When the 50th anniversary production of Jesus Christ Superstar came to the Golden Gate Theater in October, we noted in our review that “James T. Justis” in the role of Judas had a “powerful and terrific voice.” KQED praised Justis’ performance, saying he “brings the most pathos to the show; you believe his inner torment over selling out Jesus to Caiaphas.” And KPIX raved “Don’t Miss James T. Justis As ‘Judas’ In Broadway SF’s Jesus Christ Superstar.”
But the reviews are more mixed when you factor in his November 23 federal indictment on felony charges of obstruction of Congress and a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds, as part of the January 6 insurrection. Justis, whose real name is James Beeks, was arrested in Milwaukee that day (the tour ended its run here on November 7, and had moved on to Milwaukee). According to the feds, “Beeks was part of a mob of people, including some who attacked law enforcement,” and “Half of them, including Beeks, tried to push their way through a line of law enforcement officers guarding a hallway that led to the Senate chamber.”
Beeks has since been suspended from the tour, according to Variety, and he is no longer listed on the cast page. But a cached version of the cast page shows “James T. Justis” front and center as Judas, and according to his 30-page federal indictment, Beeks has been furiously changing his identity, phone number, address, and other personal information since the events of January 6.
The above comes from a Dec. 1 story in sfist.com.
u do the crime u do the time
just hope he’ not appointed to any kind of papal advisory committee. bad track
record for milennia
A black guy? I thought that whole ‘insurrection’ thing was a white supremacy conspiracy…guess that narrative has run it’s course…but I do question the presence of a young African American in the American performing arts scene being involved in something that Donald Trump allegedly instigated…don’t these people check their stories with each other before going public with them?