July 12, 2021: Fifty years ago today — on July 12, 1971 — the first authorized U.S. performance of Jesus Christ Superstar was held at the Pittsburgh Civic Arena. It was a concert tour leading up to the show's October launch on Broadway.
Two days later, the show came to Asbury Park, New Jersey, where I was fortunate to be in the audience. A review of that show called it “a fascinating and beautiful piece of music and ideas.”[1]
The reviewer added, “It will be interesting to see what the Broadway version is like. Doesn’t seem as if it could beat this one.”[1]
The concert tour followed the October 1970 release of a concept album.[2] The album topped the Billboard Charts early in 1971.
The original Broadway show debuted on October 12, 1971, and had 711 performances before closing in July 1973.[3]
Since then, the franchise has included a 1973 movie along with other Broadway productions.
Scott Rasmussen is founder and president of the Rasmussen Media Group. He is a political analyst, author, public speaker, independent public opinion pollster and columnist for Creators Syndicate. Read Scott Rasmussen's Reports — More Here.
Footnotes:
- Asbury Park Press, "'Jesus Christ—Superstar' Staged by Touring Troupe," July 15, 1971
- History.com, "Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber release Jesus Christ Superstar concept album," accessed July 9, 2021
- Internet Broadway Database, "Jesus Christ Superstar," accessed July 9, 2021
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