October 30, 2025 | 11:11am
MANILA, Philippines — Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s celebrated musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” will take its international tour to the Philippines next year.
The sung-through rock-opera is based on the events from the Passion of the Christ in the Bible, seen through the perspective of Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrays Jesus.
The production also looks into the relationships between Jesus, Judas, Mary Magdalene, Chrsist’s other disciples and followers, and the Roman Empire.
Just a few of the popular songs from the musical are “Gethsemane,” “Everything’s Alright,” “This Jesus Must Die,” “I Don’t Know How To Love Him” and, of course, “Superstar.”
“Jesus Christ Superstar” first opened on Broadway in 1971 with Jeff Fenholt as Jesus and Ben Vereen as Judas, running over 700 performances in two years.
It received five Tony nominations, including Best Performance – Featured Actor (Musical) for Vereen and Best Original Score for Webber and Rice.
A West End run began in 1972 with Paul Nicholas as Jesus and Stephen Tate as Judas, running for eight years. For a time, it was the longest-running musical in the United Kingdom, ultimately closing after 3,358 performances.
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More iterations were staged, incluing three Broadway revivals, an arena tour, and several Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre productions in London. The latter won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival.
The show running at the Theatre at Solaire from May 2 to 24, 2026, courtesy of GMG Productions, is the reimagining of the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre helmed by director Timothy Sheader and choreographer Drew McOnie.
Show producer David Ian of Crossroads Live and Work Light Productions said in a statement that the team was delighted to bring “Jesus Christ Superstar” to Manila after tour stops in Australia and the United Kingdom.
“This Olivier Award-winning production has amazed audiences around the world with its raw energy and breathtaking performances,” Ian added. “Whether you’ve loved the show for decades or are discovering it for the first time, this will be an unforgettable experience.”
GMG head Carlos Candal mirrored Ian’s enthusiam bringing one of Webber’s most iconic and influential musicals ever to the Philippines.
“‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is a show that transcends generations. Its music and story continue to inspire audiences, and we can’t wait for Filipino fans to experience this powerful production live,” Candal also said.
Tickets for the Manila run, which will announce the cast soon, will be available beginning November 8 via TicketWorld, though a pre-sale period for UnionBank of the Philippines members will run from November 3 to 7.
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