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“JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: LIVE IN CONCERT” PREMIERES ON NBC

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Ever in the holiday spirit, NBC chose to ring in Easter Sunday with a live telecast of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hit rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar.

Originally conceived as a concept album in 1970, the rock musical has gone on to become one of the most popular in existence, selling out in both professional and amateur productions all over the world. The musical follows the final week in the life of Jesus Christ. Unlike most biblical adaptations, the musical depicts the political and interpersonal struggles between Christ and Judas Iscariot. It also poses the question to the audience: Is Jesus really God, or is he just a man?

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT — Rehearsal — Pictured: (l-r) John Legend as Jesus, Alice Cooper as King Herod — (Photo by: Craig Blankenhorn/NBC)

The live television broadcast stars John Legend in the title role of Jesus, Brandon Victor Dixon (Judas), Sara Bareilles (Mary Magdalene), Norm Lewis (Caiaphas), Jin Ha (Annas), Ben Daniels (Pontius Pilate), Jason Tam (Peter), Erik Gronwall (Simon Zealotes), and Alice Cooper (King Herod). The musical’s ensemble also boasts some of Broadway’s best talent including Melody Betts, Felicia Boswell, Abby Corrigan, Micaela Diamond, Rory Donovan, Christine Dwyer, Mike Evariste, F. Michael Haynie, Charissa Hogeland, Bre Jackson, Mykal Kilgore, Billy Lewis Jr., Joel Perez, Justin Gregory Lopez, Angel Lozada, Vince Oddo, Kyle Taylor Parker, Jonah Platt, Conor Ryan, Christina Sajous, Justin Matthew Sargent, Heath Saunders, Joey Taranto, Syndee Winters, and Lauren Zakrin, with dancers Chloe Davis, Timothy Edwards, Shelby Finnie, Bahiyah Hibah, Juel D. Lane, Terk Lewis, Mayte Natalio , Sarah Parker, Tre Smith, and Maleek Washington.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT — Pictured: (l-r) Jin Ha as Annas, Ben Daniels as Pontius Pilate, Norm Lewis as Caiaphas — (Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBC)

From the very start of the show it’s no mistaking the audience is in for a treat. Despite being labeled as a “concert” performance, the production is fully staged with an elaborate set, costumes, and choreography.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT — Pictured: Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas — (Photo by: Paul Lee/NBC)

The production begins with its signature rock overture played on guitar by Brandon Niederauer, who recently finished his starring turn on Broadway as Zack in School of Rock, another Andrew Lloyd Webber venture. Soon, we are introduced to Brandon Victor Dixon’s Judas, whose high tenor voice electrifies and astounds on so many levels. His display of Judas’ inner conflict and pain is a performance for the ages, transcending to the greatness of Carl Anderson and Ben Vereen, who each played the role on screen and on Broadway, respectively. Sara Bareilles also makes a fine Mary, sporting a calm, beautiful voice not unlike Yvonne Elliman, who originated the role. Even rock legend Alice Cooper seems to be having the time of his life in his “cameo” appearance as King Herod, a role he had previously sung on the 2000 London

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT — Rehearsal — Pictured: John Legend as Jesus — (Photo by: Peter Kramer/NBC)

cast album, but never played onstage.The only weak link in the cast seemed to be Mr. Legend, who, while a great singer in his own right, does not possess the rock n’ roll voice needed to carry this score. Legend’s acting is also pretty hit or miss, even flubbing some of his most crucial lines. Still, he does attempt to make his first musical theatre venture memorable and looks like he’s having fun with the part.

With an incredible set, terrific performances, and top notch orchestrations, Jesus Christ Superstar proves to be just as electrifying and relevant as ever. The show is now available for streaming on Hulu.

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Paramount+ Reveals Official Main Title Sequence for the Upcoming Series TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

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During the TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES panel earlier today at San Diego Comic Con, Paramount+ revealed the official main title sequence for the series. The sequence is composed by EMMY® nominee, Matt Mahaffey, known for his work on Sanjay and Craig, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie and much more. 

From the studios of the Mutant Mayhem film, the all-new Paramount+ original series TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES explores the adventures of everyone’s favorite pizza-loving heroes as they emerge from the sewers onto the streets of NYC. Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey are faced with new threats and team up with old allies to survive both teenage life and villains lurking in the shadows of the Big Apple. The series is produced by Nickelodeon Animation and Point Grey Pictures.

TALES OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES is executive produced by Chris Yost (The Mandalorian, Thor: Ragnarok) and Alan Wan (Blue Eye Samurai, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [2012 Series]). Production is overseen for Nickelodeon by Claudia Spinelli, Senior Vice President, TV Series Animation, Nickelodeon, and Nikki Price, Director of Development and Executive in Charge of Production.

In addition to the upcoming new series, stream all things Turtles on Paramount+.

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Comic-Con 2024: Those About to Die Activation

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DISNEY+ CASTS DANIEL DIEMER AS FAN-FAVORITE ‘TYSON’IN SEASON TWO OF “PERCY JACKSON AND THE OLYMPIANS”

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 in Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con, Rick Riordan and Disney+ revealed that Daniel Diemer (“Under the Bridge”) will star as fan-favorite cyclops “Tyson” in the epic adventure series “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.” Diemer joins Walker Scobell (Percy Jackson), Leah Sava Jeffries (Annabeth Chase) and Aryan Simhadri (Grover Underwood) as a series regular. The Disney+ Original series from Disney Branded Television and 20th Television will start filming its second season next week in Vancouver.

Season two of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is based on the second installment of Disney Hyperion’s best-selling book series titled “The Sea of Monsters” by award-winning author Rick Riordan. In the new season, Percy Jackson returns to Camp Half-Blood one year later to find his world turned upside down. His friendship with Annabeth is changing, he learns he has a cyclops for a brother, Grover has gone missing, and camp is under siege from the forces of Kronos. Percy’s journey to set things right will take him off the map and into the deadly Sea of Monsters, where a secret fate awaits the son of Poseidon.

Diemer stars as Tyson – a young Cyclops who grew up all alone on the streets, and finds it difficult to survive in the human world.  Shy and awkward, with a heart almost as big as he is, Tyson soon discovers that Poseidon is his father, which means Percy Jackson is his half-brother… and that Tyson may have finally found a home. 

Diemer recently starred in the Hulu limited series “Under the Bridge” based off the critically acclaimed book of the same name and a tragic true story of a missing teen girl in Vancouver in 1997. He will next star in the indie “Thug” opposite Liam Neeson and Ron Perlman for director Hans Petter Moland. Daniel was recently seen as the lead in the indie “Supercell” opposite Alec Baldwin and Skeet Ulrich and the lead in the film “Little Brother” opposite Phil Ettinger and JK Simmons. Daniel can also be seen in the Netflix series “The Midnight Club” and recently starred as the male lead in the breakout hit Netflix feature “The Half Of It” from producer Anthony Bregman and director Alice Wu. He is a graduate of Victoria Academy of Dramatic Arts in Vancouver.

Created by Rick Riordan and Jonathan E. Steinberg, season two of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is executive produced by Steinberg and Dan Shotz alongside Rick Riordan, Rebecca Riordan, Craig Silverstein, The Gotham Group’s Ellen Goldsmith-Vein, Bert Salke, The Gotham Group’s Jeremy Bell and D.J. Goldberg, James Bobin, Jim Rowe, Albert Kim, Jason Ensler and Sarah Watson.

The first season of “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” is available on Disney+

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