The NBC production of Jesus Christ Superstar Live! has announced its first major casting: rock icon Alice Cooper will take on the role of King Herod in the network’s live staged rock concert, scheduled to air on Easter Sunday, April 1.
Alice Cooper, whose theatrical approach to rock performance has made him a headline act for decades, was chosen to play the theatrical and flamboyant King Herod. The role, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, includes one of the show’s most showstopping numbers, a moment meant to blend theatricality and rock energy. Cooper’s decades-long presence on stage and his larger-than-life persona are positioned to bring a distinctive edge to the character.
Joining Cooper on the creative team is acclaimed British director David Leveaux, a five-time Tony Award nominee known for landmark productions in both the U.K. and on Broadway. Leveaux’s past work includes high-profile revivals such as the 2003 production of Nine, starring Antonio Banderas, and the 2008 revival of Cyrano de Bergerac, featuring Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner. His experience directing dramatic and musical theatre makes him a strong fit for a live concert reimagining of this influential rock opera.
Robert Greenblatt, Chairman of NBC Entertainment, commented on the casting, noting Cooper’s legendary theatricality and the natural fit between a rock star of his stature and the King Herod role. NBC has expressed enthusiasm about assembling a roster of performers that includes recording artists, aiming to honor the original rock opera score while creating a fresh, staged concert experience for television audiences.
Jesus Christ Superstar originated as a concept album and became a landmark stage musical based on the final week of Jesus’ life. The album reached the top of the Billboard charts and the stage production opened on Broadway in 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. That original staging featured Jeff Fenholt as Jesus and Ben Vereen as Judas and earned nominations and awards recognition, including a Tony nomination for Vereen and a Drama Desk Award for Andrew Lloyd Webber as Most Promising Composer.
The musical has seen many international revivals and reinterpretations over the decades. Notable Broadway revivals in 2000 and 2012 each received Tony nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, and the 1973 film adaptation—directed by Norman Jewison—introduced the story to a wider cinematic audience with Ted Neeley in the title role. Those productions helped cement Jesus Christ Superstar as a seminal work in the history of rock-influenced musical theatre.
For this live NBC presentation, the producers have emphasized a desire to tap contemporary recording artists as well as seasoned theatrical performers to fully realize the rock opera’s sound and to deliver a dynamic televised concert. The live format aims to preserve the immediacy of the stage while leveraging television’s reach to present a bold, modern interpretation of the classic work.
Jesus Christ Superstar Live! will be executive produced by a team that includes the show’s original creators and experienced television producers: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan, and Neil Meron. Their combined theatrical and television production experience is intended to ensure fidelity to the score and story while adapting the material to a live broadcast format.
As casting continues, NBC and the creative team have signaled that more announcements will follow. The combination of a celebrated rock star in the role of Herod, an accomplished director at the helm, and a veteran producing team sets expectations for a high-energy, vocally driven production that aims to introduce this influential rock musical to both longtime fans and new viewers alike.