There is a new musical about to open, and boldly it declares that it will re-tell the story of the crucifixion, and do so from the perspective of…Judas. The advanced publicity is massive – as will become a hallmark of the coming age of megamusicals – and the theme of the show has not escaped notice. No less an evangelical figure than Billy Graham himself said the show was “bordering on blasphemy and sacrilege.”
His concern about the content is shared. In a rare moment of agreement between Graham and the National Secular Society, both groups showed up to protest the opening of the show. The Secular Society handed out leaflets entitled ‘Jesus Christ Supersham.’ The Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee also responded … rather strongly … to the show.
Ted Neely, who has played the lead role of Jesus in scores of productions, looked back at the role when he had passed his 80th year. He “by the controversy the show stirred up. "I gotta tell you, it was very strange," he told Tapestry. "Our production company said, no matter what they may say to you, don't say anything, because they might punch you right in the face. So we were silent."
But the show would not be. Would the controversy shut the show down? Would protestors block the doors? Or would the show simply go on? We’ll talk about how the audiences, the critics, and the world reacted to the opening of Jesus Christ Superstar in this episode of THM.
[Footnotes in episode 24]
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