Asolo Rep’s Jesus Christ Superstar Resurrects the Stage with Dazzling Design and Rock-Solid Soul
The stage has never felt holier—or louder.
Asolo Repertory Theatre’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar, directed and choreographed by the masterful Josh Rhodes, doesn’t just resurrect a rock opera classic. It launches it skyward in a blaze of glory, feedback, and ferocious humanity. Blending the spectacle of a stadium concert with the soul-searching of sacred theater, this is a production that pulses with energy from the first guitar riff to the final breath.
From scenic design that makes your jaw drop to costumes that clash the ancient with the anarchic, this Superstar is not only alive—it’s transcendent.
A Set That Sings Before a Word Is Spoken
Scenic designer Adam Koch has created a visual universe that is nothing short of stunning. The set is a mammoth cathedral of steel, stone, and fire—where ancient iconography collides with modern rebellion. Vertical scaffolding climbs heavenward like ambition. Stark, Roman-inspired arches are accented with LED lighting that flashes like divine prophecy. It’s a blend of urban ruin and biblical drama, a space where power struggles and spiritual awakenings feel at home.
The design is not only beautiful—it’s dynamic. Platforms rise and fall. Projections flicker with unrest. Every visual moment is choreographed to reinforce the emotional stakes. When Jesus is tempted, the lights narrow to a near-blinding white. When Judas falls, red floods the stage like spilled wine. It’s sacred theater with the swagger of a rock-and-roll arena.
Costumes That Blur Time, Place, and Purpose
Alejo Vietti, the brilliant costume designer behind this visual feast, understands that clothes can carry theology. His designs blend punk grit with Middle Eastern textures, Roman silhouettes with modern rebellion. Jesus, played with aching humanity by Jesse Nager, wears a simple, flowing tunic—humble, timeless, and spiritual. In stark contrast, Judas—forever conflicted—rocks layered fabrics, combat boots, and chain accents that speak to his role as both insider and outlier.
The crowd scenes are where Vietti’s brilliance explodes: zealots, apostles, and priests clash in a riot of textures and tones. Herod’s court is glamorously grotesque, dripping in opulence that masks danger. Pilate’s power suit, regal and militaristic, sends an icy chill through the theater. The result? A visual landscape that is both of this world and not—rooted in history, but not bound by it.
Music That Moves Heaven and Earth
Let’s not forget what makes Jesus Christ Superstar iconic: the music. And here, it’s volcanic.
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s legendary score is performed live with unrelenting force. Electric guitars snarl, drums thunder, and keyboards soar like ascending spirits. Every song feels raw and necessary—timeless rock anthems reborn in real-time. Musical direction is tight, fiery, and fearless. No saccharine ballads here—every note is loaded with grit and grace.
Jesse Nager’s Jesus is not an aloof messiah—he’s a man caught in divine crosshairs. His vocals are equal parts tender and defiant, especially in “Gethsemane,” where he wrestles with fate in a vocal tour-de-force that brought the audience to a breathless hush. You don’t watch that scene—you survive it with him.
Opposite him, the Judas portrayed here is magnetic and tortured. Every line of “Heaven on Their Minds” feels like a sermon and a scream. The vocal chemistry between Judas and Jesus is combustible, crackling with betrayal, brotherhood, and rage.
And Mary Magdalene, in this production, is the soul of the show—a voice of grace amid the fire. Her rendition of “I Don’t Know How to Love Him” is simple, sincere, and devastating.
Choreography That Preaches with Movement
As director and choreographer, Josh Rhodes deserves a standing ovation of his own. His direction is seamless, making spiritual conflict feel personal and physical. Every movement—whether subtle or explosive—carries story. The ensemble becomes a Greek chorus, a protest crowd, a legion of followers and dissenters.
Dance breaks hit like revivals. The energy never dips. Rhodes brings a cinematic eye to the staging, using depth, space, and rhythm to draw the audience into the emotional vortex. He doesn’t stage scenes—he sculpts them.
A Crucifixion You Can’t Look Away From
The final moments of Jesus Christ Superstar are legendary—and Asolo Rep earns every tear, every gasp, every sliver of silence.
As Jesus ascends to his fate, surrounded by a chaotic chorus of sound and light, we’re reminded why this show endures. It’s not just about betrayal and sacrifice. It’s about what it means to be human in the face of impossible choices. About how love can look like loss. About how the biggest revolutions are sometimes whispered before they’re shouted.
And in this production, that whisper becomes a war cry.
Final Word
Asolo Rep’s Jesus Christ Superstar is more than a revival—it’s a revelation.
With Adam Koch’s cathedral of a set, Alejo Vietti’s daring costume design, Josh Rhodes’s fearless direction, and a cast led by the revelatory Jesse Nager, this show doesn’t just retell the passion story—it reclaims it. It reminds us that even 2,000 years later, the questions still burn. The music still matters. The stage, like the soul, can still be shaken.
If you want theater that roars, that weeps, that resurrects your sense of awe—this is your gospel.
