Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Jesus Christ Superstar : socio-political contextualisations

Abstract

In this dissertation, I will delve into the different versions of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice‘s Jesus Christ Superstar. This will be done by analysing two separate productions of the musical, the debut on Broadway from 1971, and the Live Arena Tour performed in 2012. At the start of my analysis, the social milieu encompassing the two different productions will be examined. I aim to highlight and evaluate the different internal and external factors that affected the making of the musical; namely the directorial and technological influences, as well as the social infrastructure surrounding the timeframe of the respective musical performances. Further examination will include framing my discussion around theories that include, most prominently, Naturalism, and Realism, of the performances in terms of their different theatre styles. The productions‘ adoption or rejection of these theatrical practices will be examined and interpreted, depending on the social constructs of the time. Finally, I will assess some of the production choices of the two Superstar versions, through an analysis of the role of the directors, and how they implemented their ideas, whilst paying particular attention to the technology available for the respective productions. Through my research, I establish the manner in which the two different directors adopted similar conventions for their respective productions of the musical. It is apparent that an element of spectacle is present within the two stagings, which will be discussed throughout the dissertation.