Jesus Christ Superstar

Current Issue
Written By Taylor Onski

What’s the Buzz with Magnus Theatre’s Latest Musical?

By Taylor Onski

In 2023, Magnus Theatre’s artistic director Thom Currie sat down with award-winning director and choreographer Julie Tomaino, whose previous Magnus credits include choreographing We Will Rock You and Rocky Horror Picture Show. “I said, I’m thinking Jesus Christ Superstar, and I don’t want it to be tied to traditional gender roles or traditional visions of the show,” says Currie. “I don’t want it to look like any other Jesus Christ Superstar that’s ever been done. And the first word out of Julie’s mouth [was] ‘exactly.’”

Fast forward to 2026, and Tomaino is now directing Magnus’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar. This award-winning rock opera from musical theatre legends Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice chronicles the end of Christ’s life. When Judas becomes conflicted about Christ’s movement, it is only a matter of time before unease and tensions rise between Christ and his followers, and even within himself.

“It’s not really about religion at all,” says Currie. “It's about politics, social pressure, media pressure, and all the other things we've been talking about all this year. What and who do you believe?”

Tomaino has assembled an all-star cast of both new performers and Magnus alum from all over Canada, and music director Danny Johnson leads a five-piece band to bring this impeccable score to life. “There will be people playing cross-gender [roles]. It’s a younger cast and it’s gonna have a hip-hop feel to it with a 70s funk feel,” says Currie. “We’ve determined 48 different costumes for the show. But it’s not going to look like the movie. A lot of people are like, “Oh, you’ll need a lot of robes.’ No, we won’t. This isn’t your dad’s Jesus Christ Superstar.”

From the toe-tapping “What’s the Buzz” to the stirring siren calls of “Gethsamane,” Jesus Christ Superstar is a story that transcends time, much like the biblical story it is based on. 

“I hope people take away a new perspective, and I hope it gives them a thought for unity. I hope that people walk away with an idea that it’s one world, no matter who you are, which is kind of what Jesus’s method message was, anyway,” says Currie. 

Jesus Christ Superstar runs at Magnus Theatre from March 26 to April 18. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit magnustheatre.com or call the Magnus Theatre box office at 807-345-5552.

Taylor Onski

Whether as an actor, crew member, or writer covering local productions, Taylor deeply values the magic of theatre. A part of the local theatre scene since age 12, Taylor essentially grew up on Thunder Bay stages. So when the opportunity came to combine her love of theatre and writing with The Walleye, she leapt at the chance to talk to talented theatre artists around town (many of whom she’s honoured to call friends).

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