I have never seen it as an attack on Christianity but rather an attempt to bring some reality to Christianity..."What's the buzz, tell what's a happening"? Rubio is just another narrow-minded fake Christian know it all who is really a big ole dunce...

My daughter appeared in a private high school production (in DC.)

a sung-through rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. Loosely based on the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, the work interprets the psychology of Jesus and other characters, with much of the plot centred on Judas, who is dissatisfied with the direction in which Jesus is steering his disciples. Contemporary attitudes, sensibilities and slang pervade the rock opera's lyrics, and ironic allusions to modern life are scattered throughout the depiction of political events.

IIRC Jesus Christ Superstar is pretty much a straight retelling of the events leading up to Jesus's trial and death, written in 1960s vernacular.

Unless Mario is upset about the scene depicting Jesus driving the moneylenders from the Temple...

(I could buy Mario complaining that the music is pretty mediocre, but it doesn't denigrate Christianity)

Agree to disagree...

Is that it depicts Mary Magdalene as in love with Jesus and his returning that love to some extent.

One of the reasons that (some) Christians don’t like Jesus Christ Superstar is that it ends with the crucifixion and doesn’t depict the resurrection, so it essentially depicts Jesus as a regular man and leaves the “son of God” bit ambiguous.

It is not mediocre.

Some great tunes and it puts a more modern spin on the life of Christ..

Ironic this administration fits the descriptive of "Philistines."

I saw them on consecutive nights on their original London stages as a gift for my 16th birthday.
I've never seen Godspell again, I've watched over 50 presentations of Superstar.
I'm share not one whit of the sentiments, just enjoy the music and lyrics.

Favorite songs: "Could we start again, please?" and "I don't know how to love him".

And I only saw JCS in it's movie version.

The movie Godspell is sort of a kind of love letter to NYC. And I am a proud NYC'r. 🙂

Interesting you got to see them as back to back plays.

She did Hair at the same place.

Two of my favorites.

They want to erase the 20th century.

When will the American people embrace Christ's messages and reject the rantings of an orange fascist?

The Enlightenment is the foundation for all the science and philosophy that makes our modern lives possible.

who are THESE fuckers to JUDGE?

JCSS was the reason so many of my high school classmates became Jesus Freaks 50+ years ago.

at the Hollywood Bowl. Cynthia Erivo played Jesus and Adam Lambert played Judas. From the clips I've seen on social media, it was spectacular, but MAGAts are horrified that a black woman was cast as Jesus.

Typical response.

Jesus is Jesus is Jesus.

Was it even controversial in the 1970s?

It focused more on the human side of Jesus - and those who believe Christ was purely divine didn't like the very human portrayal - which is precisely why I liked it.

But this controversy is because Jesus is played by Cynthia Erivo.

Our church adults hated it because of Mary, and Jesus as just a Superstar. Saw the movie in high-school and still have the LP.

From Wikipedia:
Controversy

That's definitely a line or song in the show.

who, having rebelled against so many norms in the society of the 50's and 60's, were unsatisfied with the norms forced on religious practices by their parents' generation -- traditional Christianity was for "squares". IMHO it appealed to a lot of teens and twentysomethings who might have had little to do with religion otherwise, or dabbled in Buddhism or Hinduism -- far from "attacking" Christianity (you have to be a total putz to believe that) it helped bring a new generation into the fold. It made Jesus cool* , and was a much bigger success than, say, a rewrite of the Bible which tried to do the same (I can't even remember the name of that -- I guess it didn't last).

Already an atheist at the time, I kind of resented that. But the tunes stuck, which is part of how successful propaganda works. Waiting for my voice to change at the time, I envied the basso who sang Caiaphas (though I never knew the name before today):

Tell the rabble to be quiet, we anticipate a riot.
This common crowd, is much too loud.
Tell the mob who sing your song that they are fools and they are wrong.
They are a curse. They should disperse.

Puddy tat
Puddy tat
How did your butt get to be so fat

The “older generation “ back then absolutely lost their shit over anything that depicted the Bible and Christian religion as anything to question or mock or be portrayed as a play with a bunch of “hippies” performing it.

Who is Rubio to spout off on this anyway? Did he become arts director of the Kennedy Center now?

I could be wrong on that. I suspect what it comes down to is that Turnip and Rubio meet virtually every day, so Rubio gets to be the mouthpiece on minor issues when The Conman-in-Chief is too busy with unhinged rants on X or Trff, or wandering the grounds aimlessly. How well you serve Il Capo is more important than your official title.

All five living First Ladies are Honorary Chairs -- apparently most of these appts. don't mean much; there are several Dem pols and even Margaret Cho on the board, apparently as token members. Most of the board are donors, or wives of donors or pols. Several of the "Emeritus Trustees" are noted to be deceased.

https://www.kennedy-center.org/about-us/leadership/trustees/

is about how Christ is/was a depiction of things people didn't want at the time.

Yeah this depictiion isn't pleasant. So be it. Jesus's message was considered awful too.

What would the Christian "community" think of his bubbles parties in Florida?

Funny, I don’t recall Anthony Blinken calling for the censoring of any Broadway shows. But then, again, he did have a full time day job.

The bigot Party is always the victim. There's political capital in public whining.

that if they actually acted more Christlike, and represented their religion with the love of the biblical Christ, they would get more respect , and a greater following?
Not religious myself but hate and contempt for others is not the way to garner respect.

because everyone is just saying "there's nothing controversial about Jesus Christ Superstar". The 'controversy' in the interview, and a bit elsewhere, is over Cynthia Erivo playing Jesus. Now, I'd guess that DUers are all fine with that; but it's not that surprising that fundamentalists, ultra-traditional Catholics and others will object to a woman playing Jesus (the Andrew Lloyd Webber company is fine with it).

The funny bit is watching Rubio, a loud self-loving Christian in a position of huge power in a majority Christian country in a world that has been dominated by Christian countries for 500 years (and which were fairly secure in much of Europe for a thousand years before that), pontificate about how Christianity is "counter-cultural" and "persecuted". He's such a dolt.

Because it portrays much more of the human side of Jesus.

Of love to see a black woman portraying Jesus. One of my absolute favorite artistic rendering of z Jesus used a black woman as a model. (Actually it guess father than that - it's the only one I find interesting at all.)

I'll add a link to the art later - my phone is refusing to paste links. The artist is Janet McKenzie if you want to go hunting.

Even our entertainment.

Or that it must be controlled.

This should help…

Apparently having the ability to see the spirit of Christ within a Black female is just too much for lil Marco

It was so controversial that it was done on live TV within the last ten years.

This asshats would say the sound of music is controversial for showing Nazis in a bad light.

Wonder if little Marco tried out and didn't get a part in high school?

But the reality is that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber, the creative force behind it, have said mean things about mango Mussolini and little Marco needs to defend his fuhrer since he doesn't defend family members.

Given the current befouled status of the Kennedy Center, Jesus should avoid another public crucifixion.

... it the Melania Center? I agree having a female in the Jesus role changes the story. I do think the gender is a story dynamic and would want to know how they want her to play the part? The part of Jesus Christ is written as male and his being female would change the story. If the woman plays it as written, fine... you can't change established theatrical productions. There are many laws... but, of course, parodies are okay. As far as the part being played by someone of African heritage... well, I can't see how that matters at all... the parts were written for Middle-Eastern and all heritages. Good Lord! Most of the rules about theatre don't have "race" guidelines. There aren't any gender ones either, as I recall. An "all-girls" school could do "Jesus Christ Superstar" with an all female cast. An "all-boys" school could do "Guys and Dolls" with an all males cast. Just putting a female in the "Jesus" role would be fine, unless you change the story - then, you're doing another story. PS Mr. Rubio has too many jobs.

My dad's undergrad majors were math and theology. He wanted to be a preacher at one point. You could not find a better read/knowledgeable person on the King James Bible.

He LOVED that musical - when we went looking for his Social Security Card when he died (dipshit had it in his wallet) - he still had folded up my take on Jesus Christ Superstar in ode to him.

T E R Superstaaaaar

They are fucking idiots and Rubio's boss raped a 13 year old girl and then threw money at her and told her to get an abortion.

We have a demon in the White House and he's worrying about a musical?

Just more distraction from the rapist.

I think all productions and performers should boycott the unfortunate Kennedy center for the time being.

all the fuck WHAT about Christianity? Give me a fucking break! (as I am on my way out the door to church!)

And using religion as an excuse to police morality and art.

in their eyes.

Don’t like it ?
Don’t go see it !

Otherwise piss off


✌🏻

What on earth is he on about? This makes no sense to me.

2 things republicans need to read. Their Bible and The Constitution.

Doesn't he have enough to do now that he's also the acting National Security Advisor? If he doesn't like the production he can stay home.

in a way young people in 1970 could relate to. Back then, I talked to a friend who eventually became a minister. He is one who would go around saying "Jesus loves you" back in the day and I took it in the spirit that it was intended to be. He could not get enough of Jesus Christ Superstar and actually turned me on to Joseph and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat.

He practiced his Christianity every day. I have no doubt any modern-day adaptation of JCS would appeal to him. Little Marco is a CINO (Christian in Name Only) and should just STFU.

And they seemed to be loving it!

The Woes of the Pharisees are series of criticisms by Jesus against scribes and Pharisees recorded in Luke 11:37–54 and Matthew 23:1–39.[1] Mark 12:35–40 and Luke 20:45–47 also include warnings about scribes.

(snip)

The woes are all woes of hypocrisy and illustrate the differences between inner and outer moral states.[1] Jesus portrays the Pharisees as impatient with outward, ritual observance of minutiae which made them look acceptable and virtuous outwardly but left the inner person unreformed.

(snip)

The seven woes are:

1. They taught about God, but did not love God: they did not enter the kingdom of heaven themselves, nor did they let others enter.
2. They preached God but converted people to dead religion.
3. They taught that an oath sworn by the temple or altar was not binding, but that if sworn by the gold ornamentation of the temple, or by a sacrificial gift on the altar, it was binding. The gold and gifts, however, were not sacred in themselves as the temple and altar were but derived a measure of lesser sacredness by being connected to the temple or altar. The teachers and Pharisees worshiped at the temple and offered sacrifices at the altar because they knew that the temple and altar were sacred. How then could they deny oath-binding value to what was truly sacred and accord it to objects of trivial and derived sacredness?
4. They taught the law but did not practice some of the most important parts of the law: justice, mercy, faithfulness to God. They obeyed the minutiae of the law such as tithing spices but not the weightier matters of the law.
5. They presented an appearance of being 'clean' (self-restrained, not involved in carnal matters), but they were dirty inside: they seethed with hidden worldly desires and carnality. They were full of greed and self-indulgence.
6. They exhibited themselves as righteous on account of being scrupulous keepers of the law but were, in fact, not righteous: their mask of righteousness hid a secret inner world of ungodly thoughts and feelings. They were full of wickedness. They were like whitewashed tombs (in the King James Version, whited sepulchres), beautiful on the outside, but full of dead men's bones.
7. They professed a high regard for the dead prophets of old and claimed that they would never have persecuted and murdered prophets when, in fact, they were cut from the same cloth as the persecutors and murderers: they too had murderous blood in their veins.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woes_of_the_Pharisees

Thanks for the thread Demovictory

Hair, Godspell, Jesus Christ Superstar. It's so old. Back when they said RocknRoll was subversive, protest was communist inspired, even jean's were evil. It comes around again with unoriginal, hand-me-down fascism. They're gonna go down, The People will put them down eventually but this defeatism has got to fucking stop. It's sickening. It's un-American.

Is this administration led by Trump and including Rubio going out of their way to ignore every single element of the teachings of Jesus Christ. I guarantee Jesus himself would have no problem with "Jesus Christ Superstar" but he would be horrified by the pure EVIL of the Republican Party. And the worst part is they use Jesus' name to justify their EVIL.

Some time ago?

I guess some ultra rich right wing nutcase had nothing better to do with his time and money than to exhume the corpses of Reagan and Meese.

the zombie know about what is good or not. Any picture I see of him anymore, he looks dead behind the eyes.

who is way out of his league in any of the governmental positions he’s held…but the position he is most proficient in is ass kissing.

when the descriptions given show he was olive skined, dark hair and brown eyes. that really flips them out.

Tsk. Tsk.

Reminiscing on high school 1972-4, this musical and the album was a BFD. Jesus was one of us, not the other way around.

Hippie Jesus. Talking softly about peace and love. Antithetical to our parents' Jesus. Antithetical to the Vietnam War and Nixon. He belonged to US. He even looked like us: long hair, beard & moustache, sandals. And he never looked angry. This kind of Jesus we wouldn't mind following around. Taking God out of the Church. We were a new movement of disciples.

And almost all of us could sing every word to every song on the four sides of the album. With passion, with hope.

And Godspell was going on around the same time too.

I think our parents were just glad that we weren't running away to hippie communes or keeping Woodstock going indefinitely as drop-outs.

Returning to my original theme. JCSS is NOT part of the Christian Nationalist plan. Project 2025 wants to coerce Christians into a narrow, bigoted interpretation of The New Testament. Even mainstream Christianity (Presbyterians, Methodists, Espiscopalians, Lutherans) and Catholics will be under attack as heretics.

JCSS was/is liberation -- and we can't have any of THAT going on these days, right?

I know, I know, I know. Rubio's seeming objection was an African-American woman portraying Jesus and that was too much for him. But I maintain, if not for that interpretation of Jesus and the Gospels, it would have been something else.

Isn't that against site rules? Been reported.

Christian Nationalism is an attack on the true meaning of Christianity, and most religions for that matter.

Back when JC Superstar came out, I bought the original cast recording on vinyl. I didn't like it all that much, so I gave it to my staunch Republican, old-line Methodist mother who was no fan of rock music, but she loved it. I bought it again later when it came out on CD.

It is on my YouTube playlist.

The costumes, sets, casting, etc are fucking fantastic. Judas, King Herod, the dudes in those cool hats on the scaffolding. .BRILLIANT!!!!!

I am an atheist and everything I currently know about the bible is directly related to this film.

Fuck!!! Even The Pope, at the time, found it factually based. (Google it)


Little Marco knows less about religion than I do and he obviously knows NOTHING about this film...give it a rest JUDAS! Maybe his objection is about a situation that hits too close to home for poor little Marco...treason! Traitor to the US Constitution. Traitor to the Office of US Resident. Traitor extraordinaire...that is YOU... little, tiny Marco. Grow up and grow a pair and get a real job, LOSER!