If there was one way to make conservatives even more pressed than Cynthia Erivo’s casting as Jesus Christ in the iconic musical, it would be adding Adam Lambert to the production as Judas.
Queer Queen star Adam Lambert has been cast as Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar – opposite Wicked‘s Cynthia Erivo as Jesus.
Lambert will join Erivo onstage in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice rock musical for one weekend only from 1 and 3 August this year, at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.
The former Glee star’s casting was announced by the official Hollywood Bowl Instagram account. No casting for Mary Magdalene has yet been confirmed.
Lambert recently wrapped a run on Broadway as the Emcee in Cabaret – a role which is now being played by Orville Peck.
This limited run production of Jesus Christ Superstar will be directed and choreographed by Tony winner Sergio Trujillo, and marks Erivo’s first major role since Wicked (save for a turn as a guest judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 10).
Two-time Grammy and Tony Award winner Stephen Oremus will also conduct and direct the musical.
Erivo’s casting was met with predictable anger from religious zealots, with many denouncing the casting of a queer Black woman as a “siege” against Christianity.
Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar has featured numerous racially-diverse casts since its premiere in 1971.
Erivo herself featured on an all-female Jesus Christ Superstar album called She Is Risen just three years ago, while previous stars of the musical include musician John Legend in role as Jesus, gay singer-songwriter Declan Bennett also as Jesus, and gay comedian Julian Clary as King Herod – not in the same show.
Tickets for Cynthia Erivo and Adam Lambert in Jesus Christ Superstar are available now.
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