The upcoming Hollywood Bowl production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” is adding even more star power, as Adam Lambert has officially been cast as Judas in the three-night event happening this summer.
He will appear alongside Cynthia Erivo, who was previously announced to take on the role of Jesus in a gender-blind casting approach. The actress set to portray Mary Magdalene has not been disclosed yet.
Lambert’s casting announcement comes just a day before individual ticket sales begin for the LA Philharmonic’s 2025 season at the Bowl. Tickets for all shows, including this production, go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT, following an earlier release of package deals. With Lambert and Erivo headlining, “Jesus Christ Superstar” is expected to become one of the season’s fastest-selling shows.
Though the title doesn’t mention him, Judas is often considered the central figure in the musical. This groundbreaking show originally launched the careers of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice and remains a landmark in musical theater history.
Lambert’s appearance at the Bowl comes soon after completing a successful six-month run in the Broadway revival of “Cabaret”—specifically, “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club.” In that production, he received acclaim for his portrayal of the Emcee.
The Bowl’s version of “Superstar” will be helmed by Tony Award-winning director and choreographer Sergio Trujillo. Music direction and conducting will be handled by Stephen Oremus, a Tony and Grammy winner known for his work on both stage and film adaptations of “Wicked.” The production is being staged in collaboration with Neil Meron and Robert Greenblatt.
This event continues the Bowl’s tradition of presenting fully staged versions of iconic musicals with big-name casts for a short-run engagement. It has been confirmed that the show will be a complete theatrical production, not just a concert. At the same time, it aims to honor its origins by “returning to its rock roots,” referencing the musical’s beginnings as a 1970 rock concept album before its Broadway debut in 1971 and film adaptation in 1973.
