John Legend Will Be Jesus In Live TV Musical
- By Derek Welch --
- 19 Dec 2017 --
— Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) December 19, 2017
The musical was originally performed in 1971 and ran for two years, having over seven hundred performances. The show is about the end of Jesus Christ’s life. The teachings and actions of Jesus were intentionally not covered in the musical. The emphasis is on the conflict between King Herod and Jesus Christ and the betrayal of Jesus by Judas.
John Legend is one of the most accomplished popular singers of the modern era. He has won 10 Grammys, an Oscar, and a Tony. If he wins an Emmy for playing Jesus he would become a rare entertainer to claim EGOT, a performer who has won every major award in entertainment.
The casting of an African American as Jesus has been called “groundbreaking” and the producers hint that the interpretation of the rock musical will be changed to reflect issues in contemporary society.
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