987 replies to this topic

[Helenkagooner]

http://www.jesuschri...perstar.com/201 ... rstarPanel
Jason Donovan, Melanie C, casting director David Grindrod and Andrew Lloyd Webber
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER WELCOMES DAWN FRENCH AND JASON DONOVAN ONTO HIS LIVE SHOW JUDGING PANEL
AMANDA HOLDEN CONFIRMED AS SUPERSTAR HOST FOR THE ITV STUDIOS PRODUCED SERIES
ADDITIONAL GUEST ARTISTS WILL JOIN THROUGHOUT THE LIVE SHOWS

Following this week's Jesus Christ Superstar UK Arena Tour casting announcement, ITV1 and Andrew Lloyd Webber today announce further details about Superstar and the forthcoming televised live shows in the Summer.

All live show finalists in the series, produced by ITV studios, will be battling it out on stage to sing the title role of Jesus in the first ever UK arena tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's legendary Jesus Christ Superstar.  This new rock production will play in arenas nationwide in the Autumn and demands not only the highest vocal standards but also someone that can act and captivate massive arena audience.

Andrew Lloyd Webber, with the assistance of David Grindrod, Melanie C and Jason Donovan, have now finished the nationwide audition tour which also included vocal and performance challenges.

Superstar host Amanda Holden (Britain's Got Talent, Cutting It, The Grimley's), has been on hand for all the auditionees throughout the latter stages of the search getting to know each of their personalities.

"It's an absolute honour to be working with Andrew on Superstar.  We've discovered some wonderful talent for the viewers, I already feel very protective of them, I'm like Mother Hen with all my boys!" said Amanda Holden

Also confirmed today are British actress, writer and comedy legend, Dawn French (Jam & Jerusalem and The Vicar of Dibley) and award winning singer, actor, Jason Donovan (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Priscilla) who will be joining Andrew on the live show judging panel.

Comedienne Dawn French said "I'm gagging to find Jesus with the help of the Good Lord.  I have actually been searching for him my whole life, and I can't believe that inside a few weeks we are going to find him.  The fact that he is going to be a Rock God is a massive bonus."

Jason Donovan who has made his mark already on Superstar by assisting Andrew in the early stages of the competition moves to a judging seat next to Andrew and Dawn. Melanie C, who will take on the role of Mary Magdalene in the arena tour, will continue to support the judges during the live shows.

"We have unearthed some cracking talent so far and I'm really pleased I've had time to get to know the finalists as we've moved through the competition stages.  It's an honour to sit by Andrew on the judging panel and I can't wait for the live shows to start" said Jason Donovan

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: "The prize of this talent search has to be the biggest of any reality show ever.  The winner will be part of a star cast including Tim Minchin, Mel C and Chris Moyles playing in arenas up and down the country.  I am thrilled with the finalists I have chosen to put through to the live shows, they could not be a more varied bunch.  Viewers will have some really exciting performances to look forward to."

The live show judges will offer their opinions to each of the finalists on stage as they battle it out to win the votes of the British public. The various special guest artists will also be invited to offer their opinions on the contenders.

The winner's prize will be the leading role in a new arena tour of the legendary Jesus Christ Superstar which will open at London's O2 arena on 21st September.

Casting for the UK Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar was announced this week, with Tim Minchin, Melanie C and Chris Moyles joining the Superstar winner onstage. Tickets for the tour go onsale from 9am today, Friday 18th May. For more information on the tour, including dates and venues, click here.

Superstar is executive produced by Peter Davey with Katharine Begg as series producer.

Superstar is an ITV Studios production for ITV1.
Posted on: 18th May 2012

[Honoured Guest]

I started out as a JCS sceptic after a friend took me to the last night of the original production over thirty years ago and it didn't engage me at all.

But my interest began to grow when I read I'd be able to follow the reality tv casting process and shortly afterwards see the show on its arena tour.

And I was fascinated to learn of Tim Minchin's involvement, astonished to hear of the obnoxious Chris Moyles as Herod, and reassured by Mel C's input.

So, I leapt at yesterday's pre-sale and am now primed to sit glued to the entire ITV series before making a short stroll from home to my local arena.

[AdeRian]

This thread is great!!

I'll be honest, a few of you are barking up the wrong tree and falling into a number of the traps that those clever people at ITV have set.

The 'names' that are being thrown around for potential Jesus' are not accurate at all. I have been involved in a number of the location shots to date and am actually good friends with a number of the guys being mentioned, I can assure you that people like Alex Gaumond, Jonathan Williams and Tim Prottey-Jones are not in the process as I am very aware of their next career moves, none of them involve a TV show or the role of Jesus. I couldn't bear to watch this speculation any longer! haha.

Some names you've mentioned however are correct, so keep going folks, you'll get there! (Alternatively, wait for the show to air!) x

[simon from oxford]

Call me an old cynic, but when a new poster pops up claiming inside knowledge, I am always a little sceptical...

[The Scorpion]

potomusicalfan, on 18 May 2012 - 05:35 AM, said:

<p>


Connie Fisher? She is now (as she always was) a HUGE star.

This is off-topic so I'll keep this short, but....really?I'm well aware that my assessment of The Woman in White and Love Never Dies are only opinions, but I think objectively you are really jumping the gun in saying Connie Fisher is a "HUGE star". Really? There aren't many musical theatre performers who are "HUGE stars" to begin with. Elaine Paige, John Barrowman, Michael Ball and Michael Crawford are the only ones who readily spring to mind as "HUGE stars" that everyone has heard of, including people who have never set foot in a theatre before. Ask the average Joe on the street who Connie Fisher is and I very much doubt many would be able to tell you. She has not been in the West End, to my knowledge, since Sound of Music, which was 6 years ago, and seems to have gone off the radar in terms of public spotlight. You are of course more than entitled to be a fan of hers, but saying she's a huge star is really, really, really exaggerating.</p>Anyway, I stand by what I said re Lloyd Webber. I'm a long-time fan, but he hasn't done anything fantastic that isn't a revival IMHO since Sunset, which, depressingly, was almost 20 years ago. He's become a sad parody of all the criticisms of him used by his detractors. For me, Love Never Dies was the nail in the coffin, and this completely uninteresting arena tour of JCS is the sign of a curious afterlife of vulgarity and kitsch.

[AdeRian]

simon from oxford, on 18 May 2012 - 11:10 AM, said:

Call me an old cynic, but when a new poster pops up claiming inside knowledge, I am always a little sceptical...

Haha, fair point! In all honesty though, I'm not from a musical theatre background at all, I am a photographer, but this thread was brought to my attention by a friend because I know some of the guys, just thought I'd pop by and put my 10p's worth in

[Titan]

Connor Fisher a huge star? Oh come on! So many reasons why that's wrong, but just looking at her current project,wonderful town, and how poorly it's selling shows she isn't a draw

[Titan]

Sorry meant Connie

[johartuk]

Maybe not a huge star, but she's hardly a flop, which is what was being suggested.  Since she was in SOM (which closed four years ago), she's been in the SOM tour, released another album and done some TV work (including playing the lead role in an ITV drama and hosting a documentary series for BBC Wales).  She's currently in the 'Wonderful Town' tour.

Incidentally, I'm not a Connie fan, so I'm not blindly defending her, just pointing out that she has been working since SOM.

The TV casting series have unearthed some real talent over the years, with many still having successful careers 4/5/6 years on.  However, from what info has been released so far, I'm sceptical that the JCS series can replicate the success of the previous ones.  Graham Norton was an important part of the previous series' success.  His chemistry with ALW was key, encouraging ALW to relax and embrace the TV experience.  Then we have the format - the entire series being squashed into two weeks?  I honestly don't know how that's going to work, especially as, with only 10 contestants, they clearly can't use the 'Britain's Got Talent' format of 5 'semi-finals', with two contestants going through from each 'semi-final'.

[Annasette]

AdeRian, on 18 May 2012 - 11:59 AM, said:

Haha, fair point! In all honesty though, I'm not from a musical theatre background at all, I am a photographer, but this thread was brought to my attention by a friend because I know some of the guys, just thought I'd pop by and put my 10p's worth in

Well the only one really known for certain (at least according to the newspapers)is the guy from "The Voice". But speculation is fun! And for what it's worth, I think you are genuine, and your input is much appreciated here.You obviously can't confirm the names, but how about commenting on that specification that all the finalists are under 26? Does that fit with the guys that you have been photographing? Are any/many of them much younger than that? All contribution to the speculation process gratefully received ...lol!