We Speak Entertainment
JOHN LEGEND SET FOR TITLE ROLE IN NBC’S ‘JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR LIVE IN CONCERT!’ FROM BROOKLYN, N.Y.
Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony and 10-time Grammy Award winner John Legend has been cast as Jesus Christ in NBC’s special event “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!,” to be aired Easter Sunday, April 1. NBC continues to innovate its live musical productions with the staging of this iconic rock opera in front of a large audience at the Marcy Armory in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y.
“Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!” will be executive produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, Marc Platt, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Joining the creative team also as executive producers are John Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorius. Rock icon Alice Cooper was previously announced for the role of King Herod and the production will be helmed by esteemed British theatre director David Leveaux.
“We’re all overjoyed to have world-class musical artist and producer John Legend starring as Jesus,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “This score demands a singer with an amazing range and an actor with great depth, and there isn’t anyone better to bring this story to a new audience. His casting is also groundbreaking as the traditional image of Christ will be seen in a new way.”
“John Legend is a superstar,” said Tim Rice, lyricist of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” “As a performer, his voice is infectious and effortless. As an actor, he is believable and honest. I’m thrilled he will be able to share his portrayal of Jesus with the world.” “I’m thrilled to join the cast of this production of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!,’” Legend said. “It’s such a powerful, meaningful musical and I’m humbled to be part of this performance. We’ve already formed an incredible team, and, as we finish casting, I’m certain we will put together some of the greatest talents around to do this work justice.”
A highly accomplished musician, concert performer, songwriter, actor, and music and film producer, Legend is one of the most versatile and talented artists in entertainment today. In 2015, he, along with Common, won the Oscar, Golden Globe and Grammy for their song “Glory” from the film “Selma,” which chronicled the 1965 civil rights march in Selma, Ala. Legend, who has released five studio albums, began his impressive Grammy run in 2006 when he won Best New Artist for his debut release “Get Lifted,” which captured Best R&B Album. “Get Lifted,” along with each of his next three albums – “Once Again,” “Evolver” and “Love in the Future” – reached the Top 5 in album sales on the Billboard charts and achieved gold status. As a film producer, Legend worked with Platt on the 2016 film sensation “La La Land,” in which he also appeared and Platt produced. Legend previously collaborated with Zadan and Meron when the pair produced the 2015 Oscar telecast in which Legend performed “Glory” with Common. In addition to “La La Land,” Legend has acted in several TV and film productions, including “Underground,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and “Soul Men.” On Broadway, Legend won a Tony Award earlier this year as a producer of August Wilson’s “Jitney,” which won for Best Revival of a Play. He has also written songs for the Broadway run of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” which recently opened to strong reviews.
The “Jesus Christ Superstar” album hit #1 on the Billboard charts and made its way to the stage in 1971. It is based on the final week of Jesus’ life. The 1971 musical opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on Broadway and starred Jeff Fenholt as Jesus and Ben Vereen as Judas. It was nominated for five Tonys, including Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for Vereen. Lloyd Webber won a Drama Desk Award for Most Promising Composer. Since then, the musical has been considered a classic and has become a staple of theatre and music organizations throughout the world. It has been performed in nearly 20 countries and translated into 18 different languages. There have been many revivals of “Jesus Christ Superstar” over the 46 years since its debut, including 2000 and 2012 Broadway versions that each earned a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. The 1973 film was directed by Oscar winner Norman Jewison and starred Ted Neeley. “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert!” will be produced by Universal Television, The Really Useful Group, Marc Platt Productions and Zadan/Meron Productions.
We Speak Business
From the Frontlines to the Screen: How West Texas Hospitals Became National Models of Crisis Leadership
In the vast and often unforgiving expanse of West Texas, healthcare doesn’t come easy. Resources are stretched, patients are sometimes hours away from care, and trauma doesn’t wait for convenience. Yet, against the odds, two hospitals—Medical Center Hospital in Odessa and Pecos County Memorial Hospital in Fort Stockton—are quietly transforming what it means to lead in rural emergency medicine. Their work, now drawing national attention thanks to the Amazon Prime docuseries Desert Doc, is setting a new benchmark in crisis leadership and trauma care.
What makes these institutions exceptional isn’t just their location or their patient volume—it’s their unwavering ability to deliver high-stakes medical care with limited resources, tight budgets, and enormous responsibility. In this region, where oil rigs outnumber ambulances and car crashes are all too common, fast, effective emergency response can mean the difference between life and death.
What’s behind their success? It’s a powerful blend of visionary leadership, courageous medical direction, and a culture built on resilience and adaptability. Leading the way are CEOs Russell Tippin of Medical Center Hospital and Betsy Briscoe of Pecos County Memorial Hospital—trailblazers who have pushed the boundaries of innovation in rural healthcare. Partnering with them are dedicated physicians like Dr. Sudip Bose, whose frontline experience as an US Army combat physician in Iraq shapes his calm, decisive approach to crisis care. As seen in Desert Doc, Dr. Bose is part of a committed network of clinicians who view rural emergency medicine not just as a career, but as a calling.
While the show Desert Doc brings these high-pressure moments to life on screen, what it also reveals is the remarkable strength of the systems behind the scenes. Pecos County Memorial Hospital, for instance, may be smaller in scale, but its impact is no less profound. Their medical staff routinely stabilize and save patients in conditions that would challenge even the best-equipped urban centers. Their coordination with air medical services, cross-training of rural clinicians, and integration of battlefield-inspired trauma techniques demonstrate a playbook that larger hospitals could learn from.
The pandemic further spotlighted these hospitals’ leadership under pressure. Medical Center Hospital quickly adapted to shifting protocols, staff shortages, and overwhelming patient volumes. Their response earned praise from both state and federal health authorities, showing that rural facilities can be agile and innovative in ways that larger systems often struggle to match.
The growing interest in Desert Doc isn’t just about entertainment—it’s a window into the reality of rural healthcare, and the hospitals and people rising to meet that reality every day. While the series centers on Dr. Bose’s gripping, real-time cases, the true story is broader. It’s about a region’s commitment to resilience. It’s about hospitals doing more with less—and doing it with excellence.
As the spotlight shines on these stories, one thing becomes clear: West Texas hospitals are no longer just local lifelines. They are national models of what’s possible when leadership, courage, and innovation collide.
🎥 Watch the Trailer: Desert Doc Trailer – YouTube
📺 Stream the Full Series on Amazon Prime: Desert Doc on Amazon Prime
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