The Philippine theatrical landscape is currently in bloom, with so many productions to look out for throughout the year. One of the titles we’re looking forward to is Jesus Christ Superstar.
Theatre fans need only to be told that this musical will be staged in the Philippines. After all, Jesus Christ Superstar is a classic and has been staged on Broadway multiple times since it premiered in 1971. The title also ran for eight years at the West End from 1972 to 1980, becoming the longest-running musical at the time.
If you want more reasons why you shouldn’t miss Jesus Christ Superstar in Manila, read on below:
Photo / Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade (courtesy of GMG Productions)
It tells the story of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, Judas, and other characters, but with a twist.
Jesus Christ Superstar is a timeless work that explores the biblical account of the extraordinary events leading to Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. The story, however, is told through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot, and Jesus is portrayed as human.
In the song “The Temple,” a group of lepers asks Jesus to heal them, but he is overwhelmed, and he shouts, “Heal yourselves!” In “Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say),” he asks, “I’d wanna know, my God, why I should die?” Seeing a story we grew up with, told from a different perspective, will deepen our understanding of our faith and help us see it with new eyes.
It’s a story that’s familiar to a lot of Filipinos
A lot of Filipinos grew up watching Jesus Christ Superstar on television during Holy Week. Seeing it live, on stage, will be an amazing and nostalgic experience.
A rock soundtrack accompanies the story.
What’s even more exciting is that the story is told through an unexpected musical genre: rock. Jesus Christ Superstar began as an album musical, and is described as a fusion of “rock, soul, gospel, and symphonic elements” that turned the genre on its head. Filipino audiences can expect electric guitars, pounding drums, strings, and choral arrangements. The musical’s opening song, “Heaven on Their Minds,” sets the tone with Judas’s soaring delivery.
The music is so well-loved that when the album was first released in 1970, it ranked number one on the U.S. Billboard Top LPs chart in both February and May the following year, and ranked number one on the year-end album chart.
Photo / Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade (courtesy of GMG Productions)
The musical was created by theatre heavyweights
The minds behind Jesus Christ Superstar are two heavyweights in theatre. Andrew Lloyd Webber composed the music, and he’s also the man behind classic musicals such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, Cats, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Tim Rice wrote the lyrics, and he has written songs for Aladdin, The Lion King, The Road to El Dorado, and the Broadway adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. Rice also worked with Webber on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Evita.
There might be a Filipino cast member in the show
While GMG Productions has not yet announced the cast of Jesus Christ Superstar, there’s a chance a Filipino actor will be on stage. The producer’s past shows have included Filipino talent, such as Dion Holganza in Burn the Floor; Yna Tresvalles (Anne Boleyn) in SIX; Abigail Adriano (Kim), Seann Miley Moore (the Engineer), Laurence Mossman (Thuy), and Kiara Dario (Gigi) in Miss Saigon; Rachelle Ann Go (Eliza Hamilton) in Hamilton; and Markki Stroem (Rolf) and Karylle Tatlonghari (Elsa Baroness von Schraeder) in The Sound of Music. Come From Away featured an all-Filipino cast.
GMG’s upcoming production of Les Misérables: World Tour Spectacular will also feature Lea Salonga (Madame Thénardier) and Go (Fantine).
Photo / GMG Productions
Jesus Christ Superstar will run from May 2 to 24, 2026, at the Theatre at Solaire. Tickets are officially on sale, exclusively via TicketWorld. The 2026 tour is produced by GMG Productions and David Ian for Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions.
Stay updated on upcoming productions by visiting www.gmg-productions.com or following @gmg.productions on social media.
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