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See First Images of John Legend as Jesus

The 10-time Grammy winner stars in ”Jesus Christ Superstar Live”.

John Legend stars as Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar Live, airing Easter Sunday, April 1, on NBC.
John Legend stars in the title role of Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, airing Easter Sunday, April 1, on NBC.
(© James Dimmock)

NBC has released new photos of star John Legend as Jesus Christ in its upcoming live adaptation of Jesus Christ Superstar. The Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, which will be presented live, is set to air Easter Sunday, April 1.

Legend stars alongside Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (Hamilton) as Judas, Sara Bareilles (Waitress) as Mary Magdalene, and Alice Cooper as King Herod. Also joining the cast are Tony nominee Ben Daniels (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) as Pontius Pilate, Tony nominee Norm Lewis (Once on This Island) as Caiaphas, Jason Tam (If/Then) as Peter, Jin Ha (M. Butterfly) as Annas, and Swedish rock star Erik Gronwall as Simon Zealotes.

For the television broadcast, the legendary rock opera will be staged in front of a live audience at the Marcy Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

John Legend will star in Jesus Christ Superstar Live.
John Legend will star in Jesus Christ Superstar Live.
(© James Dimmock)

The ensemble will feature Melody Betts, Felicia Boswell, Abby Corrigan, Micaela Diamond, Rory Donovan, Christine Dwyer, Mike Evariste, F. Michael Haynie, Charissa Hogeland, Bre Jackson, Mykal Kilgore, Billy Lewis Jr., Joel Perez, Justin Gregory Lopez, Angel Lozada, Vince Oddo, Kyle Taylor Parker, Jonah Platt, Conor Ryan, Christina Sajous, Justin Matthew Sargent, Heath Saunders, Joey Taranto, Syndee Winters, and Lauren Zakrin, with dancers Chloe Davis, Timothy Edwards, Shelby Finnie, Bahiyah Hibah, Juel D. Lane, Terk Lewis, Mayte Natalio , Sarah Parker, Tre Smith, and Maleek Washington.

The creative team includes Emmy-winning live television director and executive producer Alex Rudzinski (Hairspray Live!), Emmy- and Tony-winning costumer designer Paul Tazewell (Hamilton), Grammy-winning music producer Harvey Mason Jr. (The Wiz Live!), musical director Nigel Wright (Jesus Christ Superstar world arena tour), production designer Jason Ardizzone-West (Adele Live in NYC), and choreographer Camille A. Brown (Once on This Island).

John Legend leads an all-star cast in Jesus Christ Superstar Live, airing April 1 on NBC.
John Legend leads an all-star cast in Jesus Christ Superstar Live, airing April 1 on NBC.
(© James Dimmock)

Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, a staged version of the original rock musical, will be executive-produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, John Legend, Mike Jackson, Ty Stiklorius, and Alex Rudzinski. The production will be helmed by British theater director David Leveaux.