Think Pink’s bold and creative take brings Jesus Christ Superstar into modern times.

The Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice classic Jesus Christ Superstar recently re-entered the zeitgeist of pop culture with NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar LIVE that aired on Easter Sunday 2018 and starred John Legend. With this renewed popularity of an all-time classic, it was the perfect time for Think Pink Production’s director Kensington Blaylock-Eck to tackle the musical. Coming off such successes such as Evil Dead: the Musical and Assassins, I anxiously awaited to see what they’d do with JCS. The end-result was another high-quality production that did have a few minor issues.

If you go into Think Pink’s JCS with the expectation that it is going to have the same  budget of the aforementioned John Legend production, you’ll probably be disappointed. If you go in with an open-mind and let them tell their version, you’ll find a lot to love.

The first choice that Think Pink makes with JCS is to set it in modern times. 2019 is the first time that Jesus has come to prominence and is performing all of the miracles that we learned about in Sunday school. The show opens with pre-recorded news reports (a narrative device the show employs throughout) catching audience members up on what JC and the gang have been up to. Jesus and his crew have been arrested and sent to the Indiana State Sanitarium because in 2019, if you claim to be the son of God, they are gonna send you away to get your head checked.

I really liked this angle on the story. It definitely felt fresh and was not at all what I was expecting. Because Think Pink is privately owned and operated, they are free to make these bold creative choices that other theatres who have boards to answer to might not. Seeing Jesus in a mental hospital and Mary Magdalene as a reporter trying to help him get his message out is a bold, memorable choice.

The cast is comprised of only 11 actors, which is a huge undertaking for a show of this size. The smaller cast works for the most part; however, with so many of the actors playing several characters, it was tough at times to keep track of who everyone was during certain scenes. With most of the cast being comprised as women, this got especially confusing when trying to decipher which male character they were portraying at the time. And while I mention this, I have to commend the show on doing an amazing gender-swap of Judas.

Alex Wilkison as Judas is one of the best things I’ve seen in theatre since I started regularly attending shows back in 2016. Her portrayal of Jesus’ right-hand man brings humanity to a character that is often written-off as “just the villain.” Judas was complicated, and Alex brings that complication to life. You feel for her as she watches Jesus begin to get closer with Mary Magdalene and the jealousy that forms. The seething glances she shoots at Jennifer Vela’s Magdalene will make you reassess what you consider “shade.”

I’m a little over 500 words into this review, and I still haven’t mentioned Jesus. Jesus, as portrayed by Brandon Eck, is a tour de force on stage. I’ve watched Brandon grow as a performer, and he never fails to impress me. I’ve seen him in musicals before, but JCS allows him to show off his amazing vocal range. At one point, after belting out and holding a note for what seemed like forever, all I could do is quietly mutter, unironically, “Jesus Christ.” By the end of the show, you really feel like you’ve gone through the Hell that Jesus has gone through due to this masterfully crafted performance.

The entire cast is full of talented singers, all of which took me to a new level of appreciation of what they are capable of. Emily Durchholz’ part in “Jesus Must Die” and “Blood Money” is a particular stand-out for me. I love those songs, and she absolutely crushes it. Zach Bryant as King Herod is a delight because Zach Bryant is always a delight. Ashleigh Lane Dulik as Pilate was a fun performance as well, as she gets to perform with the Eck’s daughter, Starling. Starling, who is only 4, has better acting chops than some adults I’ve worked with. Starling, this is officially your first review. Welcome to the biz, kid. It was nice to see Rhashaad Lee back on the Think Pink stage as well. He was great in Assassins, and I look forward to seeing more from him.

Overall, I enjoyed Think Pink’s version of Jesus Christ Superstar. It was ambitious and definitely on-brand for what TP has done in the past. They want to challenge how people view theatre, and they accomplish that once again. If you plan on attending this show (and I recommend you do), I’d suggest familiarizing yourself with the story beforehand. Listen to the soundtrack or read the synopsis here. That way, you’ll be able to focus on the story and appreciate the direction and creative liberty Think Pink brings to this telling. If you need something to see this weekend, Think Pink’s Jesus Christ Superstar is a great choice, and you’ll leave knowing what all the buzz (hey what’s happening) was about.

You can get more information about the show and purchase tickets here.

Editors Note: This review is based on the final dress rehearsal of the show viewed on February 21st