5 Compelling Reasons Why Jesus Christ Superstar Is One Of The Most-Anticipated Shows Of 2026
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s breathtaking rock opera will be arriving in the Philippines via donkey plane soon (yes, they’re the iconic duo that also brought us Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Evita). Jesus Christ Superstar will run in May 2026 at The Theatre at Solaire, brought to us by GMG Productions. We’re not saying there’s going to be a mob like the one in the show, but it’s best to get your tickets early before the rest of the country beats you to it! Here’s why:
1. Heaven is on our minds with its rock opera format.
A biblical story told through rock and roll in the 1970s? Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice were theater revolutionaries, for sure. In case you didn’t know, Superstar was originally released as a concept album because traditional producers weren’t exactly thrilled about the show’s subject matter. “Nobody would put it on stage,” Webber said in an interview, “Every single producer in London said, ‘You have to be joking. This is the worst idea in history.’” The 1970 record was so successful (it even became number one in the U.S.) that Webber and Rice were able to stage it on Broadway and the West End soon after!
Because of its concept album beginnings, it’s “written for the ears, not the eyes”, and the music features unconventional time signatures that create a sense of frantic energy and contribute to the feeling of chaos. Superstar is entirely sung-through, and many people have described it as more of a rock concert than a traditional theater show. Most stagings don’t have elaborate set pieces and rely more on platforms, stairs, and concert-style lighting, making the actors and their vocals the superstars of the show.
2. People are captivated by its electrifying, all-consuming drama.
Loyalty, betrayal, revolution, and unrequited love: these very Pinoy teleserye-esque elements are highlighted in Superstar. The characters are raw, emotional, and kind of messy, which makes them more relatable to audiences.
As we all know, Superstar is (very) loosely based on the Gospels’ accounts of Jesus’ last days—from his entrance into Jerusalem up to his trial and crucifixion. Much of the show is told through the eyes of his self-proclaimed right-hand disciple Judas Iscariot, highlighting internal conflict as he battles whether to betray Jesus or stay loyal to him. Judas isn’t portrayed as a black and white kontrabida, but someone complex who’s actually afraid of being seen as one. According to Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Rather than telling the story of the last six days of the life of Jesus Christ, one is actually trying to examine why it was that Judas betrayed somebody that he clearly loved.”
The character of Jesus is struggling with being idolized and the loneliness that comes with it. There’s Mary Magdalene, whose devotion to Jesus is solo-number-worthy because she just doesn’t know how to love him. We also have Simon, the radical who wants Jesus to lead an armed revolt against the Romans, urging him to gain absolute power.
3. Superstar has proven its ability to transcend generations.
Let’s take a quick look at the numbers: Superstar has been around for more than 50 years, it’s been professionally produced in 42 countries around the world, has two film adaptations, and has been revived on Broadway three times!
Most recently, Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert starred in a three-night Superstar performance at the Hollywood Bowl. Before that, there was a TV Special starring John Legend and Brandon Victor Dixon. And before that, fans had the 2000s Jesus Christ Superstar: Live Arena Tour.
For a “classic” show, Superstar feels surprisingly modern. Concepts such as the consequences of fame, blind devotion, social change, and cancel culture feel very real to Filipinos—especially the younger generation—today.
4. It’s the kind of show you still think about after you leave.
Superstar has always raised questions—and maybe that’s the whole point. The experience doesn’t just end with the curtain call because it absolutely refuses to give clear answers. Audiences are left wondering, “When does a movement lose its meaning?” or “When does support become obsession?”
In fact, the very origin of the show is also a question from a Bob Dylan lyric, “Did Judas Iscariot have God on his side?”, which inspired Tim Rice, who had always wanted to write a show from Judas’ point of view since he was 15 years old.
5. Possibilities for Filipino Superstar talent are endless.
Did you know that Joanna Ampil played Mary Magdalene in the 1990s London West End revival and again in Tokyu Theatre Orb’s Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert in 2019? While GMG Productions hasn’t released the cast list yet, it’s more than possible that a Filipino cast member will be announced soon (fingers crossed)!
The company has regularly included world-class Filipino talent in its international productions. Joanna Ampil starred as Grizabella in Cats, while Filipino-Australians Abigail Adriano and Seann Miley Moore played Kim and The Engineer in Miss Saigon. Come From Away had all-Pinoy cast, while the upcoming Les Misérables World Tour Spectacular will feature Rachelle Ann Go as Fantine and Lea Salonga as Madame Thénardier.
The international Superstar tour coming to Manila originated at London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, which won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. It will be directed by Timothy Sheader and choreographed by Drew McOnie, with design by Tom Scutt, lighting by Lee Curran, sound by Nick Lidster, and music supervision by Tom Deering.
So if you haven’t finalized your theater calendar for next year yet, it’s alright, everything’s alright because there’s still time to book tickets to Jesus Christ Superstar!
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