Latest news with #JesusChristSuperstar
UPI
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- UPI
Josh Gad has COVID, bows out of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'
1 of 5 | Ida Darvish and Josh Gad arrive for the Academy Awards at the Dolby Theatre in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles in 2020. Gad dropped out of this weekend's Hollywood Bowl production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" because he has COVID-19. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- Frozen and Book of Mormon alum Josh Gad has announced he is battling COVID-19 and dropped out of a stage production of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, set for this weekend at the Hollywood Bowl. "It truly breaks my heart, but I can assure you all that the show is going to be one of the greatest things you'll ever see," Gad wrote on Instagram Wednesday. No replacement for Gad has been announced yet. He was to play King Herod in the show, which is running Friday through Sunday. The production will feature Cynthia Erivo as the title character, Adam Lambert as Judas and Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene. Milo Manheim and Raul Esparza co-star.
Perth Now
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Josh Gad 'heartbroken' to pull out of Jesus Christ Superstar
Josh Gad has pulled out of appearing in Jesus Christ Superstar after contracting COVID-19. The 44-year-old actor has been left "heartbroken" at having to miss the chance to play King Herod in the musical extravaganza, which will run at the Hollywood Bowl from 1-3 August but promised fans the production - which stars Cynthia Erivo as Jesus and Adam Lambert as Judas - will be one of the "greatest things" they will ever get to see. He shared a statement on Instagram which read: 'It is with enormous heartbreak that I inform you all that unfortunately, I have contracted a virus known as COVID (remember that one little b****** from season one of 'earth really sucks right now?'? "Anyway, out of an abundance of caution and respect for my cast, I will not be performing in Jesus Christ Superstar this weekend (unless I test negative). 'It truly breaks my heart, but I can assure you all that this is going to be one of the greatest things you will ever see. 'I hope at some point you get to see me wear the crown and show you what we've been up to, because it was quite something, but for now, sadly, I will not be able to grace the Hollywood Bowl.(sic)" The Hollywood Bowl reshared Josh's statement and wished the Frozen actor a "speedy recovery", and confirmed they 'will announce a new performer for the role of King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar soon.' Josh recently spoke of how he decided to become an actor after seeing the impact his comedic talents had on his mom when he tried to brighten her mood amid his parents divorce. He told the Bullseye podcast: "I felt like during this period, my job was, 'I'm going to make you laugh.' When I can break through that wall of pain, it's a superpower. "And I felt like I was seeing, in real-time, that I was bringing her out of this dark spiral she was in, even for just brief moments at a time. "I realised one day that if I could do this for my mom, is there a path for me to do this at large? Can I actually give this gift to other people, the gift of laughter and joy? The gift of escapism? "And slowly but surely, that became my path, and part of that was my mom again, giving me a set of tools with which to refine my craft."
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Josh Gad Drops Out Of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar' Hollywood Bowl Concert Due To Covid
Following his casting news as King Herod in the Hollywood Bowl's upcoming Jesus Christ Superstar concert, Josh Gad has dropped out of the show after coming down with Covid. With opening night on Friday, the Tony-nominated actor announced his diagnosis with a statement Wednesday on Instagram while praising the show as 'one of the greatest things you will ever see.' More from Deadline Phillipa Soo & Josh Gad Join Hollywood Bowl's 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Starring Cynthia Erivo – Update Cynthia Erivo On Criticism Over 'Jesus Christ Superstar' Casting: 'It's A Musical, The Gayest Place On Earth' Josh Gad & Andrew Rannells To Star In 'Stay Tuned' Comedy Series Based On John Ritter Movie In Works At Hulu 'It is with enormous heartbreak that I inform you all that unfortunately, I have contracted a virus known as COVID (remember that little bastard from season one of 'Earth really sucks right now'?)' he wrote in the statement shared on Instagram. 'Anyway, out of an abundance of caution and respect for my cast, I will not be performing in Jesus Christ Superstar this weekend (unless I test negative),' added Gad. 'It truly breaks my heart, but I can assure you all that the show is going to be one of the greatest things you will ever see. I hope at some point you get to see me wear the crown and show you what we've been up to, because it was quite something, but for now, sadly, I will not be able to grace the Hollywood Bowl.' Sharing Gad's statement, the Hollywood Bowl wished him 'a speedy recovery,' adding that they 'will announce a new performer for the role of King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar soon.' Gad was cast as King Herod this month in the Sergio Trujillo-directed production, alongside Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene. Cynthia Erivo was cast in the eponymous biblical role back in February, when the staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical was announced, running Aug. 1-3. Adam Lambert was later cast as Judas, with Milo Manheim and Raúl Esparza also joining the cast as Peter and Pontius Pilate. Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Trujillo, the Hollywood Bowl's Jesus Christ Superstar will be conducted and music-directed by Stephen Oremus (who worked on both the Broadway and film versions of Wicked). The show is being produced in association with Neil Meron and Robert Greenblatt. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Heartstopper' Movie So Far Everything We Know About 'Emily In Paris' Season 5 So Far List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
A Black female Jesus and a gay Judas will shake up the Hollywood Bowl
Adam Lambert sits on a rickety wooden chair just outside the main chapel at the Hollywood United Methodist Church on a break from rehearsing the musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar.' Dressed in beige shorts and a vest with matching mid-calf boots, Lambert wears his trademark glitter eye makeup with thick black liner. He's calm and collected, content to spend his lunch break chatting, even though the rehearsal schedule is a breakneck nine days total. He chalks up his easygoing demeanor to the high-wattage professionalism of the cast, and his familiarity with the music. Lambert first heard the soundtrack on one of his dad's vinyl records when he was about 10 years old. 'I've always wanted to do that musical. I've always wanted to play Judas,' he says with a smile. 'And when they told me Cynthia [Erivo] was interested, I was like, 'Wow, this is gonna be crazy.'' Lambert, a fan-favorite 'American Idol' runner-up who began performing with Queen in 2011, plays Judas to Erivo's Jesus in the Hollywood Bowl production directed by Tony-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo. Josh Gad, who portrays King Herod, calls the cast 'the musical theater version of the Avengers.' He's referring to Erivo and Lambert, in addition to Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene, Milo Manheim as Peter, Raúl Esparza as Pontius Pilate, Tyrone Huntley as Simon and Brian Justin Crum as Annas. The sold-out show runs from Friday to Sunday. Judging from the ongoing commentary and controversy over the casting on social media, a queer, Black, female actor playing Jesus and a gay actor portraying Judas feel like a revelation to fans grappling with mounting concerns about civil rights in America. Over the last six months, the Trump administration has curtailed diversity, equity and inclusion programs and attempted to roll back key legal protections for certain members of the LGBTQ+ community. 'The challenge for the audience of seeing a female Black Jesus is so exciting. And we all feel the excitement,' says Lambert, adding that the show doesn't change lyrics or pronouns. 'Maybe it doesn't have to do with male or female. I don't really know if it matters what gender Jesus was, because it was about the teachings and the love and the connection to faith. So shouldn't it transcend gender?' Power — who has it and who doesn't — has emerged as a defining narrative in 2025. That was also the case 2,000 years ago when Pontius Pilate ordered the crucifixion of Jesus, who posed a serious threat to the religious and political primacy of the Pharisees, the Herodians and the Romans. The 1971 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice imagines the final days of Jesus' life, including his agony, before he ultimately accepts his fate. Gad is keenly aware of the notion of power as historic through-line as he approaches his titular number, 'Herod's Song,' in which the King of Judea coyly mocks Jesus before taking a frightening turn into true menace. 'This is a man who's so insecure he can't afford to let Jesus out of his chains in order to actually face him without the help of soldiers around him,' Gad says. 'My hope is that I'm getting to bring one of the greatest hypocrites to life in a way that will both make people laugh and also make them recognize that archetype.' The musical was first released as a concept album in 1970 and played at the Hollywood Bowl in 1971, before debuting on Broadway later that year. During its run, protests outside the stage door were commonplace, and although the musical has reached the pinnacle of success over the years, it has remained controversial. Big summer musicals have been a staple of the Hollywood Bowl since 2000, but the shows went dark due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. With the exception of 'Kinky Boots' in 2022, 'Jesus Christ Superstar' is the first of what Bowl leaders hope will be an annual resumption of the beloved programming. 'We wanted to make sure that when we came back, it was the most spectacular thing we could do,' says Meghan Umber, president of the Hollywood Bowl and chief programming officer at the Los Angeles Philharmonic. 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' was always at the top of the Bowl's musical wishlist but wasn't available until now, adds Brian Grohl, associate director of programming for the L.A. Phil. 'The number of titles that can sustain three nights at the Hollywood Bowl is a narrowed-down list already,' Grohl said, so securing the title resulted in a lot of jumping and shouting around the office. And when it came to who would play Jesus, Umber and Grohl both say Erivo topped the list. Her 'yes' made all the others follow. Gad calls Erivo — who was not present at a recent rehearsal because of a previous engagement — a 'generational talent.' And he's far from alone. Talk to anyone on the cast or crew and they will immediately hold forth on her extraordinary gifts. 'I see the hand of God in her,' Trujillo says reverently. 'Even now, me being in the room with her, I hear it and I see it, and it is transcendent.' Trujillo decided to go back to the musical's roots as a concept album and is staging the show as a bare-bones rock concert. Instead of elaborate scenic design, there are black road boxes, microphones and cords. Even the costumes are contemporary with nods to their lineage. A rhythm band will play onstage and a 37-piece orchestra will perform behind a giant LED screen that will create the illusion that the musicians are hovering in the sky above the action. Keeping the show in the present and infusing it with the raw energy of youth culture was crucial to Trujillo's vision, he says, adding that in the spirit of rock 'n' roll, the musical 'reflects the turbulent political times that we're living in.' 'As I set up each one of the characters, they're at a microphone singing and then they take the microphone and they step into the scene. I always want to remind the audience that we are in a concert, but we're also telling the story,' says Trujillo. 'Every single person understands the opportunity that we all have to take this monumental story, this monumental score, and to do it justice. So everyone is coming at it with such goodwill and so much joy.' At a Saturday rehearsal in the church gym, Trujillo's words ring true. The ensemble cast of more than 20 talented dancers and singers, in sweats and hoodies, run through 'What's the Buzz.' Gad watches and cheers from a table on the sidelines next to conductor and musical director Stephen Oremus, who smiles and nods his head with the beat. 'If you need me to stand in for Jesus, I'll do it,' Gad jokes. Lambert mesmerizes the assembled crew and onlookers with a potent rendition of 'Heaven on Their Minds' and Soo brings tears with a heartfelt performance of 'I Don't Know How to Love Him.' 'The more time I spend with this musical, the more brilliant I understand it to be,' says Manheim during a brief break. The 24-year-old, who's gained a tween following after playing Zed in Disney Channel's 'Zombies' franchise, is part of the youth cohort Trujillo wanted to cast. He wasn't as familiar with the score as the older cast members — which is part of the point. 'It's cross-generational,' says Trujillo of the show. 'This is the gift that you give to your children and then it just gets passed on.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘American Idol' Alum Teams Up With Broadway Legend for Heavenly Studio Recording
'American Idol' Alum Teams Up With Broadway Legend for Heavenly Studio Recording originally appeared on Parade. Adam Lambert is stepping into Judas Iscariot's shoes. On Friday, August 1, Lambert will release a brand-new version of Jesus Christ Superstar's 'Heaven on Their Minds,' just ahead of his highly anticipated run as Judas in a three-night production of the rock opera at the Hollywood Bowl, running August 1–3. It also marks a rare collaboration with the show's original composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. 'I was thrilled when Andrew asked me if I wanted to record a studio version of 'Heaven On Their Minds',' Lambert told Variety. 'This is a great way to commemorate my upcoming appearance as Judas and to give fans all around the world a little taste of what will happen onstage at the Hollywood Bowl.'Webber, who receives co-billing as executive producer and arranger, personally invited Lambert to tackle the number that was originally sung by Murray Head in the 1970 concept album and since covered by numerous artists. The new track was produced by Swedish writer-producer Martin Terefe and recorded across four cities, London, New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville, where the sweeping strings were laid down. The release also comes with a 40-second teaser video showing Lambert in the studio, offering fans a first listen to the reimagined track. 'Heaven on Their Minds' is a fan-favorite in the Jesus Christ Superstar catalog, known for its fiery guitar intro and Judas's tortured introspection about the fate of Jesus and the movement they've built. The Hollywood Bowl production promises even more musical firepower: Cynthia Erivo stars in the title role, with Phillipa Soo as Mary Magdalene and Josh Gad as King Herod. The show is directed and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo, with music direction from Stephen Oremus. Lambert recently wowed Broadway audiences as the Emcee in Cabaret. As for Webber, it's been a banner year with revivals of Sunset Boulevard and Evita making waves on both sides of the Atlantic. For Superstar fans, the next one may be a very Good Friday indeed. 'American Idol' Alum Teams Up With Broadway Legend for Heavenly Studio Recording first appeared on Parade on Jul 25, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 25, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
