‘American Idol’ Phenom to Take on Villainous Role in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

Adam Lambert is ascending to one of the most coveted musical roles in Broadway history.

The “American Idol” star is set to join a special production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in Hollywood this summer with a buzzy cast.

Heaven on (His) Mind

Lambert will take on the role of Jesus’s frenemy, Judas. Broadway turned film star Cynthia Erivo will be taking on the role of Jesus.

No word yet on who’s playing Mary Magdalene.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” tells the story of Jesus’s relationships with his disciples and followers, Judas, Magdalene, and the Roman Empire. 

Lambert was recently nominated for the iHeartRadio Music Award Fan Favorite Broadway Debut for his role as The Emcee in “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.” He told the New York Times playing the role was “therapeutic” and he tried to differentiate his version from other famous people – including Eddie Redmayne, Neil Patrick Harris, John Stamos and others – who have taken on the role.

 “I really loved Eddie’s take on this sort of demented puppet master ventriloquist dummy. But that didn’t resonate for me as what I was going to do,” he told the outlet. “I was like, the Emcee’s probably a little drunk. He’s probably a little high on something. And he’s in this permissive environment… That’s who he is in my sense of him.”

When asked if he compares himself to his Emcee predecessors, he says he learned early in his career as a singer that comparisons are unwise.

“When I was younger as a theater performer and even as a recording artist, I had the tendency to look and compare myself to people. And it made me miserable. It limited me, and it made me get in my head and second-guess myself,” Lambert elaborates. “One of the things I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older and more mature is like, no, no, no. Got to do you. That’s what the audience is going to respond to the most. That’s what’s going to make you the happiest as a performer and feel as free as possible.”

Lambert also mentioned he’s in the early stages of writing his own musical.

Jesus Christ, Superstar

Fans of the Hollywood Bowl venue can buy season tickets to the shows there starting Tuesday, May 6 at 10 AM PT. 

This new production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” features the famed lyrics and music by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber respectively. Director and choreographer Sergio Trujillo will take on leadership duties. Stephen Oremus is the conductor and musical director. 

The original version of the show was released as a concept album in 1970 before premiering on Broadway in 1971. It was nominated for five Tony Awards. Revivals of the show were staged in 1977, 2000, and 2012. A film version was released in 1973. A televised version dubbed “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert” starring John Legend was aired in 2018 on NBC.    

The performances for this short run of “Jesus Christ Superstar” will begin Friday, August 1 and go through Sunday, August 3.