NEW: Black queer woman to play Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar musical at Hollywood Bowl

A black, queer woman will play the part of Jesus Christ in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at this summer at the Hollywood Bowl. Cynthia Erivo, 37, who played Elphaba in film production of "Wicked" identifies as queer and bisexual.

In an Instagram story from Erivo, the actress said, “Just a little busy this Summer, can’t wait," next to a post from Official Broadway World announcing the role with Erivo. The post from the page stated, "Cynthia Erivo will be playing Jesus in the upcoming Hollywood Bowl production of Jesus Christ Superstar!"



In a previous, all-female production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, Erivo played Mary Magdalene. The new production will run at the Hollywood Bowl in August with Sergio Trujillo directing and choreographing the show. According to the LA Times, the show is marking a return of the events after there was a hiatus at the Hollywood Bowl caused by the 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns.



Comments on the post varied in how users took the announcement on social media. One user responded, "Um Jesus was a dude," with another saying, "The world is a joke."

One said she was going to "slay" because of the "way this changes the dynamics of the character" in the musical. One said it was "blasphemous" while another celebrated the "Black Lesbian Jesus Christ."

The performances of the musical will run from Aug. 1 to Aug. 3, and additional cast members are going to be announced at later times. The musical director as well as conductor for the show will be Stephen Oremus, per Variety.

The LA Philharmonic President Kim Noltemy said, “We missed the musicals for a few years, and I think that one is a good one to return with. Whether it be staffing or psychological transition, we needed time to get back up to running like the machine we can be when everything’s going well.”

The initial debut of “Jesus Christ Superstar” was in 1971 and plays out the last week of Christ’s life before the crucifixion. After two years, the musical was made into a film in 1973.

In her role for "Wicked," Erivo previously said that being a "black woman who is queer" made her a good fit for the role of Elphaba better than other women.

Erivo has also said of the "Wicked" role, “I hope it’s a bit of a love letter to everyone who feels different, who feels out of place, to all of the black women who have walked into rooms and felt like they haven’t been welcomed." She has been nominated for an Oscar in the musical.