2016 Ruby Griffith Award: 2nd runner up for a musical

Rave review at DC Metro Theatre Arts: "McLean Community Players' Jesus Christ Superstar is superb! Filled with great acting, dancing, and ingenious design, I highly recommend you see this divine production."

Sun-Gazette review: "a crowd-pleaser for 45 years and MCP's production carries on that tradition well."

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Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971. The musical is loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.

The work's depiction offers a free interpretation of the psychology of Jesus and the other characters. A large part of the plot focuses on the character of Judas, who is depicted as a tragic figure dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus steers his disciples. Contemporary attitudes and sensibilities as well as slang pervade the lyrics and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events. Stage and film productions accordingly feature many intentional anachronisms.

The show runs about 90 minutes, including one intermission.