Jesus Christ Superstar's music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber with lyrics by Tim Rice. This is the second show from the duo, the first being the successful "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."
This show began life as a concept album in 1970. It opened in New York in 1971 followed by a London production in 1972. When it closed in London, it had achieved the record for the longest running West End production.
The show begins with Judas explaining to the audience that Jesus is getting sidetracked by talk of divinity. Judas watches Jesus get more and more involved with celebrity and finally betrays him to the authorities. Jesus is arrested and is crucified.
This show has been called sacrilegious and blasphemous because of its portrayal of Jesus as a "Superstar" and Judas as a sympathetic character. There also was a backlash because of the lack of a resurrection scene (the play ends when Jesus dies).
The play has been filmed twice. The first movie was released in 1973. In 2002, the play was filmed as a concert film.