Javon King on becoming Judas in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Jesus Christ Superstar has captivated audiences for over five decades, with its iconic rock score and compelling narrative. Originally released as a concept album in 1970 and opening on Broadway in 1971, the show has become a global phenomenon. The Australian production, which first debuted at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in 1972, quickly cemented itself as a beloved staple in the musical theatre canon. This legendary rock opera, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, offers a contemporary perspective on the final weeks of Jesus Christ’s life as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot.
The new reimagined production by London’s Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre promises to breathe new life into this classic tale. An Australian national tour kicks off in Sydney in November, and features an exciting cast, including Javon King as Judas.
Javon is a Green Room Award-winning New York City and Melbourne based actor, singer and dancer. Some of his Australian theatre credits include Tristan/Young Man 6 in The Inheritance at fortyfivedownstairs, Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls at Chapel off Chapel (Green Room Award winner for Best Supporting Actor), and Seaweed J. Stubbs in the Australian tour of Hairspray (Crossroads Live), for which he received a Green Room Award nomination for his performance. Javon received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Rider University in 2019. Professionally back home in the US, Javon toured across the United States and internationally as Angel in the 20th and 25th Anniversary tours of RENT. His other credits include Henry/Jack understudy in Newsies and Mereb in Aida.
Are you excited to be stepping into such an iconic role?
Javon: Excitement is an understatement. I am so over the moon, excited about the show. It has been a bucket list show of mine, and it’s just like any tenor singer or musical theater singer. This is the show you want to do. This is the role you want to sing. For me, the fact that I am actually able to do it is kind of crazy, and the fact that I’m doing it in Australia is even crazier. I love it here and I’ve been here for two years now, so it’s just full circle. I love the songs that Judas sings. I personally think that he has some of the best songs in the show. There is so much raw energy in how he’s feeling about Jesus and everything like that. It just is going to be so good. When you pair it with the underscoring of what the band is playing and what he’s singing, it’s a perfect match in heaven. I’m excited to be another Judas in the 50-year history of this show and give my own spin to it as much as I can while respecting everything that came before and what’s on the page.
Coming off the back of Hairspray and Guys and Dolls, how are you going to vocally switch from the typical ‘musical theatre’ sound to accomodate the rock demands of the score?
Javon: I’ll definitely need to get back into some voice lessons just to wrap my brain around what I’m doing. I did Rent in the States, which is another pop rock musical, so I can gear off of that, but it’s been a few years since I’ve done Rent. I’ve been back in my musical theater kind of Guys and Dolls, which is very classical musical theater, and Hairspray, which is contemporary musical theatre, so very different scales of singing. It will take some getting used to just to be able to sing that eight times a week, and give it the sound that people are expecting to hear because it can’t be that traditional musical theatre sound. It will be a fun challenge to get back and tap back into that pop rock part of my voice. It’s a muscle that I have to reuse again.
Jesus Christ Superstar is extremely beloved in Australia – what can audiences expect from this new production?
Javon: I’m excited about this version because we’re really stripping it back and emphasising the music and what Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote, digging into the notes on the page and the lyrics we’re singing. It still has that grand spectacle version, but it’s not your traditional Jesus Christ Superstar. It is kind of like a rock concert in a sense, but it still is a musical. It will be interesting. I think Australians will love it. People grew up with this album since the 70s, and it’s been 50 years or so of people loving this score. The music hasn’t changed, it’s just a different interpretation for 2024 and 2025 audiences. I didn’t realise it was so popular here until I was doing the interviews and talking to people about it. There are so many people who say the Australian production is the definitive one, like the John Farnham version. People have high expectations and are nostalgic about this show. It’s great to have it coming back for the 50th anniversary and to be doing a new version of it. It means it sets it apart; it’s not going to be the same show that everyone knows. We get the ability to inject that new quality into it as well.
Why do you think the show is still so relevant today?
Javon: I think people just want to be able to relate to things. It’s that timeless kind of thing of your friend betraying you. Everyone has had a friend that has done something to them that has rubbed them the wrong way. You can put yourself in the shoes of Jesus and Judas and replace them with yourself and your own friends. It’s that relationship of what happened and why, and all the questioning of all those things. Also, the music being this really hard-hitting rock makes the story easier to digest and relate to. The story is a bit dreary, looking at the last couple of weeks of Jesus’s life and his crucifixion, but having the rock music makes it lighter on the palate. People enjoy that.
Are you excited to be working alongside Australian music legends Michael Paynter and Mahalia Barnes?
Javon: I’ve heard so much about both of them. They are genuine and down-to-earth people. I’m excited to learn from them and pick their brains. We all come from different backgrounds of theatre and entertainment. They come from a very different world from what I’ve been doing, so it will be nice to learn their tricks of the trade and see how they approach the roles of Jesus and Mary. I know Michael will be a phenomenal Jesus and Mahalia will be a wonderful Mary.
What is your favourite song or moment in the show?
Javon: I think “Heaven on Their Minds” is probably up there with one of the best songs. “Superstar” I love as well. Also “Gethsemane” is a great song, I’m excited to hear Michael do that. Mary sings “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” which is probably the best song in the show, I’m looking forward to hearing Mahalia sing it because her voice is absolutely amazing.
Why should people come and see Jesus Christ Superstar?
Javon: People should come see it for the nostalgia of something that hasn’t been in Australia since the 90s, but also for a new version of a soundtrack that people love so much. It’s a story of friendship and betrayal, things that people can relate to in their day-to-day life. It’s a testament to the timelessness of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s work and the good work of all the people who have done it previously. The music is so good. I’m excited.
Jesus Christ Superstar tickets are now on sale for the Sydney season.
Presale for Melbourne tickets starts Monday 29 July, with general public sales from Friday 2 July.
For tickets and more information, visit jesuschristsuperstarmusical.com.au
