Johnny Rotten to do ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Arena Tour

The 1970s rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar” is being resurrected for a North American arena rock tour this summer, led by a former boy band member, an R&B siren and a punk icon. It will star punk legend John “Johnny Rotten” Lydon as King Herod, Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child as Mary Magdalene, Brandon Boyd of Incubus as Judas and JC Chasez of `N Sync as Pontius Pilate. Ben Forster, the winner of the U.K.’s prime-time contest show “Superstar,” will play the son of God.

The guitar- and keyboard-driven musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1971, includes such songs as “What’s the Buzz?” “Superstar,” “Everything’s Alright” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” The show will have four video cameras broadcasting the show onto screens and use the latest in lighting and sound technology.

“Superstar” was first introduced as an album before being staged in theaters on Broadway and London. “There’s always been for me, something a little bit constraining about it in a theater,” said Lloyd Webber. “We wrote it as a rock album and not as a stage show.”

In 2012, producer Michael Cohl said he saw a concert version of “Superstar” in London and was blown away. That show toured the UK and Australia before jumping to North America. Ticket prices in America will be between $29 and $125.

Source: Billboard