How would you cast 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

[Ms Boods]

Hallo!

As Easter is nigh, my mum has moaned again that 'Jesus Christ Superstar' has got a depressing ending, should end with the Resurrection etc.

Never minding what you might think of Mr Andrew Lloyd-Webber and co (my favourite story is still how Mr Ray Davies, on hearing an ALW song on the radio, had to pull off the road at once to vomit out his car window), but I wonder, who would make a nice new cast...

Never mind singing abilities -- for you see, whilst listening to mum's records, it suddenly struck me that Mr Randy Johnson of the Arizona Diamondbacks would make a splendid Caiaphas...so what if he can't sing -- in my version, he wouldn't even have to open his mouth, just glare....and Mr Laurence Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as Herod...

Any other suggestions would be lovely....on a side note, any suggestions to help shift any of these songs out of my head would also be appreciated...

cheers,
Carey

[Walloon]

Eddie Vedder: Jesus
Seal: Judas Iscariot
Alanis Morissette: Mary Magdalene

[Miller]

How would I cast it? Into the ocean, wrapped in lead weights.

[RealityChuck]

Judas: The same actor who played it in its U.S. premiere -- Mark Volinski*

*The first US production of JCS was in my high school in June of 1971; the Broadwas production didn't start until October.

[Krokodil]

There was a remake on PBS 2 or 3 years back, with lots of cool updates(visual references to The Matrix and Star Wars as well as the Intifada). Rik Mayall (Drop Dead Fred, The Young Ones) stole the show as Pilate.

I picture Lenny Kravitz as Jesus, and Coolio as Judas.

[Ms Boods]

Gosh, Mr Mayall! Cracking choice, I should think....do you know if that PBS version is on video?

Had a sudden 'orrible thought of Lenny HENRY as Jesus...

I do appreciate the replies!

cheers

[Diogenes the Cynic]

Bono as Jesus

Marilyn Manson as Judas

Ozzy as Pilate.

Sheryl Crow as Mary Magdalene.

Madonna as the Madonna.

[dinahmoe]

I would love to hear Corey Glover sing the Judas part.

Alison Krause as Mary Magdalene.

David Lee Roth as Herod

Trey Anastasio as Pilate

And Prince as Jesus

[Krokodil]

The PBS version can be seen at http://us.imdb.com/Title?0275434

Mayall was actually Herod, not Pilate. He did the big "You are the Christ, yes the great Jesus Christ" song as a 20s Charlston number with flappers. Yes, it's available on video and DVD.

[SkipMagic]

Yeah, but wouldn't it be funny if, after two thousand years, the other shoe dropped and Jesus himself finally made an encore presentation and acted the role?

See, I think he'd be great. But only because he wouldn't have to ask, "So, what's my motivation?"

[Annie-Xmas]

Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic

Madonna as the Madonna.

Slight hijack: The original version of Evita, written in 1974, actually contains the line "She can do what she wants; it doesn't matter much/She's the new-world Madonna with the golden touch." They changed it for the movie, when Madonna actually played Evita.

I really can't answer the original question, as I know too much about theatre performers and not enough about popular ones. Though Ozzie would make a good Herod.

[Mooch]

I always thought Don Cheadle would make a great Judas.

[Ms Boods]

Hallo, and thanks everyone for the suggestions!

Also thank you, Krokodil for the imdb ref and info! I will tell my mum.

I don't know if he can sing, but I think Richard E Grant might make an interesting Pilate....

SkipMagic -- JC himself is inspired....but I wonder, if he might not be one of these 'difficult' thespians, you know, 'Uh, excuse me? Mr Director? Hold on -- sorry everyone -- I think we need a script revision here...what? YOU don't think so? HelLO, who was up on the cross, you or me?' But the aftershow would probably be a lot of fun....

cheers

PS You have me curious, Annie-Xmas, as I've never experienced the Madonna version of 'Evita' (only seen Patti LuPone on stage); may I ask what the revised line was?

[FriarTed]

Sting as Pontius Pilate
(which was the original casting for the film LAST TEMPTATION)

I like Alanis or Sheryl Crow as MM, years ago-I'd have gone for Kate Bush, but now.....OH! TORI!!!!!

Judas & Jesus.... THAT is the tough one!

But definitely definitely Ozzy as Herod!

[rmbnxs]

Herod: Larry David
Mary Magdalene: Roseanne
Judas Iscariot: John Lithgow
John the Baptist: Robin Williams
Pontius Pilate: Chris Rock
Jesus Christ: Bruce Willis

[Rib Eye]

Jesus: Matt Barlow of Iced Earth
Caiaphas: Peter Steele of Type O Negative
Mary Magadelene: Skin of Skunk Anansie
Judas: Chris Cornell of Audioslave
Herod: Ozzy Osbourne
Pilate: Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden
Annas: Rob Halford
Simon Zealotes: Ray Alder of Fates Warning
Peter: Ronnie James Dio

[Katisha]

Originally posted by Ms Boods
PS You have me curious, Annie-Xmas, as I've never experienced the Madonna version of 'Evita' (only seen Patti LuPone on stage); may I ask what the revised line was?

I believe it was "She's the Lady of the New World with a golden touch..."

[Ms Boods]

Katisha -- thanks! Now...must refrain from the inevitable 'Madonna' and 'lady' in same breath comments....