By Chase Johnson
I am in awe, genuinely I am amazed by the production of Jesus Christ Superstar that NKU currently offers. It has been 20 years since it was last produced at NKU. Director Ken Jones, Music Director Jamie Strawn, and the finest cast that the Northern Kentucky University School of the Arts can offer, have resurrected the Musical that made Webber and Rice legends among the theatrical community.
The Story and the Performances
The musical covers the last days of Jesus of Nazareth (Isaiah Burton). It shows him at the height of his fame, his arrest and his crucifixion. Odds are you know the story. However the musical fleshes out many possible motivations. It explores the character of not only Jesus, but his followers and his enemies, in particular Judas Iscariot (Bodie Moore). I won’t mince words here. I felt horrible for the most infamous traitor in Christianity. Judas’ motivations drive a large portion of the plot. While part of his betrayal seems to be fueled partially by jealousy, he does make several incredibly valid points about how the Romans view their movement as dangerous.
In addition to Judas providing an excellent tragic villain Caliphas(Michael Kirby) and the Sanhedrin provide excellent direct antagonists. Decked out in black leather and dark eye makeup they certainly look the part of a shadowy conspiracy to kill JC. Pontius Pilate (James Lindeman) also deserves mention. Skillfully portrayed as a fairly just man who, while disagreeing with our hero, actively shows remorse over many of his actions. But he is also absolutely willing to engage in acts of brutality to keep order. Finally, while King Herod (Luc Vandenbroek) is only in a single scene it is absolutely hilarious. In a show full of memorable moments Herod’s song showcases how psychotic the character is. Channeling all the glamour and showmanship of classic Broadway makes it a powerful role.
The Production Team of Jesus Christ Superstar
This show has many amazing technical elements. First and foremost the band is incredible. They play Webber and Rice’s score like they were in the room when it was first put to paper. They rock the house every single song. As this rock opera is entirely sung, you have to admire the endurance of these talented performers.
Lights (Jeremiah Kearns) and Sound (Jo Sanburg) set the mood as always and it is as evocative as the subject matter demands. Solid scene design is by Eric Barker. Costumes (Ronnie Chamberlain) also incredible and incredibly interesting. Caliphas and the other priests wear sleek black leather robes and dark heavy eye makeup. Jesus and his followers look more rugged and reflect a survivalist, almost punk, aesthetic. The character who splits the difference with a leather jacket and dark eye make up, but still wearing a very punk looking tee shirt and jeans is Judas. The look is hinting at his motives. King Herod and Pontius Pilate’s costumes are also well done. Herod’s is over the top. Pilate’s is Roman red, highlighting his status as a foreigner, but one with a massive amount of power.
Direction (Ken Jones), Choreography (Roderick Justice) and musical direction (Jamey Strawn) are all excellent. You can tell that massive amounts of time, expertise, and passion went into this production. The stage is somewhat minimalist consisting of mostly platforms with stairs, but it’s a case of less is more.
The Bottom Line
This is the musical that put Webber and Rice on the map, and NKU does it incredibly well. Go see this show. It is graphic and it doesn’t pull punches with certain scenes, specifically Judas’ hanging and Jesus’ flogging. As you probably know, both events are crucial to the story and done amazingly well.
Get Tickets to Jesus Christ Superstar
Purchase tickets today through NKU’s online box office: https://nku.vbotickets.com/events. Jesus Christ Superstar runs through May 4, 2025.
