Remember when Easter Sunday meant watching “The Ten Commandments” or “The Sound of Music” on television?
That was then. This is now:
John Legend has been tapped for the title role in NBC’s live staging of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” set for Easter Sunday. “We’re all overjoyed to have world-class musical artist and producer John Legend starring as Jesus,” said Robert Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment. “This score demands a singer with an amazing range and an actor with great depth, and there isn’t anyone better to bring this story to a new audience. His casting is also groundbreaking as the traditional image of Christ will be seen in a new way.” Legend is a multi-hyphenate musician, songwriter, actor and producer who has become active in television as a thesp and producer. He’s a 10-time Grammy winner and an Oscar winner for his work on the song “Glory” from the 2014 drama “Selma.” He won a Tony Award earlier this year as a producer of “Jitney,” the August Wilson revival. NBC announced in May that its latest live musical will bow on April 1. Rocker Alice Cooper has been cast as King Herrod. “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” is based on the 1971 Broadway musical revolving around the last week of Jesus’ life.
You can watch John Legend singing his Oscar-winning song “Glory” at the Academy Awards in the video above.
Unmentioned is any possible casting for Mary “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” Magdalene and Judas Iscariot, who belts the title song. Any ideas?
