Adam Lambert & Cynthia Erivo’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at the Hollywood Bowl Shatters Expectations

Opening night at the Hollywood Bowl was supposed to be special. Instead, it became legendary.

In a now-viral clip, Adam Lambert and Cynthia Erivo tore into a powerhouse duet as Judas and Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar — a performance so raw, so electrifying, it stopped the massive crowd in its tracks.

From the crackling tension in their harmonies to the unfiltered emotion in their eyes, the moment was less a show and more a theatrical lightning strike.

While some questioned the casting of Erivo — a Black, queer woman — in the role of Jesus, Lambert was quick to shut down the noise.
“Cynthia’s brilliant,” he told Billboard. “Her voice, her presence, her ability to be both powerful and vulnerable blows my mind. This show has always been meant to provoke and challenge — that’s the point. And shouldn’t the teachings of Jesus transcend gender?”

Erivo answered the “controversy” with her trademark wit:
“Why not? It’s three nights at the Hollywood Bowl where I get to sing my face off. Hopefully people come, watch, and realize, ‘Oh, it’s a musical — the gayest place on Earth.’”

The night’s all-star cast also featured Phillipa Soo, Raúl Esparza, and Milo Manheim, under Tony winner Sergio Trujillo’s direction with Stephen Oremus leading the music. Even Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber was reportedly in the audience.

The result? A boundary-breaking, genre-defying Jesus Christ Superstar that honored its rock-opera roots while catapulting them into the present — a celebration of inclusivity, faith, and fearless artistry.

Adam Lambert and Cynthia Erivo didn’t just perform. They redefined what Superstar can be. And in case anyone was wondering — yes, Lambert’s voice can still shake the stars.