There’s an overused word used to describe a moment or a song or a performance in show business.  And that word is:

Showstopping.

But how many times in your life have you witnessed a performance, song or an actor literally stopping a show for any significantly measurable length of time?

I’ve seen a few but not too many. 

But never have I witnessed the FULL TWO MINUTE spontaneous standing ovation Cynthia Erivo received at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night during her performance in the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar.

It was organic, impromptu and sustained for such a significant amount of “stage” time that it appropriately felt, in 2025 theatrical terms, about as close to religion as one can get in the theatre.

Or pretty much anywhere these days.

And it came at the end of her climactic song Gethesamne (I Only Want To Say), at a moment where a very human Jesus begins to question his mission from God. 

I won’t begin to describe what happens when a once-in-a-generation talent immerses themselves so completely in such an unexpected role.  But thanks to technology you can watch it here yourself.

Though I can testify viewing it from your screen at home doesn’t quite duplicate what it was like to be outside, under the stars, in an audience of 17,000, and being a part of a group who saw it occur seemingly out of nowhere.

This three night production of the rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar headlining an out gay woman of color, and co-starring/featuring a ton of out LGBTQ+ performers, might initially seem like a theatrical stunt to some, or oft-putting to others.

It is not.

What it does is instead reinforce the universality of the messages of kindness, equality, inclusion and love the basic stories in scripture provide when we are forced to look at the story in a new and decidedly different way.

Don’t take my word for it.  Here are some samples courtesy of an article from Broadway World:

There are numerous moments and performances to call out in what pretty much amounts to a mind-blowing three-night production. 

But I’d be remiss to not also specifically mention what a treat it is to hear a singer like Adam Lambert bring his high Cs and Ds, and pretty much every note below that, as well as his acting chops, to what is truly the lead role of the Christ-betraying Judas.

And that’s saying something from a guy like me, whose high school American history teacher actually took my class in Queens to see the original Broadway production in the early 1970s early in its run.

Thanks, Mr. Vidakovich – and how did you ever manage that?

“Superstar” – Raul Esparza, Cynthia Erivo, Adam Lambert in Jesus Christ Superstar