Jesus Christ Superstar U.K. Rock Spectacular Screenings Canceled

By Andrew Gans
29 Oct 2012

Ben Forster and Mel C
Ben Forster and Mel C
Photo by Tristram Kenton

The screenings of the current U.K. arena touring production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Jesus Christ Superstar, which were scheduled for broadcast to select U.S. cinemas Oct. 29 and Nov. 1 at 7:30 PM local time, have been canceled.

According to a statement, "Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control the Jesus Christ Superstar UK Rock Spectacular event scheduled for tonight, 10/29 and Thursday, 11/1, has been cancelled. We do not yet know if the event will be rescheduled. ... If you already purchased tickets for this event through Fandango or MovieTickets.com, please contact their customer service department for information about refunds. Ticket holders who purchased at a local movie theater box office may contact the box office directly for refund information."

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Presented by NCM Fathom Events, Omniverse Vision and The Broadway League, Jesus Christ Superstar U.K. Rock Spectacular was pre-recorded by Universal Pictures Oct. 5 at the National Indoor Arena in England. The event was scheduled to be broadcast to more than 575 movie theatres across the country through NCM's Digital Broadcast Network.

"I have waited 42 years for Jesus Christ Superstar to play arenas in the U.K., and it is great to finally see the show as it was originally intended, as an arena rock opera," said Lloyd Webber in an earlier statement. "I'm thrilled that Universal will be filming the new arena tour of Jesus Christ Superstar for DVD and cinema release, which allows us to capture this amazing production and share it with the world!"

The cast features Tim Minchin in the role of Judas Iscariot; pop icon and former Spice Girl Melanie C as Mary Magdalene; radio DJ Chris Moyles in his stage debut as King Herod; and the winner of the ITV show "Superstar," Ben Forster, who was chosen by the British public to take on the title role of Jesus.

The broadcasts were scheduled to include a special historical retrospective, as well as interviews with cast members past and present.

 For more information visit FathomEvents.com.

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Chris Moyles and Ben Forster
Photo by Tristram Kenton