FINAL-1 Sat, Mar 24, 2018 5:23:05 PM Your Weekly Guide to TV Entertainment for the week of March 31 - April 6, 2018 John Legend as seen in “Jesus Rock has Christ Superstar Live in Concert” risen OLD FASHIONED SERVICE FREE REGISTRY SERVICE John Doyle INSURANCEDoyle Insurance AGENCY Voted #1 1 x 3 Insurance Agency Auto • Homeowners Business • Life Insurance 978-777-6344 www.doyleinsurance.com FINAL-1 Sat, Mar 24, 2018 5:23:06 PM 2฀•฀Salem฀News฀•฀March฀31฀-฀April฀6,฀2018 Sunday’s฀son:฀‘Jesus฀Christ฀Superstar’฀gets฀Legend-ary฀treatment By฀K.A.฀Taylor Joining Legend onstage — and tion with his fellow cast and crew, Wiz Live,” “Hairspray Live!” and ceived notions and depictions of TV Media on screen — is singer-songwriter Cooper expressed his feelings “Grease: Live.” Christ and the figures that sur- Video Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, about returning to the role. Ac- While these offerings may seem rounded him. releases n the late 1960s, musical the- a notable follower of Jesus, ac- cording to Cooper, Tim Rice is an to be a recent phenomenon, NBC At its core, though, much like ater was getting a complete cording to biblical records. Sadly, “old friend of [his],” and it was is no stranger to the teleplay. Both the variability of the characters Imakeover. For years, the genre she was known less for her wit- Rice who long believed Cooper 1955 and 1956 found the musical portrayed and the depths of their did its best to avoid serious sub- nessing of Christ’s crucifixion and had the “[cynicism] and danger- adaptation of J. M. Barrie’s classic personas, Legend sees the produc- jects, keeping joy and whimsy in resurrection and more so for her ous” nature required for the part. “Peter Pan” making waves on TVs tion’s music as not merely one- the forefront. While it seemed for a profession as a sex worker, a de- Despite finding the same ap- across America — notably the first note. To him, the musical is “kind time that interest in this form of piction not entirely present in the peal as Legend with regard to be- time that a Broadway musical had of a genre-bending and expanding theater was waning, a new breed gospels or other biblical texts. An- ing cast as Jesus, Cooper admits ever been televised as a complete piece,” one that, “for those ... who of musical theater would resurrect other key player in the musical, that “[he] never gets cast as Je- production, at that time also in- love music and those ... who love the genre. Rock was woven into one well familiar with its story and sus,” though he’s not surprised cluding almost the entire stage to perform,” does not have “as the pages of fresh, new takes on lyrical content, is legendary rocker and fairly certain he knows why. cast. Fittingly, “Peter Pan Live!” many boundaries as some would biblical narratives and, in 1970, Alice Cooper. Cooper takes on the His stage persona as a rock musi- was also a recent NBC production, suggest.” “Jesus Christ Superstar” was born. role of King Herod, a ruler who cian doesn’t really give that Christ- with the adaptation airing Dec. 4, Take a break from the quiet con- On Sunday, April 1, NBC brings this lives for excess and decadence and like vibe. 2014. templation of Easter weekend and legendary rock musical to audienc- fails to see the divinity of Christ, This all-new, one-time produc- “Jesus Christ Superstar” made rejoice, for a renowned rock musi- es across North America, when declaring him a liar. tion of “Jesus Christ Superstar Live a name for itself in the early ‘70s cal is about to shake up prime This isn’t Cooper’s first time in in Concert” is not the first televi- for its infusion of rock ‘n’ roll with time. Catch John Legend, Sarah Lin Shaye in “Insidious: “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in The Last Key” Concert” takes over prime time. the role: a 1996 cast recording of sion special of its kind. Many view- the Bible’s foremost narrative. At Bareilles and Alice Cooper as Initially a concept album, “Jesus “Jesus Christ Superstar” also fea- ers may be familiar with recent once daring and mesmerizing, the they’re joined by an incredible cast Insidious: The Last Key Christ Superstar” delves into the tured him as the king. Sitting at small-screen live adaptations of production, which also received for “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Horror hits close to home last days of Jesus Christ, with par- The Paley Center’s discussion on other musicals by NBC, including cinematic treatment in 1973, Concert,” airing Sunday, April 1, on when paranormal investigator ticular focus on the relationships this anticipated televised produc- “The Sound of Music Live,” “The wasn’t afraid to challenge precon- NBC. Elise Rainier (Shaye) investi- between Jesus and some well- gates a haunting in her own known biblical figures, including childhood house. When the Judas, Mary Magdalene and King home’s current owner (Aceve- Herod. The show plays fast and do) begins experiencing para- loose with depictions of these fig- normal activity in the house, ures, as the musical’s creators, An- Elise returns to confront the drew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, demon that terrorized her as a look to humanize them and make child and drove a rift between them relatable. The lines between her and her family. As she and God and man are blurred, with Je- her team investigate the sus unafraid to confront modern- strange goings-on within the day social issues. While the musical has no doubt walls, however, they begin to been performed in countless high uncover a secret that proves schools and independent theaters that sometimes the demons around the globe, its professional can be far more familiar than runs have been consistent since they might first appear. the concept album’s creation, with Director: Adam Robitel. Stars: more than 19 productions, includ- Lin Shaye, Leigh Whannell, An- ing four on Broadway. gus Sampson, Kirk Acevedo. For NBC’s live, prime-time adap- 2018. 103 min. Horror. tation, some major star power has been recruited. In the titular role of Father Figures Jesus Christ is singer, songwriter and actor John Legend (“La La When adult twin brothers Pe- Land,” 2016). Not only is Legend ter (Helms) and Kyle (Wilson) the star of the production, he is learn from their mother (Close) also co-producer. When asked by that their father did not, in The Paley Center for Media to ex- fact, die when they were press why he was intrigued by the young, they set out on a opportunity, Legend’s answer was lengthy road trip to track him amusingly simple: “Bottom line is, down and finally meet him. they offered me the chance to play With the additional revelation Jesus Christ ... I was like, let’s do that their mother was promis- it.” cuous in her youth, meaning While this is Legend’s first lead- their dad could be any one of ing role in a televised musical, it’s several men, they meet with a not his first screen gig — he number of potential fathers played the role of Keith in the mul- who all share their memories tiple award-winning feature musi- of the twins’ mother. cal film “La La Land” in 2016. He Director: Lawrence Sher. Stars: also co-wrote and recorded a song Ed Helms, Owen Wilson. 2017. with the film, “Start a Fire,” enjoy- 113 min. Comedy. ing a rare opportunity to contrib- Sara฀Bareilles฀stars฀in฀“Jesus฀Christ฀Superstar฀Live฀in฀Concert” ute to a musical’s score. Continued on page 16 FINAL-1 Sat, Mar 24, 2018 5:23:06 PM March฀31฀-฀April฀6,฀2018฀฀•฀Salem฀News฀•฀3 5:30฀p.m. NESN (51) Red Sox Game 11:00฀p.m. CSNE (52) Celtics Post- 3:00฀p.m. ESPN2 (50) NFL Live Live 7:30฀p.m. NBCSN (48) NHL Washington RUGBY Day Live Live game Live Live Capitals at Pittsburgh Penguins Live GOLF 6:00฀p.m. NESN (51) MLB Boston Red Wednesday 10:15฀p.m. NBCSN (48) NHL Overtime Friday Sox at Miami Marlins Live Live (48) RFU Sports 2:30฀p.m. ESPN2 (50) NBA: The Jump Saturday 10:30฀p.m. NBCSN London (51) Wasps vs. Sale Sharks English Premiership this week 9:00฀p.m. NESN W.B. 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