Jesus Christ Superstar announces Broadway cast

Canadian actor Brent Carver will miss theBroadway revivalof Jesus Christ Superstar, but most of the cast from the hit Stratford Shakespeare Festival production is headed to New York.

Paul Nolan, Josh Young and Chilina Kennedy (as Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene, respectively) are part of the cast announced Thursday by producers of the upcoming production.

American theatre veteran Tom Hewitt will play Pontius Pilate, the role Carver filled in the recent Stratford version.

Cranbrook, B.C.-born actor Carver is a Tony Award-winner for Kiss of the Spider Woman and also starred in Broadway productions of Parade and Fiddler on the Roof. However, he was not able to take his portrayal of Pontius Pilate toSan Diego's La Jolla Playhousefor the show's pre-Broadway run, reportedly because of vocal strain.

Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera credited with helping to reinvent musical theatre for the modern age and tells the story of the final week of Christs life.

Stratford artistic director Des McAnuff helms the latest revival of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, which continues at La Jolla through the end of the year.

Jesus Christ Superstar begins previews at New York's Neil Simon Theatre on March 1, with opening night set for March 22.