Kabuki JCS
No more Jesus christ Superstar productions unless they are absolutely off the walls insane. We've had enough. I need to see new shit. Here is the Japanese Kabuki version of the show, I am obsessed with it, and I keep losing all my links so now they're all in one place yay. These productions are put on by the Shiki company in Japan. They have done many productions of JCS, with two different versions, the "Japonesque" kabuki style, and the "Jerusalem" more traditional style. Of course, what is traditional for JCS is the absolutely insane surreal original design.
The Shiki company first performed the Jerusalem version in 1973, with an album in 1976. This album is avaliable to listen to online. Fun fact, the actor for King Herod in it is also the voice of Mewtwo :]
The first Japonesque version was reportedly in the late 80's. In 1991, the this version was performed September 24th-28th at the Dominion Theatre, London, as part of a Japan festival! This also means that for those brief four days, Sir Andy Webbs had 6 shows running on the west end simultaneously. I'm so tired of this guy.
Links
- Shiki Japane main page
- Shiki website JCS (Jerusalem)
- Shiki website JCS (Japonesque)
- Shiki website JCS (Japonesque) article
- Travelogue review
- Shiki website JCS (Japonesque) article rehearsals
- Shiki company YouTube channel
- Jesus Christ Superstar Zone - Original Japanese Cast (1976)
- Original Japanese Cast (1976) album
- Shiki site company history
- Theatricalia archive London production
- LA Times: East Meets West in Kabuki-Style ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
- London Screen Archives 1991 Japan Festival footage (unavaliable)
- Reuters article: Jesus Christ goes kabuki in Japan "Superstar" play
Videos
- (2013) JCS Japonseque Version Promo Video
- (2023) JCS Japonseque Version Tokyo Performance Promotional Video
- (2009) JCS Japonseque Version Promo Video
- (2007) JCS Japonseque Version Promo Video
- (2009) What's the Buzz?
- (2009) Heaven on their Minds
- (2013) Shiki Theatre Company: 'Jesus Christ = Superstar' Japonesque Version: Scenes from the Daiyakuruma-rehearsal