Before I break down Jesus Christ Superstar, you need to do some homework, especially if you’re unfamiliar.
Besides, many directors encourage their cast to research the piece they’re performing during the first few days of rehearsal. This can mean anything from going back to the source material for more about characterization and historical detail, making a more general investigation into the period in which the story is set, or exploring relevant pieces of background info. This is useful in several ways; among them, it helps inform the cast about the show, it forces them to immerse themselves in the project from the start, and once they begin to feel that they have something to contribute, they’ll usually start to get more involved with the piece. Sometimes, this will involve group activities not particularly limited to a chat. There’s more than one way to help familiarize actors with their show’s subject.
In my opinion (and those of the fans I polled), the following books, articles, recordings, and film versions best provide context, food for thought, and a solid introduction to anyone interested in staging or further exploring the show. In addition to “JCS 101” material, there will also be recommended reading and viewing for both cast and creatives outside the scope of JCS itself.