Character guide
Caiaphas
Caiaphas is the high priest whose calculated opposition drives much of the plot in Jesus Christ Superstar, Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1971 rock opera.
- Show
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- Broadway premiere
- 1971
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Caiaphas on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1973 film and NBC's 2018 live concert
The 1973 film gives Caiaphas a song the stage show does not have. Then We Are Decided, in which Caiaphas and Annas talk through their troubles and fears about Jesus, was written for Norman Jewison's movie and is original to the film.
Bob Bingham originated Caiaphas on Broadway in 1971 and reprised him on screen, one of several Broadway cast members, along with Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen, who carried their roles into the film. In NBC's 2018 live concert, Norm Lewis played Caiaphas, with Jin Ha as Annas. In every version, This Jesus Must Die has him conclude that for the greater good Jesus must be executed.
Who is Caiaphas in Superstar?
Caiaphas is portrayed as a shrewd religious leader convinced that Jesus's growing popularity threatens the stability of his community and its uneasy peace with Roman authority. He is less a cartoonish villain than a calculating strategist, someone who believes he is making a difficult but necessary decision for the greater good.
His scenes with the other priests set the political machinery of the story in motion, and his cold, deliberate manner offers a stark contrast to the emotional turmoil surrounding Jesus and Judas.
Playing Caiaphas on stage
Caiaphas is a supporting role best known for requiring an unusually deep, resonant bass voice, one of the lowest and most distinctive vocal parts in the show. The character's authority is conveyed largely through that vocal weight rather than through stage time.
Performers who take on the role are often specifically sought out for their low range, since the part stands out sonically every time Caiaphas speaks or sings.
Caiaphas: frequently asked questions
What show is Caiaphas from?
Caiaphas is a character in Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1971 rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Is Caiaphas a lead or supporting role?
Caiaphas is a supporting role, notable for demanding an especially deep bass voice.
Who wrote the music for Jesus Christ Superstar?
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the music for the show.
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