Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Spectacular

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Jesus Christ Superstar began life as an album released in 1970 that featured Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan as Jesus, British actor/singer Murray Head in the role of Judas and Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene.  The production was first performed on Broadway in 1971 and made into a movie by producers Patrick Palmer, Robert Stigwood and Norman Jewison in 1973 with Jewison directing.

The movie starred Ted Neeley as Jesus and the Texas-born singer has appeared in various productions of the rock opera for the past four decades. However, this “arena” edition promises an updated, 21st century version of the work that has entertained audiences for almost 45 years.

Presented by S2BN Entertainment and the Really Useful Group, and starring British actor/singer Ben Forster in the title role, Jesus Christ Superstar Arena Spectacular will have more than 50 cast members and musicians on stage.

“I’m excited to be involved with Jesus Christ Superstar,” S2BN’s Michael Cohl said.  “The show has evolved greatly over the past 40 years and it is exhilarating to be a part of a project that marries this incredible property and its extraordinary music with the new, innovative technology that has become available for live shows.  This arena rock spectacular is a whole new experience for fans.”

Here’s the itinerary:

June 9 – New Orleans, La., Lakefront Arena
June 10 – Birmingham, Ala., BJCC Arena
June 11 – Charlotte, N.C., Time Warner Cable Arena
June 13 – Sunrise, Fla., BB&T Center
June 14 – Orlando, Fla., Amway Center
June 15 – Tampa, Fla., Tampa Bay Times Forum
June 16 – Atlanta, Ga., Philips Arena
June 17 – Nashville, Tenn., Bridgestone Arena
June 19 – San Antonio, Texas, Freeman Coliseum
June 20 – Austin, Texas, Frank Erwin Center
June 21 – Houston, Texas, Toyota Center
June 22 – Dallas, Texas, American Airlines Center
June 23 – Oklahoma City, Okla., Chesapeake Energy Arena
June 24 – Tulsa, Okla., BOK Center
June 26 – Toronto, Ontario, Air Canada Centre
June 28 – Detroit, Mich., Joe Louis Arena
June 29 – Chicago, Ill., United Center
July 1 – St. Louis, Mo., Scottrade Center
July 2 – Kansas City, Mo., Sprint Center
July 4 – Winnipeg, Manitoba, MTS Centre
July 5 – Regina, Saskatchewan, Brandt Centre
July 6 – Edmonton, Alberta, Rexall Place
July 8 – Boise, Idaho, Taco Bell Arena
July 9 – Spokane, Wash., Spokane Arena
July 10 – Seattle, Wash., KeyArena At Seattle Center
July 12 – Vancouver, British Columbia, Rogers Arena
July 13 – Portland, Ore., Moda Center
July 15 – Sacramento, Calif., Sleep Train Arena
July 16 – Fresno, Calif., Save Mart Center
July 17 – Bakersfield, Calif., Rabobank Arena
July 18 – San Jose, Calif., SAP Center At San Jose
July 20 – Anaheim, Calif., Honda Center
July 22 – El Paso, Texas, UTEP Don Haskins Center
July 23 – Phoenix, Ariz., US Airways Center
July 24 – San Diego, Calif., Valley View Casino Center
July 25 – Las Vegas, Nev., Mandalay Bay Events Center
July 26 – Los Angeles, Calif., Staples Center
July 29 – Denver, Colo., Pepsi Center
July 30 – Lincoln, Neb., Pinnacle Bank Arena
July 31 – Saint Paul, Minn., Xcel Energy Center
Aug. 1 – Milwaukee, Wis., BMO Harris Bradley Center
Aug. 2 – Indianapolis, Ind., Bankers Life Fieldhouse
Aug. 3 – Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S. Bank Arena
Aug. 5 – New York, New York, Madison Square Garden Arena
Aug. 7 – Washington, D.C., Verizon Center
Aug. 9 – Columbus, Ohio, Schottenstein Center
Aug. 10 – Cleveland, Ohio, Quicken Loans Arena
Aug. 12 – Pittsburgh, Pa., Consol Energy Center
Aug. 13 – Buffalo, N.Y., First Niagara Center
Aug. 14 – Boston, Mass., TD Garden
Aug. 16 – Philadelphia, Pa., Wells Fargo Center

General onsales for the first 22 shows begin April 11.  American Express cardholders can buy tickets via a presale beginning Aril 4.  Visit JesusChristSuperstar.com for more information.