The story of the last seven days of Jesus was turned into a musical by the team Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
The soundtrack, sometimes called a Rock Opera, appeared on an album originally, in part because the producers were afraid to take a chance on producing in on stage due to the subject matter. The album had a rock influence with Ian Gillan, the lead singer of Deep Purple, singing the role of Jesus with Murray Head as Judus.
The album reach the Number 1 spot of the Billboard Album Charts for a total of three weeks. One week in late February with its return more than two months later for two weeks in May.
Later in 1971 on October 12th Jesus Christ Superstar premiered at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in New York with Ben Vereen (Judas), Jeff Fenholt (Jesus), Yvonne Elliman (Mary), Barry Dennen (Pilate), and Paul Ainsley (Herod).
Two years later Director Norman Norman Jewison brought it to the screen, The film had Yvonne Elliman revising her role as Mary along with Barry Dennen as Pilate. Ted Neely took on the role of Jesus with Carl Anderson as Judas. Both Neely and the Anderson had been in the Broadway cast. Neely as the understudy to play Jesus and Anderson took over the role when Vereen fell ill.
Tomorrow, April 1st, NBC will present “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” starring John Legend, Alice Cooper and Sara Bareilles.