“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo has been picked to play Jesus in the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” in several performances at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles this summer.
The 38-year-old actress, who recently played the role of Elephaba alongside Ariana Grande in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” has landed the title role in the rock opera that will take place in August 2025, Broadway World.com reported. The rest of the cast has yet to be announced.
Erivo captioned a post on her Instagram Stories about the announcement, “Just a little busy this summer. Can’t wait.” She previously took on the role of Mary Magdalene in the all-female 2020 concept album “Jesus Christ Superstar: She Is Risen,” Deadline noted.
The “Jesus Christ Superstar” was initially released as a concept album in 1970 before it debuted on Broadway in 1971. It tells the story of “Jesus Christ’s final days, focusing on the complex relationship between Jesus and his disciple-turned-betrayer, Judas Iscariot,” the outlet noted.
Cynthia Erivo is set to play Jesus Christ this summer in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Hollywood Bowl.https://t.co/Sa6cSIiHdI
— Variety (@Variety) February 18, 2025
The “Superstar” musical marks the return of musicals at the Hollywood Bowl since the pandemic shut down the world, the Los Angeles Times noted.
“We missed the musicals for a few years, and I think that one is a good one to return with,” L.A. Phil President and Chief Executive Kim Noltemy told the Times. “Whether it be staffing or psychological transition, we needed time to get back up to running like the machine we can be when everything’s going well.”
Erivo made headlines in 2024 when an interview between her and Grande about their movie “Wicked” with “Out” magazine went viral, as previously reported.
In the original video, self-described “queer journalist” Tracy Gilchrist told Grande and Erivo that “people have been taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that,” prompting Erivo to become emotional and say, “I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful,” as Grande gripped her hand and nodded along.
In the weeks after, the clip circulated online and was mocked, as many viewers have questioned what Gilchrist was talking about when she used the words “holding space.”
Following news of Erivo’s casting, some took to social media and slammed the move.
Actor Nick Searcy wrote on X, “Hollywood is just trolling us now…”
Newsmax host Todd Starnes added, “The Hollywood Bowl just hired a bald, black woman who identifies as queer to portray our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Cynthia Erivo will star in a revival of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ Dude. WTH?!?”
Related: Ariana Grande Admits She Didn’t Know What ‘Holding Space’ Meant During Viral Wicked Interview
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“Wicked” star Cynthia Erivo has been picked to play Jesus in the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” in several performances at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles this summer.
The 38-year-old actress, who recently played the role of Elephaba alongside Ariana Grande in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical “Wicked,” has landed the title role in the rock opera that will take place in August 2025, Broadway World.com reported. The rest of the cast has yet to be announced.
Erivo captioned a post on her Instagram Stories about the announcement, “Just a little busy this summer. Can’t wait.” She previously took on the role of Mary Magdalene in the all-female 2020 concept album “Jesus Christ Superstar: She Is Risen,” Deadline noted.
The “Jesus Christ Superstar” was initially released as a concept album in 1970 before it debuted on Broadway in 1971. It tells the story of “Jesus Christ’s final days, focusing on the complex relationship between Jesus and his disciple-turned-betrayer, Judas Iscariot,” the outlet noted.
Cynthia Erivo is set to play Jesus Christ this summer in a production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Hollywood Bowl.https://t.co/Sa6cSIiHdI
— Variety (@Variety) February 18, 2025
The “Superstar” musical marks the return of musicals at the Hollywood Bowl since the pandemic shut down the world, the Los Angeles Times noted.
“We missed the musicals for a few years, and I think that one is a good one to return with,” L.A. Phil President and Chief Executive Kim Noltemy told the Times. “Whether it be staffing or psychological transition, we needed time to get back up to running like the machine we can be when everything’s going well.”
Erivo made headlines in 2024 when an interview between her and Grande about their movie “Wicked” with “Out” magazine went viral, as previously reported.
In the original video, self-described “queer journalist” Tracy Gilchrist told Grande and Erivo that “people have been taking the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity’ and really holding space with that and feeling power in that,” prompting Erivo to become emotional and say, “I didn’t know that was happening. That’s really powerful,” as Grande gripped her hand and nodded along.
In the weeks after, the clip circulated online and was mocked, as many viewers have questioned what Gilchrist was talking about when she used the words “holding space.”
Following news of Erivo’s casting, some took to social media and slammed the move.
Actor Nick Searcy wrote on X, “Hollywood is just trolling us now…”
Newsmax host Todd Starnes added, “The Hollywood Bowl just hired a bald, black woman who identifies as queer to portray our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Cynthia Erivo will star in a revival of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ Dude. WTH?!?”
Related: Ariana Grande Admits She Didn’t Know What ‘Holding Space’ Meant During Viral Wicked Interview
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