Mahalia Barnes and Michael Paynter excited to follow Jesus Christ Superstar legends

Two well-known singers have landed the most coveted roles in musical theatre, starring alongside Marcia Hines, John Farnham and Kate Ceberano.

After many years singing alongside each other in the Jimmy Barnes band, Mahalia Barnes and Michael Paynter will step into the spotlight as Mary and Jesus in the latest theatrical resurrection of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Paynter was the first performer on Barnes’ wishlist to play the title role in the classic rock opera after she was cast in the production. The last thing Paynter wanted to do was to return to the spotlight.

“I was trying to think who could sing like that for eight shows a week and who do I want to sing with every day? I knew he could do it even if he didn’t think he could,” Barnes said.

“But I had to give him a push.”

Mahalia Barnes rehearsing for her role as Mary and Michael Paynter as Jesus in the new Jesus Christ Superstar production. Picture: Jake Percey / Supplied.

Besides being one of Australia’s finest soul singers, Barnes is a fierce boss lady. As well as recent duties singing with Cold Chisel on their epic 40th anniversary concert, she now manages her father’s career and steers the band when they are on the road. Which sometimes makes her Paynter’s boss and one of his closest mates, someone he can trust.

But she knew she would have to use all her powers of persuasion to get her friend and bandmate to meet with the show’s producers.

Paynter as Jesus with ensemble in Jesus Christ Superstar. Picture: Jeff Busby / Supplied.

Firstly, Paynter is a busy man. He has been a full-time guitarist and backing vocalist with Icehouse since 2011, and with his MSquared partner Michael DeLorenzis, writes and produces hits for artists from Casey Barnes to Aloe Blacc.

He loves the creative life he has carved behind the scenes after a few frustrating, and a little soul-destroying, attempts at launching a pop star career which included a few solo artist singles, contesting The Voice in 2013, and a debut album release in 2014.

“To step back into some form of attention was the hardest thing for me to do,” he said.

“I love playing guitar, I love touring, I love writing songs and producing and mixing. I don’t get recognised anymore, I have my family, and I love it.

“Part of doing this role, stepping into that legacy, and what the show means, and the profile of it, was something I had to think about. Did I really want to put myself through that again?”

Javon King, Michael Paynter and Mahalia Barnes in Jesus Christ Superstar. Photo: Juliet Taylor.

After meeting with the producers and hearing their vision for the 2024 reboot, Paynter felt an immediate affinity with the musical’s iconic songs and signed up for his theatrical debut.

Ironically, back in the late 2000s when he launched his solo career, Paynter’s crystalline voice often drew comparisons to the hallowed vocals of John Farnham.

He credits The Veronicas, who toured with between 2013 and 2020, for turning him on to Farnham’s iconic take on Jesus in the 1992 concert spectacular which broke box office records in Australia.

“I was on the tour bus with the Veronicas and we were talking about Farnham and one of the girls said that Gethsemane was their favourite song of his from Superstar,” Paynter said.

“I remember looking it up after the conversation and thinking ‘Oh, that’s what singing is!’ That’s the benchmark of a singer.”

Angry Anderson, Jon Stevens, John Farnham, Kate Ceberano and John Waters in Adelaide on the epic Jesus Christ Superstar concert tour. Picture: Chris Mangan.

Neither Paynter nor Barnes fear comparisons with either the original 1972 Australian production where their roles were played by the legends Trevor White and Marcia Hines or the wildly successful 1992 concert version starring Farnham and Kate Ceberano.

The show’s other central character, Judas, is played by Melbourne-based actor, singer and dancer Javon King, who follows in the footsteps of the late Jon English and Jon Stevens.

Barnes joked she would never have pursued a singing career if she had ever worried about the weight of legacy.

Ceberano as Mary and Farnham as Jesus during rehearsals in Sydney in July 1992. Picture: Verity Chambers.

“I’ve grown up in a world, as you know, where if I was comparing myself to, or trying to follow someone else’s lane, I’d be in a lot of trouble,” she says, laughing about living in her father’s shadow.

“Having spent so long doing this and around all this incredible talent and ability among family and friends, this doesn’t intimidate me, it excites me to be able to continue the legacy of this show.

“Look, Kate was totally different in her approach to the role than Marcia, and what I love about this show, compared to a lot of other musical theatre, there is room for artists.

“All these musicians have wanted to be a part of this show and there’s so many different takes.”

Barnes will bring one of the finest soul voices in the country to her “Mary”. Picture: Jeff Busby / Supplied.

Both singers are somewhat relieved they don’t have to match the contemporary dance skills of the wildly talented ensemble cast. Barnes said her knees just couldn’t have coped.

“We’re not like Olivia Rodrigo or Beyonce where we would be used to having activity and energy like that going on around us while we sing,” Paynter said.

“We’re rock guys, and a band has its own kind of energy, especially Jimmy’s band, but I’ve found all of the energy coming from the dancers is now finding its way into my voice which is a different experience.”

The reimagined production from London strips Jesus Christ Superstar back to spotlight its music and lyrics originally composed by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.

Barnes said that approach has put the role firmly in her lane as an interpretative singer rather than an actor.

“Obviously I’m not an actor, I haven’t come into this thinking I have to get inside the head of Mary, I hadn’t thought about it in that capacity until we got rehearsals. I knew the songs and I knew I could sing them,” she said.

“When I came into rehearsals, I just thought about the words I was singing and the emotion of them. And my role as Mary in this show is to come in and calm everything down, to settle the crisis and try to make sense of the chaos.

“What a minute, I know how to do this. This is the world I live in.”

Jesus Christ Superstar premieres at Capitol Theatre in Sydney on Nov 14 and has booked seasons in Perth (from February), Melbourne (from March) and Brisbane (from June). For tickets and dates, https://jesuschristsuperstarmusical.com.au/

Originally published as Mahalia Barnes and Michael Paynter excited to follow Jesus Christ Superstar legends