are ravishing as they make you feel compassionate for all characters on stage especially Judas. Jenna Rubaii who plays Mary (Mary Magdalene? Mary, Jesus’s mother? Who is this Mary? Still questioning as this production refers to this mary as simply as Mary which can cause confusion to the viewer unless Sheader wanted to use the name Mary to symbolize both Mary ) sings a song  “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” towards Jesus that makes you rethink what Jesus and Mary relationship. Are Jesus and Mar in love? Is she was in love with Jesus? There is no right answer. Rubaii’s voice is dazzling and is pleasing to the ear.

Lavigne as Jesus is outstanding and makes Jesus a guy who you want to hang out with. Lavigne voice brings the house down in “Gethsemane” which he sings with a guitar.

The show does a good job of recreating scenes from the bible. (See above) Viewers applaud after The Last Supper scene which was beautiful to see. (I believe this could have been because of the beautiful choreography that led to the iconic moment). One thing that could be a bother to the viewer is the usage of the microphone. Because this production is a concert-style show, all songs are sung with a microphone and it’s visible at all times. I found myself distracted by it. It also took me out of the story element which is highly important in this show. It worked for some songs. It could have been removed from others.

Jesus Christ Superstar is an uncommon take to the bible story but surely will blow your mind. Towards the third act, the show becomes a masterpiece with its unique direction of Sheader and shocking ending. Religious or not, this is a production with a powerful message. Well deserved standing ovation!

Jesus Christ Superstar runs for a week until 11/13 at Segerstrom Center of the Arts.

All ticket holders must wear a mask AND provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of performance.

To buy tickets head to https://www.scfta.org/