Gad dropped out of the production due to a COVID diagnosis. John Stamos will replace Josh Gad in the Hollywood Bowl's Jesus Christ Superstar

Gad dropped out of the production due to a COVID diagnosis.

John Stamos will replace Josh Gad in the Hollywood Bowl's Jesus Christ Superstar

Gad dropped out of the production due to a COVID diagnosis.

By Maureen Lee Lenker

Maureen Lee Lenker

Maureen Lee Lenker is a senior writer at ** with over seven years of experience in the entertainment industry. An award-winning journalist, she's written for Turner Classic Movies, *Ms. Magazine*, *The Hollywood Reporter*, and more. She's worked at EW for six years covering film, TV, theater, music, and books. The author of EW's quarterly romance review column, "Hot Stuff," Maureen holds Master's degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, *It Happened One Fight*, is now available. Follow her for all things related to classic Hollywood, musicals, the romance genre, and Bruce Springsteen.

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Published on August 1, 2025 12:58PM EDT

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John Stamos attends AARP's Annual Movies for Grownups Awards on Feb. 8, 2025, in Beverly Hills; Josh Gad attends the Film Independent live read of Edward Berger's 'Conclave' at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on Feb. 10, 2025, in Beverly Hills. Credit:

Michael Kovac/Getty; Amanda Edwards/Getty

- John Stamos will meet Jesus face-to-face on stage at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend, replacing the ailing Josh Gad as King Herod.

- Cynthia Erivo leads the production as the superstar that is Jesus Christ with Adam Lambert as her foil, Judas.

- The production marks the Hollywood Bowl's first live musical since 2022.

John Stamos has got heaven on his mind.

The actor will replace the previously announced Josh Gad in the Hollywood Bowl production of *Jesus Christ Superstar. *Stamos is stepping into the role of King Herod, filling in for Gad who had to bow out due to a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

John Stamos attends 'The Little Mermaid' premiere on May 8, 2023, in Hollywood.

Matt Winkelmeyer/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty

"Well… this weekend just got Biblical." Stamos posted on Instagram. "I'm stepping in as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar at the @HollywoodBowl, starring the brilliant @cynthiaerivo. King @Joshgad unexpectedly got hit with COVID (feel better soon, brother!) and while I didn't push him down the stairs, I am grateful for the chance to step into the gold lamé."

Stamos continued, "This is an honor. A dream. And also a little insane because… I just stepped off a plane from @thebeachboys tour in Spain and have less than 24 hours to pull this off. Wish me luck. And let's rock the Bowl."

The production will run for three nights only at the Hollywood Bowl this weekend, opening on Friday night with performances on Saturday and Sunday.

Gad announced his diagnosis on his own Instagram page Wednesday afternoon.

"It is with enormous heartbreak that I inform you all that unfortunately, I have contracted a virus known as COVID," Gad wrote. "Anyway, out of an abundance of caution and respect for my cast, I will not be performing in *Jesus Christ Superstar *this weekend (unless I test negative)."

He added, "It truly breaks my heart, but I can assure you all that the show is going to be one of the greatest things that you will ever see. I hope at some point you get to see me wear the crown and show you what we've been up to, because it was quite something. But for now, sadly, I will not be able to grace the Hollywood Bowl."

Stamos joins the star-studded *Jesus Christ Superstar *cast in helping the Hollywood Bowl bring back its tradition of live musicals. (The last Bowl production was 2022's *Kinky Boots*, which starred Wayne Brady and Kelly Marie Tran.)

Cynthia Erivo brushes off outcry over 'Jesus Christ Superstar' casting

Adam Lambert tells 'The View' how he claps back at giggling 'Cabaret' audience members

Cynthia Erivo leads this weekend's production as Jesus Christ with Adam Lambert taking on the role of Judas Escariot. *Hamilton'*s Phillipa Soo is portraying Mary Magdalene, with Milo Manheim playing apostle Peter. Tony winner Raúl Esparza will also feature as Pontius Pilate.

*Jesus Christ Superstar *began its life as a concept album from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice before making its Broadway debut in 1971. The show draws from the Gospels' accounts of the Passion, telling the story of the last days of Jesus Christ and his crucifixion through the lens of a rock opera.

Josh Gad attends the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party on March 2, 2025, in Beverly Hills.

Dia Dipasupil/FilmMagic

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It has remained an iconic part of the musical theater canon since its debut and was adapted for the screen in 1973. Most recently, NBC produced a live concert version of the show in 2018 starring John Legend as Jesus, Brandon Victor Dixon as Judas, Sara Bareilles as Mary Magdalene, and rock star Alice Cooper as King Herod.

Stamos is no stranger to musicals at the Hollywood Bowl. He played Corny Collins in their 2011 production of *Hairspray! *and Chef Louis in their 2016 live concert production of *The Little Mermaid. *He has also appeared in Broadway productions of *How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie, *and more.**

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