Character guide
Peter
Peter is one of Jesus's closest disciples in Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1971 Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera, and his arc turns on a moment of fear and denial.
- Show
- Jesus Christ Superstar
- Broadway premiere
- 1971
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Andrew Lloyd Webber
Peter on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1973 film and NBC's 2018 live concert
Michael Jason originated Peter on Broadway in 1971, but in Norman Jewison's 1973 film the role went to Philip Toubus, who had appeared in both the Broadway production and the touring production. Jason Tam played Peter in NBC's 2018 live concert.
Peter's arc is identical on stage and screen. After Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times, Peter's Denial shows him confronted by three witnesses to the arrest, and Mary observes that Jesus had predicted it. Peter then joins Mary and the apostles in Could We Start Again, Please?, a song added for the Broadway production and kept in the film.
Who is Peter in Superstar?
Peter is shown as a loyal and well-meaning follower whose devotion is tested once Jesus is arrested and the danger becomes real. Faced with the risk of being associated with a condemned man, he denies knowing Jesus, a moment of very human weakness that stands in sharp contrast to his earlier loyalty.
That reversal gives Peter's arc real emotional resonance, since audiences see a genuinely devoted follower buckle under pressure rather than a simple background disciple.
Playing Peter on stage
Peter is a supporting role, but one with a clear emotional trajectory that gives a performer real material to work with despite limited stage time. The part calls for a strong, expressive voice capable of shifting from warmth and camaraderie to fear and regret within a short span.
Because his defining moment hinges on a sudden collapse of nerve, the role rewards actors who can communicate a lot of feeling economically, making the most of a smaller but pivotal part.
Peter: frequently asked questions
What show is Peter from?
Peter appears in Jesus Christ Superstar, the 1971 rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Is Peter a lead or supporting role?
Peter is a supporting role, best known for his emotional arc around denying Jesus after the arrest.
Who wrote the music for Jesus Christ Superstar?
Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the score.
Think you can name today's mystery character in eight guesses?
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Jesus Christ Superstar show guideMusical theatre characters A to Z