Josh Young to Perform as Judas on Jesus Christ Superstar’s Opening Night

After missing several critics’ performances of Jesus Christ Superstar, Josh Young will perform as Judas on the show’s March 22 opening night, his press representative confirms. Understudy Jeremy Kushnier took over the pivotal role in the show’s March 20 and 21 performances, when Young was sidelined by illness. 

Young will now definitely be eligible for a Tony nomination, as the Awards' 2011-2012 rulebook states "in order to be eligible an actor or actress must perform in the role on the production’s opening night." 

Jesus Christ Superstar marks Young’s Broadway debut. He has played Judas in this revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera since it began at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2011. A statement released by the show’s press reps following Young’s absences said the singer “was saddened that this happened at such a crucial time and rendered him unable to perform,” and that he was “waiting for his doctor to clear him to rejoin the cast.”

Directed by Des McAnuff, Jesus Christ Superstar also stars Paul Nolan in the title role and Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene.