JCSLOGO

 


{Updated 7/5/10}

 


"We all need each other to ultimately feel complete.  However, until we feel complete within ourselves, as an Island to an ocean, we cannot help all complete the circle."


 

 

TOUR PUBLICITY AND REVIEWS:


UPDATE 5/10/10:
Well, the Tour ended last night in Boston at the Wang Theatre. I want to congratulate the cast and crew on an incredibly difficult job WELL DONE, and wish all of them well in their future endeavors. Hopefully, many of them will work together again soon. Having been involved in the 2006 Benefit that preceded the start of this tour, and knowing I will never forget that evening, I can only imagine what everyone in this tour is going through right now. Thank you, to all of you. For Ted, it may well be the end of an era, and, while I would never speak for him, I can't even imagine what it's like to most likely end playing a role after almost 40 years. I hope he will enjoy some long-earned together time with his family, and get some MUCH NEEDED REST! :-) And, I do know that I can speak for all of us when I say that I hope he doesn't stay away for too long, because he will be sorely missed. If anyone who was at the closing shows this weekend would like to share their experience here, or on FTNL, please feel free to e-mail me, or our list, and we would be more than happy to hear about your evening with JCS in Boston.

UPDATE 9/27/06:

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!!

This Tour finally has an "official" website!!! - Thank you for posting this to the list, Lynne (Moose) Freels (admin@medmatrx.com)!  There are some very nice photos from the show, the Buffalo review, the itinerary (though it's not as complete as the one on this page - at this point, anyway,) 
and some tour background and credits.  A very nice beginning!  And it's being done by THE REALLY USEFUL GROUP!  It's here:

 

http://www.thejcstour.com/

 

 

UPDATE 5/30/07:

Ted hit the road with The 2007 A.D. (nee "Farewell") Tour AT LAST on 10/5/06!  Since then the tour has been mentioned in the  news a lot lately, not the least these mentions, stated in The 9/20/06 Wharton City Post, was that it may or may not end up being "The Farewell Tour".  I know we are all hoping it won't be,
but this is not an official statement, so I guess we will all know eventually, as time goes by.  The merchandise no longer says "Farewell Tour", but the Troika website does.  For now, though, we're all just extremely happy that Ted is back in the limelight for everyone to see, and meet when possible.  Since this tour, and the information released, has grown so quickly by leaps and bounds, I have decided to put everything about this latest "Ted Event" on its' own page, to make it easier for everyone to have easier access to open on computers, check schedules and venues, and look at updates and pictures as they become available.  If anyone has a contribution they would like added here, e-mail it to me, and I will be glad to add it!  I am also open to suggestions to make this page better, as it, along with the rest of this site, is a work in progress.  The bulk of the information you will find here was drawn from these websites initially:

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT (Troikastar) http://www.troika.com/index.html

JAM THEATRICALS:  http://www.jamtheatricals.com/index.php
                                        http://www.jamtheatricals.com/show_details.php?show_id=139

MAGIC ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:  http://www.magicentertainment.tv/
Fourth Leg dates here:  http://www.magicent ertainment. tv/superschedule .html

BROADWAY ACROSS AMERICA:  http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com
                            http://www.broadwayacrossamerica.com/BAA.Web/Pages/TouringShows/index+ShowId+147.html

BROADWAYWORLD.COM:  http://www.broadwayworld.com/
   NOTE:  The tour listings for JCS are currently gone from this page, but this was where they 
                 were first listed.

AUDIENCE REWARDS:  http://www.audiencerewards.com/profile/10_Jesus_Christ_Superstar.aspx 
  
NOTE:  The tour listings for JCS are currently gone from this page, but this was where they 
                 were first listed.

CELEBRITY ATTRACTIONS:  http://www.celebrityattractions.com/

...as well as from the generous contributions of "Ted Family" List Members who are listed just above the Venue information section.  Thanks, everyone!!!  

Enjoy the page!


UPDATE 1/3/10
:

Initially, I thought it would be a fun idea to post the current tour reviews in each city as they appear, for the entire time that the tour has been on the road. For my part, I enjoy being able to see the development of a project from start to end in one place, when it’s possible, but it had been recently suggested that some of the information in this section had become dated, and the page had been taking a while to download because of the amount of content being amassed. So I have decided, for the time being, to include only the current leg articles in the publicity section (the older information is saved, to reappear on my site once the redesign is agreed upon and completed). The “pre-tour” info is still in its' own section near the end of this page, as well as any tour photos, from cast members or from our “Ted Family.” Anyone finding any reviews - send the links my way, and I will post them here - with or without your credit, whichever you choose!


  ENJOY!


PUBLICITY - LEG FOUR


NATIONAL COLUMN/ARTICLE(S)

Examiner.com - 1/26/10

http://www.examiner.com/x-689-Spiritual-Life-Examiner~y2010m1d26-Jesus-needs-a-new-casting-agent?cid=channel-rss-Religion_and_Spirituality



Jesus needs a new casting agent
January 26, 11:35 AMSpiritual Life ExaminerRabbi Ben Kamin



It’s not that one doesn’t extend actor Ted Neeley many deserved accolades for his long and illustrious career as a composer, rock singer, actor, dancer, and quite a hip drummer.  He signed first his recording deal with Capitol Records, when he was 22,

That was in 1965.  And, in 1969, at the age of 26, he created the lead role of Claude in the original Broadway musical, Hair.  All of this helped him to land the title role in both the stage and film realizations of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s remarkable and theologically playful Jesus Christ Superstar.  This show includes some of the finest and most impressive music ever composed by Sir Lloyd Webber (whose unsurpassed repertoire includes Cats, Evita, and Phantom of the Opera).

"Hard to forgive them because they knew exactly what they were doing."

Ted Neeley, like the actual Jesus of Nazareth, was just about 30 years old at the apex of his  career, bringing a gifted, pitch-proof, and unforgettable voice to this very significant role—along with an extraordinary physique, sleekness, and dancing skills to rival any man in Broadway history.

That is why it was so painful (even spiritually) to watch him a few days ago trying to fool time, history, and the Bible itself—still playing Jesus in the musical, at the age of 66.  Granted, Mr. Neeley can still carry a tune, and occasionally hit those heavenly-high, screeching notes of pathos and anger that were once near-mystical.  But, though still relatively fit enough to hang on the Cross and groan for twenty minutes in the finale, he just doesn’t look that great in the robe, and the biblical amount of make-up painted across his face only seems to exacerbate one of the greatest cases of miscasting since the Romans.

“He’s cradle-robbing Mary Magdalene!” cried my concerned and alert seventeen year-old daughter.  Such a nice and inclusive Jewish girl, she came to the theater for the touring show to enjoy the lyrics and learn a little more about the esteemed scriptural icon who is deeply worshipped by many of her friends and classmates.

Instead, she saw a Broadway con job, motivated by “star-draw,” money, and theatrical cynicism.  I daresay none of these had anything to do with the historical message of Jesus.  What we had here was not a young, driven, and numinous prophet struggling with fate and divinity, but an elderly, paternal boss admonishing his twelve disciples as though he was the scoutmaster of a Cub Scout pack.

Ted Neeley deserves to perform all he wants—in roles that would make his seniority splendid, not laughable and, frankly, inappropriate.  On the professional level, the part should be turned over to a young actor with hip holiness that would recreate the youthful heartbreak that actually was the New Testament story.  Like Ted Neeley did in 1973.

On a deeper level, way beyond the dramatic disparagement and opportunism, was the sense of disconnect with what is still a true manifestation, if mischievous, of a timeless biblical narrative that is sacred to many.

Hard to forgive them because they knew exactly what they were doing.

Image: Performer Ted Neeley in 2008 (Wiki)

www.benkamin.com

Comments

Ben says:
Personally, the idea of a singing 'Jesus' has always been a bit disturbing to me, regardless of the musical. While I can imagine a singing Rabbi, I can't imagine him without a guitar and roses in his hair.
January 26, 9:02 PM
Reggie says:
Jesus is eternal but probably not on the stage!
January 26, 1:45 PM
Laura Harrison McBride says:
You are doubtless right on the money. I have never seen a live production of JCS, but am certain Neeley was terrific...years ago. Aside from the production values, and that precious and insightful comment by your daughter, isn't it time for Neeley to step aside so that a young talent might have the chance he did? Since Neeley still likes to perform, perhaps Neeley ought to find someone to pen a vehicle for him, something for someone older. I understand Moses was supposed to be an older gentleman when he got hold of the Ten Commandments...or at least, to my relatively untutored mind, that seems to be how he's always portrayed. There were any number of Biblical oldsters whose reps might get a little polishing from a Broadway "treatment" in any case.

Thanks for another great column. I won't waste time and money rushing to see the aging of the New Testament before my very eyes.
January 26, 1:19 PM
Jeff says:
Cats is "unsurpassed"? Don't tell Sondheim.
January 26, 1:05 PM
Mackenzie says:
Nervy, rabbi but sounds like you are right.
January 26, 12:04 PM



Jersey Boys Blog - 2/9/10

http://jerseyboysblog.com/jbb-exclusive-interview-with-douglas-crawford-part-two/4387


February 9, 2010

JBB EXCLUSIVE: Interview With Douglas Crawford, Part Two

February 9th, 2010

By Howard Tucker, Jersey Boys Blog Special Correspondent

HT: Are you OK with the transient lifestyle of being in a new city and new environment for a time? I travel a great deal for my job as well, but my stints are generally 1-2 weeks and yours could be several months. Do you enjoy the new experience or do you get homesick after a time?

DC: Well, Howard, it’s hard to complain. I’ve literally traveled the globe throughout my career and have gotten paid to do it. It’s inevitable - the nature of the beast. But what a blessing to not only make a living doing what you most love to do and are most passionate about, but to get do it and see the world, as well! That being said, however, there really is “no place like home.”

HT: How many roles have you covered in Jersey Boys? Was it a challenge remembering all of them? Did you ever confuse two roles on stage? Did you need to cover different roles in the same week? How often did you get to go on?

DC: Slow down - that’s a lot of questions coming in rapid succession! I have now covered seven roles in the show: Nick Massi, Gyp, Crewe, Norm, Hank, Knuckles and, finally, Bob Gaudio when I was filling in in the Broadway company this past fall. And yes, it is challenging…very!

I remember the first day I joined the First National Tour in San Francisco, our production stage manager, Tripp Phillips, told me I would be covering six tracks and I laughed out loud thinking he was kidding! I had never been a swing before and the trouble was, with everyone involved with tech rehearsals, there really was no one available at all to teach me the show. Thank God for Erik Bates! In addition to being another swing, he was also at the time, our dance captain. Whenever he could, we would rehearse in the women’s restroom in the lobby of the Curran Theatre because there was a little bit of space and some mirrors in there.

I was overwhelmed initially and quite honestly, convinced for the first couple of months there that I was going to get fired. Here I had missed six weeks of rehearsal, had to learn six roles AND be “the new guy in school!” I focused on learning “Massi” first (as that was the only “Season” I was covering) and built upon that foundation vocally and with the choreography.

It’s funny to think back about that time now, when I’ve gotten used to being in an understudy rehearsal and having to bounce between multiple tracks from scene to scene. The nature of the work in Jersey Boys is so specific that there really is no margin of error. Knowing all the vocal parts, choreography, the myriad of spike marks on stage for each chair, each track, etc., all the back-stage traffic patterns - it’s all part of the job - and it’s such an incredible job so you learn it quickly and you learn it well!

Fortunately, I’ve never confused roles on stage and yes, I have had weeks where I’ve gone on for several different roles in the show.

HT: What shows other than Grease and Jersey Boys have you been in? What were those experiences like?

DC: I couldn’t tell you anymore how many shows, concerts, cabarets, benefits, commercials, guest spots and such I’ve been fortunate enough to be a part of at this point, but I know it’s easily in the hundreds! I couldn’t begin to list or comment on them all, but I will share a few of my favorites.

One was working with Brian May and Roger Taylor of Queen (my favorite band growing up) while creating the role of Pop in the North American Premiere Company of We Will Rock You in Las Vegas (along with current Vegas Lorraine, Carly Thomas-Smith and musical director, Keith Thompson). Also in Vegas, I originated the role of Quasimodo in one cast and Phoebus in the other for the English Premiere Company of Notre Dame de Paris (also starring Deven May).

The recent L.A. revival of Tommy with Alice Ripley - the first show ever to be presented in EXP3D surround sound (yes, each member of the audience wore Bose headphones throughout the performance…it was…um…an interesting experiment). I was Claude in Michael Butler’s 30th Anniversary L.A. Revival of Hair. I received the L.A. Robby Award for my performance in Lies and Legends and was Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, both at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California.

One of my most thrilling experiences was, unfortunately, also one of my shortest. In 2006, I had the pleasure of being Peter alongside Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman, Barry Dennen, Ben Vereen, Clint Holmes and Jack Black in a one-night-only, sold out Hollywood production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Until the final performance of Jersey Boys in Chicago, it may have been the most electrifying experience I have ever had in the theatre.

In addition, I have previously toured in productions of Into the Woods, City of Angels and played Jesus in numerous incarnations of Godspell throughout the country.

HT: You’ve had an impressive career and worked with many stars. Who’s had the most impact on you and your career?

DC: Throughout my career, I have had that great pleasure of working with some phenomenal creative geniuses. You use the word “stars” and many have been - in every sense of the word. Working with them allows you to get to know them for the creative and passionate and vulnerable and giving, living, loving human beings they are - beyond their “celebrity.”.After all, they’re still just people, you know? For the most part, I’ve always gotten along beautifully with them, enjoyed our time on and off stage/set together and learned so much from being around them! It’s important to note, here, the things I have learned from these performers go beyond the “craft” - some of the best life-lessons I’ve been taught have been passed on to me or demonstrated by these extraordinary talents!

I don’t want to “name-drop,” nor do I wish to single out one artist who “made the strongest impression” on me (that would be too difficult), but I will give you a couple of examples. Ted Neeley (star of Jesus Christ Superstar) has the most remarkable dedication to his fans - he will not leave a theater until he has taken the time to visit (not just sign an autograph or take a picture) with every fan who wishes to meet him. If that’s not enough, he remembers the names of these fans even if it has been YEARS since he last saw them! His generosity and genuineness is mind-blowing! Likewise, for anyone who has ever had the pleasure of working with Sally Struthers, they know it’s true when I say she truly becomes the adoptive mother to everyone in the company, be they cast, crew, musician, or an usher at the theater. What a beautiful, loving soul she is and in my opinion, a vastly underrated actress!

Bringing it back to the Jersey world, I must add, am constantly impressed by Rick Elice and the genuine attention, support and gratitude he seems to extend to each cast member in each company of the show. And I will always be indebted to associate choreographer Danny Austin for teaching me the immeasurable values of his philosophy of “instant forgiveness”!

HT: Yes, Doug, I need to add that Rick Elice is the same way to all of his fans. When he can, he even comes to our fan get-togethers.

You’ve done TV and movie work too, Doug. What have been your most memorable roles and what’s the difference between TV and movie work and stage work? Do you have a preference?

DC: Well, my first big break came when Oliver Stone cast me as one of Tom Cruise’s high-school buddies in the Oscar-nominated Born on the Fourth of July. I worked on that film for nearly three weeks and don’t think it amounted to even three seconds of actual screen time! I’ve guest-starred on shows like City Guys and Lincs, done a couple of pilots that never saw the light of day and a stint on the late Aaron Spelling’s daytime soap-opera, Sunset Beach. I was supposed to shoot my first lead in a film, the romantic comedy Cowgrrrls, last spring, but shortly before we were to begin filming our principal investor withdrew and the film was off.

The biggest difference between film and television and the theatre? In film and television, the money’s fantastic (Laughs)! I love getting residual checks long after the work is done! I also think you get to reach a larger audience which, in truth, can provide you the opportunity to gain more “recognition” and in turn, open up some more doors. It is, however, a different craft. Sitcoms feel a bit more like live theater if they are taped before a studio audience. Still, as an actor, you don’t have that experience of taking the journey uninterrupted from start to finish. I would honestly love to do more film and TV, but nothing will ever replace the high I get from doing live theater!

Coming Soon: Part Three of Howard Tucker’s JBB EXCLUSIVE Interview with Douglas Crawford!

7 Comments »

  1. Howard, slow down - that’s a lot of questions coming in rapid succession!

    Thank God somebody finally knows how I feel! haha

    Comment by Gary — February 10, 2010 @ 12:25 am

  2. Hey Gary, to quote the Bachman Turner Overdrive, “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet”…we still have another part ahead! Seriously, the give-and-take between Doug and me was second to none (comparable to ours!) The questions and answers just kept flowing, and our chat certainly ranks along with my best “Jersey Boys” experiences. Thanks for the comment.

    Comment by Howard — February 10, 2010 @ 1:07 am

  3. Again…great interview! This man has quite the resume. I look forward to Part 3.

    Comment by Carolyn — February 10, 2010 @ 1:21 am

  4. Oh me, oh me, oh my-oh
    Hello world, goodbye Columbus!

    Great interview, Howard. Doug’s personality and character really come through his answers to your questions. Despite Doug’s ubiquity I have yet to see him in JB, but through this comfortable and warm interview I am getting the picture of a talented and experienced yet humble person. Hopefully I will get the opportunity to see him perform one of these days.

    Uncle John wouldn’t be the Johnny Crawford who played Chuck Connors’ son on “The Rifleman,” would it? And who hit the charts in the early ’60’s with “Cindy’s Birthday” and “Proud?” I’m guessing not because there is no way such facts would escape your attention or mention, Howard. Also, the concept of “instant forgiveness” sounds intriguing. Did Doug elaborate on it?

    I look forward to Part III. (And I applaud your editorial decision to split the interview into segments. It allows me to complete some of my other, lighter reading - “War and Peace.” ;-))

    Comment by stubbleyou — February 10, 2010 @ 8:17 am

  5. Only you can top a Howard Tucker interview, my friend!! Great follow up to Part One. Wow, Doug has an amazing resume. Would love to have seen him as Claude in Hair. He seems very warm and down to earth. Hope to finally catch him in one of the 7 roles he’s familiar with!

    Comment by Pamela — February 10, 2010 @ 7:14 pm

  6. Looking forward to Part 3!

    Comment by Chiara — February 10, 2010 @ 10:25 pm

  7. Stubbs and Howard,

    Don’t you think it is time for you to form a journalistic and entertainment duo? Abbott and Costello combined with perhaps Woodward and Bernstein - hysterical and brillaint. Now introducing
    the soon-to-be famous, Tucker and Stubbs!!!! It is bound to happen.
    Of course, you can also excel in the field of entertainment reviewers, the new Ebert and Roeper. Tucker and Stubbs - the dynamic duo!

    IE

    Comment by irene eizen — February 11, 2010 @ 12:59 pm


 


#4 SASKATOON, SK, CA


The Star Phoenix - 12/30/09

 

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/entertainment/Neeley+deserving+superstar+status/2390763/story.html

Neeley deserving of superstar status

 
 
 

Jesus, I am overjoyed to meet you face-to-face.

Wait -- that isn't quite accurate. Let me try again.

Ted Neeley, I am so happy to hear you're as good as they say. You're getting older, there's no doubt, but, as you showed Tuesday night at TCU Place, you still play the role of Jesus as well as I've always known you to.

On the advice of a good friend, my old copy of Norman Jewison's film version of Jesus Christ Superstar has had a lot of viewings over the years.

I have to admit, though, I was a little worried at the start of the performance. The modest set seemed to reflect the restrained performances by Judas (John Twiford) and the rest of your disciples -- pardon me, I mean your colleagues -- during the first few songs.

Even your voice seemed a bit raspy and strained, but I suppose your years and years of playing the same role would take quite the toll on your vocal chords.

Thankfully, the tune changed when the priests took the stage. How about that Caiaphas (Darrel Whitney), by the way? It must be nice working with someone of that calibre.

Still, it's clear you're the star of the show.

I noticed that an upset Jesus has quite a powerful voice. Your solos both at the temple during the first act and in the garden at Gethsemane gave me the chills -- and it wasn't the the unusually cool temperature at TCU Place.

Really, the entire company started to show its talent mid-way through the first act. Judas seemed more comfortable projecting his smooth voice and Mary (Sarah Hanlon) let what I'm sure is her very sweet nature come through in her performance.

Even Simon (Matthew Myers) shook off an awkward first appearance to let his voice shine.

By the time the capacity crowd had got to know Pontius Pilate (Benjamin Van Diepen) and met King Herod (Andrew Hartley) during the second act, the drab set was overshadowed by the talented cast, not to mention the emotional anguish displayed by both your character and Judas.

I'd like to know, Mr. Neeley, do you think Judas was predestined to turn on Jesus, or was it his own choice?

I understand quite a few people actually think you're Jesus -- although you look more like what his dad might look like than a spry 33-year-old -- so I thought you might have some insight on the issue.

At any rate, it was a treat to see you live. When you let it out, you truly are the legend they say you are.

Or, perhaps, the superstar.

ckyle@sp.canwest.com



#5 CALGARY, AB, CA


Calgary Sun.com - 12/27/09

 

http://www.calgarysun.com/entertainment/columnists/2009/12/28/12281601.html

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Heavenly musical descends for New Year

Last Updated: 27th December 2009, 10:43pm

When Ted Neeley was growing up in Texas in a devout Baptist home, Jesus was the figure in his church's beautiful stained-glass window.

That Jesus was the son of God, who brought comfort and inspiration to Neeley's family, but he was also untouchable and unreachable.

It was when Neeley played Jesus in the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1971 that Jesus became something far more real for the musician, singer and songwriter.

"Through my experience with Jesus Christ Superstar I finally understood who Jesus the man was and how much he accomplished. He was a remarkable man and I could finally relate to him on a one-on-one basis," says Neeley, 65, who will be at the Jubilee Auditorium for three performances of Jesus Christ Superstar beginning New Year's Eve.

"They're bringing me to Calgary to make sure things go heavenly as we switch from one year to another," he says with a chuckle.

Norman Jewison chose Neeley to star as Jesus in his 1973 film adaptation of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber rock musical, continuing what has become a staggering involvement with a single role.

Superstar, the film and stage musical, have turned Neeley into a superstar.

It also brought him true love. He met his wife Leeyan Granger while they were filming Superstar the film in Israel.

"Leeyan is a dancer in the film. She has been a dancer all her life. She was born in Buffalo, but at age nine she became a member of the National Ballet of Canada."

Neeley and Granger have a daughter and son in their 20s and both at university.

"Our daughter is studying law and our son is in mathematics but they both want to be part of my theatre life.

"It will be good to have an attorney and a mathematician on board."

He says something remarkable happened in the Neeley family dynamics just this year.

"We've gone from mom and dad and the kids to four adults enjoying life together.

"We have a wonderful relationship with our kids. Leeyan and I have always maintained our children chose us and we are the fortunate ones because they are such incredible children."

Wherever Neeley brings his productions of Jesus Christ Superstar, people line up to meet him, thank him for the experience and to ask for his autograph.

It's a far cry from what happened back in New York in 1971.

"For weeks, every night we went into the theatre, we had to wade through picket lines and I don't mean just a few people.

"Those lines stretched around the block.

"I would stop and talk to people and learn they were protesting without having seen the show.

"I'd always invite a few people to be my guests at that performance and they always came back to say how much the show moved them and how wrong they were to picket."

Superstar runs New Year's Eve at 7:30 p.m. and on New Year's Day at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In the nearly four decades Neeley has been associated with Jesus Christ Superstar he has never seen a professional production of the musical.

"It seems I'm always in the musical.

"But I have seen community theatre productions. I've seen children do it and I've seen productions where the performers sit on stools and sing.

"In every case, the effect is the same. The audience is moved to tears and applause."

louis.hobson@sunmedia.ca

 


#7 PRINCE GEORGE, BC, CA


Prince George Free Press - 12/22/09

http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/pgfreepress/community/79903337.html

PGFreePress.com

Prince George Free Press

Neeley back playing the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar


It was June 28, 1972 when Ted Neeley took the stage as Jesus in the first touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Now, as the troupe finishes rehearsals for a tour which will bring the musical to the CN Centre on Jan. 5, Neeley laughs when asked if he thought he would still be playing the role more than 30 years later.

“I didn’t know if I would make it through the first performance. This was something totally new, the touring production.


Ted Neeley, who played Jesus Christ in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, will once again play the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar, coming to CN Centre January 5.
“I think it’s magnificent there’s still an audience.”

Neeley was in St. Louis on the weekend, when he talked to the Free Press. The show had a few pre-opening shows there before officially hitting the road.

The bus becomes a traveling rehearsal hall, Neeley says.

“A lot of the rehearsal time we get as a traveling production is spent on technical aspects, so the bus is the only place we really have to work on the lines and how we can make things better.”

That certainly does not involve changing any of the lines written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

“We do everything we can to honour what Rice and Webber placed in the book. The changes that have come in have evolved from new information we have gathered since the 1970s. We have learned more about the ways of life back then. The musical is about the reality of the humanity of Jesus Christ.”

Another reason for not changing any of the lines is that it would throw many members of the audience off.

“The audience can probably sing all the songs,” he said. “Sometimes probably better than us.”

Many in the audience probably had their first exposure to the music the same way Neeley did, through the original soundtrack from the Broadway production.

“I was working in Hair with Ben Vereen when the soundtrack came out, and he and I joked that we should try out for the roles, since we were already basically playing Jesus and Judas, just in Haight-Ashbury.”

Neeley had gone back to playing drums in a rock band when he got a call from Tom O’Horgan, who was going to direct the stage production.

“I decided I would audition for the part of Judas. When I finished my song at the audition, Tom jumped up on stage and I was thinking, ‘Yes, I got the part.’

“He came over to me and said, ‘That was great, Ted. Could you come back tomorrow and sing the other role?’”

That was Neeley’s first experience with the role of Jesus Christ, but definitely not his last. When Norman Jewison did the movie version of the story, he tapped Neeley for the lead role.

And now, more than 30 years later, Neeley has returned to a traveling production of the show.

“It’s been a magnificent experience, and I can’t let it go.”

“There’s something new about it every single night.”

Jesus Christ Superstar will play the CN Centre on Jan. 5, with the show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale at all Ticketmaster locations as well as the CN Centre box office, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or by phone at 250-614-9100.

Showing 1 of 1 comment

  • This album "Jesus Christ Superstar" helped me along in my Dance career way back in 1973.Among others this was a fav x 2.Dance,dance,dance-/ Injured,injured,injured. Oh...Well....Still love it...Beats in my heart/mind, especially at Xmas!!


#8 NANAIMO, BC, CA


Oceanside Star - 12/31/09

 

http://www2.canada.com/oceansidestar/news/story.html?id=f1400796-4d60-439d-a243-ef47026a9c96&p=1



Superstar makes Christ accessible, actor says

Lynn Welburn, Canwest News Service

Published: Thursday, December 31, 2009

At 65, actor, singer, musician and on-stage saviour Teddy Neeley has something virtually every star wants: He has been 33 for decades and counting and has no plans to stop.

That's because Neeley plays the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar, the famous and infamous rock opera coming to Nanaimo next month. Jesus Christ Superstar will play The Port Theatre Jan. 7-9 with four performances including evening and matinee shows.

Jesus Christ Superstar, the first musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to be produced on the professional stage, opened on Broadway in 1971.

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Actor Ted Neely has been playing Jesus Christ for 40 years: "People come to this show and they go away with a smile on their faces," he says.

"This show is very respectful of the Bible story of Jesus," said Neeley by phone from Las Vegas where the troupe was doing tryouts for cast members for this latest tour of the long-running musical.

In one early production, Neeley, who ironically had tried out for the role of Judas, signed on as chorus and also became the Christ understudy. This particular step led to him taking on the title role in the Los Angeles stage version after receiving a standing ovation during a performance earlier in the tour. Castmate and close friend Carl Anderson was touring also as a Judas understudy.

He then had the opportunity to reprise the title role in the film version of Superstar, directed by Norman Jewison, alongside Anderson as Judas. For his performance in the film, he was nominated for Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical or Comedy at the 1974 Golden Globe Awards.

"In the beginning in New York, this was one of the first of its kind. Hair paved the way and then Jesus Christ Superstar came along and a lot of people were very 

emotional about this show," Neeley recalled in his soft Texas drawl.

"It was a period of strong feelings. We were in Vietnam and people were protesting that... the country was very polarized about many things.

"When we opened, the show was picketed every night, people were lined up around the block calling it a blasphemous thing. I'd stop and talk to some of them and invite them to come in as my guest," he said.

"Of course many would not, but those who came in to see the show went away with a much different view of it."

To this day, he said, in some of the smaller cities they play, there are still some scandalized people out with picket signs.

"There really aren't many any more. But some do still show up and they use their children to stand there with the signs too," Neeley said. "And I still try to talk to them, to tell them this is a respectful story."

And over the years, the response to the show has changed as more scandalous versions of the Biblical stories have appeared.

Often, both in the early days and still today, after the show, people will approach Neeley to talk about the show.

"They literally come in droves to "talk to Jesus" as if they're talking to their priest," Neeley said, sounding a bit bemused. "They want to talk about spiritual questions."

Since the Seventies, Neeley has portrayed Christ thousands of times all over the globe on stage and millions of times on movie screens and TV sets as part of the movie version that Academy Award-winning director Norman Jewison directed, shot on location in Israel in 1973.

He likes the idea of making Christ accessible to more people.

"In the tiny Texas town where I grew up Jesus was just this stained glass window, untouchable, unknowable," he said. "This show put him on the street where everyone can relate to him."

In 2006, Neeley began headlining another production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Originally billed by some as his national "farewell" tour, this has proven wrong as the show just keeps going, thanks to audience and critical approval. Though with new cast members and a somewhat stripped-down staging from the original version, this is a show that still pleases. The tour is currently booked through 2010.

Neeley loves the process of putting the show together with a new cast every now and again.

"It's great to see these magnificent glowing new faces looking at me like I'm something really special," he said. "Then my southern accent comes out and we all giggle and move on with it."

And while he knows the songs so well by now that he has occasionally woken up singing them, the show goes on because people want it.

"It's a beautiful story. This is a story that everyone can relate to," Neeley said, pondering its perennial success. "It has been translated in many languages and it tells a story people know and love.

"I had no notion when I first got involved with this all those years ago where this was going to go but here we are now and I feel very fortunate to be part of all this.

"People come to this show and they go away with a smile on their faces. There's a simplicity here that people relate to, that makes them feel good."

And while the current show is still the same as the original stage production in many ways, Neeley said his character has evolved over the decades.

"I have learned a lot about life and about what I can do and I've changed so the performance has evolved and changed too in all this time.

"But it's still always something very special for all of us in the cast."

Tickets for Jesus Christ Superstar are available at The Port Theatre Box Office. Charge by phone at 250-754-8550 or online at: www.porttheatre.com.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR FACTS

- The original Broadway cast recording topped the American album charts three times.

- Ted Neeley headlined the first touring company that opened June 28, 1972.

- The London production ran for eight years and 3,358 performances.

 

 

 

#9 VICTORIA, BC, CA


Prince George Free Press - 1/7/10

http://www.kelowna.com/2010/01/07/a-humble-beloved-superstar-at-age-66-ted-neeley-still-touring-as-jesus-christ/


Entertainment

A humble, beloved Superstar: At age 66, Ted Neeley still touring as Jesus Christ

Thursday, January 7th, 2010 | 1:40 am

Canwest News Service

What do you call a super-fan who has seen Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar hundreds of times?

A Ted-Head. So says Neeley, arriving in Victoria on Sunday with a bus-and- truck production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 40-year-old rock opera. The shaggy-maned performer reprises his role as Jesus for a North American tour that wraps up in May in Peterborough, Ont.

“I spoke with a lady two nights ago who’s seen this show 366 times,” Neeley says on the phone from Regina. “The folks who come the most refer to themselves as Ted-Heads.”

Now 66, Neeley played Jesus Christ in the original Los Angeles stage production and the 1973 Norman Jewison film. Over the years, he has starred in numerous revivals. He stopped counting performances back in the 1990s, after they topped 2,000. Other pop-rock musicals of the period – Godspell (1970) and Hair (1967) – have dated poorly. Yet somehow, Jesus Christ Superstar retains its appeal.

The current production, with minimal set, was launched in 2006. Originally slated to finish in 2007 (and billed by some as a “farewell tour”), it continues because of popular demand, Neeley says.

On the original album, the role of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Recent stage “Jesuses” include Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and Swedish glam rocker Ola Salo. Most aficionados agree, however, that Neeley is the definitive Jesus Christ Superstar.

He has performed the role so long, Neeley once encountered five generations of a single family of fans. He has befriended devotees in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. As soon as he arrived in Regina, fans started ringing the hotel.

“It’s opened such an avenue of friendship for me worldwide,” he says. “I feel like I can go anywhere and feel like I’m at home.”

In Victoria, Neeley plans to meet and greet the audience after the show. He has retained this practice since the early days in New York, when he was part of the Broadway cast. Protesters complained depictions of Christ and Judas were sacrilegious. Neeley then would invite them to see Jesus Christ Superstar as his guests.

“People stretched around the block every single night, trying to stop us from going into the theatre to go to work,” he says. “(But) every single person walked away loving what they’d experienced.”

They weren’t the only ones. Neeley’s mother, hailing from in the Bible-belt hamlet of Ranger, Texas, adored her son’s role in Jesus Christ Superstar.

The family were staunch Southern Baptists. She was especially thrilled when Neeley presented her with a framed close-up of himself from the movie – so beautifully lit, it resembled a painting. She displayed it prominently in her living room.

“People would say to my mom, `Where did you get that magnificent painting of Jesus?’ And my mother would say, `That’s my boy,’ ” says Neeley with a chuckle.

He recalls almost losing the film role that clinched his reputation as Jesus Christ Superstar.

Neeley was starring in the rock musical Tommy when he got word Norman Jewison was seeking the lead for a film version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

He invited Jewison to watch him in Tommy. However, Neeley was injured for that performance. Jewison ended up seeing the understudy.

To make amends, Neeley invited the director to lunch. Because he “looked like a 12 year old” as clean-shaven Tommy, Neeley had a friend paste a fake beard to his face.

“When I sat down with Norman, you would have thought he was watching the best comedian in the world. He just fell out of his chair, laughing.”

Although Jewison was polite, Neeley thought he had made a fool of himself.

Still, something about the young performer impressed the director. He later summoned Neeley for a London screen test, where he landed the coveted role.

Neeley insists playing Jesus Christ for four decades never went to his head.

“Some people envision me as that person,” he says. “I let them know, `Folks, I am just a rock ‘n’ roll drummer from Texas.’ I’m up there playing a character.”

Victoria Times Colonist

achamberlain@tc.canwest.com



SAME ARTICLE REPRINTED AS THE FOLLOWING:


Times Colonist - 1/7/10

http://www.timescolonist.com/entertainment/love+Jesus/2415450/story.html

For love of Jesus

 

After 40 years, Ted Neeley is considered the definitive Jesus Christ Superstar

 
 
 
 

Ted Neeley is considered the definitive actor in the title role of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Photograph by: Michael Buckner/Getty Images, Times Colonist

ON STAGE

What: Jesus Christ Superstar

Where: Royal Theatre

When: Sunday, 1 p.m and 7 p.m.

Tickets: $77.50

(tel. 250 386-6121)

What do you call a super-fan who has seen Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar hundreds of times?

A Ted-Head.

So says Neeley, arriving here Sunday with a bus-and-truck production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 40-year-old rock opera. The shaggy-maned performer reprises his role as Jesus for two shows at the Royal Theatre.

"I spoke with a lady two nights ago who's seen this show 366 times," Neeley says on the phone from Regina. "The folks who come the most refer to themselves as Ted-Heads."

Now 66, Neeley played Jesus Christ in the original Los Angeles stage production and the 1973 Norman Jewison film. Over the years he has starred in numerous revivals. He stopped counting performances back in the 1990s after they topped 2,000.

Other pop-rock musicals of the period -- Godspell (1970) and Hair (1967) -- have dated poorly. Yet somehow, Jesus Christ Superstar retains its appeal. The current production, with minimal set, was launched in 2006. Originally slated to finish in 2007 (and billed by some as a "farewell tour"), it continues because of popular demand, Neeley says.

On the original album, the role of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Recent stage "Jesuses" include Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and Swedish glam rocker Ola Salo. Most aficionados agree, however, that Neeley is the definitive Jesus Christ Superstar.

He has performed the role so long, Neeley once encountered five generations of a single family of fans. He has befriended devotees in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. As soon as he arrived in Regina, fans started ringing the hotel.

"It's opened such an avenue of friendship for me worldwide," he says. "I feel like I can go anywhere and feel like I'm at home."

In Victoria, Neeley plans to meet and greet the audience after the show. He has retained this practice since the early days in New York, when he was part of the Broadway cast. Protesters complained depictions of Christ and Judas were sacrilegious. Neeley then would invite them to see Jesus Christ Superstar as his guests.

"People stretched around the block every single night, trying to stop us from going into the theatre to go to work," he says. "[But] every single person walked away loving what they'd experienced."

They weren't the only ones. Neeley's mother, hailing from in the Bible-belt hamlet of Ranger, Tex., adored her son's role in Jesus Christ Superstar. The family were staunch Southern Baptists. She was especially thrilled when Neeley presented her with a framed close-up of himself from the movie -- so beautifully lit, it resembled a painting. She displayed it prominently in her living room.

"People would say to my mom, 'Where did you get that magnificent painting of Jesus?' And my mother would say, 'That's my boy,' " says Neeley with a chuckle.

He recalls almost losing the film role that clinched his reputation as Jesus Christ Superstar.

Neeley was starring in the rock musical Tommy when he got word Norman Jewison was seeking the lead for a film version of Jesus Christ Superstar. He invited Jewison to watch him in Tommy. However, Neeley was injured for that performance. Jewison ended up seeing the understudy.

To make amends, Neeley invited the director to lunch. Because he "looked like a 12-year-old" as clean-shaven Tommy, Neeley had a friend paste a fake beard to his face.

"When I sat down with Norman, you would have thought he was watching the best comedian in the world. He just fell out of his chair, laughing."

Although Jewison was polite, Neeley thought he had made a fool of himself. Still, something about the young performer impressed the director. He later summoned Neeley for a London screen test, where he landed the coveted role.

Neeley insists playing Jesus Christ for four decades never went to his head.

"Some people envision me as that person," he says. "I let them know, 'Folks, I am just a rock and roll drummer from Texas.' I'm up there playing a character."

achamberlain@tc.canwest.com

Monday Magazine - 1/6/10

http://mondaymag. com/articles/ entry/whats- the-buzz2/


What’s the Buzz?

Ted Neeley’s passion keeps Superstar alive

It’s not every day you get a chance to speak directly to Jesus . . . unless Ted Neeley’s on the line. But Neeley, who’s been playing the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar since 1972 (and most famously in Norman Jewison’s 1973 movie version), says he doesn’t let it go to his head.                                                                                                                                             Credit: Joan Marcus

“I could open a church if I wanted to,” he says with a good-natured laugh. “It’s so easy for anyone who has the pleasure of doing a role like this to get caught up in how it feels, and how people respond to you. But I have never for one second forgotten that I am a rock-and-roll drummer from Texas who got extremely lucky to be part of this piece.”

Appropriately, Neeley will be crucified (again) Sunday night at the Royal as part of the latest big-budget revival of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber’s iconic 1970 rock opera—a three-month tour now entering its fourth year. “Every time I’ve been involved in mounting a new production, they don’t seem to think it has a long life expectancy,” Neeley chuckles. “It’s generally planned for three months . . . but when Carl [Anderson] and I did it in the ’90s, it was a three-month tour that turned into five years.” Anderson, who played Judas to Neeley’s JC in the film, died of leukemia in 2004, and Neeley admits the loss of his “dear friend” makes this tour “more difficult . . . but I still hope every night we can reach at least one person in that audience and make them feel a little better about their lives for a few minutes.”

As well as making a name for himself in the original productions of rock operas like Hair and Tommy (plus later projects like Rasputin and his own in-process Pandemonium), Neeley spends his non-saviour hours as a producer, composer and singer. But hasn’t three decades of temple-shakin’ screeching affected his voice? “Technically, it should have been gone years ago, but it still works,” he laughs. “By nature, I’m a baritone-bass but I’ve got this freaky high thing I can do as well that, over the years, has actually grown stronger with use . . . I guess I beat my voice up enough that I can still take it.”

While he credits the “youthful brilliance” of Rice and Lloyd Weber for creating Superstar, Neeley clearly worships Jewison’s “magnificent vision” of the film. (As well as writing the screenplay, the Canadian filmmaker produced and directed the movie in Israel). “He goes unheralded because of this being primarily a theatre piece, but without your countryman I don’t know if we’d be having this conversation right now . . . We all sing praises daily to Norman Jewison.” And when I mention Islander Jeff Hyslop’s participation in the movie, Neeley responds with sincere excitement. “Jeffrey, bless his sweet heart, was one of the reasons we had such a wonderful experience in Israel . . . you couldn’t mention a person who I feel is more responsible for making that happen than Jeff.” (He also notes the efforts of Toronto choreographer Robert Iscove and “his wonderful dancers . . . that film definitely had an enormous Canadian footprint.”)

And has 40 years of carrying a cross changed his own spiritual outlook? “I don’t believe anybody could do this role for any length of time and not have some connection, just by seeing how people relate to this,” says Neeley, who was raised Baptist but left the church in his teens. “I see how people respond to me, and it certainly changed the way I conducted myself in public, because there are expectations—which I accept wholeheartedly. And it opened my eyes years ago to how vulnerable people really are, how hearts in general are reaching out for some sign of peacefulness, of universal understanding—and I believe this piece touches that. It’s beyond Christianity for me, it’s a universal spirituality that the majority of the people of the world can relate to openly, without being told what they’re supposed to do or say or believe.” He pauses and, with complete sincerity, adds, “I’m the most fortunate man on the face of the Earth because I’ve had that experience.”

Despite having already lived twice as long as the spiritual figurehead’s reputed lifespan, Neeley doesn’t sound ready to give up the holy ghost just yet. “As far as I’m concerned, I’ll do this for another 2,000 years, if they’ll let me.”

And hey, if anybody’s got the connections for that, it’s Ted Neeley. M

----------
Jesus Christ Superstar

1 & 7 pm Sunday, January 10
Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton
Tickets $77.25 • 250-386-6121

 

#11 SAN DIEGO, CA


North County Times - 1/13/10

http://www.nctimes. com/entertainmen t/arts-and- theatre/theatre/ article_4ff08bf3 -6d72-53bc- a3f2-302998a0d74 d.html



'Superstar' tour, with Neeley still at the helm, returns for three-day stop

JOEL D. AMOS - For the North County Times | Posted: Wednesday, January 13, 2010 9:55 am Updated: 10:07 am.



Joan Marcus
 
A scene from "Jesus Christ Superstar," opening Jan. 15 at the San Diego Civic Theatre.
Certain actors are synonymous with career-defining parts. In the world of musical theater, mention "Jesus Christ Superstar," and Ted Neeley's name immediately arises.

"I could not be more fortunate and appreciative for the adoration I have received as a result of this show," the actor said in a telephone interview conducted when the "Superstar" tour visited Escondido in 2007. The tour returns next week with a three-day, five-show stop at the San Diego Civic Theatre.

"I know this has influenced hundreds of thousands of people for years, and because of the fact that I was one of the players in that work, I am the luckiest man alive. To be able to still be accepted by audiences for

playing the role is an honor, and I can't wait to jump onstage and do it again tonight."

Neeley, 70, created the role of Jesus in the Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Tim Rice rock opera's 1971 Broadway debut, and he reprised the role in a 1973 film version. He has continued to play the part in stage productions ever since. This production, which has been on the road for many years, is being billed as Neeley's "Farewell Tour."

"My life is so enriched as a result of being a part of this for so long. Every night I get a whole new shot of that adrenaline from the wonderful folks who come to see this piece," Neeley said.

This year's touring production of the rock opera features John Twilford, a veteran Los Angeles singer/songwriter and musical theater actor, as Judas. And playing the role of the high priest is Joseph Almohaya, an MFA musical theater graduate from San Diego State University.

Neeley, with his slight Texas twang, said his Christian upbringing not only played into his securing the part in the beginning, but in his decades-long resonance as the title character.

"I can't play this particular character and think of it as just another role," Neeley said.

"People have asked my counsel (in playing the role) from the first day I stepped into that position because I had a deeply religious background. I know the Bible well. Church every Sunday was a part of life for me growing up."

Webber and Rice's first Broadway collaboration launched a soundtrack that hit Billboard's top spot on three different occasions and produced hits including "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "Superstar." Neeley said he thinks the musical has transcended cultural and religious divides.

"Since it's based on the greatest story ever told, that is a story that will never die. I remember being in Israel in '72 making the film. It seemed the same war was going on then that is going on now, just different costumes. In essence, this show has the same effect, years later. Everyone is looking for some source of spirituality, a peaceful connection, and they are finding it still in this piece," Neeley said.

Although this "Superstar" tour has been billed as Neeley's last, the man who received a Golden Globe nomination for portraying Jesus says he may continue in the role, out of the respect he possesses for his part in a show that has influenced the cultural landscape.

"This is not about religion. It's about humanity. It looks at Jesus Christ in the last seven days of his life through his contemporaries," Neeley said. "This show is about the human spirit that connects us all."

  

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

When: 8 p.m. Friday; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 1 and 6 p.m. Sunday

Where: San Diego Civic Theatre, Third Avenue at B Street, San Diego

Tickets: $20-$79

 Info: 619-570-1100

Web: www.broadwaysd.com

 

SDGLN.com - 1/15/10

http://sdgln.com/entertainment/2010/01/15/exclusive-sdgln-interview-jesus-christ-superstar-ted-neeley



Exclusive SDGLN interview with Jesus Christ Superstar, Ted Neeley

(SAN DIEGO) The Tony award-winning production is the first masterpiece from the legendary writing team of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. It exploded onto the scene in 1971, changing the world of musical theatre forever and it is returning to San Diego this weekend for five performances only.

As relevant and timeless as ever, this rock opera vision of the greatest story ever told, focuses on the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth- and is perhaps more potent in today’s troubled world than when first produced.

Internationally beloved star Ted Neeley will be recreating his

 
Jesus Christ Superstar- Ted Neeley
unforgettable performance once again. Neeley, best known for his Golden Globe-nominated role as Jesus in the Norman Jewison film version, SUPERSTAR, has enjoyed a distinguished career in resident 

theatres throughout America, appearing in a wide variety of productions from Hair to the works of Samuel Beckett. He is world renowned for this title role in, Jesus Christ Superstar, with a fan base that borders on a cult-like phenomenon.

Neeley was on the road on his way to San Diego [he prefers to travel by bus to see the country], when he took a few minutes to speak to SDGLN about his upcoming performance in America's Finest City.

Esther Rubio-Sheffrey (ERS), SDGLN: You have had the unique chance of repeatedly reprising a role you first took on almost 38 years ago – What about being Jesus entices you the most and keeps you coming back?

Ted Neeley (TN): Honestly, it is the ability to be able to talk to people every night. Not only from the stage but after the show and see how this wonderful project influences their lives. People are always telling me stories about how they discovered their spirituality or their personal spiritual beliefs by coming to see this play. Consequently I get to talk to several generations of families in every city we go, no matter where we are.

ERS: Are there any performances that were particularly meaningful for you?

TN: Since the very first time I stepped into the sandals it has been meaningful. It’s like that every night, I promise you. This is so much more than a standard theatrical show; it is truly a spiritual event for people who come to see it. I don’t mean to sound like I am preaching, because I’m not. People come and have a lovely evening of theater with their family and they walk away feeling better from what they have experienced. I can see that every night. I feel it every single night.

ERS: Have you lost track of the performance tally?

TN: I never did keep records. The only time records were kept was in the 90’s, it was planned as a 3 month tour but we ran for five years. I was told I performed over 2,000 times so certainly by now it's got to be close to 5,000. Certainly at this point I have performed the role enough where I know the material.

ERS: You don’t need to rehearse much then?

TN: [laughs] No. I just put the CD on and I remind myself, it’s wonderful.

ERS: Under what circumstances would you decline the opportunity to reprise the role of Jesus?

TN: If my voice stops working. The minute I feel I can’t deliver what is necessary, I am out of here. Quite frankly, I haven’t had the heart to say no when someone asks me if I want to reprise the role because I love it so much. It changed my life. To think about not doing this under the circumstances is insane.

ERS: Society has changed since the Broadway debut of Jesus Christ Superstar; age aside, how have you changed and how has that changed what you bring to the performance today?

TN: Since the 70’s when we first started, there is a tremendous amount of material that has been written on this subject, so every time I get the opportunity to relive this role I have a whole new resource of research from which I can pull new things to do, and each time I’ve done that, its been a completely different concept of how I relate to this. It has made a better person. I am much more aware and feel much better about what I’m doing and it also gives me a spiritual depth that grows with every time I get to do it. I feel better about this now than I did in the beginning.

ERS: Have there been moments in your life when it was particularly difficult for you to step out of character – perhaps where you felt compelled to pull out the “but I’m Jesus” card?

TN: [laughs] I must say I know exactly who I am. Yes, I get the pleasure of stepping into the role of Jesus theatrically, but you gotta understand I was born and raised in Texas. I’m a rock and roll drummer from Texas and I got lucky to be in this role. Anytime anybody tries to look across that barrier of looking at me, relating to me, as if I am the real deal, I immediately let them know [in a playful tone] ‘come on I’m a rock and roll actor, its just acting.’

ERS: I understand you have some devoted fans – that pregnant women have asked you to bless their unborn child – can you share some of your most memorable fan encounters?

TN: That has been going on since the 70’s. The very time it happened was at the Universal Amphitheatre, in Los Angeles when we did the first tour of JCS. A lady came up, and I assumed she was joking, but she could not have been more serious. She was extremely pregnant, she had just seen the show, she was crying her eyes out from the passion of the moment and certainly she was influenced by her condition. When she blurted it out, everyone laughed and I realized by the look in her eye that she was serious. I just put my open hand on her belly, so that I could make her feel good. And I learned from that and it has happened sequentially ever since. People really come to see the show, a lot of people do, not everyone, to see the show as their spiritual outlet and they believe that there’s a spiritual connection. And I am not going to step on anyone’s religious beliefs. I do whatever I can to encourage whatever they choose to embrace.

ERS: I am sure you are familiar with the popular acronym – WWJD –

TN: Yes of course, I wrote that you know [laughing again]. The crew members of this show for years have made up t-shirts and various things that they can sell that say WWTD. They always try to keep me in my place. I have a wonderful group of people that travel with me and they acknowledge what they see and understand what I go through on a regular basis. I could not be more honored.

ERS: When friends or family members ask you for advice or an opinion, do you ever think to yourself WWJD?

TN: Of course. I am not judgmental. I do not pass my judgment on anyone for what they believe. This is a free country and you can say and do what you want so as long as you don’t hurt anyone I am right there with you.

ERS: When JCS first made its debut there were some protests from religious organizations, who felt the play destroyed the country’s “religious fiber”- do the performances still draw protestors?

TN: Yes, nothing like in the beginning. Literally when we first started people would try and stop us from going to work. As I made my way through the picket lines I would ask people if they had seen the show. And they had not. So I would invite them as my guests, tell them to watch the show and talk to me after and if they had an issue we could address it. Everyone who had the courage to come into the show walked away loving everything about it. That’s why it still works- its now perceived as more of a spiritual Sesame Street. People use it to teach lessons to their children. Jesus, where I grew up, was untouchable, unreachable to the people, but this project makes Jesus accessible. It focused on the man. It puts humanity into it and everyone can relate to the human side. You don’t have to believe in Christianity or any sort of organized religion to understand that if you commit yourself to your goals, that you’re a much better person.

ERS: SDGLN caters to the LGBT community –

TN: Thank you very much for that.

ERS: And currently the LGBT community and several religious organizations are at opposite ends of the political battle over same-sex marriage in California. I will not ask WWJD – but I will ask – is there a relevant connection between issues in JCS and current LGBT political issues?

TN: Define the word connection. Where I am coming from what I see embraced in this philosophy and have observed for all these years, the problem lies in the same place. And that’s mixing politics with personal beliefs. This country was built on the separation of church and state. Freedom of thought. Freedom of individuality, and the minute the church and/or the state gets involved with your personal life its horrible. It’s nobody business to dictate to anybody what they can or cannot do. It’s not a societal experience, it’s a personal experience. Anybody who wants to be with somebody, I don’t care who it is, to each his own. How can anybody presuppose that they can tell you who you can choose as your life partner? Nobody has that right. Absolutely nobody. I can’t tell you how much I hate it. It’s just pathetic.

IF YOU GO: Jesus Christ Superstar, January 15 – 17, 2010, San Diego Civic Theatre, 3rd and B Street, downtown San Diego. Performances are scheduled to take place Friday at 8PM; Saturday at 2PM & 8PM and Sunday at 1PM & 6PM. Tickets on sale now - $20--$79.

 

#13 FRESNO, CA


Fresno Bee - 1/17/10

http://www.fresnobee.com/entertainment/story/1782152.html


FRESNOBEE7

Actor finds inspiration in 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

Posted at 12:00 AM on Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010



You don't spend a lifetime playing the role of Jesus Christ thousands of times -- clear through to the climactic scene on the cross -- without some of that vaunted, well, goodness rubbing off on you.

That's what it seems like, at least, when you talk to Ted Neeley on the phone about "Jesus Christ Superstar." His voice is at least an 8 out of 10 on the gentle-as-a-lamb scale. His patience is industrial-strength as he endures two mixed-up interview connections. His love of the material is practically beatific as he describes the thrill of every performance as a new adventure.

He's found his bliss, and at age 66, he refuses to let it go.

"They just can't get rid of me," says the actor, composer and rock 'n' roll drummer.

Neeley has played the title role in the show, which returns Tuesday to the Saroyan Theatre for one performance, so many times that he's lost count. His name has been inextricably linked with "Jesus Christ Superstar" since 1973, when he starred in the movie version directed by Norman Jewison.

Performances of “Jesus Christ Superstar” are a spiritual experience for Neeley, he says, as he picks up on the energy from members of the audience who are powerfully moved.

If you go

What: "Jesus Christ Superstar"

When: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 19

Where: Saroyan Theatre, 700 M St.

Tickets: $27.50-$49.50

Details: (800) 745-3000, TicketMaster.com

The Broadway production, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, chronicles the last days of Jesus' life and includes such well-known songs as "Superstar," "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and the title song.

A five-year national tour in the 1990s criss-crossed the country several times. This current tour started in 2006 and was meant to last three months, but it's still going strong. It just kept getting extended, he says. (He's taken a few breaks here and there.) He last performed in Fresno, at the Saroyan, in 2007.

"I just haven't figured out a way to say no," he says of his decision to keep playing the role. "It's been such an amazing part of my life. I'm holding on to it like a brand new Christmas toy."

Neeley is speaking from the place he spends most of his time: the road. (He has a home in Texas, but he doesn't spend much time there.) He hates to fly, but he loves his custom-designed bus -- complete with kitchen -- that carts him from one venue to the next. The 50-person contingent of cast and crew travel on three buses and trucks. On this day, he's traveling from Seattle to San Diego, and he's just stopped to pick up a Quizno's sandwich to eat while he watches the interstate glide by.

"It's such a great way to see the beauty of this country," he says. "I love to stop in little towns, chill a bit with the locals."

One thing that keeps the show fresh is that the rest of the cast -- mostly

young, up-and-coming performers in their first national-tour roles -- tend to rotate in and out of the production, leaving Neeley as the wise veteran.

He's absolutely serious about not getting tired of playing the role of Jesus, he says. When I interviewed him three years ago, he said his age was irrelevant because the audience sees the character, not him.

He's just as enthusiastic today. Every time he walks out on stage it's like he's doing it for the first time. It's a spiritual experience, he says. It's more than just a show. Audience members can be powerfully moved -- from first-timers to the ones who have seen the production repeatedly -- and he picks up on that energy.

"And thank goodness that everybody knows the story so we don't have to hold up cue cards," he says. Again, it's with that gentle voice of his -- so gentle that sometimes it's hard to know he's joking.

But there's a goofy side to Neeley as well, which is nice considering the magnitude of the role he's spent a lifetime playing.

Thank goodness, he says, that he's traveling from the frozen north of British Columbia to the slightly warmer environs of California.

"Can I tell you, I haven't quite thawed out," he says. "You wear those sandals and your feet freeze up on you."

The reporter can be reached at dmunro@fresnobee.com or (559) 441-6373. Read his blog at fresnobeehive.com/author/donald_munro.

 

Fresno Bee - 1/20/10

http://fresnobeehive.com/2010/01/theater_review_113.html



January 20, 2010 6:41 PM

THEATER REVIEW: 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

I'm going to nickname this one Barry's Law. As in Barry Gibb. As in, I think it should be illegal for anyone over the age of 60 to sing falsetto.

Yes, I get the idea that Ted Neeley has the role of Jesus down pat in "Jesus Christ Superstar," which on Tuesday came to the Saroyan Theatre for a one-night stand. It's almost awe-inspiring to watch Neeley in, say, his sock-em solo "Take Me Now," set on the night before the crucifixion. He has every dramatic nuance of the role worked out to perfection: each raised palm, each emphatic fist, each mournful glance. There isn't anything stale about Neeley's spirit when it comes to the role, and that by itself is remarkable. When I interviewed Neeley last week by phone, he told me that he tackles each night on the stage completely fresh, as if he's embarking on a whole new role -- and I believe him.

But, alas, the piercing anguish of Neeley's trademark high notes has morphed into screeching cat. I know this is a matter of personal taste, and many in the audience seemed to love him. For me, the sight of the 66-year-old Neeley juxtaposed with the fresh young cast members made the whole set-up seem less like a hippie-commune-coffee-house vibe and more like a professor emeritus hanging out with his students at the local Marie Callender's. I wasn't much impressed with the performances of the other principals, and while the show is tight and well-staged, I couldn't escape the creaky sensibility that seems to have settled into its bones. I'm all for giving someone like Neeley a farewell tour, and it is true that his performance has become a cultural icon, but all good things must come to an end. Don't they?

 

 

#15 MODESTO, CA


North County Times - 1/14/10

 

http://www.modbee.com/scene/story/1008405.html






story," Neeley said. "Whether they believe or disbelieve, they can find something warm in this piece. It's because of the human element. You can find solace in this piece. The music embraces this wonderful, passionate story."

For more on Modesto area arts, visit www.twitter.com/lisamillegan or thehive.modbee.com/artsbeat.

 
 


Scene - 1/22/10

http://www.modbee.com/scene/story/1018143.html






 

#17 SPOKANE, WA


The Spokesman-Review - 1/22/10

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jan/22/superstar/





January 22, 2010
in Features

Ted Neeley Superstar: Who else would you expect in show’s lead role?

Jim Kershner The Spokesman-Review

Ted Neeley is making his fifth Spokane appearance playing the role of Jesus.
(Full-size photo) (All photos)

If you go

“Jesus Christ Superstar”

When: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: INB Performing Arts Center, 334 W. Spokane Falls Blvd.

Cost: $52, $48 and $30

Call: TicketsWest outlets (800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com

If you come across the 1973 film version of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” you’ll see Ted Neeley on the screen, imparting his blessings on the multitudes.

Now, 36 years later, Neeley is still playing the role of Jesus as he arrives for a one-night-only visit of the national touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

At age 66, he seems just as surprised as anyone that he’s still in demand for the role.

“Back then, I would have never even known it was a possibility that I would still be doing this role in 2010,” said Neeley, by phone from a tour stop in Nanaimo, B.C.

“I wouldn’t have known it was a possibility that I’d even be breathing.”

Yet, if Neeley’s previous appearances in the show are any indication, he can still deliver a believable and inspiring performance. This is his fifth visit to Spokane; the most recent one was at the end of 2007.

Neeley’s history in the Jesus role goes back even further than 1973. In 1971, he was cast in the original Broadway production – as a leper – and also served as the understudy for the Jesus role.

That led to the role of Jesus in the Los Angeles production, which led director Norman Jewison to cast him in the movie version.

“I’ve had extremely good luck,” Neeley said. “I am so blessed.”

His first big theatrical break had already arrived a few years earlier, in 1969, when he was cast in the lead role of Claude in “Hair” in both New York and Los Angeles. Later, he sang the title role in “Tommy” in Los Angeles.

This was heady stuff, but not exactly what he had planned when he first broke into show business.

“I’m a rock ’n’ roll drummer from Texas!” said Neeley, who fronted a band called the Teddy Neeley Five in 1965. “I had no idea that theater and film would be in my future.”

Why was Neeley the go-to guy for rock musicals? He knew how to “scream the high notes,” he said.

He’s not surprised that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” is still going strong after nearly 40 years.

“It’s based on the greatest story ever told,” said Neeley. “Tim Rice (the lyricist) was able to pull out the Biblical language and put it into language that everybody can understand.”

This tour is a minimalist version, not the lavish, Vegas-style production that Neeley has fronted in years past.

The show moves to a new city nearly every night. After Spokane, it heads to Missoula, Great Falls, Billings, Butte and Bozeman, all in the space of five nights.

“This is like a rock ’n’ roll one-night tour,” Neeley said. “It was like a test to see if a show like this can exist, to see if the crew can handle it.”

Have they passed the test?

“Well, it was planned as a three-month tour,” he said. “We’re now in our fourth year.”

Meanwhile, Neeley is grateful that he is still performing in a show that has moved so many people – including himself.

“It certainly has deepened my faith,” he said.

 

#19 GREAT FALLS, MT

Great Falls Tribune - 1/22/10

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100122/ENTERTAINMENT01/1220313/Rock+opera++Jesus+Christ+Superstar++comes+to+Great+Falls+Jan.+28

Rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' comes to Great Falls Jan. 28

 

By JAKE SORICH • Tribune Staff Writer • January 22, 2010

ESSENTIALS

What: "Jesus Christ Superstar"

Where: The Mansfield Theater in Great Falls

When: Jan. 28 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $52 and $47. All seats are reserved. Tickets are available by calling 455-8514 or online at http://ticketing.greatfallsmt.net.

Four generations of people across the world have associated the voice of Jesus Christ with Ted Neeley.

Neeley, still going strong at age 66, has played the role of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" on and off since working in the original Broadway play in the early 1970s. He starred in the feature film in 1973 and won a Golden Globe in 1974.

Since then he has played in at least 3,000 JCS shows.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is a rock opera that Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted into a musical. It's based on St. John's Gospel account of the last week of Jesus' life, ending with his crucifixion. Much of the plot follows Judas, played by John Twiford. Judas is dissatisfied with what he views as Jesus' lack of planning and is also concerned with claims of Jesus' divinity.

This latest version is directed by Dallett Norris and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.

The score includes "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "The Crucifixion" and the signature "Superstar."

A youthful, talented cast surrounds Twiford and Neeley. Sarah Hanlon is making her JCS debut as Mary Magdalene and sings solo on "I Don't Know How to Love Him," thought by many to be the play's most revered song.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" has received several award nominations through the years. Perhaps the biggest was in 2000 when the play earned a Tony nomination for best musical revival for the production that opened at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Both U.S. and U.K. tours followed.

The original Broadway cast recording, which stars Ian Gillan (Jesus), Murray Head (Judas) and Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene), topped the American album charts three times.

Nearly 20 years after the Broadway show ended, Neeley returned to the role in 1992 along with Carl Anderson as Judas. The touring show ran for five years. Later in 2002, ex-Skid Row singer Sebastian Bach took the helm as Jesus with Anderson returning as Judas.

Bach left the production in April 2003 following a disagreement with the director. Neeley's latest run began in 2006, and he has been on tour since.

The play has been performed around the world including in Ireland, Hungary, India, New Zealand, Italy, France, Mexico, Chile, Bulgaria, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Iceland, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Greece, Australia, Philippines, South Africa, Panama, Colombia, Croatia and Bolivia. Takeshi Kaga from the original "Iron Chef" played Jesus in the 1976 Japanese version.

Over the years the production has sparked its share of controversy. Religious leaders claim the character of Judas is too sympathetic and find some of his criticisms of Jesus offensive.

But theater fans have long flocked to the show. The original Broadway show ran for 771 performances and the subsequent revivals in 1977 and later in 2000 were performed more than 300 times.

"'Jesus Christ Superstar' is that rare musical — or rock opera, for the purists out there — that affects its audience in deep psychological, physical and, yes, religious ways," a reviewer in Buffalo, N.Y., wrote. "This touring production, which stars the surprisingly vivid and powerful Ted Neeley, is a well-sung and competently acted tour de force that no doubt gave longtime 'Superstar' fans a deep degree of satisfaction."

Neeley, Twiford and cast will be onstage at the Mansfield Theater in Great Falls on Jan. 28. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $47 and $52, all seats are reserved.

Tickets are available by calling 455-8514 or by going online to http://ticketing.greatfallsmt.net.

 

 

#22 BILLINGS, MT

KKTV.com - 1/31/10

http://www.kktv.com/blogs/blogwithdon/83222627.html




How A Long Time Favorite Became A Friend (Don Ward)KKTV Blog Listing
Topic Author: Don Ward
Posted: 10:06 PM Jan 31, 2010
Replies Posted: 0 comments

THE MAN WHO PLAYS JESUS IS A NICE GUY

Last Friday night in Billings, Montana a crowd of thousands watched "Jesus Christ Superstar" and watched a man play a role he's performed thousands of times.  Ted Neeley is playing 33 at 66 and still thrilling those crowds every time he takes (owns) the stage.  After the show I went backstage and spent about half an hour catching up with a friend...catching up with Ted Neeley.  There's an interesting story about how that came to be.

I saw the movie version starring Ted Neeley shortly after it came out in 1973, when I was 8 years old.  A few years later I bought various recordings of JCSS including the movie soundtrack.  I was a really big fan of rock music, and though this was a stage and movie piece....it was without a doubt, ROCK music.

By High School (in the early days of the VCR) it was one of the few movies available at the place where my family had a membership..a furniture store called Hatch's, I think it was at Rustic Hills.  My family members all really liked the movie and we'd watch it sometimes when friends came over.  Other teenagers and I used to just marvel at the way Ted Neeley could scream his part, just like a heavy metal singer, but never lose the meaning or the emotion written into the songs.  I thought he had one of the greatest rock voices I'd ever heard.  I also thought Carl Anderson who played Judas was amazing.  I thought JCSS was a great piece of music from start to finish...and the story's pretty strong too, even if we all know how it ends.

In 1992 Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson both signed on for a revival tour..one that ended up lasting years and included more than 2000 live performances!  I saw the show in Denver 3 or 4 times during its two stops there.  I was working at a different TV station in Colorado Springs then and I even arranged to do a story on the show when it came to Denver for a 2nd stop.  I met with Carl Anderson that day, but Ted Neeley wasn't feeling well and couldn't do the interview.  Carl was great. 

Over the next few years I moved around the country building my career and from time to time the Superstar tour continued.  Any time the show was in a city near where I was, I would try to go see it, often introducing other friends to it in the process. 

By 2006 I was back in here Colorado Springs, and so was Jesus Christ Superstar, with Ted Neeley in the title role. Sadly, Carl Anderson had died by then.  I arranged to do an interview with Ted the day the show opened at the Pikes Peak Center. It went pretty well, I think he appreciated the fact that I knew the show and its history and it various incarnations.  I was just happy to finally meet him.  It was a brand new version of the tour with some changes that had just been made.  When I told him I had seen the show about a dozen times over the years he told me he was really interested in what I thought of the new production.

He asked me to come backstage after the show that night to talk about what I thought.  What?  The guy whose name is synonymous with that show wants to know what I think?   

I brought my younger sister Jen along because she is a trained actor/singer/director and she wanted to meet him too.  He did a meet and greet with dozens of fans for about an hour and a half..then we had a chance to talk to him.  We talked for an hour about the show and he was sincerely interested in our opinions!  Eventually we all had to go, it was very late. Ted said he wanted to talk some more, did we have time to meet for lunch the next day?  Again, What?  The performer I've admired for decades wants to have lunch?...with me?

I gave him my cell number and he said he'd call after he finished some phone interviews that next day. Jen and I left, thrilled about the great conversation we'd had, but pretty much convinced that would be the end of it.  Ted Neeley wasn't going to call me.

He did. We met for lunch and talked for another hour until I had to go to work.  I reminded him that I sometimes catch the show in different cities and asked If I could say hello when I did.  He said yes...and we've met up 7 or 8 times since.  Jen and I had breakfast at Denny's with Jesus the next year!  We spent some time backstage with him in Denver. I even met him for breakfast with my Dad (the man who first took me to see that movie, and who HATED all rock music, except "Jesus Christ Superstar") in Madison, Wisconsin. 

I have a friend from High School in Billings.  When I saw that the "Superstar" tour had a stop there I contacted my buddy.  I stayed with him and his family, we all went to the show, and afterwards he and I had a long talk with Ted.  He greeted my like an old friend so I guess that's what I consider us to be...all those years after I first saw him and heard him bring those songs to electrifying life!

The photo below was taken backstage in Billings.



Ted Neeley has a more mature voice now (don't we all?) but it still carries that power and passion that worked 40 years ago.  It still works now.  He still brings down the house during his most demanding song "Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say)" in Act Two. He says he's going to keep playing Jesus as long as he can.  He started performing as the drummer/singer in a Texas rock band..and he told me the other night he's just a "road dog"  He says as long as promoters still want send him out on the road and audiences still want to watch him perform...he's going to keep doing this.  They do, and we do...Ted,  keep up the great work.

We'll talk again soon.

Don Ward.

 

#23 CASPER, WY

The Casper Journal - 1/26/10

http://www.casperjournal.com/articles/2010/01/26/arts/arts04.best%20story%20ever%20told.txt



Arts

‘Best story ever told’

by Elysia Conner

Tuesday, January 26, 2010 3:01 PM MST

Ted Neeley auditioned for the part of Judas, but was asked to come back the next day to audition for “the other guy.”

Neeley, who played the title role in “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Broadway and the Norman Jewison movie, will appear live in Casper for his final tour in the show.

 
 

“It’s the best story ever told,” he said of the show depicting the last seven days of Jesus’ life.

The groundbreaking masterpiece from Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber exploded onto the scene in 1971, changing the world of musical theater forever. It features well-known songs like “Superstar,” which won five Tony nominations and the moving “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.”

Jesus, talking with God in the Garden of Gethsemane, is “without question, a soul-searching moment that has the most powerful message,” Neeley said. “Every night I experience something new.”

When the play opened in the 1970s, he often had to walk through protestors to get to work. He always invited them to watch the show as his guests. Most often they ended up enjoying it. It is widely accepted today, he said, including by the Vatican.

The play blends modern slang and images with biblical elements to bring the story of Jesus to modern times, he said.

“It’s such a challenge, it’s such a pleasure to keep doing this,” Neeley said, because it deals with personal beliefs. “This is more than just a show.”

 
 

Right place, right time

Curious about acting, Neeley followed a friend to an audition many years ago. His friend convinced him to try out.

“I walked up on the stage,” Neeley said, “and out of the darkness came a voice that said, ‘What have you prepared for us today, sir?’” Neeley admitted he’d never auditioned in his life and was unprepared, but sang a requested up-tempo song.

The voice in the darkness was Tom O'Horgan, director of “Hair,” and now “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Neeley won a part, though his friend didn’t.

“Without question,” he said, “I’m the luckiest man alive because I’ve just been at the right place at the right time.”

Neeley still describes himself as a drummer from Texas who can scream the high notes, which is how he got his start playing in music. He likes all kinds of music.

When he’s not on stage, composing for movies, he is writing and recording a country music album with his friend Pepper Martin. Neeley also has written and is developing his new musical work “Pandemonium” for the Broadway stage.

He continues to add his considerable personal research to the back story of his character, enriching it with time. Every audience member is a critic because they know the subject so well.

“Respectfully performing the last seven days of the life of Jesus” is serious work, Neeley said, and he feels a responsibility to do it right. People of all faiths find solace and meaning in this theatrical piece because of the universal spirituality that keeps it alive.

If you go…

The Best of Broadway at the Casper Events Center presents “Jesus Christ Superstar” on Monday, Feb. 1, at 7:30 p.m., at the Events Center.

Tickets are $37.50, $42.50 and $47.50.

For tickets or more information, call the Casper Events Center box office at 577-3030 or visit www.caspereventscenter.com.



#24 WICHITA, KS

The Wichita Eagle - 1/31/10

http://www.kansas.com/entertainment/all/story/1160746.html#ixzz0eCvHWUC2


 

#26 AMES, IA

The Wichita Eagle - 2/5/10

http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2010/02/05/news/doc4b6bc0d2a4332463864791.txt


Actor reflects on role in “Jesus Christ Superstar"

| Friday, February 5, 2010 1:02 AM CST

His resume consists of many achievements, including composing music for NBC, having the lead role in a motion picture and earning two Golden Globe Award nominations. But it’s for his recurring role as Jesus that he is best known.

There are many reasons Ted Neeley feels fortunate to have performed the title role in “Jesus Christ Superstar” since the 1970s. One of the biggest is the influence his character and the production have on people’s lives.

“People come to me every night and tell me wonderful stories about how this project has influenced their lives in a positive way,” Neeley said. “People come and tell me they found their spirituality. Families come together to talk with me on how it changed their lives.”

In addition to influencing people, his performance on the big stage took him to the big screen. After touring with the production, he was offered the lead as Jesus in the 1973 film version.

In 1974, Neeley was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards, for best actor and best newcomer. He said he was surprised his name came up. He said sometimes he still can’t believe it but feels honored beyond explanation.

Ted Neeley, above, in his role as Jesus in the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Neeley has played this role since 1971. Courtesy photo: Iowa State Center
Since Neeley has been performing in this production, some things have changed and some stayed the same. When he first started with the production in the ’70s, he said, he and the cast would have to fight their way through picket lines just to get to the theater for work — the production drew a negative reaction for being a rock opera that dealt with religion.

Neeley said the same lyrics, melody and show are being used today, but they are viewed as what he calls spiritual “Sesame Street” and accepted rather than protested.

“After all these years, people in general have realized that children, in virtual theater environments, learn about Jesus by singing these songs and watching this movie,” Neeley said.

“Therefore, it opens their hearts to wider interpretation of the gospels much earlier in life than if they just went to their respected churches.”

Neeley grew up in Texas and came from a religious background. He was raised a Baptist, and going to church was a regular thing. He said “Jesus Christ Superstar” has influenced his spirituality in life through the concept of the production.

The concept, Neeley said, focuses on how Jesus was able to change the world in just a few years by sticking to his commitment until death.

Hundreds of years later, people are still influenced. Neeley said this shows how one person can make the world a better place.

Although Neeley is mainly known for his role of Jesus, he has performed and worked on a number of other projects during his career.

Other works include composing and performing the music for NBC’s “Highway to Heaven,” and music for the film “Blame it on the Night.” He performed in other theater productions like “Hair” and “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in New York.

In the future, Neeley plans to work with one of his old friends, Pepper Martin. Neeley and Martin are old musical partners and will create a country album together. Neeley has also been working on his own personal musical, titled “Pandemonium.”

 

#28 NORMAL, IL

Pantagraph.com - 2/4/10

http://www.pantagraph.com/entertainment/go/article_cd74d01e-1128-11df-91fe-001cc4c002e0.html



'Superstar' actor crucified on stage for 40 years


Ted Neeley says his near-40-year run playing the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" on stage and screen hasn't dulled his enthusiasm for the part one bit. (Courtesy photo by Joan Marcus)
Meet Ted Neeley, Superman.

He may not move faster than a speeding bullet or leap tall buildings in a single bound.

But he can tirelessly talk up a lightning storm about a role he's been playing longer than any other living stage actor in recent history -- almost 40 years. And counting.

Not even that famed long-runner Yul Brynner spouted his "etceteras, etceteras, etceteras" in "The King and I" as long as Neeley has been getting crucified nightly.

The occasion, of course, is the actor's career-long stint playing the Man 

from Galilee in the first and most enduring rock opera of them all, "Jesus Christ Superstar," coming to Illinois State University's Braden Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

He's essayed the title role in virtually every medium extant, and, as some of his fans might confuse it, in real life -- witness their eagerness to interface with him both before and after performances, and Neeley's equal eagerness to comply (he makes a point of asking that we let people know he wants to meet and talk with them at some point in the evening, either before or after the performance).

There are a few key distinctions between man and Man, however -- like, Jesus was 33 when his mortal stay ended and Neeley just turned 66.

"With all due respect, I have to say that I have no idea how I've pulled it off. The voice should have been gone a long time ago. But it's stronger now than it's ever been," he insists in the very un-Jesus-like twang that instantly marks him as a Texan, not a Galilean.

And so what? "There's no doubt in my mind that's exactly who I am: a longhaired rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas who screams high notes and who got really, really lucky."

That luck, he says, shows no sign of waning. Nor does he want it to.

Genesis of a hit

In the beginning (1970), there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the two-record album with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. And it was good.

A year later (1971), there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the glitzy Broadway stage rendition of the album. And it was, according to some of the critics, not so good. Two years after that (1973), there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the big-budget Hollywood movie. And it was, well, um, different.

Now, 37 years after the movie, there is "Jesus Christ Superstar: The North American Farewell Tour." And, lo, it is still coaxing manna from heaven.

Chalk that up to the singularly potent casting coup of maintaining the Neeley connection that spans the decades.

And, until his death from leukemia five years ago, the late Carl Anderson had been on board over the decades, too, recreating his original role of Judas.

In fact, Anderson was scheduled to join the current tour until his illness took over, a setback that hit Neeley hard, but that had to be overcome.

"I had no idea at the time," recalls Neeley of his friend's condition. "All I could think is that it would be impossible for anybody to do that role. So we've been very fortunate to find performers in the years since who've been able to create their own vision while paying tribute to Carl through what they learned from him watching the film."

Ironically, the show that was once one of the most controversial pop culture phenomena of its era -- accused of everything from outright blasphemy to anti-Semitism -- has evolved into a family-values event up there with "Annie."

If the presentation has grown leaner and less glitzy over the decades, the substance remains unchanged: It's set during the final seven days of Christ's life and presented through the eyes of his anguished disciples and eventual betrayer, Judas. The bulk of the spectacle is centered on the attempts to turn Jesus into a media celebrity against his will.

Stage to screen

Following the success of the 1970 album, which spun off three hit singles, the Broadway edition debuted with Ben Vereen as Judas and Jeff Fenholt as Jesus. Neeley signed on as Fenholt's understudy, while Anderson became Judas after Vereen bowed out with throat problems.

Within a year, Neeley and Anderson were leading the Los Angeles production and pretty much cementing the roles as their own -- witness their quick casting in the movie version over several seemingly more likely candidates. Shot on location in Israel, the film alienated some audiences with several unorthodox stylistic devices: the cast members were introduced as movie actors arriving on location via bus; the time frame thrown out of synch as tanks and jets could be seen amassing in the background during the climax.

"That was certainly Norman's (director Norman Jewison) idea, and it almost demanded to be done," Neeley recalls "There we were in Israel, surrounded by real tanks and jets, bombing and attacking the borders. If we didn't see it on screen, we would have been lying about what was going on. I still feel Norman's decision was absolutely well-chosen."

Ask Neeley if he's kept a scorecard on how many times he's been crucified in front of an audience, and he seems genuinely mystified by the seemingly infinite possibilities.

"I do know that my late friend Carl and I did over 2,000 performances on the '90s tour alone," he says. "So you'd have to add a lot to that total from both before and after."

Wouldn't it look good to see it with the Guinness Book of World Records seal of approval?

"I honestly don't know," he says. "It's something that if I did keep count, and see it in print, it would probably just frighten me."

 


At a glance

 

What: National tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" starring Ted Neeley

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Illinois State University Braden Auditorium

Tickets: $29.50 to $44

Box office: 309-438-5444

Ted Neeley's near-40-year run playing the same character may or may not be a record for a stage or film actor. He says he honestly "doesn't know." For comparison's sake, here are some other famously long-running thespian relationships:

 


Marathoners

 

53. Helen Wagner: According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the long-running matriarch of TV's soap, "As the World Turns," has scored Earth's most steadfast thespian feat. Wagner, now 91, has played the same character, Nancy Hughes, since the series signed on in 1956 (she's followed by fellow cast members Eileen Fulton, 40 years, and Don Hastings, 39 years).

38. Fred Rogers: The genial, cardigan-clad host of PBS' "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood" created the character for Canadian TV in 1963, then emigrated stateside where he came into his own in 1968 via the series several generations of kids came to know and love. It continued through 2001.

36. Yul Brynner: Before Neeley's J.C., the bald-pate actor held the stage record, as the regal half of "The King and I," a role he created on Broadway in 1951 and held onto for decades, including a short-lived '70s sitcom and an '80s Broadway revival that continued just months before his death in 1985.

33. Carl Anderson: Had he lived, Neeley's "Jesus Christ Superstar" comrade would be tied at near-40 years. But the actor who originated the role of Judas in 1971 and continued to play it on stage and screen through 2003 was felled by leukemia in 2004.

32. Basil Rathbone: The movies' most famous portrayer of Sherlock Holmes first donned the deerstalker cap in 1939's "Hound of the Baskervilles," then found himself portraying the world's greatest detective for the rest of his career -- in 14 films, countless radio shows, a disastrous stage edition and TV sketches. He ended the association, somewhat sadly, spoofing Holmes in a series of early-'60s ads for Getz Exterminators ("Getz gets 'em!").

28. Pee-wee Herman (aka Paul Reubens): Amazing but true, the pasty-faced man-child has been at it since 1982, when Reubens parlayed his parody of a TV kiddie show host into a live stage show, which then became a hit HBO special and, in 1986, a bona fide TV kiddie show. Two movies followed. Reubens' arrest on a morals charge in 1991 ended Pee-wee's re ign, until the past year, when he returned in a new stage rendition.

27. Harrison Ford: Eclipsing his three turns as Han Solo in the "Star Wars" series is the actor's turns as whip-cracking archaeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones in a quartet of Steven Spielberg-directed hits that convened in 1981 and continued to 2008. Rumors of a fifth time round are circulating.

25. Rex Harrison: The droll British actor had been a stage screen star for years before he took Broadway by storm in 1956 as the original Henry Higgins in "My Fair Lady," followed by the 1964 screen version. He continued growing accustomed to her face all the way through the 1981 Broadway revival.

21. Sean Connery: The movies' first and best James Bond took 007 through the '60s and into the early '70s before calling it quits, supposedly for good. But never say never ... as his 1983 return to the role, "Never Say Never Again," proved.

-- Dan Craft


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  1.  
    RGB
    RGB said on: February 4, 2010, 12:29 pm
    " 'Superstar' actor crucified on stage for 40 years"

    OMG somebody get him down already!


SAME ARTICLE REPOSTED AS:

ChicagoTribune.com - 2/7/10

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-four-decaderole,0,4632496.story


ILLINOIS SPOTLIGHT: Actor nears 40 years in role

By DAN CRAFT The (Bloomington) Pantagraph

3:01 a.m. CST, February 7, 2010

NORMAL, Ill. - Meet Ted Neeley, Superman.

He may not move faster than a speeding bullet or leap tall buildings in a single bound.

But he can tirelessly talk up a lightning storm about a role he's been playing longer than any other living stage actor in recent history -- almost 40 years. And counting.

Not even that famed long-runner Yul Brynner spouted his "etceteras, etceteras, etceteras" in "The King and I" as long as Neeley has been getting crucified nightly.

The occasion, of course, is the actor's career-long stint playing the Man from Galilee in the first and most enduring rock opera of them all, "Jesus Christ Superstar," coming to Illinois State University's Braden Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Monday.

He's essayed the title role in virtually every medium extant, and, as some of his fans might confuse it, in real life -- witness their eagerness to interface with him both before and after performances, and Neeley's equal eagerness to comply (he makes a point of asking that we let people know he wants to meet and talk with them at some point in the evening, either before or after the performance).

There are a few key distinctions between man and Man, however -- like, Jesus was 33 when his mortal stay ended and Neeley just turned 66.

"With all due respect, I have to say that I have no idea how I've pulled it off. The voice should have been gone a long time ago. But it's stronger now than it's ever been," he insists in the very un-Jesus-like twang that instantly marks him as a Texan, not a Galilean.

And so what? "There's no doubt in my mind that's exactly who I am: a longhaired rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas who screams high notes and who got really, really lucky."

That luck, he says, shows no sign of waning. Nor does he want it to.

In the beginning (1970), there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the two-record album with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. And it was good.

A year later (1971), there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the glitzy Broadway stage rendition of the album. And it was, according to some of the critics, not so good. Two years after that (1973), there was "Jesus Christ Superstar," the big-budget Hollywood movie. And it was, well, um, different.

Now, 37 years after the movie, there is "Jesus Christ Superstar: The North American Farewell Tour." And, lo, it is still coaxing manna from heaven.

Chalk that up to the singularly potent casting coup of maintaining the Neeley connection that spans the decades.

And, until his death from leukemia five years ago, the late Carl Anderson had been on board over the decades, too, recreating his original role of Judas.

In fact, Anderson was scheduled to join the current tour until his illness took over, a setback that hit Neeley hard, but that had to be overcome.

"I had no idea at the time," recalls Neeley of his friend's condition. "All I could think is that it would be impossible for anybody to do that role. So we've been very fortunate to find performers in the years since who've been able to create their own vision while paying tribute to Carl through what they learned from him watching the film."

Ironically, the show that was once one of the most controversial pop culture phenomena of its era -- accused of everything from outright blasphemy to anti-Semitism -- has evolved into a family-values event up there with "Annie."

If the presentation has grow leaner and less glitzy over the decades, the substance remains unchanged: It's set during the final seven days of Christ's life and presented through the eyes of his anguished disciples and eventual betrayer, Judas. The bulk of the spectacle is centered on the attempts to turn Jesus into a media celebrity against his will.

Following the success of the 1970 album, which spun off three hit singles, the Broadway edition debuted with Ben Vereen as Judas and Jeff Fenholt as Jesus. Neeley signed on as Fenholt's understudy, while Anderson became Judas after Vereen bowed out with throat problems.

Within a year, Neeley and Anderson were leading the Los Angeles production and pretty much cementing the roles as their own -- witness their quick casting in the movie version over several seemingly more likely candidates. Shot on location in Israel, the film alienated some audiences with several unorthodox stylistic devices: the cast members were introduced as movie actors arriving on location via bus; the time frame thrown out of synch as tanks and jets could be seen amassing in the background during the climax.

"That was certainly Norman's (director Norman Jewison) idea, and it almost demanded to be done," Neeley recalls "There we were in Israel, surrounded by real tanks and jets, bombing and attacking the borders. If we didn't see it on screen, we would have been lying about what was going on. I still feel Norman's decision was absolutely well-chosen."

Ask Neeley if he's kept a scorecard on how many times he's been crucified in front of an audience, and he seems genuinely mystified by the seemingly infinite possibilities.

"I do know that my late friend Carl and I did over 2,000 performances on the '90s tour alone," he says. "So you'd have to add a lot to that total from both before and after."

Wouldn't it look good to see it with the Guinness Book of World Records seal of approval?

"I honestly don't know," he says. "It's something that if I did keep count, and see it in print, it would probably just frighten me."

 

 

#30 BLOOMINGTON, IN

Indiana Daily Student - 2/9/10

http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=73593&search=Ted neeley&section=search




Arts

‘Superstar’ performance to rock IU Auditorium stage

POSTED AT 10:32 PM ON Feb. 9, 2010

He’s back.

Ted Neeley will return to the IU Auditorium stage in the show and role he is most known for.

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning musical detailing the final days of Jesus’ life will begin its two-day run today at 8 p.m. Tickets for students start at $19 and are still available on the auditorium’s Web site.

Maria Talbert, events manager at the auditorium, said the show would be portrayed in its traditional sense, as opposed to a 1990s updated performance. The show, since debuting in 1971, has entertained audiences all over the world and garnered a collection of awards. This includes Tony Award nominations, despite initial apprehensions for its original run and revival.

“It’s one of Lloyd Webber’s and Rice’s first collaborations,” Talbert said. “When they pitched the story, and they were just in their 20s, people didn’t think it would take off and that people would like it.”

Talbert said Neeley last performed at IU in the mid 1990s, and his return to the stage here should be memorable.

“It’s always wonderful when we have those stars and celebrities that come along with the show,” Talbert said. “We have all these incredible productions that come to our stage, but then when we have those people who are really known for a particular role or known across the globe for their talent, it just makes it that much more exciting.”

The musical provided a better understanding of the show’s content and place in history, Neeley said in a recent interview published in The Flint Journal.

“The simplicity of the message is right there,” he said. “Sometimes people have problems understanding it from the pulpit. Somehow, this piece has made it more understandable.”



Indiana Daily Student - 2/11/10

http://www.idsnews.com/news/story.aspx?id=73657&search=Ted neeley&section=search





Arts

Rock-opera musical tells story of Jesus’ last week on earth


Ted Neeley performs as Jesus in the musical Jesus Christ Superstar Wednesday at the IU auditorium. The last performance will be 
tonight at 8.

POSTED AT 12:41 AM ON Feb. 11, 2010 

On Wednesday, the IU Auditorium hosted an audience ready to see Jesus rock.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” opened Wednesday to an appreciative crowd eager to escape the frigid weather outside.

The show, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous productions, is a retelling of the final days of Jesus’ life – beginning with the preparation for his arrival in Jerusalem and ending with his Crucifixion.

Unlike classic Broadway musicals, the rock-opera features a heavy emphasis on rock instruments and includes no spoken dialogue.

The show debuted in the 1971 and has since garnered a great deal of awards and nominations, as well as a series of revivals and a 1973 film adaptation.

The film starred Ted Neeley as Jesus, a role he reprised for Wednesday’s performance.

Audience members came in anticipation of Neeley’s performance, including junior Krista Spore, who came with her boyfriend’s family.

“I think he’s doing a really good job,” Spore said. “He’s really caught the audience’s attention and has a strong personality.”

Neeley’s performance and appearance onstage contrasted with those of his costars, in no small part due to his age. Neeley, at 67, was noticeably older then his onstage counterparts – a difference that didn’t escape Bloomington North High School junior Sami Haddad.

“I don’t know how to put this politely, but Jesus is very old for a 33-year-old man,” Haddad said.

Haddad said he otherwise thoroughly enjoyed the show, especially John Twiford’s portrayal of the character Judas.

Twiford, a former contestant on the 8th season of “American Idol,” performing in his first musical theater role, said he hoped the audience would appreciate the telling of Jesus’ story as a rock performance, not simply as a musical.

“I think it’s just a killer rock and roll expose,” he said. “It isn’t necessarily religious, but it just kind of tells the story from a storyteller’s point-of-view, sort of this human point-of-view. I just think it’s so interesting to see the story of Jesus Christ and Judas told from that point of view.”

However, the show was not without its critics.

Bloomington resident David Skirvien left the auditorium expressing disappointment with the performance, particularly Neeley’s.

“The best singer was Judas,” he said. “Jesus was a terrible singer. I know it was Ted Neeley, the guy from the original production, but it’s the original production, like in the 70s. ”

Skirvien also said the show’s mixture of religion and pop culture might offend those who think the two should be kept separate – including himself. That point has been one of the show’s central controversies throughout its history.

“I don’t think you should mix religion and theater together,” Skirvien said. “I found that to be like pop exploitation of religion right there. And that is offensive to me, whether or not I believe in it or not, I don’t think that’s how religion should be interpreted – as rock and roll music.”

All Comments  (5)

5. Posted by Brandon Rucker at 12:50 AM on Feb 12, 2010 | Report this comment

This is not a rock opera. Please listen to Avantasia "Shelter From The Rain". Tobias Sammet and Michael Kiske are the 2 of the top 4 singers in the world. The other 2 being Andre Matos on "Don't Despair" and Michele Luppi on anything he touches.

4. Posted by Natasha Kidwell at 11:14 PM on Feb 11, 2010 | Report this comment

The fact that Ted Neely played Jesus added a lot to the performance. Anyone who complains about his singing voice, which I found to still be incredible, obviously aren't true fans of the original!!

3. Posted by Hiromi Yoshida at 2:35 PM on Feb 11, 2010 | Report this comment

If David Skirvien doesn't believe that "religion and theater" should mix, why did he even bother going to JCS??

2. Posted by Sean Rosales at 9:8 AM on Feb 11, 2010 | Report this comment

Yes he is 67...but he sings like he is 18. The man has some set of pipes on him and he made the show AMAZING!!! Good job IMU for getting this great show.

1. Posted by Matthew at 4:4 AM on Feb 11, 2010 | Report this comment

Ted Neely... isn't a 67 year old man a little.. dusty to be playing a virile 33 year old son of God?

 

Arts In View Blog - 2/12/10

http://artsinview.blogspot.com/2010/02/separation-of-church-and-stage.html


ARTS IN VIEW


Friday, February 12, 2010

Separation of Church and Stage

A touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar recently hit town. Despite its longevity, this early Seventies hit for the duo of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice still stirs controversy. One inevitable criticism of this particular tour stemmed from Ted Neeley’s seemingly endless reprise of his role as Jesus. Neeley, who starred in the 1973 film of the rock opera, is now 67 and arguably far too old to play a 33-year-
old Christ. But the main criticism is one of even longer standing, namely, that Jesus belongs in church, not on stage.

There are two problems with this argument. The first is that, as it usually is made by conservative Christians, it tends to be cover for their real criticism, which is that the Webber-Rice Jesus is “just a man,” something that Mary Magdalene emphasizes in the Act I song, “I Just Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Tim Rice has been quoted as saying, “It happens that we don’t see Christ as God but simply the right man at the right time at the right place.” The Christian Right condemns this view, which also is emphasized by the omission of the resurrection from the story on stage.

Expanding this argument to a more general one of “leave Jesus in church where he belongs” is simply spurious. Jesus has long been on stage in ways wholly approved by conservative Christians. Consider, for example, the mystery plays of medieval England, biblical cycles performed by roving bands of amateur actors during the Middle Ages and later, and passion plays. The most famous example of the last is the epic that has been performed in Oberammergau, Germany, once a decade since 1634. Add to these live events the myriad of films featuring Christ and the list of “approved” theatrical appearances by Jesus is endless. Perhaps the film most passionately embraced by the Religious Right in recent years is Mel Gibson’s 2004 sadomasochistic “The Passion of the Christ,” which is a veritable blood bath.

A second difficulty I have with the argument that Jesus doesn’t belong on stage stems from the theatrical element inherent in the religious practices of most churches. Looked at in stage terms, preachers perform much as actors do, robing (getting into costume), climbing into the pulpit (going on stage), and holding forth (performing). The most adept and elaborate of these church-theaters tend to be those occupied by the same conservative critics decrying stage Christs. Consider the megachurches, the traveling theater of tent revivals, and the elaborate staging that backs the most strident of the rightwing televangelists. Talk about theater!

Few topics — including the Bible and Jesus — are off limits as theatrical fodder, which is as it should be — and as it should pertain to all art forms. The arts are the expressions of culture. All viewpoints deserve expression, and that inevitably leads to controversy. Controvery ought not lead to suppression, however.

(The photo shows Jesus and John from a 1900 production of the Oberammergau Passion Play.)

 

#31 WEST LAFAYETTE, IN

The Purdue Exponent - 2/15/10

http://www.purdueexponent.org/index.php/module/Section/section_id/5/?module=article&story_id=19967

‘Superstar’ proves on-stage shows surpass movies

By Lydia Williams

Opinions Editor

Publication Date: 02/15/2010

Although movie musicals like “Rent,” “Hairspray” and all seven sequels of “High School Musical” have become the norm of musical watching, there’s still nothing like viewing an on-stage, in-person production.

I’ve always had a soft spot for musicals – especially those by Andrew Lloyd Webber. So a few months ago when I heard that “Jesus Christ Superstar” was playing Feb. 12 in Elliott, I bought tickets immediately.

“Superstar” is one of my top two musicals I’ve seen in person, and this was my third time to see “Superstar.” Many who have never seen it might have the idea that it’s just a two-hour-long, rock-operatic overglorification of Christ, but it’s much more complex. Here’s a quick synopsis, to start:

“Jesus Christ Superstar” technically falls under the category of a “rock opera” musical: Everything is sung and the music has an edgier tone. The storyline encompasses the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. We see Judas’ disenchantment with and Mary Magdalene’s love for Jesus. We also see the Last Supper and the high priests’ plotting against Christ, among other occurrences during the last week of JC’s life.

And, I’m fairly certain we all know how the rest of the story goes as far as plot is concerned.

My non-religious friends wonder how an agnostic realist like myself could love this musical. For me, what keeps “Superstar” from being a pious, boring re-enactment of a Bible story is the wicked-awesome musical numbers, the wailing rock ’n’ roll quality of the singers’ voices, and, most especially, the radically different depiction of Judas Iscariot, the traditionally hated villain of Jesus’ death story.

“Superstar” opens with a number called “Heaven on Their Minds,” sung by Judas, which I believe to be the best song of the entire show for several reasons. In my previous viewings of this musical, the tenor who has played Judas has had the best voice and has stolen the show from the guy who plays Jesus; this weekend’s show did not deviate from that pattern. Moreover, this particular portrayal of Judas proved to be the best I’ve ever seen.

John Twiford played the character, and he captured my attention immediately with his strong yet quietly assured voice (usually, tenors blast their voices because it’s easier to sing that way). Twiford’s pleasing, non-screaming tones made the message of the song clear: Although Judas has been JC’s right-hand man since the start, he is disappointed that the supposed divinity of Christ is getting in the way of doing good.

He becomes even more of a sympathetic character in a later song with Jesus and all the disciples in which he echoes his concerns for the poor and downtrodden; as a response, JC tells him to calm down and enjoy the day. This is all before Judas has decided to sell Jesus’ location to the high priests who want Jesus dead, so we see how Judas’ frustrations lead to his betrayal of Christ.

Of course, Judas, along with Pontius Pilate (who we also don’t strictly hate) and the angry mob that wants JC dead, all become the ultimate “bad guys.” What must be noted, though, is the feeling of sadness for all parties involved, and not only the crucified Jesus. It becomes more of a Greek tragedy than a Bible story.

At the end of the evening, the only major complaint I had with this rendition of “Superstar” was the performer who played Jesus: Ted Neeley. If you aren’t aware, Neeley played the title role in the 1973 movie version of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” He was born in 1943, so that means at age 30, he played the character of 33-year-old Jesus Christ quite well with his raw and wide-ranging voice.

But... That was 37 years ago. If I’m doing my math correctly, Neeley is now in is mid-60s, still playing a 33 year old. I get the whole “he’s a legend for this role” thing; I’ll also admit he still has a tortured-rocker quality to his voice.

His age, however, served as an inhibitor to the musical as a whole. Despite his still-raging pipes, Neeley is simply too old to be playing the role of the young, heroicized Jesus in “Superstar.” I couldn’t quite believe this guy was Jesus, and this kept the musical from capturing my imagination in a full way. Rather than being pulled into the story, I kept wondering why Neeley can’t let go of the role.

Plus, 66 years old or not, Neeley drew out the death of Jesus on the cross longer than any other performer I’ve seen. Every time I thought a long, labored death groan was his last, Neeley followed a few beats’ silence with another tortured “auuughhh.” By the time JC was dead, I was so consumed with stifling my giggles that the meaning of the ending was almost completely lost for me.

When applause time rolled around, I was ready to scream for Judas like I had witnessed a Beatles performance – and I did just that. The audience comprised mostly middle-aged, white, most-likely-Christian Hoosiers, so I loved it when my mom, sister and I shocked those who surrounded us by chanting, “Judas! Judas! Judas!”

All in all, “Jesus Christ Superstar” affected me like a good piece of art should: I wept at the beauty of some songs, I laughed at comic relief and I reflected that seeing such a show in-person is the only way to do it. Plus, I’ve been reminded that maybe we give Judas too hard a time. He did have to live in the shadow of a superstar, after all.

Lydia Williams is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and may be reached at opinions@purdueexponent.org.

 

WLFI.com - 2/12/10

http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/Superstar-returns-with-its-star-

'Superstar' returns with its star

Jesus Chris Superstar opens at Elliott Hall Friday

Updated: Friday, 12 Feb 2010, 3:55 PM EST
Published : Friday, 12 Feb 2010, 12:29 PM EST

Forty years after it debuted on Broadway, Jesus Christ Superstar comes to the Elliott Hall of Music tonight with its original star.


Ted Neeley and cast will take the stage with a revamped version of the 1970s hit. Neeley stars as Jesus of Nazareth. He originated the role on Broadway in 1971 and starred in the 1973 motion picture.

The musical follows the last seven days of Jesus's life. Actors tell the story through the lyrics of Tim Rice and melodies of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Neeley said the show is for all ages and the story is timeless.

"It doesn't matter what you do or do not believe in. You don't have to be a spiritual person, you don't have to have any connection with any sort of religion you can get an absolute evening of enjoyment out of this with your family if you come and see it," Neeley said.

For tickets, call (765) 494-3933.

 

JCOnline - 2/12/10

http://www.jconline.com/article/20100212/ENT/2120329


Neeley on 'Superstar' return: 'I'm getting better at it'

By TIM BROUK • tbrouk@jconline.com • February 12, 2010

 

The sandals still fit.

Ted Neeley returned to a role that has defined him for almost 40 years. And it's not just any role: He plays Jesus Christ.

Neeley portrayed the son of God back in 1971 as an understudy in the Broadway run of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and again in the 1973 film version of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical.

Neeley reprised the role in 2006. Now at the age of 66, the actor, who also had lead roles in "Hair" and "Tommy," talked about what it's like to be Jesus again and seeing his old friends Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey of The Who rock last week's Super Bowl.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" and Neeley can be seen at 8 tonight at Purdue University's Elliott Hall of Music.

Question: How has it been portraying Jesus Christ again?

Answer: I've almost learned it. I'm getting better at it (laughs).

Q: Has the role changed at all over the years?

A: It has increased and deepened tremendously. I'd do it every chance I get. Every time I do it, it gets better.

Early on, there was not much research on the concept of Jesus as a man. ... There was very little material then.

All I had to read was Nikos Kazantzakis' "The Last Temptation of Christ." In the last five to 10 years, there is an abundance of material to garner information from.

Q: Has there been any difficulty getting back into your famous role?

A: None whatsoever. It's the closest thing to me that's like home. ... Doing the role in New York and later in the film made me be connected to it no matter what else I do.

It feels like I'm walking in and sitting in the living room and propping my feet up.

Most of the cast grew up with the film, too. It's all positive

Q: What are your thoughts on the reaction to this revival?

A: Amazed. Literally amazed. It has been awhile since this piece was considered fresh in public. Back in 1971, we didn't know if it would make it past opening night.

Q: What do you think of the legacy of "Superstar?"

A: "Hair" opened all the doors for rock to be in theatrical productions. I don't think we'd be able to do it if it wasn't for "Hair." The rock opera was new then, and here we are this many years later.

It's a new generation and people come as families to see this show. It's nice to know and welcome it.

Q: Did you get to watch The Who's Super Bowl performance and are you still in touch with them since the "Tommy" days?

A: Absolutely. I had the great pleasure of being a part of "Tommy" and help get it together. "Hair," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "Tommy" were the rock opera triad. ... What an experience to work with those guys.

And (Sunday) night, seeing them up there in that magnificent stadium and doing the songs how they were originally intended after the two other guys have passed on was wonderful. They were the pioneers of the form, concept albums. Pete started it with "Tommy." ... You should hear Pete's new material.

We've kept in touch, but it's really difficult when you're buried in the studio or out on tour. But sometimes you get to reminisce. ... And when you do, it feels like you just sat down the day before.

In your voice|

Read reactions to this story
foxy1 wrote:
I went to JCSS Wednesday night at IU and had planned to drive to Purdue and see it tonight, but it just didnt have the "oomph" to it as it did when it played at Clowes Hall 4 years ago. Neely is getting along in years, missed some cues and the costumes were spartan at best. At Clowes Hall it was major league; this production is AAA/AA at best. Still great music and I got chills and goosebumps when the title song played. The scene with the lepers in this production was great. Still a great show, and glad I saw it, but just not worth driving 1 1/2 hours to see this prodection again.
2/12/2010 7:10:21 PM
 
vadinho6757 wrote:
I wish "Hair" was also scheduled for Eliot Hall on some future date. I first saw "Hair" as a stage presentation in Sydney, Australia way back in 1970. I was on leave from Vietnam and sat in the audience in my buzz haircut and my hastily-purchased civvies. Boy did I stand out in that crowd!
Tim Palmer. West Lafayette.
2/12/2010 5:58:09 AM
 
humblehound wrote:
Mr Neely. Are you bring Superstar,back to Houston? Went to the production of it here in 1979 or 1980. Loved it. Lots of luck
2/12/2010 5:02:05 AM


http://www.jconline.com/article/201002120200/ENT15/2120309

Neeley stars in 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

 

February 12, 2010

TODAY: While "Hair" was first and "Tommy" is the freshest in mind after the Super Bowl appearance of The Who, the rock musical genre still finds its savior in "Jesus Christ Superstar." The 21st century revival of the 1971 classic brings back its original star in Ted Neeley. The tour started in 2006, with Neeley in his 60s, but the show was so successful that the tour brought in bookings straight through 2010. Neeley said walking in Jesus' sandals again has been a good experience. Yes, Neeley is now 66 years old, but the music and the idea of looking at the son of God as a man still makes it a powerful show. "It's wonderful to do something that I'm remembered for and for the respect of those involved," said Neeley during a recent tour stop. Of course, the music from the classic Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber show is remembered as well -- "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Hosanna" and "Everything's Alright" among the hit songs.

When: 8 tonight

Where: Elliott Hall of Music, Purdue University

How much: $20-$45, $20-$32 for students; call (765) 494-3933.

Presented by: Purdue Convocations

 

#32 MILWAUKEE, WI

Third Coast Digest - 2/15/10

http://thirdcoastdigest.com/2010/02/review-jesus-christ-superstar/



ThirdCoast Digest > Arts & Culture > Music > Still Christly after all these years

Still Christly after all these years

February 15th, 2010

By Kat Murrell
Posted in:
Arts & Culture 2, Music, TCD Feature 4, Theater


Ted Neeley, cast in the title role in the film version of Jesus Christ Superstar in 1973, was still at it Saturday (Feb. 13), in a touring production that stopped at the Milwaukee Theatre.


Ted Neeley as Him.

Neeley, at 66, pushes the bounds of the plausible in the vintage Andrew Lloyd Weber/Tim Rice rock musical.  Neeley’s voice sporadically turned raspy, though it did warm up as the evening went on. He even hit some stratospheric rock-god notes (think of a Robert Plant wail raised two octaves).  His best moments were in the end of the Gethsemane piece, where he argues with the Divine via a light show about his fate. Neeley handled the psychological depth of the moment with gravity that seems born of experience.

The most conflicted character, however, is Judas, played by John Twiford.  In the Weber/Rice libretto, he is misguided but ultimately well-meaning. Twiford used his considerable vocal power to exude conviction, treachery, and even hallucinatory insanity as a suicide noose drops against a red 

sky.   Sarah Hanlon, as Mary Magdalene, sang sweetly and clearly, and was an important stage presence as an endlessly devoted follower and aspiring lover.

The production moved along quickly from ensemble pieces to solos and scenes in sharply contrasting moods.  The simple set comprised metal platforms and a tall bridge, which allowed action at various locations.  Lighting altered the tone and time of day, and a white follow-spot set a heavenly glow on Neeley’s white garments.

The first half focused on character development and on setting off Jesus and his happy, freewheeling band against the jealous priest Caiaphas and his crew, dressed in ominous dark robes.  The second half got down to business with the Last Supper and crucifixion.  The one scene of overt hilarity was King Herod’s Song, in which Andrew Hartley, dressed in something like a purple leisure suit and accompanied by a giggling, chirping gaggle of tarted-up harem girls, had to decide what to do with Jesus.  The partying Herod had no interest in this task; his foppish exuberance made the scene memorable.

Benjamin Van Diepen as Pontius Pilate gave a nuanced performance with rich, emotive vocals.  His work in the Trial Before Pilate reached the greatest emotional depth in the production, as he knowingly though unwillingly became the judge in the case of the rogue religious man brought before him.  With the ensemble assembled on stage and chanting like a murderous mob, van Diepen’s Pilate poignantly communicated a man left no acceptable option.

This deep preceded the strangest and most surreal number in the show: the title song, sung by the ghost of Judas, three heavenly hottie backup singers, and the rest of the company.  The crucifixion followed, culminating with Neeley rising from the cross and flying up into the catwalk. At the very end, a giant version the Shroud of Turin unfurls.  Theologically, make of that what you will.

Ultimately, Jesus Christ Superstar is a pop opera that plays like a live performance album, with scenes centering around catchy tunes. It is family entertainment that bobs lightly on the surface of issues of faith.

COMMENTS: (1)

Patti Wenzel says:

Nice review. Sounds like this year’s show wasn’t much different from last years. I guess after 40 years of playing the same character, Neely has it down.

 

Watertown Daily Times - 2/10/10

http://www.wdtimes.com/articles/2010/02/10/news/news2.txt


WHS grad performs in 'Jesus Christ Superstar'


Just five years ago Alex Mackyol was leading the stage at Watertown High School starring in musicals. Today, he's singing and dancing in front of thousands of people across the country in the popular musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

He will have the chance to perform in front of family and friends again, when the show comes to the Milwaukee Theater on Saturday.

Mackyol, the son of Brian and Sandy Mackyol, of Watertown, graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles, Calif. in October 2009 with a degree in musical theater. His first professional job after graduation is his role as Annas in, “Jesus Christ Superstar.” He is now traveling the country performing.

“The whole experience already has really given me a different outlook on everything,” Mackyol said. “It has strengthened me as a performer as I have to go out every night and sing music that is extremely vocally challenging.”

This is his first professional job after college, but he has been a part of other shows while in school, such as “Little Shop of Horrors,” where he played the leading role of Seymour.

Mackyol began his experiences in theater in high school where he performed in several musicals and directed the musical, “West Side Story.” Although, he felt prepared for his professional venture in the theatrical world, he said it is different then doing a high school production.

“The tour is like a completely different world. In high school, you rehearse for six to seven weeks everyday after school and then come in for a couple weekend rehearsals and then get to perform for three to four shows. I remember doing that every year and know how exhilarating the experience was,” Mackyol said. “Now, this show was almost the exact opposite in terms of preparation. I auditioned for the show in late November, got a call about a week after with a job offer as Annas in the tour. Two weeks after I accepted the role, I was in New York for rehearsals. Now here is the crazy part. We rehearsed and put the show together in one week. Then, from New York, the entire cast flew to St. Charles, Mo., where we were in tech rehearsals for one week, then opened the show for previews that next weekend. So, we put the show together and made it performance ready in a mere two weeks. We are now 37 shows into an approximately 126 show tour. Needless to say, this is completely different than anything I have ever experienced.”

Although high school productions are much different than professional shows, Mackyol said his jump start in the profession at Watertown High School helped him on his way.

“High school prepared me for a lot. All of the different plays and musicals, choir, show choir, band, music theory classes all helped prepare me for where I am today. Directing ‘West Side Story' my senior year gave me a real idea for how hectic the business really is,” he said. “Nothing would have prepared me for that, however, without the help and knowledge of all my teachers that continued to put their faith into me that I could do whatever I set my mind to. To my high school teachers, especially those in music and drama, I owe so much to where I have gotten today.”

Set in two acts, “Jesus Christ Superstar” tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The show dramatizes Jesus' entry in Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate and his ultimate crucifixion.

The show features songs such as “Superstar,” “Everything's Alright” and “I Don't Know How to Love Him.”

Mackyol's role in the show as Annas plays a key part in the crucifixion of Jesus.

“Annas is a very interesting character to be quite honest. He is ultimately the one who plays puppet master,” Mackyol said. “Caiaphas, the current high priest at the time, is actually Annas's son-in-law, and Annas was actually the former high priest. Annas has a remarkable amount of power being second in command.”

As Mackyol plays Annas in the show, he performs alongside Ted Neeley who plays Jesus. Neeley starred in the title role in the motion picture “Jesus Christ Superstar,” in which he received Golden Globe Award nominations for best actor and best newcomer.

“To have been able to work with Ted has been an absolute treat, and a constant wonder night after night. Every night, I sit offstage and watch him sing ‘Gethsemane,' and you would think that by now I would just say same old song, but no. There is something new every night and I never get tired of hearing any of the music,” Mackyol said. “The man is brilliant and absolutely timeless.”

Mackyol's year on tour is packed with shows. The tour is booked through the beginning of May and may go until July 4. Over the course of the tour, he will have gone to 33 states, two countries and over 70 different cities.

Following his tour he plans to move to California and audition for other shows.

“It has always been a goal of mine to someday perform on Broadway,” Mackyol said. “That is a dream that I hope someday, hopefully soon, comes to fruition.”

Mackyol has also started writing his own musical called, “This Is Home,” based on the war in Iraq. He hopes to have the show performed by a company on Broadway in the future.

Area residents can see Mackyol perform on Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Milwaukee Theater. For more information about the venue, visit www.milwaukeetheatre.com. Tickets are available by calling 415-276-4545. For more information about the show visit www.thejcstour.com.

 

#33 DETROIT, MI

The Windsor Star - 2/13/10

http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/Neeley+continues+signature+role+Jesus+Christ/2559500/story.html



Neeley continues signature role as Jesus Christ

 By Adrian Chamberlain, Canwest News ServiceFebruary 13, 2010
 
 

BOX OFFICE

Jesus Christ Superstar, starring Ted Neeley, returns to Detroit's Masonic Temple Theatre on Sunday for one performance. Tickets are US$65, $55, $45 and $30, available at OlympiaEntertainment.com, the Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices and Ticketmaster.

- - -

What do you call a super-fan who has seen Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar hundreds of times?

A Ted-Head. So says Neeley, arriving in Detroit on Sunday with a bus-and-truck production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 40-year-old rock opera. The shaggy-maned performer reprises his role as Jesus for a North American tour that wraps up in May in Peterborough, Ont.

"I spoke with a lady two nights ago who's seen this show 366 times," Neeley says on the phone from Regina. "The folks who come the most refer to themselves as Ted-Heads."

Now 66, Neeley played Jesus Christ in the original Los Angeles stage production and the 1973 Norman Jewison film. Over the years, he has starred in numerous revivals. He stopped counting performances back in the 1990s, after they topped 2,000. Other pop-rock musicals of the period -- Godspell (1970) and Hair (1967) -- have dated poorly. Yet somehow, Jesus Christ Superstar retains its appeal.

The current production, with minimal set, was launched in 2006. Originally slated to finish in 2007 (and billed by some as a "farewell tour"), it continues because of popular demand, Neeley says.

On the original album, the role of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Recent stage "Jesuses" include Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and Swedish glam rocker Ola Salo. Most aficionados agree, however, that Neeley is the definitive Jesus Christ Superstar.

He has performed the role so long, Neeley once encountered five generations of a single family of fans. He has befriended devotees in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada. As soon as he arrived in Regina, fans started ringing the hotel.

"It's opened such an avenue of friendship for me worldwide," he says. "I feel like I can go anywhere and feel like I'm at home."

Neeley plans to meet and greet the audience after the show. He has retained this practice since the early days in New York, when he was part of the Broadway cast. Protesters complained depictions of Christ and Judas were sacrilegious. Neeley then would invite them to see Jesus Christ Superstar as his guests.

"People stretched around the block every single night, trying to stop us from going into the theatre to go to work," he says. "(But) every single person walked away loving what they'd experienced."

He recalls almost losing the film role that clinched his reputation as Jesus Christ Superstar.

Neeley was starring in the rock musical Tommy when he got word Norman Jewison was seeking the lead for a film version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

He invited Jewison to watch him in Tommy. However, Neeley was injured for that performance. Jewison ended up seeing the understudy.

To make amends, Neeley invited the director to lunch. Because he "looked like a 12-year-old" as clean-shaven Tommy, Neeley had a friend paste a fake beard to his face.

"When I sat down with Norman, you would have thought he was watching the best comedian in the world. He just fell out of his chair, laughing."

Although Jewison was polite, Neeley thought he had made a fool of himself.

Still, something about the young performer impressed the director. He later summoned Neeley for a London screen test, where he landed the coveted role.

Neeley insists playing Jesus Christ for four decades never went to his head.

"Some people envision me as that person," he says. "I let them know, 'Folks, I am just a rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas.' I'm up there playing a character."

 

#34 AKRON, OH

Vindy.com - 2/11/10

http://www.vindy.com/news/2010/feb/11/the-story-never-ends-for-neeley-of-8216s/?newswatch




The story never ends for Neeley of ‘Superstar’

Published: Thu, February 11, 2010 @ 12:00 a.m.

By John Benson

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic rock-opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Though actor Ted Neeley was a chorus member and understudy in that show, he soon would have the lead as Jesus in what became a career-defining role. The Vindicator talked to the 66-year-old performer recently about the latest touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which plays Akron’s E. J. Thomas Hall on Tuesday, as well as his iconic role and just how much longer we can expect to see Neeley hit the high notes on stage.

Q. It was reported a few years ago when you toured with “Jesus Christ Superstar” that it was actually your farewell tour. What happened?

A. I must tell you I never said that. There’s a line in the show where Pontius Pilate asks Jesus something about being the son of God, and the response is, “Your words, not mine.” Somebody somewhere thought maybe since I was more than 33 years old that it would be the farewell tour, but I have to say I never fared any more well. I have no desire to stop. I have lots of singing to do. So please forgive me for those comments that make me look like I’m trying to be Cher.

Q. Your fans will be happy to hear the news that you’ll be continuing on. Looking back nearly four decades, did you ever think you’d still be doing this so many years later?

A. No, I never thought it would go past opening night in New York City in 1971. And then when the film was shot, (director) Norman Jewison and I used to talk in length whether the movie will ever get off the cutting-room floor. I certainly had no idea and had no expectation. So there is nobody who is more amazed than I about the fact that it still works and people will still accept me doing the role. It’s remarkable.

Q. Naturally, whenever anyone thinks of Ted Neeley, your role in “Jesus Christ Superstar” comes to mind. What’s it like to have such a definitive r sum credit?

A. I have to tell you, it has given me a career. I’ve done many things. I had the great fortune of being in the original productions of all the four most-successful rock operas — “Hair,” “Sgt. Pepper,” “Tommy” and this one. And all because I’m a rock ’n’ roll drummer who can hit the high note. So I’m the most- fortunate guy in the world, and I could not be happier doing any other role. This one has so much depth, and what’s remarkable, quite frankly, is in the last 10 years, certainly, there’s so much more new material from which I can research and gain information because that information didn’t exist in the ’70s. The only publication I could find in the ’70s that looked at Jesus Christ as a man was the novel “The Last Temptation of Christ.” Now I can go online and find new material everyday. So it’s pretty remarkable, and it keeps the show fresh.

Q. Speaking of keeping the show fresh, this current national tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” is billed as being stripped down. What does that mean?

A. People in general don’t understand how involved Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber are with the projects they’ve done. For this particular production alone, Andrew completely re-arranged the orchestrations of the show. It’s the same songs, but he added all of these new elements of music for us to use. Tim went in and re-addressed some of the lyrics. So from that point of view, yes it’s different. And what we’ve learned all of these years is people in general who come to see this show have seen it many times. They know exactly what goes on, and in some cases know the music better than we do. So they have an expectation, and they’ve let us know openly that they don’t need bells and whistles and special effects. They want to see the simplicity of the desert 2,000 years ago, and they want to hear that magnificent music. So what we have now is a minimalistic approach to this piece, that has not been done before.

Q. Finally, how long will we continue to see Ted Neeley in the role of Jesus?

A. With all honesty, the best I can say is no longer than say another 2,000 years (laughs). I couldn’t pass that one up. I honestly don’t know. If people are kind enough and generous enough to allow me the opportunity to do it, I’d be a fool to say no. I guess as long as I can hit the high notes, which blows me away. Technically, the high notes should have been gone years ago. But they’re stronger now than they ever have been.



Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com - 2/10/10

http://www.ohio.com/entertainment/84023592.html


               


Spiritual favorite resurrected

'Jesus Christ Superstar' with Ted Neeley as Jesus rocks into Thomas Hall for a one-night showing

By Kerry Clawson
Beacon Journal staff writer


The overture from Jesus Christ Superstar with Ted Neeley and company. (Joan Marcus photo)


Jesus Christ Superstar will be at EJ Thomas Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2010 staring Ted Neeley as Jesus.
(Rick Steinhauser/Akron Beacon Journal Illustration)


Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley as Jesus in the temple.
(Joan Marcus photo)


Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley as Jesus.
(Joan Marcus photo)

Nearly 40 years after he began playing the title role of Jesus Christ Superstar, Ted Neeley is still excited every chance he gets to talk about it.

''It's a discovery every night,'' Neeley said of the iconic role. ''I have the opportunity of being part of this wonderful, spiritual experience every single night.''

The musical tour, featuring Neeley again as headliner, will make a one-night stop at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the University of Akron's E.J. Thomas Hall

The touring schedule can be grueling for Neeley, now 66. Last week, he closed one performance in Wichita, Kan., at 10:30 p.m., got on the bus at 1 a.m., arrived in Rolla, Mo., by 7:30 a.m., showered and started press interviews soon afterward.

''Right now I could rule the world. I'm so fired up because of being able to discuss this,'' said Neeley, who said he's able to forget his tiredness.

No actor/singer is more closely identified with the role of Jesus in the rock opera than Neeley, who was in the ensemble and understudied the role of Jesus when it opened on Broadway in 1971, later taking over the Broadway role and starring in the first national tour in 1972.

Many who haven't had the chance to see Neeley live onstage are fans of the 1973 movie, which starred Neeley and the late Carl Anderson. It was shot on location in Israel.

Neeley and the show have come a long way since the early days on Broadway, when the cast pushed through picket lines of people who deemed the show blasphemous. The Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice show follows the last seven days of Christ's life.

At the time, it was a radical idea for the show's creators to portray Jesus not only as a deity but also as a man who was an outspoken, rebellious, spiritual leader. The character's human emotions make Jesus' story more accessible to audiences, Neeley said.

''When we did the production in New York in '71, we had no idea it would ever make it past opening night because it was the first of its kind,'' Neeley said of the rock opera, which is completely sung-through.

Today, the show is embraced as ''a spiritual Sesame Street,'' its star said: ''People use the film to teach their children about spirituality.''

Jesus Christ Superstar, long dubbed the rock opera vision of ''the greatest story ever told,'' has had unique staying power. Twenty years after first playing the role, Neeley starred in the 1990s tour that ran from 1992 to 1997, co-starring Anderson as Judas. (Anderson also did the original tour with Neeley.) That second tour, planned to run just several months, was extended to five years.

The current tour, which began in fall 2006 was supposed to last through 2007 but has been extended through this year. Anderson was slated to do the current tour but died in 2004.

''This is the first time I've done a tour of this show without his involvement,'' Neeley said of Anderson, who played the ultimate ying to his yang for many years. ''We always depended on each other to make it work.

''I kinda get the feeling that maybe he's directing from on high. I can feel his spirit there onstage every night,'' Neeley said.

Now, Neeley has become a mentor to a continual influx of new, young cast members who bring fresh energy and a generations-old appreciation to Jesus Christ Superstar.


'It never, ever feels old. It's always fresh and new and alive,'' Neeley said. ''They [his young castmates] bring this admiration of his piece, and they're amazed that they're in this piece.''

Neeley, a singer, actor and composer, said he always has felt blessed in his career as a performer.

''I'm a rock-and-roll drummer from Texas who got really lucky,'' he said.

He grew up a Southern Baptist in Ranger, Texas, where church was a key social opportunity. Over his many years starring in Jesus Christ Superstar, his faith has grown.

''For me, all my childhood, Jesus was a stained glass window — unreachable, untouchable,'' Neeley said. ''This [rock opera] looks at Jesus as a friend.''

Each time he performs the role, Neeley said he's able to touch hearts in the audience. Every night, fans of all different faiths share with him how the show has changed and enriched their spiritual lives.

''I don't go to church on a regular basis, but in essence, I go to church every night,'' Neeley said. ''It has become, in essence, the true feeling of a musical ministry.''

The current tour, directed by Dallett Norris, was planned with a minimalist approach that focuses on dramatic lighting and strong characterizations. Creative teams have found over the years that audiences don't want the bells and whistles of glitzy stage sets.

''The simplicity of the story shows you a group of people who were in the desert 2,000 years ago,'' Neeley explained.

After reprising the vocally demanding role of Jesus thousands of times, is that trademark rock scream rough on Neeley's voice?

''I do nothing but talk during the daytime with interviews and sing at night,'' Neeley said. ''Technically, the voice probably should have been gone years ago. But thank God it still works, and I feel stronger now than I ever have, and it's because of the depth of that commitment of continually readdressing this piece.''


Arts writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

 

Details

Rock opera: Jesus Christ Superstar

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: E.J. Thomas Hall, University of Akron, 198 Hill St., Akron

Onstage: Starring Ted Neeley

Offstage: Tim Rice, lyricist; Andrew Lloyd Weber, composer; Arlene Phillips, choreographer; Dallett Norris, director

Cost: $32.50-$52.50

Information: 330-972-7570 or 800-745-3000 or http://www.ticketmaster.com

 

#37 ERIE, PA

The Daily News - 1/23/10

 

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2010/01/23/lifestyles/6327078.txt




Archives > Lifestyles

Sarah's 'Superstar' journey

Local actress travels by land and sea in pursuit of dreams
By Joanne Beck jbeck@batavianews.com
Saturday, January 23, 2010 3:12 AM EST
Whenever Al Hanlon watched his daughter Sarah perform, he had but one thing to say to her.

"I told her 'I forgive you,'" he said. "She asked what I forgave her for, and I said 'I forgive you for everything. You can do no wrong.' "

And so it would seem as the just-turned 27-year-old actress goes from a cruise ship tour to exotic locales, a two-hour Christmas show in Branson, Mo., and onto her latest destination, as a lead in "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Armed with two suitcases and a backpack, pillow, blanket and hot water pot for her oatmeal breakfasts, Hanlon has been more comfortable living on the bus these past several weeks, she said.

"I'm enjoying it so much. The traveling and different hotel rooms each day ... the audience response is so positive, you sort of forget you were on a bus for six hours the night before," she said Thursday en route with the cast to Modesto, Calif. "It's actually really comfortable sleeping on the floor of the bus. We're at the hotel now. I'll go eat lunch, go to the gym and do the show tonight."

And that has been her life since the tour began in December. It has been the "highlight" of her theater jobs so far, she said.

"It's not much, but I feel like I have accomplished so much, and memories to last a lifetime," she said.

Bound for Cloud Nine

Hanlon is an East Bethany native and 2001 Alexander High School graduate. She has performed locally in Batavia Rotary and Batavia Players productions and obtained a degree in theater from each of Genesee Community and Geneseo State colleges.

After graduating from Geneseo in 2006, she worked for awhile at Downstairs Cabaret Theatre in Rochester before she took a job with The Gary Musick Company in Nashville, Tenn. The company offered her a chance to sail the world, and was "my first real paying performing job" on a world cruise ship, she said.


For the last several weeks, Hanlon has been floating on "cloud nine," she said. That happened right after she was picked out of hundreds of females for the Mary Magdalene role in "Jesus Christ Superstar."

The dark-haired, brown-eyed Hanlon is modest when describing her career-in-progress. That journey has taken her from a high school stage to singing in the widely acclaimed musical featuring Ted Neeley. It has taken the current cast from North Dakota to Canada and this week throughout southern California. It's a tour of more than 75 cities in several states across the country.

Her current role might seem like a stroke of good luck. Or a payoff for tenacity. After she learned that the show was holding auditions this past fall, Hanlon debated going. She was still performing in a Christmas show at Branson Variety Theatre in Missouri. She also figured there'd be hundreds of other women vying for a part. But something nudged her along.

She flew to New York City. She showed up to auditions around 9:30 a.m., which for many aspiring actresses was hours too late, she said. A casting helper was handing out blue pieces of paper for people to fill
out. By the time he got to Hanlon toward the back of the line, there were no more pieces of paper. She was told she would not get an audition and might as well go home.

Yet for some "crazy" reason, something kept her there. She thought "if it's meant to be it will be." She stayed in case she'd get a chance to audition. She did.


"The key thing about this business is you never know what's going to happen." Sarah Hanlon of East Bethany says about being an actress.


Of Sarah Hanlon's performance in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," local director and actress Lynda Hodgins says, "That's when I knew she was ... going to make a mark."


Sara Hanlon appears backstage in costume for "Thoroughly Modern Millie," the Batavia Rotary Club's 2006 show.


Sarah Hanlon, second from left, appears in a scene from the Batavia Players Summer Youth Theatre production of "Hello, Dolly!" in August 2004. Also pictured is Tara Conroy, left, Jacqueline Siegel, second from right, and Jared Hoyt, left. (Mark Gutman/Daily News File Photo.)


"The audition was run very efficiently and, in fact, I was able to go and sing my 16 measures. I was in the last group at the end of the day but it still got me that awesome feeling of getting a callback," she said. "They called me a few weeks later and offered me the role, and I have been on cloud nine since."

Travel by land ...

Touring by bus has offered her an opportunity to perform with Neeley, whose first appearance as Jesus of Nazareth was in the 1970s. Performing with him and the cast has been an honor, she said.

"It's everything I hoped it would be. I had always pictured being in a show with such an emotional journey and such a connection to everyone -- the audience, cast members, even the air we breathe in the theatre," she said. "Ted is really one of the most genuine giving persons and performers I have encountered in a long time. He helped me the most with my role. I feel like my character is evolving. She's a working woman and is very successful at it, and there's this man who has moved her in a way no other man has. It's very emotional, every night I'm crying."

She has to prepare for her role by going into a quiet corner and concentrating on what's about to happen on stage. The show is an intense rock musical about the last seven days of Jesus' life. Her role is deeply moved by his plight as she wonders "why is this happening to him?" It's been a therapeutic process, she said, which has helped her and fellow cast members to deal with a bad day or a fight with a boyfriend.

Yes, despite her hectic traveling schedule, Hanlon has a boyfriend who she met on her cruise ship gig. He's a musician who also travels and understands this way of life, she said.

... and by sea

Hanlon has also gotten a taste of the exotic life by touring the world by ship. She performed in a nightly cruise show for six months while also getting to tour parts of South America, Russia, Africa, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Antarctica. Her experiences range from charming (singing to penguins) to unpleasant (sea sickness on the waters near Estonia) to challenging (pulling a show together after some of the crew got fired).

She tasted authentic foods including Greek yogurt, French crepes, Ukrainian borscht and Russian vodka. The creamy Belgium chocolate never made it home as a souvenir, as she "couldn't help myself and ate it."

She also went horseback riding in Argentina and saw the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Pompeii in Italy and the remains of Troy in Turkey. They were all experiences she won't soon forget.

The business of show biz

Hanlon has been fortunate in the jobs she hasn't had to take. So far she hasn't had to play the typical waitress-by-day and actress-by-night role. She did make crates for three weeks while in NYC, but the job kept getting in the way of her auditions. So she quit. She had saved enough money from the cruise jobs and was able to go full force with auditions.

She'd really like to get a role in "Hair" once back to her Brooklyn home, she said. She expects to audition soon after her tour is done in May. It's what any aspiring performer should do, she said.

"The key thing about this business is you never know what's going to happen. Go to every audition, even if you don't think you're right for the part," she said. "Last fall I went to 20 auditions and got two jobs. Eventually, I hope to get an agent and not have to stand in line. I would get an appointment."

Hanlon reflected on her past theater history and credited a high school teacher and community theater member each for her lessons learned. Patrick Burk was one of those mentors. He worked with Hanlon in youth and adult theater shows.

In fact, he told her all along that she was the type of person who would get things done. He takes no particular credit for her accomplishments. He's just happy to be part of her history.

"She's just the kind of person who goes out and does it. I think people have their own talent; we just give them the opportunity," Burk said. "I do believe that you have to be in the right place at the right time. There is something about really great talent, she was a complete talent, she sang, danced and looked beautiful on stage. Her role as Nancy in "Hello Dolly" was so wonderfully touching."

Lynda Hodgins, who is no stranger to the theater world, had two "sort of separate" experiences of Hanlon. Many years ago Hodgins taught a summer institute course at BOCES. Titled "Lights, Camera, Action," it was all about the process of theater. Even at the tender age of 10, Hanlon was an "intense, focused, serious, committed kid," Hodgins said.

An actress even more appealing has emerged throughout the years, Hodgins said.

"She was a lovely girl then, but now, who could predict this simple kid would turn into such a stunning beauty and have all this talent," Hodgins said. "In "Gypsy," she played Tessie, a stripper. She played the part brilliantly."

Hanlon also starred in Batavia Rotary's "Thoroughly Modern Millie." That performance "stopped the audience in its tracks," Hodgins said.

"That's when I knew she was someone who was going to make a mark. This is just the beginning."




Hanlon dedicates each show to late mother

Terry Fritts experienced Sarah Hanlon's talent and perseverance first hand during the 2003 Batavia Rotary show, "Gypsy."

Sayuri Hanlon died just before getting to see her daughter's performance. An adamant Hanlon stuck to the motto "the show must go on" and took to the stage.

Fritts knew that it was Mrs. Hanlon's wish that her daughter continue her craft. It was obvious then that Sarah would do exactly that.

"Some people do community theater and that's where they stay," Fritts said. "It was just a stepping stone for Sarah. I'm glad to see she's pursuing her dream."

Not only is Hanlon pursuing that dream, but she dedicates every performance to mom, who took a young Hanlon to see one of mom's favorite shows: "Jesus Christ Superstar." Hanlon remembers feeling "that power and being amazed" at the magnitude of the cast, music and set.

Hanlon, now touring with a production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," believes that her mom can now watch her fulfill the Mary Magdalene role with fervor.

"And I know that she's watching somewhere and she's so proud of me, and I really think that's why every night is so special," Hanlon said. "Especially for me, because she's there, at least in spirit."




On the road

Sarah Hanlon, an East Bethany native, is in the midst of a national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar." The tour is not scheduled to stop in Buffalo or Rochester, but does come close enough to spur a road trip.

The schedule includes:



For a full tour schedule and more information, go to www.thejcstour.com



Goerie.com - 2/18 - 20/10

http://www.goerie. com/apps/ pbcs.dll/ article?AID= /20100218/ ENTERTAINMENT020 1/302189940/ -1/entertainment 06


»
Published: February 18. 2010 12:01AM

Ted Neeley, Erie native Darrel R. Whitney bring "Jesus Christ Superstar" to the Warner on Friday


For Ted Neeley, reprising the title role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" is like slipping on a favorite pair of sandals.
It's familiar and deeply satisfying.
 
Neeley estimates he's played Jesus more than 5,000 times, including the 1973 film directed by Norman Jewison. His current "Superstar" tour, which includes Erie native Darrel R. Whitney as Caiaphas, has stretched on since 2006.
 
This role he knows by heart and soul.
 
"It's just there. It's so deeply embedded in my psyche," said Neeley in a phone interview. "It's almost impossible for me to say no to this piece. ... It's such a magnificent experience I never once felt any sort of boredom. It's always fresh and new, no matter how many times we do the tour."
 
He especially enjoys reconnecting with fans who see "Superstar" again and again. They come for the moving, triumphant score, which includes "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Everything's Alright," and "Superstar." They come for the Biblical story, which depicts Jesus as a flesh-and-blood man in the seven days before he's crucified.
The skinny
"Jesus Christ Superstar" with Ted Neeley, Erie native Darrel R. Whitney will be presented by the Erie Broadway Series on Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Warner Theatre, 811 State St. Tickets are sold out. For more on Whitney, see Friday's Weekend section.
 
They come to be renewed.
 
"They're always giving me great stories about how this piece changed their lives," Neeley said. "The audiences are extremely respectful of this whole concept. ... They say it's because of this film or this play that they found their spirituality. It's because of the human element they can relate."
 
In 1971, the audacity of basing a rock opera around Jesus offended some theatergoers. Today, it's a landmark, a staple, a classic.
 
"We had to fight our way through picket lines every single night," Neeley recalled. "It was considered then the ultimate blasphemy."
 
Neeley said he would invite protesters to see the show as his guest, then talk with them afterward.
 
"Those who had courage enough to come walked away loving what they experienced," he said. "Here we are this many years later, doing the same songs, almost all the same lyrics and same basic concept, and it's now perceived as the spiritual 'Sesame Street.'
 
Occasionally, fans confuse him with the character he plays.
 
"I've been blessing pregnant women's babies since the first day I put on the robe and sandals," Neeley said. "When it first happened, I just assumed they were being ... well, tongue-in-cheek. But no."
 
Neeley does his best to stay humble.

"I'm a rock and roll drummer from Texas who got lucky. I know that, and I always tell fans that," he said. "I do respect who the character is and what it represents, and they feel a closeness because of that."
 
Ironically, Neeley didn't want the part. He found the idea of portraying Jesus too daunting so he auditioned for Judas. Director Tom O'Horgan nudged him to the other side.
 
"He said, 'That was wonderful, but I'd like you to come back tomorrow and sing the other guy,'" Neeley recalled. "I had worked with him for three years on 'Hair.' He saw something I had no clue was there.
 
"He was definitely my mentor in theater. Anyone who worked with Tom grew so loyal you'd go anywhere and do anything as long as Tom was in charge."
 
Neeley was cast as an understudy for Jesus and later took over the lead role in the Los Angeles production. Though he's also written and produced music for TV, film, and theater, "Superstar" has defined his professional life.
 
Neeley misses Carl Anderson, his late, longtime friend who played Judas for years. But he knows the show is bigger than any one performer because it aims to inspire. By depicting Jesus as a mere mortal, Neeley said, "Superstar" suggests the sky's the limit for anyone who commits himself so fully to good.
 
"All of us have that power if we commit ourselves to that part of life as strongly as Jesus did," he said.

http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2010302189841



Published: February 19. 2010 12:01AM

Erie Superstar: Darrel Whitney returns home to star in Warner Theatre performance

As a child, Darrel R. Whitney heard his mom play the "Jesus Christ Superstar" soundtrack with Ted Neeley. He grew up loving the show and even acting out the parts.

When he saw Neeley play Jesus in the Broadway touring show at the Warner Theatre in 1997, he made a vow to become an actor. He dreamed of someday starring in "Superstar" with Neeley himself at the Warner.
Friday night, he's living the dream. Whitney will play opposite Neeley as the high priest Caiaphas in "Superstar" before a sold-out crowd.
 
For more on Whitney's not-so-impossible dream, see Friday's Erie Times-News and GoErie.com.


http://www.goerie.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100219/LIFESTYLES/302189841/-1/RSS




Published: February 19. 2010 7:38AM

Erie Superstar: Darrel Whitney returns home to star in Warner Theatre performance

Living the dream isn't just a saying for Erie native Darrel R. Whitney.
It's the gospel truth.
 
He's starring opposite Ted Neeley in the Broadway touring version of "Jesus Christ Superstar," which plays the Warner Theatre tonight. All tickets are sold out.
 
When he was a boy, his mother Denise played the "Superstar" soundtrack with Neeley every Easter. He became obsessed with the show, too, watching the movie over and over. He'd even act out the parts, playing both Jesus (Neeley) and Judas (Carl Anderson).
 
"We joke around that the first two voices I might possibly have heard sing to me were my mom and Ted Neeley," said Whitney.
 
In 1997, when the Broadway touring version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" with Neeley played the Warner Theatre, Whitney – then a senior at McDowell High School – not only attended but met him afterward.
 
That's when he made a decision.
 
"I said I'd love to become a professional actor one day. And one of my dreams was to be on the Warner stage with him," he recalled.
 
"The fact that I'm doing the show that inspired me, and with the man who has now become a great friend of mine, is just fantastic. I can't really put my head around it."
 
Neeley says Whitney is doing Erie proud as the sinister Caiaphas, the head high priest who orchestrates turning Jesus over to Pontius Pilate.
 
"It's the one voice in the show that isn't a screaming tenor. He's a bass, and he just puts the bottom end in," Neeley said. "He carries that whole element and he's absolutely fantastic.
 
"Darrel's an outrageous personality who always has something to say. I think he's the only guy in the show who can talk even more than I can."
 
Can you blame him? Twice Whitney nearly turned his back on theater but both times it called him back. His interest first stirred at Our Lady's Christian School, especially after he saw "Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables" on a field trip to Toronto.
 
At McDowell, he appeared in several plays, including "The Homecoming," "Dark of the Moon" and "Weird Romance."
 
"I can remember Darrel as being enthusiastic and really enjoying being onstage," said Bob Martin, who directed Whitney at McDowell. "Some teenagers like to goof off a lot during rehearsals. Darrel had fun, but at the same time took the process seriously."
 
At Edinboro University, however, Whitney decided to study secondary education. That changed when he auditioned for a musical.
 
"The head of the vocal studio at the time told me, 'You might have something else to pursue than social studies,'" said Whitney. He promptly added music to his major.
 
After college, he acted at Meadville's Academy Theatre, then moved to New York, getting a job as a wine bartender at Becco while auditioning all over the city.
 
He had lived in Astoria for three years when he saw the audition notice for a touring "Superstar" with Neeley. The actor, one of Whitney's idols, was reprising the role he played in the 1973 film, as well as on Broadway and on several tours.
 
"I said I definitely needed to go to that," Whitney recalled.
 
He was nearly beside himself when Neeley encouraged him at the auditions.
 
"He said, 'You've got something. They might not be looking at you for Caiaphas right away but I think you'd be great.' He said, 'Stick around. I have a feeling you will be with this tour.'"
 
And he was. Out of nearly 900 actors who auditioned, just 25 landed roles, and Whitney was one of them. He began as an understudy but after the principal Caiaphas left, Whitney took over in March 2007.
 
He's appeared with "Superstar" in 49 states and nine provinces, delivering more than 660 performances to more than 700,000 people, including his parents, Denise and Darrel W. Whitney, who are super-proud of his "Superstar" success.
 
Whitney is earning good reviews, too.
 
"With a low voice that sounded inhuman, Whitney was incredible," wrote the Toledo Blade's Chad Meredith. "In the song, 'This Jesus Must Die,' Whitney's voice was intimidating. His stage presence aroused fear in the audience."
 
Despite good press and developing a bond with Neeley – they jaw about the NBA because he likes the Celtics and Neeley prefers the Lakers -- Whitney nearly left "Superstar" after three years.
 
He was tired of the road and in a serious relationship. He figured if marriage was next, he should go into teaching for job security.
 
"What ended up happening was we had a parting of the ways," he said. "Then I opened my eyes and realized most of the happiest moments of my life have been here on stage. Someone was trying to tell me something. Basically it was like God saying, 'Listen, your work here is not done.'"
 
When he noticed a fourth tour with "Superstar" would include a show at Erie's Warner Theatre, that sealed the deal. "It's the No. 1 or 2 reason why I came back, to play my hometown. It means so much to me."
 
After tonight's show, where about 30 family members and friends will watch him, he'll pop over to the Docksider and perform an acoustic set during a Monster Acoustics night. When he's home, he regularly attends the club's weekly open acoustic jams.
 
Whitney will stay in Erie this summer to be best man at his brother Dustin's wedding and audition for the Erie Playhouse's production of "Rent." In the fall, he will return to New York and Becco and more auditions and try launching a voice-over career.
 
"This profession of being an actor is so fulfilling for me," he said. "I can't imagine not doing it. Even if it's not on a professional level, if it's community theater, I'll be acting the rest of my life."
 
And that's the gospel truth.

DAVE RICHARDS can be reached at 870-1703 or by e-mail at dave.richards@timesnews.com.
 

http://www.goerieblogs.com/entertainment/drrock/?p=482




Dr. Rock
By Dave Richards Erie Times-News staff blogger
Posted: February 20th, 2010
‘Superstar’ delivers

Was it the cold or was it the show that caused the goosebumps on my skin after leaving the Warner Theatre on Friday night?

Definitely the show.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” delivered and then some before a sold-out crowd. Though it’s told almost exclusively through song on the barest of sets — just a steel bridge and raised tiers, until the huge cross at the end — it achieves a fervent power.

The cast was uniformly excellent, including Ted Neeley as Jesus, who played the role in Norman Jewison’s film and has starred in countless Broadway and touring Broadway productions.

He’s in his 60s, far older than Jesus  when he died, but it hardly matters His voice remains strong and pliable, able to convey wrenching agony and righteous accusatory power toward Judas, his betrayor. Neeley has an aura about him and a gentleness with his followers and apostles that shines through on stage. It’s hard to conceive of anyone else playing the role as sensitively and splendidly.

Friday was also a huge night for Erie native Darrel R. Whitney, who played Caiaphas the high priest. He saw Neeley as Jesus in “Superstar” in 1997 and vowed to become an actor and hopefully play the Warner in this very show. There he was, with Neeley, his hero on stage, clearly relishing every moment.

And he was fantastic, too, playing the sinister priest who delivers Jesus to Pontius Pilate. His deep bass and authoritative delivery made Caiaphas a commanding presence. Whitney fist-pumped and hugged Neeley during the well-deserved standing ovation.

John Twiford as Judas was exceptional, delivering the torment and conflict inside him with a passion and fevered intensity. He made the top 52 in “American Idol.” After hearing him, it’s hard to understand why he didn’t go further. The man can sing but his acting was just as strong.

Kudos, as well, to Sarah Hanlon as Mary Magdalene, who delivers one of the show’s best numbers,  the anguished “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” Her clear, powerful voice was a pleasure, including “Could We Start Again, Please?” with Simon and the company.

So many of these songs are staples it’s still hard to believe this was the first Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice success. The title number remains thrilling.

This was the third time I’ve caught “Superstar” on stage and arguably the best show of the lot, thanks to its across-the-board superb cast. Wouldn’t surprise me if most the audience marches directly to church on Sunday. It was a pretty inspiring show, a glorious triumph.

Posted in: Uncategorized

 

#39 SHIPPENSBURG, PA

Publicopiniononline.com - 2/17/10

http://www.publicopiniononline.com/weekender/ci_14415380


Rock opera at Luhrs for single performance

By Cheryl M. Keyser For Public Opinion
The thrilling spectacular of the rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar," comes to H. Ric Luhrs Center in Shippensburg on Feb. 21 for a single night's performance.

For more than four years, the touring company has been making its way from west coast to east to put on this contemporary interpretation of the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ.

The cast of 27 is headed by Ted Neeley, internationally-known actor, composer, singer and record producer, who is recreating his role as Christ in this newest production.

Neeley started out in 1969 as an understudy to the actor who played Christ, assuming the title role in the film version of "Superstar," for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination in 1974 for Best Motion Picture Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Then from 1992-1997, he reprised the role in a theater tour which criss-crossed the country multiple times, with Neeley performing the title role more than 2,000 times.

Jesus Christ Superstar was the first collaborative effort between the notable theater team Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, famed for such productions as "Evita." In its original Broadway appearance, it garnered five Tony nominations.

The story line is well-known -- the last days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, beginning with


The cast of 27 is headed by Ted Neeley, internationally known actor, composer, singer and record producer, who is recreating his role as Christ in this newest production.


“There is an energy emanating from the audience that is unstoppable.”
 the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate and the crucifixion. This presentation of the timeless New Testament story, based on the Gospel of St. John, is a powerful one, yet treated in a sensitive and inspiring manner.

"This play touches people's spiritual existence no matter if you have a religious affiliation or not," said Neeley, "it has something that touches everybody right in the heart. It shows Jesus through the eyes of his contemporaries and how their lives were influenced by him, looking at Jesus as a man without challenging his deity."

Neeley recounted, in an exclusive interview with Public Opinion, that when the show was on Broadway, people "perceived it as the ultimate blasphemy and I had to fight through picket lines to reach the theater." He asked several picketers if they had seen the show; most had not, and he invited them to come as his guests; those who did wound up loving the show.

"It is amazing how much people are affected by this piece," he added, "some people have even discovered their spiritual reality through either the movie or stage version. There is an energy emanating from the audience that is unstoppable," he continued. "It attracts people from every walk of life and they walk away feeling better."

Neeley, performing almost every night and traveling just about every day, also thrives on the shows' energy. "It keeps me fresh and alive."

Added director Dallett Norris, "Here we are, 21 centuries later, and it is oh, so clear: we need the message of this story now more than ever."

The Luhrs Center has become a major venue for many cultural productions. "Without it presenting these types of performances," said Jeffrey Sommers, director of marketing, "people would have to travel distances to see these types of shows."

When You Go

Jesus Christ Superstar

When: 7 p.m. Feb. 21

Where: H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center, Shippensburg University

Cost: $28 to $49

Tickets: 477-7469 or http://www.luhrscenter.com.

 

#42 KEENE, NH

Wicked Local.com - 1/28/10

http://www.wickedlocal.com/hudson/fun/entertainment/x690797880/Hudson-native-tours-with-Broadway-cast



Hudson native tours with Broadway cast

DC


Courtesy Photo

Hudson's D.J. Bucciarelli is now on tour with the Broadway cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

By Matthew Bushery/Correspondent
Posted Jan 28, 2010 @ 06:04 AM

Seemingly every young boy or girl who has aspirations of becoming a famous stage actor on Broadway, at one point or another in his or her life, dreams of making that jump to New York City, where dreams are made – or not.

The risk of leaving home for uncharted territories is a big one – that is, deciding whether or not you are truly good enough to make it in the Big City, where people dedicate their entire lives to performing for the arts, and at the highest of levels.

Hudson native D.J. Bucciarelli has found his way – albeit an unconventional one – to the Broadway stage, where he is currently an understudy for the Broadway National Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The unconventional part of D.J.’s journey came right before joining the tour, which will play in Keene, NH on Feb. 26.

“I went to an open call in New York City,” said Bucciarelli. “I had just finished working on a cruise ship with Royal Caribbean, and I saw a notice online for an open audition for the Broadway national tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

“I actually went to the audition figuring I wouldn’t get it. I was nervous about an audition that was the next day, so I went … to practice my new audition song, assuming I wouldn’t get called back.”

Much to Bucciarelli’s surprise, they did call back.

“They called me in for a dance audition, and then a couple weeks later I got the call when I was visiting my brother in Florida that I had booked the job.”

The young thespian credits his time performing aboard the cruise ship for helping him get the role many actors would bend over backwards to get.

“Royal Caribbean really pushed me a lot as a performer. … The singers I was working with had been doing ships for years, so I was the new guy, and I had to get over that nervous ‘new guy’ anxiety quickly,” Bucciarelli stated.

Bucciarelli’s first big break came when one of the actors he understudied on the ship’s troupe quit in the middle of his contract, which ultimately gave the eager entertainer his chance to shine.

“I had to assume his role and perform it within a four-day rehearsal period. It was my first taste of being an understudy, and I was really 

proud at how I handled it. Now I am an understudy for two major roles in the “JCS” tour … and I know I am ready, and I can’t wait for the day I get to swing in for one of the roles.”

D.J. is certainly elated for where he is today and where he plans to go in the future, but he is very humble about his time in Hudson and how life here prepared him for Broadway.

He fondly remembers his first singing lessons at Mulready Elementary School and his first acting class at JFK Middle School. Hudson High School, though, is where he really started to flourish, and received the push he needed from his teachers, who recognized his budding talents.

“I really got most involved in musical theater in High School,” said Bucciarelli. “I always knew I wanted to perform, but I didn’t really start to sing until I got into Skip Johnson’s chorus class my sophomore year. It was him who really encouraged me to join his Advanced Performance class, and that’s where I really started to get the acting bug. From there, I started taking voice lessons locally with Tambre Knox, who pushed me to consider myself as a singer, which was a new concept to me.”

The first role Bucciarelli ever had, ironically enough, was as Judas in Hudson High’s rendition of “Godspell.”

“It was the first time I was encouraged to feel something when I was on stage, you know, as opposed to standing center stage and belting. We were really pushed to tell the story, and not just do a plain old song and dance routine. … When I got to college, I felt like I was already ahead of the game because I had already explored that kind of character work in high school.”

The acting bug took D.J. straight to Syracuse University’s musical theater program, where he honed his skills and took that next step toward stardom.

While Bucciarelli has yet to join the everyday cast of the “JCS” tour, he knows he can learn much from those around him. For example, take Ted Neeley, the actor who originally portrayed Jesus in both the Broadway and film adaptation of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Bucciarelli is quite aware of his acting expertise.

“I love working on this show, especially for the experience of working with [Neeley]. … I love watching him and the way he becomes Jesus, and how specific he is with his character choices,” said Bucciarelli. “My cast is [also] strong, and the people I am performing with have such incredible talents. I really feel that I am pushed to be a better performer every night that I am on stage with them.”

Though “JSC” has provided Bucciarelli with some resume material, he wants to explore as much of the acting world as possible to expand his horizons.

When asked what his next move is after the tour, Bucciarelli stated, “I don’t know. I guess ideally I would just like to continue this path of performing and being able to make a living while being an actor. I haven’t had to wait tables yet (knock on wood). I have a passion for working on new shows. I would love to sink my teeth into a new musical that is headed Off-Broadway.

“One day, I know in my heart that I want to call a Broadway show my home, but I would be content doing a great regional show any day,” he said. “In the meantime, I’m just auditioning as much as I can and thankful for whatever comes my way.”

Rightly so, Bucciarelli is also thankful for all the support he has received since his youth, which paved the way for him being part of something so special like the “JCS” tour.

“My friends and family are always so supportive. In fact, I have about 11 family members coming to see the Feb. 26 show at the Colonial Theater in Keene, NH. I’ve been very lucky to have a lot of positive influences in my life and some of my very best friends are still the same people who did shows with me in high school.

“I am very honored to be a part of such a wonderful cast, especially for my first Broadway tour. I feel blessed to have come from Hudson, where I had many more opportunities to study drama than I would have elsewhere. Without the amount of encouragement I had from teachers in the Hudson Public School system, I probably wouldn’t still be pursuing theater. They always made me feel like this dream I had was within my reach, and I’m so thankful for that.”

D.J. has been on the National Broadway Tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” since December 26, 2009. The tour wraps up April 29 in Ontario, Canada. For more information about the show visit www.thejcstour.com.

 


#44 FREDERICTON, NB - CA

The Daily Gleaner - 2/23/10

 

http://dailygleaner.canadaeast.com/liveit/article/963086


Jesus Christ Superstar, do you think you're what they say you are?

Published Tuesday February 23rd, 2010

Ted Neeley has spent much of his life on a spiritual journey, walking in the sandals of Jesus Christ.

submitted photo

Ted Neeley, centre, stars as Jesus Christ in the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar. The production will 
be held at The Playhouse on Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2.
Neeley describes himself as a rock 'n' roll drummer who hits high notes for a living. His unique singing style was exactly what the director of Jesus Christ Superstar was looking for when he cast Neeley in the title role of this Broadway show in 1971.

Now, almost 40 years later, he continues to thrill audiences with his homage to Christ in the final seven days before his crucifixion, death and resurrection.

"I'm going to keep doing it until I get it right. He got it right the first time. These are outrageous shoes, or sandals, to step into. It is absolutely remarkable. I still don't believe that I have the pleasure of doing it."

If Christ walked into a theatre and watched Neeley, what would he think of Neeley's portrayal of him?


Neeley pauses for a moment to think of his response and says he isn't sure but he hopes that Jesus would appreciate it.

When Neeley is on stage and in this role, there is no question that he has connected with this character.

"I feel a spiritual presence; always a presence when I go on that stage."

His dear friend, Carl Anderson, who for years played next to Neeley in the role of Judas has passed away and yet Neeley says he feels his friend's spirit is with him every night on stage.

"This particular tour is the first time I've ever done this show without Carl's involvement because he and I always did the Judas and Jesus parts and in essence became the yin and the yang of this whole spiritual experience."

Night-after-night, year-after-year, Neeley has done the same show and yet it is somehow different for him every time. This is because of what the audience brings with them to the theatre, he says.

The longer he does this, the more opportunities he has to research Christ through the many books that have been written about him.

This helps him to deepen his commitment to the character and to the essence of Christ, he says.

This is far more than a show to Neeley. It is a calling which, he says, has changed his life and has changed the lives of many who have seen it.

Speaking of life-changing, Neeley met his wife, Leeyan Granger, on the set of Norman Jewison's film version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

"She was one of the dancers in the film. She grew up in the National Ballet of Canada in Toronto. She is a brilliant dancer."

Neeley remembers what it was like to make the film in Israel at that time. There was something very sacred about that time in the desert. He and the others there said they could feel the presence of Christ.

For his performance in the film, Neeley was nominated for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 1974 Golden Globe Awards.

Neeley would love so much to go back in time and re-address this role with all of the life experience he's had. As one matures, so does the body and the voice. Neeley believes his voice is stronger than ever.

"I have a deep resonance that I didn't have before and it's easier now to hit the high notes than it was then."

This is a very physical role and the sight of Christ's body on the cross serves as a reminder of that every night he is on stage. Neeley works hard for this role. He has always taken care of his body and he continues to do so.

"I have never smoked. I am not a drinker. I am very careful about my diet. My wife is the closest thing to a dietitian that I've known.

"She cracks the whip for exercises. I am very active. I work out every day. I take vitamins and I get as much sleep as I possibly can. Nobody wants to see someone up on stage attempting to portray Jesus Christ (with) a big old beer belly."

It is important to Neeley that those who see this forget that they are watching an actor.

When people see this he hopes they will experience Christ. Every night he strives to experience this too. Because of this, he refuses to wear makeup. He will also not wear protective knee pads even though he spends much of his time on stage on his knees.

"I can't do anything that takes away from the truth and the reality of what I believe that Jesus went through."

Without Jesus Christ Superstar, Neeley's life would have turned out very differently indeed. He likely would not have met and married the love of his life or had his two children.

"She (Leeyann Granger) changed my life. Superstar introduced me to her. She has certainly improved the quality of my life because of the quality of hers and the class that she brought to a rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas."

When he is not on tour, he enjoys his time with his wife. They love fine dining and spending time at their homes in Texas, Carmel, California and Santa Barbara, where both of their children attend college.

"Since I am on the road a lot, they always come out and visit me when they are on spring break. In the summertime we spend as much time as we can being together at home."

Neeley has no idea how many times he has appeared as Jesus but it's easily in the tens of thousands.

Now, at age 66, Neeley says he would be happy to pass the mantle on to another who feels the call to take on this role.

He would love to train someone and give them the benefit of his experience but so far no one has stepped forward to take on this challenge.

Ironically Neeley had originally wanted the role of Judas in the Broadway production. He didn't want to tackle Jesus Christ because it was such a huge part and more than a little intimidating.

"I didn't want to jump into being Jesus because we have enough problems in this business having wonderful critics who come around and pass judgment.

"Do you want to jump into a role where every person in every seat is a critic as well? I thought, 'No I want to play Judas.'"

But the director saw something in Neeley and knew he was perfect for the title role.

That director was Tom O'Horgan, whom Neeley had worked with in both the New York and Los Angeles productions of Hair.

"I got into Hair completely by accident. I was playing drums with a rock 'n' roll band and I was dared by an actor to go audition for a show."

At this stage in his life, people are still accepting of him in this role which, he says, is remarkable in itself.

"I honestly feel better than I ever have in my life. The voice is stronger than ever and my commitment to what I am doing is more comfortable. I walk on that stage every night feeling like I could literally do anything I want within the confines of the character and it works.

"I am so truly blessed from somewhere, by someone, to have this opportunity."


Telegraph-Journal - 3/1/10

http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/magazine/article/969014



A humbling role

Published Monday March 1st, 2010

Stage: Ted Neeley has logged more than 2,000 performances in 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' which comes to province this week

D1 Mike Landry
Telegraph-Journal

Ted Neeley calls it the third act of a two-act production.


Ted Neeley, who plays Jesus, attributes the power 
of the production to the combined genius of Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Canadian director Norman Jewison.


The current incarnation of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ first staged on Broadway in 1971, began in 2006. It was only supposed to last through 2007, but audiences and critics keep it going.
The star of Jesus Christ Superstar, both on stage and in film, for more than 30 years makes a point of inviting people backstage to chat after each show.

"I love the process of being able to talk to people after the show," says Neeley from the road in New York. "And my, my, my, the wonderful stories that I have heard over the years about how this particular project - either the film, music or both - has influenced their lives in a positive manner. It's absolutely remarkable."

Neeley has more than 2,000 performances of traveling musical Superstar to his name. He'll log four more this week with shows in Fredericton and Saint John. The current incarnation of the popular rock musical, first staged on Broadway in 1971, began in 2006. It was only supposed to last through 2007, but audiences and critics kept it going.

"I don't want to stop either. It's remarkable. I wish you could be in my sandals just to see what it feels like.

We've been pretty much everywhere and certainly more than once, thank goodness. We're very fortunate for that."

With so many years and cities to his credit, meeting fans backstage has become a generational affair for Neeley. A few weeks ago, a family of long-time fans contacted Neeley saying they had a new family member for him to meet - a four-year-old great-granddaughter.

Dressed "just gorgeously, almost like a ballerina with little ruffle socks and 

shoes" the little girl shyly hid behind her mother. She played peekaboo with Neeley as he embraced and chatted with the family. When it finally came to speak to the girl, the mother told Neeley her daughter had something to say to him.

"This sheepish, perfect little person stepped around her mommy as if to be completely prepared, and - now remember she's four years old - she said, 'Mr. Neeley your movie changed my life.' It's precious. It is absolutely precious. And these things happen constantly with this project."

Neeley attributes power of the production to the combined genius of Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Canadian director Norman Jewison to tap into the human element of the familiar passion tale.

"It doesn't challenge the deity. It accepts Jesus as the son of God, but it looks at him when he walked upon the earth as a man "¦ It gives the people who look at this movie a chance to relate to human beings and their own trials and tribulations."

Back when Neeley was first preparing the role the only reference he had for looking at the human side of Jesus was Nikos Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ. Now, he has a wealth of information he uses to play with the character, enriching his respect.

"I have learned so much in all of these years about the reality of Jesus Christ from all sides, because in my childhood Jesus was a stained-glass window. Always omnipresent, yet untouchable.

"It's even more incredible if you think in terms of a mere mortal reaching those heights of commitment. It's really a wonderful thing for people to at least consider the possibility of the human side of the man. Therefore, all of us can reach those same heights if we just commit ourselves to our belief system."

He credits his southern Christian upbringing in Texas for his reluctance to audition for the role of Jesus initially. He had auditioned for Judas.

"Not only did we have the normal theatre critics, but every single person in every seat in the theatre would be a critic, because they know their own version of who Jesus is. And I didn't want to take a chance on that."

As a performer the role of Jesus also has had an unquantifiable impact on Neeley.

"It has affected and influenced me in such a positive manner. It's made me respect the process a thousand-fold. It gives me confidence on the stage every night, that I just wish so much I could turn back the clock and relate to this piece again for the first time, because it is tremendously helpful."

Neeley attributes the strength of the piece itself in keeping him onstage. When he feels the energy of a full house and its "force of spirituality" it's sometimes as though his feet don't touch the ground.

He loves watching the cast perform too. The song Could We Start Again Please makes the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

But the part "that's without question an epiphany every single performance" is when he gets to sing in the garden of Gethsemane. And, no matter how many times he's raised up the cross in the finale, the crucifixion remains the toughest part. He wants to be respectful.

"It's one thing to spend the evening in the robe and sandals doing the essence of the last seven days in the life of the man called Jesus Christ "¦ It's a whole other thing when I'm up there in the moment representing that which is the visual essence of Christ for the whole world. I do it the best I can every single performance but it is quite frightening no matter when it's done."

Of course, with such serious subject matter onstage, the crew and cast keep things relaxed and jocular backstage. Especially since this tour is filled with one-nighters, people are running on light sleep and diet.

"Everyone's (backstage) doing all kinds of lovely things to keep us in line. The people backstage won't let me get away with anything. They are constantly reminding them that I merely am that rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas that screams high notes for a living.

"The headmaster of the crew refers to me as 'cheese and rice salad bar.' I can't get away with a thing, you see."

'Jesus Christ Superstar' takes the stage tonight and Tuesday at 7 p.m. at The Playhouse in Fredericton. Tickets, $65-$75, are available at the box office, 458-8344, www.theplayhouse.nb.ca. The show moves to Saint John's Imperial Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. Tickets, $67-$77, are available at the box office, 674-4100, www.imperialtheatre.nb.ca.

 

Times & Transcript - 3/2/10

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/search/article/970377


Moncton misses out on Jesus Christ Superstar

Published Tuesday March 2nd, 2010

City never inquired about musical; Capitol Theatre too small a venue

A7

Moncton will miss out on Jesus Christ Superstar, due to the absence of an adequately sized theatre venue and a lack of expressed interest from the city.

The well-known theatrical piece, which has been performed around the world for over 30 years and been adapted into a film, was performed at Fredericton's Playhouse last night and will run again tonight, before moving off to Saint John's Imperial Theatre for shows tomorrow and Thursday.

As much as it would have liked to play host to the popular production, it wasn't an option for Moncton's best-known theatre.

"It's a technical thing," said Marc Chouinard, general manger of the Capitol Theatre. "(In Saint John and Fredericton) their backstage is as big as their front stage and when you have a large musical you need to move sets around. You see musicals in Saint John and Fredericton all the time and never here; that's why."

Chouinard added that these types of productions often come with four or five trailers full of gear and equipment, which simply can't be handled at the theatre.

"The Capitol will never and that's got to be clear, never, be able to do that," he said. "You would have to redo it and (that would cost) millions. Impossible. When we get a new room in 20 years, it will be fine.

"Eventually, Moncton will grow; there will be a need for a bigger theatre and then I hope the ones in charge will build it accordingly."

One location that would have the size to host Jesus Christ Superstar, which tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, is the Moncton Coliseum. However, a city official said the production was never even on its radar.

"We were never talked on it, we were never approached on it, we didn't really have the option," said Shane Porter, City of Moncton's director of festivals and special events.

McKenna Kelly, a representative with the TroikaStar LLC, which is putting on the Jesus Christ Superstar tour, confirmed that the company never received any requests for information or any pitches to host the show from Moncton.

She added that with a show as popular as Jesus Christ Superstar, they don't typically have to reach out to cities and theatres when booking a tour; the localities typically make first contact with them to express a booking interest.

Kelly added that although they often perform in theatre venues, they also can perform in arena settings, depending on the specifications of the location.

Porter said the Coliseum has the ability to convert to theatre setups, if the logistics and finances make sense.

"Sometimes it becomes costly, it just depends on the production," he said.

"But we're open, we're always open. We'll take everything that wants to come, within reason. Had I known about it, we would have definitely been willing to discuss on it."

Comments (1)

Meh.
Stephen Downes, Moncton on 02/03/10 10:03:28 PM AST

#46 CLEVELAND, OH

The News-Herald - 3/5/10

 

http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2010/03/05/life/nh2169686.txt



He's still the superstar of 'Jesus Christ' show

Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the opening of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's classic rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar."

While actor Ted Neeley was a chorus member and understudy in that show, he soon would have the lead as Jesus, and it would become a career-defining role.

The News-Herald talked to the 66-year-old performer recently about the latest touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," which plays two shows Saturday at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre, as well as his iconic role and just how much longer we can expect to see Neeley hit the high notes on stage.

The News-Herald: It was reported a few years ago when you toured with "Jesus Christ Superstar" that it was actually your farewell tour. What happened?

Ted Neeley: I must tell you I never said that. There's a line in the show where Pontius Pilate asks Jesus something about being the son of God and the response is, "Your words, not mine." Somebody somewhere thought maybe since I was more than 33 years old that it would be the farewell tour, but I have to say I never faired any more well. I have no desire to stop. I have lots of singing to do.

So please forgive me for those comments that make me look like I'm trying to be Cher.

Your fans will be happy to hear the news that you'll be continuing on. Looking back nearly four decades, did you ever think you'd still be doing this so many years later?

No, I never thought it would go past opening night in New York City in 1971. And then when the film was shot, (director) Norman Jewison and I used to talk in length whether the movie will ever get off the cutting room floor. I certainly had no idea and had no expectation. So there is nobody who is more amazed than I about the fact that it still works and people will still accept me doing the role. It's remarkable.

Naturally, whenever anyone thinks of Ted Neeley, your role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" comes to mind. What's it like to have such a definitive resume credit?

I have to tell you it has given me a career. I've done many things. I had the great fortune of being in the original productions of all the four most successful rock operas — "Hair," "Sgt. Pepper," "Tommy" and this one. And all because I'm a rock 'n' roll drummer who can hit the high note. So I'm the most fortunate guy in the world, and I could not be happier doing any other role. This one has so much depth and what's remarkable quite frankly is in the last 10 years certainly there's so much more new material from which I can research and gain information because that information didn't exist in the '70s. The only publication I could find in the '70s that looked at Jesus Christ as a man was the novel "The Last Temptation of Christ." Now I can go online and find new material everyday. So it's pretty remarkable and it keeps the show fresh.

Speaking of keeping the show fresh, this current national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" is billed as being stripped-down. What does that mean?

People in general don't understand how involved Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber are with the projects they've done. For this particular production alone, Andrew completely re-arranged the orchestrations of the show.

It's the same songs but he added all of these new elements of music for us to use. Tim went in and re-addressed some of the lyrics. So from that point of view, yes it's different. And what we've learned all of these years is people in general who come to see this show have seen it many times. They know exactly what goes on and in some cases know the music better than we do. So they have an expectation, and they've let us know openly that they don't need bells and whistles and special effects. They want to see the simplicity of the desert 2,000 years ago, and they want to hear that magnificent music. So what we have now is a minimalistic approach to this piece that has not been done before.

Finally, how long will we continue to see Ted Neeley in the role of Jesus?

With all honesty, the best I can say is no longer than say another 2,000 years (laughs). I couldn't pass that one up. I honestly don't know.

If people are kind enough and generous enough to allow me the opportunity to do it, I'd be a fool to say no. I guess as long as I can hit the high notes, which blows me away. Technically the high notes should have been gone years ago. But they're stronger now than they ever have been.

Details

What: "Jesus Christ Superstar."

When: 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday.

Where: PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

Tickets: $10 to $65.50.

Info: 216-241-6000, 866-546-1353, or www.PlayhouseSquare.org.

 

 


#47 PITTSBURGH, PA

The CertifiableWenches Blogspot.com - 3/17/10

 

http://tcwenches.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-know-this-was-mentioned-before-but.html





Wednesday, March 17, 2010

I Know This Was Mentioned Before, But...

...I have to say, Ted Neeley is still totally rocking it as Jesus on the Jesus Christ Superstar national tour.

True, he's technically too old for the part - twice the age that Jesus actually was when he died - and his age shows in his voice & appearance, but he can still hit those high notes like no one else.

That said, even though he's the main attraction when the show is advertised, the cast of this tour is amazing. I've seen my fair share of touring productions, & this is probably the best I've seen, rivaled only by when Anthony Rapp & Adam Pascal came through on the Rent tour last spring. The catch is a few of them are making their national debuts on this tour, a fact I simply couldn't believe. No way were people this talented & entertaining to watch so new. But it's true. And naturally, the veterans are fantastic as well.

This cast is seriously superb, so if you've ever considering catching this show live, just do it. We made it a family affair - my parents, brother, aunt, uncle, & two of my cousins, & even though it was over a week ago now me, my brother, & at least one cousin can't stop talking about it. We were collectively blown away, & my brother & I have seen this on stage before, so that's saying something.

I'd have to say that Benjamin Van Diepen as Pilate, in a relatively small role, considering, was one of the stand-out performers. The intensity he put into the role was obvious. Same with John Twiford as Judas - he actually managed to do something a little different with the role, which isn't easy considering how many times it's been done & how well-known the whole story is. What stands out the most is that during Judas' death scene, Twiford was screaming his lines as if you were actually watching Judas just completely lose his mind. And it was fantastic.

I've never seen a show move an audience like this. All the ladies in my group cried, & initially at the end the entire theater was silent. When the applause did start, people were jumping out of their seats for a standing ovation within seconds. It's an experience my cousins summed up well, respectively: one said she felt emotionally drained, the other said Ted Neeley should've crowd surfed at the end. There you go.

Well, that & the exchange I overheard between a man & who I assume to be his granddaughter. He said to her, "They call this the greatest story ever told. They've been telling it for 2000 years."

Plus other Andrew Lloyd Webber-related news isn't so great. Apparently, Love Never Dies butchers everything sacred about The Phantom of the Opera (which is also rolling through Pittsburgh this summer). Might as well cling to the classics while we've got 'em.


 

#50 ELMIRA, NY

StarGazette.com - 3/3/10

http://www.stargazette.com/article/20100303/ENT/3040316




'Jesus Christ Superstar' comes to Elmira's Clemens Center

By John Cleary •Correspondent • March 3, 2010, 3:15 pm

Ted Neeley, who starred as Jesus in the Norman Jewison film production of "Jesus Christ Superstar," will lead the cast of the Andrew Lloyd Weber musical when the show comes to Elmira for two performances.

Neeley has a long association with the role. He was an understudy as Jesus in the original 1971 Broadway production and took the title role for the ensuing Los Angeles production. He starred, opposite Carl Anderson as Judas, in Jewison's 1974 film version of the musical. His performance earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Neeley was involved in other ground-breaking rock musicals of the era. He played the lead part of Claude in the Los Angeles production of "Hair," and was the lead in the stage version of The Who's rock opera "Tommy."

A musician and composer, his band, The Teddy Neeley Five, 

released an album in the mid-1960s. 

He wrote music for and appeared in the Robert Altman film "A Perfect Couple," and produced or appeared on albums by Tina Turner, Ray Charles, Bo Diddley and Meat Loaf. His music has been used for the television show "Highway to Heaven."

"Jesus Christ Superstar" recounts the final week in the life of the Biblical Jesus, focusing on Jesus' relationship with his apostle and betrayer, Judas. Ben Vereen originated the role of Judas, which is played in this touring production by rock singer and former "American Idol" contestant John Twiford. Adam Scott Campbell plays Peter and Sarah Hanlon is Mary Magdalene.

Originally a rock opera album, "Jesus Christ Superstar" was adapted as a musical in 1971, with Jeff Fenholt playing Jesus in the original Broadway cast. Despite some controversy over its subject matter and sympathetic depiction of Judas, it ran for more than 700 performances. Notable songs from the musical include "Everything's Alright," "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "Superstar."

Clemens Center performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. March 10 and 11. Tickets cost $57.50, $47.50 and $29.50 and are available from the center's box office, 734-8191 or (800) 724-0159, or online at www.clemens center.com.

In your voice|

countrycuz wrote:
Outstanding!!! Especially with Ted Neeley.
3/4/2010 8:36:57 AM

 

#53 SCRANTON, PA


The Weekender - 3/9/10

http://www.theweekender.com/stage/_lsquo_Jesus_Christ_rsquo__star_relishes_role_03-09-2010.html





Jesus Christ’ star relishes role

by Michael Lello
Weekender Editor

When he auditioned for an early stage production of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Ted Neeley just wanted to play Judas. Now known for his longtime title role in the popular musical and the “Superstar” film, playing Jesus was not something he was interested in whatsoever.

“We in this business have critics, and if you do that role, everyone sitting in the seats is a critic, because everyone knows Jesus,” said Neeley, who will star in “Superstar” for two shows on Sunday, March 14, at the Scranton Cultural Center.

But after singing Judas’ “Heaven On Their Minds” for Tim O’Horgan — whom Neeley worked with in “Hair” — the director had different plans for Neeley. O’Horgan got out of his seat, put his arm around Neeley and asked him to try out for the Jesus part. Due to his love for working with O’Horgan, Neeley complied and landed the role that has defined his career.

The “Superstar” phenomenon began with the 1970 rock opera album, featuring Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan as Jesus. Soon after, “Superstar,” adapted for the stage by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, made its Broadway debut.

However, it was when the film hit movie theaters in 1973 — with Neeley as Jesus — that “Superstar” truly became a part of American pop culture.

Speaking from a tour stop in Saint John, New Brunswick, Neeley said that after all these years he just wants to see if he can get the role right.

“I don’t know,” he said with a laugh when asked if he thinks he’s achieved it. “I sure hope so. And quite honestly, it’s almost impossible for me to say now. When people want to do (‘Superstar’) over and over again, it’s something that I’m always welcome to do.”

The positive reaction from theatergoers helps, too.



“Jesus Christ Superstar,” Sunday, March 14, 3 and 7:30 p.m., Weinberg Theatre, Scranton Cultural Center (420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton). Tickets: $35-$57 Info: www.BroadwayScranton.com




“If I may subscribe to one of the seven deadly sins, I would say I do take pride in it,” he said.

For Neeley, it’s a fine line between real life and the stage, one that could give some actors a God complex. He said he has been told that some children that have met him think they have met Jesus.

“I can’t speak from their point of view, but I can only speak from what I’ve been told,” he explained. “There are times when they actually speak of that. First, I thank them for their kind critique of what we just did. But then I remind them that I’m a rock ’n’ roll drummer from Texas that screams high notes for a living.

“I know exactly who I am,” he continued. “It’s a very thin sheet of ice between reality and what is imagined. It’s so much more than a show because of that spiritual connection.”

When Neeley first played Jesus, there were protests from religious people, which is to be expected when the story of Christ is told via rock music. Neeley said he was happy to speak with the protesters outside the theaters.

“I would ask them if they saw the show,” he said. “I would then invite them to come in and see the show as my guest and then talk to me afterward and tell me what was the problem. Not one person (that saw the show) took issue.”

Neeley credits the music for the show’s longevity. But he also notes the groundbreaking approach “Superstar” has taken in portraying Jesus as human.

“The concept is based on the last seven days of Jesus’ life as seen through the eyes of his contemporaries,” Neeley said. “People had a problem relating to Jesus as a man. Now, this piece does not integrate the fact that Jesus was the son of God. … When I was a child, I knew nothing about Jesus as man, and church was as common as having breakfast with your family. But nobody referred to Jesus as a man; he was a stained-glass window, always there yet unreachable.

“This (show) made me realize if we look at Jesus as a mere mortal, then we all can achieve anything.”

w

Michael Lello - Weekender Editor   570.829.7132
mlello@theweekender.com Read Michael Lello's Blog Here

 

Times Tribune - 3/9/10

http://thetimes-tribune.com/arts-living/jesus-christ-superstar-returns-to-scranton-cultural-center-1.664364




'Jesus Christ Superstar' returns to Scranton Cultural Center

Welcome back, Messiah.

On Sunday, the touring production of the beloved Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice rock opera, "Jesus Christ Superstar," will return to Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple for two performances, at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets to the show, presented by Broadway Theatre League of NEPA, are $36 to $58 and available through the Cultural Center box office, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.BroadwayScranton.com.

The musical last came to Scranton in 2007. Just as then, Jesus will be played by Ted Neeley, the actor who has been synonymous with the role since its Broadway Ted Neeley has played the title role in  'Jesus Christ   beginnings nearly 40 years ago.
Superstar' more than 3,000 times.          


Joint venture

"Jesus Christ Superstar" was the first creative venture between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, who later collaborated on the Broadway smash "Evita." The show opened on Broadway in 1971, and went on to receive five Tony nominations. Two years later, it was made into a film directed by Norman Jewison and starring Mr. Neeley.

Among its many notable numbers are "I Don't Know How To Love Him," "Everything's Alright," "What's the Buzz" and "Heaven on Their Mind."

The two-act musical revolves around the final week of Jesus' life, depicting his entry into Jerusalem, the stir caused by his preaching, his betrayal by Judas, his trial before Pontius Pilate and, finally, his crucifixion. What distinguishes it from other biblical fare are its rock riffs, everyday slang and other anachronistic touches.

The musical is also known for its sympathetic treatment of Judas, who is seen as a tragic character who grows weary of Jesus' popularity and deity claims, and believes his actions will doom the Jewish people at the hands of the Romans.

"It's so interesting being told from the perspective of Judas. It gives people a whole other way of looking at the thing," said John Twiford, who plays Judas in the current production. "I really want people to hear Judas' side. His was a much more logical side. All Judas saw was that someone, if not everyone, was going to get hurt. It's just an interesting perspective. To get people to sympathize with Judas is a real fun challenge."

The role is a daunting one for other reasons, not least because Judas, like Jesus, had for many years been associated with one actor, Carl Anderson, who died in 2004.

As if that weren't enough pressure, Mr. Twiford, a former "American Idol" contestant - he made it to the Top 50 last season - and frontman of the Los Angeles band The B.O.L.T., had never acted in a musical outside of one or two high school productions.

YouTube savvy

"I had heard of the show, but I didn't really know the show," said Mr. Twiford, who learned all of its songs by watching clips of the movie on YouTube.

"The music is great," he said. "I really get to do some wailing."

Mr. Neeley, meanwhile, has proven to be a terrific mentor.

"Ted Neeley is kind of like my second director. He knows the show up, down, forward, backward. He always has tips, and different ways of thinking about scenes and lines," Mr. Twiford said. "I'm still developing different things with the character. It's still an ongoing process."

But an enjoyable process nonetheless, so much so that Mr. Twiford is now considering moving to New York City to pursue musical theater full time.

"I've really taken to it," he said. "I really enjoy it."

Contact the writer: jmcauliffe@timesshamrock.com

If you go
What: "Jesus Christ Superstar," presented by Broadway Theatre League of NEPA
Where: Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple
When: Sunday, 3 and 7:30 p.m.
Details: Tickets are $36 to $58 and available through the Cultural Center box office, by phone at 800-745-3000 and online at www.BroadwayScranton.com.

 

WILKnewsradio.com - 3/9/10

http://audio.wilknewsradio.com/m/audio/29738064/ted-neeley-of-jesus-christ-superstar-talks-to-wilk.htm


Ted Neeley of "Jesus Christ Superstar" talks to WILK

Tue, 9 Mar 2010

Ted Neeley, star of "Jesus Christ Superstar" on stage and screen, talks to Sue Henry about his role as Jesus. The show will be at the Scranton Cultural Center March 14.

 



http://audio.wilknewsradio.com/transcript/audio/29738064/ted-neeley-of-jesus-christ-superstar-talks-to-wilk.htm


This transcript was automatically generated with speech-to-text technology and may not be 100% accurate.

Play from 0:00[play from 0:00] " This coming weekend Jesus Christ superstar is coming into town and it is my great. Pleasure to welcome -- nearly two -- show I Ted good morning."

Play from 0:09[play from 0:09] " Good morning to power you dear."

Play from 0:11[play from 0:11] " I am wonderful and let me say that I saw you in the show and I was just there really knocked out to your gonna break in half -- to stop. He doesn't really seems. -- he'll leave it out there."

Play from 0:23[play from 0:23] " So anything can happen with this wonderful production I gotta tell you is almost a wonderful experience that anybody could ever have I've been doing it quite awhile and everytime -- get a chance to redress it. It was even more fulfilling."

Play from 0:35[play from 0:35] " And a lot of people didn't know that Jesus was from Texas."

Play from 0:38[play from 0:38] " Except that stuff stuff. Well of that the a lot of people were confused and absolutely certainly did -- nor reduce it was constantly there saying to me won't receding -- films. Did he got to work over the walkie terrible country this. --"

Play from 0:53[play from 0:53] " You gotta take off its first -- yeah I goodness and as a reading about this I think it's interesting that when you first of became involved with the shell. You had your heart set on being Juventus."

Play from 1:05[play from 1:05] " Oh yes absolutely and I -- due to music and don't belong to this particular produce saying we're great songs and that's what I wanted to do but I had no idea. Do auditions. Fortunately it worked with the director of wonderful gentleman double organ for three years prior superstar initial -- And he just read up on stage into his arms around me is that I enjoyed -- very much a bit but don't like to come back tomorrow and seeing these other guys so. --"

Play from 1:36[play from 1:36] " And know when you I mean it's such shares is such a drastic change -- setting your sights on -- Judas. Others they ultimately betray your Jesus to actually be in the role. Of Jesus Christ and I have to ask you tend to I mean you've you've been in this show I believe or affiliated with it. Longer than the actual life of Jesus who was in his his early thirties when he died in May not vote how does that feel."

Play from 2:03[play from 2:03] " Well obviously it's an honor but there are going to be able to still has to do it and and -- be interested party portable mortgages and gone -- lobbyists. That the whole experience has been and it got so overwhelmingly. Educational for me and it has certainly increased my spiritual beliefs and everything. And I -- the honor of being able to meet so many wonderful people over the years to come to see this show until -- magnificent stories about how it has changed their lives positively."

Play from 2:32[play from 2:32] " Yeah and I think that that must be awesome because -- the the life and times of of Jesus Christ is so I just. Just still a wonderful story to tell. On and Catholics -- are in the lent season right now also they spend more time thinking about Jesus -- may -- they do during the course of the rest of the year. I'll moonlight with when you're in that role in your in in that moment so what most impresses you about this about this life."

Play from 3:00[play from 3:00] " I think basically that I think it makes me feel so good now do is effective when we first did this these -- seventies. We were perceived as the ultimate blasphemy -- People literally would try to accomplish and going into the Peter just to do the work. I would speak to those people to have you seen the show would certainly -- between they had not been -- is my guest support to show blocked me Eric Edwards and -- What bothered -- duplicate addresses that -- those folks who -- TV show walked away look at it don't know he were your. All these years later still doing the same show the same music to sing the words all the dialogue saying they were perceived. Well my words Detroit based access of this spiritual Sesame Street just. So the perception is completely different now from what it was originally and I even spoke just last night with some folks who were local crew. Excuse me in West Virginia were playing one lady who says she's going to seminary now. And they are in effect using this film and seminaries to -- more understand unity and sense of crisis plus."

Play from 4:07[play from 4:07] " When you. It isn't it yeah it is just. I mean it's -- connection if people -- if if there there in the theater was -- you really do. -- express a lot of of things that the people goal through during the course of their life no matter what faith they're trying to embrace."

Play from 4:33[play from 4:33] " You know I could not consider it more perfectly I found out. I've -- to -- I used that please."

Play from 4:39[play from 4:39] " Yes yes there at all all right feel anytime you know."

Play from 4:43[play from 4:43] " The face Cuba expert literally that's imported is about -- it was perceived. As the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ is seen into the eyes of his contemporaries it. All of -- saw him as a man that's. Therefore what is going on at that particular moment and a garden of guess and I think is demand -- Jesus Christ is talking to his heavenly father. About destroy if that is experience. In every human being can be linked to asbestos."

Play from 5:13[play from 5:13] " Gas and then said that strife -- that -- that struggle I mean even really Mother Teresa she actually had her moments temper she didn't. She wasn't quite sure and sometimes I think that that's the people think that faith is easy -- embraced it's wonderful but sometimes you're just not quite sure. And boy oh boy I would -- when you go after that song and that and that moment it really is ending it's a very magnificent."

Play from 5:39[play from 5:39] " Thank you so much it it's such says overwhelmingly positive feelings to experience that I must say it is obviously different every single performance tests."

Play from 5:49[play from 5:49] " And you could you also say you're no stranger to working in under in other productions that have gone on to really have a what I would call a shelf life like Tommy. At how I mean it when that cool. Well when they -- proposed that a little lot of people thought you -- easy you know why why would you why would you want to write a rock opera like what. What -- and a rock copper and it's time it was so it's somewhat in usual on also man I say involved charismatic character her."

Play from 6:21[play from 6:21] " So what what -- intense at least it's good used to Khatami because Tommy was the very first rock opera. Britain's it's still appreciated superstar and the sergeant pepper and -- all of that. It's it's so we wouldn't -- of the Pete Townsend decided he wanted to try to do that you know because they had all they do. Has always performed at decent civil slice it and it was would be had been of this success of superstar. -- life production business. Speech so it won't let me -- discipline to try and he contacted all the lessons that I wanna -- if you guys and see if we can make -- work do we superstar did. It was a remarkable experience to be able to work with the guys and so and do what they wanted. It's done on this stage like performers and dancers and actors -- have it was a wonderful experience."

Play from 7:08[play from 7:08] " And then as Sergeant Pepper's lonely hearts club band which. Became I think rather unfortunate movie I mean I just was wild that was. They did to be involved with something like that and I know we -- in the movie that you're in the at this stage performance and -- like."

Play from 7:24[play from 7:24] " Can you imagine working hand in hand on a daily basis would have done both George and Ringo. Sitting down and talking with the guys about what they perceive to know they hoped it would -- worth getting. I think he just open to talk about being fortunate kids know it -- the right place right time in my. I just happened to be somewhere where people were looking for someone who could scream I don't -- Goodness yeah I do that I can. Coming out of Texas and as a rock and roll drummer and I had no aspirations of doing anything but to have as a child I have my dream was to one -- be able to play in -- girl band you know. And I was very very happy with that. -- the opportunity to do this just came along and one lifted each other in each case -- was beaten magnificently. Creative and talented people who would come up with something it's completely new. And in each case. Had a whole universal sort of new concept to proceed to the theatrical experience and important wonderful way to start off a career."

Play from 8:25[play from 8:25] " Now -- is this really need the final. That the final like tour of superstar with you in it."

Play from 8:32[play from 8:32] " So should I think it's. I'm so sorry to laugh I didn't mean to do -- Patrick registers I've been fantastic questions so many times and quite honestly. Whenever we first addressed this in New York which was 90. That we don't that was the last."

Play from 8:47[play from 8:47] " Well I just an advertisement and I thought the language seemed to indicate to you better hurry."

Play from 8:53[play from 8:53] " You know it's interesting how our own friends got an advertisement can do and it's certainly not an intense it's. I I think maybe people are trying to say to me. You know just may not be able to do this sort of night tonight could be your -- intended to -- and it is not a typical effect until they did it's. But I'm had a good time in my life I have no intention whatsoever of stopping. We don't know how long superstar can -- and we we've been blessed by the fact -- people. Keep coming to see that I'm amazed overwhelmed and happy just that is happening. When it doesn't run its course I what did you -- into a distinction as well."

Play from 9:32[play from 9:32] " Good for you and that was watching them to Academy Awards he and I with the Jeff Bridges and I saw his."

Play from 9:37[play from 9:37] " Diluted just Regis alum I was wondering about that so I just love him now he's Kerio I didn't see these jokers who runs today."

Play from 9:45[play from 9:45] " Well he he addressed. His his wife and then I think they've been married for 34 years I was reading your. I hope this is accurate because I read in Wikipedia union for now you -- your wife and the film Jesus Christ superstar troop."

Play from 10:01[play from 10:01] " So that is absolutely accurate yes and think about perhaps now. You mentioned a -- too -- connection detectives I'm sure you might hear a little bit to draw older and I'm a try to cover it up some -- But we imagine if you will have a rock and roll drummer from Texas. So lady who listen to national ballet of Canada and Toronto C would have two chances of those times people would ever get together."

Play from 10:25[play from 10:25] " Opposites attract."

Play from 10:26[play from 10:26] " Absolutely and we had to go all the way to Israel should that happen."

Play from 10:30[play from 10:30] " Go -- right."

Play from 10:31[play from 10:31] " It's it's as he was brought over with the company of fifty dancers and singers and actors and actresses to be that the company of superstar. That I was brought over with dignity acting group stand that we may have -- and a little too negative. Do we just wonderful -- us. Together present."

Play from 10:48[play from 10:48] " Well I have to tell you when I was -- looks very a couple of years ago and there -- women in the audience you're absolutely I'm breathless over you Ted -- just chino I'm mad there are women out there who just -- you. And now we're finding shamelessly. Ordinary people and I thought it was great because I really think you do bring had a real spirit to this piece it's. It's an it's an extraordinary piece I hope that day everybody and their brother comes out this weekend to see it at this and cultural center on Sunday because this case it's tremendous and then there's the rest of the cast in that show is also I mean I'm sure it's not all the same people who went inside it was just -- They they just really did leave their heart cancel out there and you're gonna do the show twice in one day --"

Play from 11:33[play from 11:33] " Yeah yeah I just and it's a great experience we get to do to try to that is just fantastic."

Play from 11:38[play from 11:38] " Ted -- was so wonderful to have you on the show today continued success."

Play from 11:41[play from 11:41] " Thank you so much for your interest wonderful to talk to take care."

 

 

California Chronicle - 3/12/10

http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/yb/142432237





Imagine trying to play Jesus 4,000 times

By Mary Therese Biebel, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

Mar. 12--When Ted Neeley auditioned for a role in "Jesus Christ Superstar," he hoped he'd be cast as the fascinating, tormented, known-forever-after-as-a-traitor Judas.

"I did the Judas song and (director) Tom O'Horgan -- I'd worked with him in 'Hair' -- jumped out of his seat and started walking toward the stage. He threw his arms around me and said, 'I'd like you to come back and sing the other guy.' "

Neeley has been singing "the other guy" ever since. He's lost count of how many times he has portrayed Jesus Christ in the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera during the past four decades but estimates it's been at least 4,000 performances.

"It seems the audience prefers me in the white robes," Neeley said during a telephone interview as the touring show made its way closer to Scranton.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" will play at the Scranton Cultural Center at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, and Neeley admits he's more comfortable in the role now than he was at first.

"I have a very deep-set religious background," said Neeley, 66, who was raised in Texas as a Southern Baptist. "I was afraid to get near the role of Jesus. I didn't want to take on the enormous responsibility."

Nowadays he sees the role as "an honor" and "an avenue for spirituality."

"I see it every night in the faces of people," he said. "People have told me they find an epiphany (when they see a performance.) It does become almost miraculous in their eyes. But I don't want anybody in the world to think I'm Jesus.

"I'm a rock-'n'-roll drummer from Texas, and I can scream high notes."

Conceding his voice has deepened over the years to the point where he can sing even the notoriously low notes of High Priest Caiaphas, Neeley said he can still hit the high notes the role of Jesus requires.

"I've always been very careful," he said. "I never smoked. I'm not a drinker. I eat properly, and I have a wife that cracks the whip and makes sure I do that."

Describing his wife, Leeyan, as "a magnificent ballet dancer," Neeley said the couple met when 50 actors, dancers and singers flew to Israel to film the 1973 movie version of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

The movie, in which Neeley plays the title role, begins with the cast disembarking from a bus. That early scene emphasizes that "we are a troupe of performers and we pretend to be those (biblical) characters," Neeley said.

That may have been an important distinction for people who objected to the idea of Jesus, his band of apostles and the priests of the sanhedrin singing rock music.

When the show opened on Broadway in 1971, Neeley remembered, performers had to push their way through picket lines to reach the theater.

"I don't mean a couple people. They were stretched around the block," Neeley said.

"The most vehement response was about the title, putting 'Jesus Christ' and 'Superstar' together. Then there was the song Mary Magdalene sings, 'I Don't Know How to Love Him.' You can imagine where their minds were going," he said.

"And 'Jesus' was actually singing. He was singing with a rock-'n'-roll band. All of those were cause for people to object.

"I would ask them, 'Have you seen our show?' The answer, of course, was always 'No.' I would say, 'Would you please come in as my guest?' "Everyone who came in to see it would love it. They'd come back and bring their friends.' "

The show injects modern language and rhyming words into the story of the last seven days of Jesus' earthly life, which is based on the Gospel of John.

For example, at one point, Caiaphas and other characters ponder Jesus' popularity with the crowds and how the Roman occupiers won't like it: "What then to do about Jesus of Nazareth? Miracle wonder man, hero of fools.

"No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans. One thing I'll say for him: Je sus is cool."

"What then to do about this Jesus-mania? How do we deal with a carpenter king? Where do we start with a man who is bigger, than John was when John did his baptism thing?"

That song reaches a chilling conclusion. "For the sake of the nation, this Jesus must die."

Compared with traditional biblical wording, Neeley said, modern language can make the story more accessible to modern audiences.

"Tim (Rice) jumped in there to the Book of John and simplified it, and then Andrew (Lloyd Webber) came in and gave us this wonderful music."

-----

To see more of The Times Leader, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.timesleader.com.

Copyright (c) 2010, The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.


The Weekender - 3/16/10

http://www.theweekender.com/stage/Neeley_and_crew_deliver__lsquo_Superstar_rsquo__performance_REVIEW_03-16-2010.html




REVIEW: Neeley and crew deliver ‘Superstar’ performance
lellby Michael Lello
Weekender Editor

SCRANTON — The story of Jesus Christ has inspired selfless works by charitable people, holiday celebrations around the world and bloody murders by crusaders. To some people, the New Testament is the gospel truth. To others, it’s a compelling piece of literature.

“Jesus Christ Superstar” is the rare pop-culture occurrence that explores the humanity of Jesus, focusing less on his Messianic qualities than earthly aspects, like his self-doubt and his disciples’ greed and betrayal.

In the second of two shows in the Scranton Cultural Center’s Weinberg Theatre Sunday evening, Ted Neeley brilliantly portrayed Christ as a loving, flawed human, someone who saw the good in a prostitute but was troubled by the betrayal of two of his apostles and burdened by God’s plan for him. From his one-sided conversations with his father to the forceful, high notes he used to get his points across to his followers, Neeley, was, predictably, the star of the show. But that wasn’t without some standout performances by Benjamin Van Diepen as a conflicted Pontius Pilate, Sarah Hanlon as Mary Magdalene and comic relief by Andrew Hartley as a flamboyant King Herod.

With tight funk-rock strains played by the pit orchestra, the musical unfolded the familiar story without a stop in the action. From the jubilant “What’s The Buzz” to the haunting “This Jesus Must Die,” the songs were perfectly delivered and entertaining whether or not you’ve seen the theater production or the 1973 film.

With a simple set and few props, the focus was on the performances. The subtlety with which the ensemble cast reacted to Jesus was impeccable, and Neeley’s facial expressions and gestures were equally effective.

Standout scenes included Act I’s “The Temple,” in which the townspeople transform the holy site into a den of gambling, pimping and shady commerce; an angry Jesus casts them out, then has a dream that there are too many people for him to care for. Another emotional high point in Act I came thanks to John Twiford, who as Judas decides to take the high priests’ money to hand Jesus over to them. In Act II, a vulnerable Jesus ponders his future in the Garden of Gethsemane before Judas betrays him, and the hilarious Herod, surrounded by a gaggle of dancing girls, taunts Jesus, challenging him to walk across his swimming pool.

The Pilate character is well-developed — and arguably more resonant and three-dimensional than the biblical version of Pilate. During the “Trial by Pilate” scene, the Roman official regretfully sentences Jesus to crucifixion only after much imploring from the gallery. To Pilate, Jesus “has done no wrong.” “I need a crime,” he sings, calling the Jews hypocrites and noting that they hate him and the Roman government more than they hate Jesus. After soldiers whip Jesus 39 times, Pilate steps in and stops them. After giving him one last chance to defend himself, Pilate tells Jesus, “Die if you want to, you misguided martyr,” and washes his hands of the matter, figuratively and literally.

Neeley — who played the title role on Broadway and in the film — pulled off the crucifixion scene with tenderness, evoking pity from theatergoers as he took his final gasps. He ascended from the cross and out of view, suspended above the stage as a curtain emblazoned with the Christ shroud dropped. With Easter a few weeks away, the message was direct and powerful, but at that point it didn’t matter what religion — if any — you called your own.

w

Michael Lello - Weekender Editor   570.829.7132
mlello@theweekender.com

 

Times News Inc. - 3/31/10

http://www.tnonline.com/node/84319



MHS cast meets Jesus Christ, Superstar star

The cast members and crew of Marian Catholic High School's spring musical "Jesus Christ, Superstar" attended a "meet and greet" with Ted Neeley, the original "Jesus" in the blockbuster 1973 movie, at the Scranton Cultural Center on Sunday, March 14. This is Neeley's farewell tour. He has been playing the role of "Jesus" for almost 40 years. Marian Catholic's show will be presented on Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 25 at 2 p.m. The show is under the direction of Judy Martini, assistant director, Bob Valente and musical director/orchestra, Michael Brimmer. The choreographer is Kelly Daniels-Franks. From left are Matt Baxter, Ted Neeley, Eric Faust and Katie Owens.

 

#55 CHARLESTON, SC


WordPress.com - 3/18/10

 

http://charlestonartmag.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/jesus-christ-really-is-a-superstar/


Jesus Christ Really is a Superstar

By charlestonartmag

We took Wednesday night off Charleston Fashion Week to go see Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice’s masterpiece Jesus Christ Superstar at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.  There is one more performance tonight on the nationwide tour’s stop in the Holy City, and you should definitely clear your schedule for this show!

JCS, as we’ll refer to it from here on, was a true example of star talent and the amount that creative directors, costumers and choreography can do with a minimal set.  There was only one set for the entire performance, yet the cast managed to transport you in completely different places with excellent choreography, costumes, and minimal props.

The vocals were spot on, with a particularly gifted Mary Magdalene sung by Sarah Hanlon & Judas, American Idol contestant John Twiford.  Actually, Judas kind of stole the show…which is pretty ironic.  Twiford’s Judas was so good you started to sympathize with him, despite his betrayal and disloyalty.

Jesus of Nazareth was played by Ted Neeley, who starred in the 1973 movie version.  Age seems to be getting the edge on Ted; the songs weren’t quite what they were in past years, but he can still hit the screamers.

Favorite Scene: After expelling thieves, traders & pimps from”The Temple,” Jesus dreams of being surrounded by the poor, the ill, the needy, all imploring him to ease their woes, and overwhelming Christ the Man.  One giant piece of black fabric covers all the group, revealing only their faces.  The fabric undulates with their movement, as it grows into overpowering chaos; it was superb.

visit www.thejcstour.com for more info

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This entry was posted on March 18, 2010 at 10:22 pm

 


#56 FAYETTEVILLE, SC

The Fayetteville Observer - 3/17/10

http://entertainment.fayobserver.com/Articles/2010/03/17/984190

Brought to you by The Fayetteville Observer



Published: 03:36 PM, Wed Mar 17, 2010
"Jesus Christ Superstar" comes to the Crown

By Rodger Mullen

Nearly 40 years after Ted Neeley first played the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar," the actor still meets people who relate to him as the character he's playing.

"I remind them that I'm a rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas who is really fortunate to be a part of this piece," Neeley said.

Neeley will reprise the role he first played in 1971 when the national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" comes to the Crown Theatre Friday at 8 p.m.

The musical, an early collaboration between Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, takes a contemporary look at the last week of Jesus' life. Through songs such as "I Don't Know How to Love Him," "Heaven on Their Minds" and "Hosanna," the play examines Jesus' betrayal by the apostle Judas and his trial and crucifixion.

In the '70s, the play attracted no small amount of controversy. Some objected to setting the story of Jesus to rock and pop music. Others didn't like that characters such as Judas and Pontius Pilate were given sympathetic treatments.

Neeley, who is from Ranger, Texas, and got his start in music on the rock 'n' roll club scene, initially auditioned for the role of Judas but was convinced by the director that he'd make a better Jesus. After performing the role on stage, Neeley played it in a 1973 movie and has since stepped into the robe and sandals hundreds of times.

"The fact of the matter is I've done it enough that I should know the material fairly well," said Neeley in a telephone interview from Elmira, N.Y., where the show was on tour. "But I'm still working on it."

Neeley said he's aware every time he performs the play that audiences view it through a varied set of beliefs. He welcomes the opportunity to talk to people about their feelings on how the story is presented.

"The show usually starts around 8 p.m., ends around 10:30 p.m., and I'm there sometimes until 2 a.m. talking to people about their experience," Neeley said. "It's almost like a third act for me. If it doesn't happen, I don't feel like I did a good job."

These days, Neeley said, the play doesn't generate the kind of controversy it once did. He remembers having to force his way through protesters at a New York performance in the early '70s, and inviting them into the show so they could see it for themselves.

Neeley said he thinks much of the initial opposition to the play resulted from the writers' refusal to single out "bad guys" in the story.

"It looks at each character as a human being who is doing what they think is the right thing at the time," Neeley said. "One of the most passionate performances is from Pontius Pilate. You see what he was going through, trying to make a decision about what to do with this particular man."

Today, Neeley said, audiences are more likely to see the play as a "spiritual 'Sesame Street,' " a kind of primer to the story of the last days of Christ. He said a lot of parents bring their children to the show.

Neeley's favorite part of the show comes early in the second act, after the Last Supper, when Jesus goes to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. The hardest part to play, not surprisingly, is the crucifixion.

Neeley said he understands the play's effect on audiences. The actor said he also has gained some understanding of Jesus after playing him all these years.

"Growing up in Texas, Jesus was basically a stained glass window - omnipresent, but unreachable," Neeley said. "This puts you in the pew next to him. It's a much more accessible look at Jesus Christ, and that's what's made this piece stay around as long as it has."

Staff writer Rodger Mullen can be reached at mullenr@fayobserver.com or 486-3561.

'Jesus Christ Superstar'

When: Friday at 8 p.m.

Where: Crown Theatre

Tickets: $25-$41

Information: (800) 745-3000, 438-4100 or www.crowncoliseum.com

 

#59 RIVERSIDE, CA

Instant Riverside.com - 1/31/10

http://www.instantriverside.com/riverside-ca-news/jesus-christ-superstar-riverside-fox-performing-arts-center/2010/01/29/



Ted Neeley talks about ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ musical; dates upcoming at Riverside’s Fox

The musical, ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ starring Ted Neeley, is set for 8 performances at the Fox Performing Arts Center. The first show is set for March 30, at 7:30 p.m. Neeley starred in the film version of the musical in 1976.

Tickets are on sale now; prices range from $22-to-$76 dollars each. The box office can be reached at 951-788-3944.

The Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside is located at 3801 Mission Inn Avenue.

Click here for a list of local entertainment scheduled for the Fox; including Natalie Cole, Gladys Knight, and the musical ‘Annie.’

Click here to learn more about 4 shows which have been canceled at the Fox Performing Arts Center.

Filed under Video Library, News A1, Entertainment

Friday, January 29, 2010




The Press Enterprise - 3/3/10

http://blogs.pe.com/news/digest/2010/03/fox-theater-cuts-three-perform.html



Daily News Digest Blog  

 

Fox theater cuts three performances of 'Jesus Christ Superstar'


Three of the eight performances of the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Fox theater in Riverside have been canceled, including the Easter evening show, according to organizers.

Both the March 30th and 31st performances have also been nixed. Slow ticket sales were one of the reasons for the amended schedule, said Carl Thompson, spokesman for Broadway in Riverside, which puts on the shows at the Fox.

The changes are similar to the first musical at the recently restored Fox, where three of the eight Annie shows were trimmed from the run.

'Jesus Christ Superstar' will run April 1-4, with shows on Good Friday and Easter.

—PE.com

InlandSoCal - 3/25/10

http://www.inlandsocal.com/iguide/theater/content/news/stories/PE_News_Local_W_cpsuperstar26.27d75e0.html

  

Theater/Classical Music

Jesus Christ Superstar brings four decades of stage success to Riverside

04:44 PM PDT on Thursday, March 25, 2010

By FIELDING BUCK
The Press-Enterprise

Special Section: Fox Performing Arts Center

Ted Neeley likes to see little children come to watch "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"I don't know if you noticed it, but there were a bunch of children on the front row today," he said in a backstage interview. "People always come and bring their children. Little guys, 6-, 7-year-old kids."

Neeley has a long history with the 38-year-old show. He didn't create the title role, but he played it on Broadway and in the 1973 film version. And, at 66, he has spent recent years on the road with it.

Neeley said that in 1971, critics perceived the rock musical as the ultimate blasphemy.

"Here we are now, these many years later. We are perceived as spiritual 'Sesame Street.' Same songs, same message, same approach, and yet people now perceive it as a way to teach their children about their spirituality. Perception. It's magnificent to see the cycle."


Ted Neeley in the 1973 film version of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Despite the change in culture, Neeley said the show itself is the same.

"This is as close to verbatim as we can possibly keep it, and that's because of me."

Neeley was speaking in his dressing room after a Sunday matinee at San Diego's Civic Theatre in January. It was the show's most recent Southern California stop before it opens April 1 at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside.

He spoke softly in the subdued lighting of a room that was decorated with fresh flowers and featured a hint of aroma therapy. All these details belied his self-description as a rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas.

DO you at least sing?

Neeley's road to rock opera began, he said, in Ranger, Texas, 61 miles east of Abilene and with a population 2,584 in the 2000 census.

In his teens, he had a rock band that played local dances. After graduating high school, they drove to California with the idea of trying out show business before college.

Instead, the Teddy Neeley Five became a fixture in the LA club scene, not stars but well-known enough to meet people in TV and movies.

"Then we got invited to their homes, their Beverly Hills homes, to play for their parties," Neeley said. "Every variety show that was going on in the '60s, we were on because we were there playing for their parties. ... So our hometown folks were so proud of us. Every Sunday night they'd see us on some show."

Neeley's life changed when an actor challenged him to attend an audition for the West Coast version of "Hair" to see what it was like.


Joan Marcus / Special to The Press-Enterprise
Ted Neeley says "Jesus Christ Superstar" made the title character human to audiences in 1971.

"He goes up on stage, he sings a song, he comes back and we leave. We start to walk out of the building. And then they call my number. And he went, 'Wait a minute. You're going to go up there and see what this feels like.'

"I went up. I stood there. I'd never been in this process before. A voice in the darkness said, 'And what have you prepared for us today, sir?' And I said, 'Nothing. I don't know what to do. I've never done this before.'

"The voice said, 'Well, do you at least sing?' I said, 'Yes, I do.' "

He performed "For Once in My Life" twice for the voice. The number was in his band's repertoire in both the Stevie Wonder rock version and the Tony Bennett ballad version.

He was hired by the voice, which belonged to the late Tom O'Horgan, "Hair" director and the man who guided the hippie musical through its wild, improvisational evolution.

Neeley followed O'Horgan into "Jesus Christ Superstar" and, although he wanted the role of Judas "so bad I could taste it," he became an understudy for the role of Jesus, eventually playing opposite Ben Vereen and Carl Anderson.

"Jesus Christ Superstar," written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, began as a "concept album," two LPs in a then-deluxe gatefold jacket that related the passion of Christ in a song cycle.

It spawned a hit song, "I Don't Know How to Love Him," sung by Mary Magdalene, that Neeley said was a source of outrage among some listeners.

"Boy, did they read between the lines and put these things in there that had nothing whatsoever to do with the song."

fighting through waves of pickets


Despite the myriad changes in American culture, Ted Neeley says the show "Jesus Christ 
Superstar" has not changed over the years.


That, and the concept of Jesus singing with a rock band, created a show "so controversial that we had to fight our way through picket lines to get into the theater to go to work. And this was in New York City, mind you. And not a couple of guys. It stretched completely around the block of 51st and Broadway. Trying to stop us from getting in the building."

During this period, he got to know pre-knighthood Rice and Webber before they were famous.

"To see the two of them as innocent children in New York with that expression continually on their faces of 'Oh my goodness, somebody is actually putting our show up! A real show!' "

Neeley said he was still a greenhorn as well when director Norman Jewison began preparing the film version of "Superstar." But he knew enough to lobby hard to be cast in it.

He had moved on to an LA stage version of The Who's "Tommy" by then.

"I couldn't get out of rehearsals to go to an audition, so ... I called the Directors Guild and said, 'Does he have an agent?' They put me in touch, and I invited Mr. Jewison to come and see our show of 'Tommy.'

"He came on a Saturday evening. We had played a matinee, during which I was knocked out cold on stage and advised by the company doctor not to go on for the evening performance. ... He came to see the show and he saw my understudy do the role. I didn't find out until the next day that Mr. Jewison was there."

Neeley was able to persuade the agent to set up a meeting with Jewison and offered to pay for the cost of a screen test.

"He fell out of his chair laughing at me. He says, 'You have any idea what it costs for a screen test?' I had no idea. I hadn't a clue."

That ice-breaker, however, not only led to a screen test, it led to Jewison testing and casting Neeley's friend Carl Anderson as well.

Neeley met his wife, Leeyan Granger, on "Superstar's" location shoot in the Negev desert. She was a dancer in the cast.

And his friendship with Anderson led to his return to "Superstar" later in life after they agreed to do a reunion benefit.

Neeley said that "Superstar" continues to thrill him.

"I walk on that stage, stage right, before I make the first entrance, and when the guitar plays the first notes of the score, it's almost as if they plug an electrical socket in my spine.

Could we start again?

"The overture alone is enough to build excitement. Of course, as the piece goes on, still to this day I can't get through 'Could We Start Again, Please,' that beautiful ballad that the whole choir sings in the second act, without tearing up."

Neeley said Rice and Webber remain involved in the show and have contributed some tweaks.

"Tim even got into changing some lyrics, which by golly we got in some arguments over because I think those original lyrics are brilliant. But he wanted to update certain elements that he'd gotten flak for over the years."

Neeley is still stripped and raised on a cross in the climax, and he still has the rock-star scream.

"It should have been gone years ago, but by golly it still works. I have so many dear friends who screamed much better than I do, and it's gone. It's just gone. I have no idea -- well, I've never been a smoker. I'm not a drinker. I take care of myself because I know this is my job."

He said touring in "Superstar" is more than a job to him. It's maintaining a connection with people who love the piece as much as he does.

"There's a relationship. Everywhere we go, we're welcomed back. I believe honestly, and this is just my opinion, this is like no other show. This is more than a show.

"It's an experience for people. It's a spiritual awakening for some people. For some people, it's just a chance to get away from the house for a couple of hours and smile. For other people, it's a chance to show their friends what their youth was about. There's so many touchstones that make people have a personal response. Therefore it keeps it alive."

Reach Fielding Buck at 951-368-9551 or fbuck@PE.com

'Jesus Christ Superstar'

When: 7:30 p.m. April 1; 8 p.m. April 2; 2 and 8 p.m. April 3; 1 p.m. April 4

Where: Fox Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Blvd., Riverside

Tickets: $22-$76. 951-684-2929,

www.broadwayinriverside.com


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InlandSoCal - 3/25/10

http://www.inlandsocal.com/iguide/theater/content/news/stories/PE_News_Local_W_cpsuperstar26.27d75e0.html

  

Theater/Classical Music

 

Excerpts of an interview with Ted Neeley

10:04 PM PDT on Thursday, March 25, 2010

By FIELDING BUCK
The Press-Enterprise

Ted Neeley may be one of "Jesus Christ Superstar's" biggest disciples.

He didn't create the lead role, but he performed it on Broadway in its original, 1971 run and starred in the 1973 film version by Norman Jewison.

And he has been on tour with the show for years. He says he is responsible for preserving the original vision of its creators, songwriters Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Tom O'Horgan.

Neeley treasures the memory of the late O'Horgan, with whom he worked on other rock musicals: "Hair" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road."

Neeley also starred as "Tommy" in a 1970s stage version of The Who's rock opera.

Neeley talked about his career in a backstage interview in January, after a "Superstar" matinee in San Diego.

On growing up in Ranger, Texas:

"I grew up in Texas, a tiny town in Texas, surrounded by churches, the heart of the Bible Belt in this country. And I was always going to church. When you grow up in a town that small, it's just part of your existence. You go to church on Sunday just like you have breakfast with your family throughout the week. ...

"Well, I learned, through all those many years, that Jesus was a strained-glass window. This piece ("Jesus Christ Superstar") pulled him off the stained-glass window, put him back on the street with his friends. So the human element is what makes this piece work. ...

"When you're in a town that small, everybody knows everybody. And the fact that I actually moved from the town into another place was a success, regardless whether I was working or not. ... And then the fact that the band was successful -- and my band was together all through school; we played for all the local dances -- they kind of had a thought that I might pursue something outrageous."

On getting started in show business in the 1960s:

"It was my desire from childhood to just play drums and bash away and scream. (I) worked my way from Texas with the band out to California right after we got out of high school. The idea was it was a summer thing and we'd go back to college in the fall. We fortunately were very successful and we just stayed and kept working. ...

"As a band, we never had any hit records, but we played in the Los Angeles area long enough that we became sort of a force ... playing all the clubs here. Suddenly there were all those movie people and television people, interesting people coming to see us. Then we got invited to their homes, their Beverly Hills homes, to play for their parties. ... "

On auditioning for "Hair," his first musical, and "Jesus Christ Superstar":

"Long story getting even longer, the band went through various changes and we were in Los Angeles working in a nightclub. And I was talking to people after the show. I love to do that. ... We were talking one night about the difficulty in staying employed on a continuous basis, whether it was for us as traveling musicians or they as film people. One of the actors said, 'I have an audition tomorrow for a show. Why don't you just come and see what I have to go through just to get a job?'

"So I went with him, just to watch. Hundreds of people outside of the building. He said, 'You're going to have to follow me and do exactly what I do or they won't let you in.'

"So I did. Biographical information, likes/dislikes, what do you do, all that. They gave us a number and we go inside. And they call his number ahead of me. He goes up on stage, he sings a song, he comes back and we leave. We start to walk out of the building. And then they call my number. And he went, 'Wait a minute. You're going to go up there and see what this feels like.'

"I went up. I stood there. I'd never been in this process before. A voice in the darkness said, 'And what have you prepared for us today, sir?' And I said, 'Nothing. I don't know what to do. I've never done this before.' The voice said, 'Well, do you at least sing?' I said, 'Yes, I do.' ...

"Long story sort, the actor didn't get hired and I did. The show was 'Hair.' I was in 'Hair' for three years. That voice in the darkness that said, 'Do you at least sing?' was the magnificent director Tom O'Horgan, who co-created 'Hair' with Jerome Ragni and James Rado and Galt McDermott. He also was the director of 'Jesus Christ Superstar' on Broadway. Asked me to join the cast."

On Tom O'Horgan:

"He was the most magnificent combination of simplicity and ... Frederico Fellini in the live theater. He had this visionary thing about him. Everything was phantasmagorical and larger than life. He made this happen on the Broadway stage like nothing else had ever happened before. Created a whole new essence, with 'Hair' being a simple thing of people in the street and ... just funky. He created this whole universe of phantasmagoria around Jesus, with the simplicity of Christ on the desert, and these things came out of nowhere that looked like Fellini was having a party with all his friends."

"Superstar" on stage and on film:

"The difference was, if you will, creating that which we now accept wholly as Cirque du Soleil is what Tom O'Horgan and Robin Wagner did in terms of sets and lights and props and all that with 'Superstar' on Broadway in 1971. And then Norman (Jewison) brought it back down to the simplicity because Norman felt the most important ingredient, save the wonderful music, was to show the relationships between Jesus and Judas and Mary and Peter as friends. ... "

On Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber:

"Nobody knew who Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber were (in 1971) ... To see the two of them as innocent children in New York with that expression continually on their faces of, 'Oh my goodness, somebody is actually putting our show up! A real show!' "

"Every time we've put together a new production, they're still involved. They even wrote different things.

"Andrew did a whole new treatment of the musical arrangements for this tour, because he wanted to make sure that it had the essence of the new technology without taking away from the simplicity of the original; always having that original concept of the band, the rock band, being the central force and then embellishing it with technology.

"Tim even got into changing some lyrics, which, by golly, we got in some arguments over because I think those original lyrics I think are brilliant. But he wanted to update certain elements that he'd gotten flak for over the years."

On audiences:

"From 1971, which was my first experience, until today I have made friends all over America and Canada through this piece. ... No matter what city I go into, there's a family. At least a family of people that I know that welcome me into their home, that bring new family members to see the show, and friends. That's what's kept this piece going.

"There's a relationship. Everywhere we go, we're welcomed back. I believe honestly, and this is just my opinion, this is like no other show. This is more than a show. It's an experience for people. It's a spiritual awakening for some people. For some people, it's just a chance to get away from the house for a couple of hours and smile. For other people, it's a chance to show their friends what their youth was about. There's so many touchstones that make people have a personal response. Therefore it keeps it alive."

 

InlandSoCal - 4/2/10

http://www.inlandsocal.com/iguide/family/content/news/stories/PE_News_Local_W_webjcsreview.2304d5d.html

  

Family

Review of 'Jesus Christ Superstar:' Ted Neeley is sea of calm in cacophony of sound

12:36 PM PDT on Friday, April 2, 2010
By SHERLI LEONARD
Special to The Press-Enterprise

Andrew Lloyd Weber's rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" rocked Riverside Fox Theater Thursday night, leaving no doubt about the enormous power of the Weber and Tim Rice collaborations. Weber's music and Rice's lyrics told the story, not of Jesus of Nazareth, but of the people that surrounded and encountered him in his last seven days, and found a huge voice in lead Ted Neeley who delivers what must be the definitive portrayal.

Neeley offers a calm Jesus, filled somewhat reluctantly with destiny, whose presence always contrasts sharply with the noisy din and cacophony of everyone else. Seeming and appearing more aged than Jesus' historical 30-plus years, Neeley's character exhibited a wisdom commensurate with a deep understanding of the sadness of human nature.


2006/The Press-Enterprise

But Neeley's singing absolutely commanded the show. With amazing control, his husky voice conveyed sorrow, love, fear, and outrageous rage. His high, piercing rock and roll screams could stop an ocean liner dead in the water, and in fact soared above the cranked-up electronics as he drove out the money changers from the temple in the first of his huge solos. "The Temple" scene riveted attention from Neeley's solo spot light to a pile of humans writing and singing in the darkness behind him, nagging him, crying out to him for help. Wow. How do artists come up with these amazing ideas?

Neeley's other mind-blowing solo came in the Garden of Gethsemane where he wrestles with God the Father before his betrayal, demonstrating huge vocal range from high notes that would make dogs' ears bleed to soulful low notes and an amazing expressive capacity. This song is reason enough to see the show.

Other reasons abound. Caiaphas played by Darrel Whitney sings his dark and evil character with a mighty and exotic low voice. John Twiford as Judas Iscariot maintains a confounded and wimpy demeanor of someone who wants to be the victim. Sarah Hanlon as Mary Magdalene sings the popular song "I Don't Know How to Love Him" with glossy elegance, clearly befuddled at her own feelings. Benjamin Van Diepen as Pontius Pilate pleads with Jesus with heart-rending power to do something to save himself, and, in the end, Pilate.

Still more reasons. The magical lighting moves the simple industrial stage set from Jerusalem streets to the temple to the garden to Golgotha. Weber's expressive music, from angular portrayals of fear and anger to sweet lyrical lines of love, drives the entire production. Jesus' last words - incorporating all four versions from the gospels - are uttered in agony rather than a stoic British accent. The hanging of the image of the shroud of Turin closes the show.

This is serious stuff, peppered only by the marvelously absurd Herod and his daffy dancing girls mocking Jesus in lurid fashion. I repeat, this is serious stuff, not meant to depict theology but to illustrate the frailties of human nature, which, if you watch carefully, it does very well.

My only protest is my long-standing objection to the rock and roll: the screaming singing and the nasty noise of the electronic music renders most of Rice's lyrics unintelligible. I have no idea what Matthew Myers as Simon was singing about in his song with the company. Too bad.

The irony of this work is the title song, sung only at the end when Jesus rises slowly from a small puddle of a flogged man and limply stands on his own, while the crowd sings, "Who are you, what have you sacrificed, Jesus Christ Superstar." What does this say about us?


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SCPR.org - 4/6/10


http://www.scpr.org/blogs/all-things-considered-alex-cohen/2010/04/06/kpcc-rocks/




KPCC ROCKS!

April 6, 2010 | By Alex Cohen

 

Working at KPCC rocks!

There are a lot of reasons why I love working in radio. One of them is that it's a great reason for me to talk to people whose work I really admire, especially musicians.

Last week, I was able to interview Mike Watt, bassist for two of my favorite bands The Minutemen and fIREHOSE. I also got to visit the home of Cherie Currie of the all-girl 70s rock band The Runaways. As I like to put it, it's the week that we made sure the "P" in KPCC stood for punk rock!

Meanwhile, my colleague Steven Cuevas was interviewing Ted Neeley, another one of my heroes! You may know Neeley from his role as Jesus Christ in the 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar.

Neeley has played JC on stage more than 2000 times - amazing! And, Steven told me, he's also an incredibly sweet guy. The two of them took a photo together at the theater where Neeley played the role once again over Easter weekend


Here's what Steven had to say about the interview, "Ted is THE MAN. He actually wanted to take a picture with ME. Total charmer!"

Do you have a Southern California musical hero you'd like to hear about on KPCC? Let us know!










SCPR.org - 4/8/10


http://www.scpr.org/news/2010/04/08/neeley-superstar/





Veteran stage actor Ted Neeley kicks off 'Jesus Christ Superstar' tour


April 8, 2010 | Steven Cuevas | KPCC

Many Christians are celebrating the end of Easter Week. Jesus is said to have been about 33 years old when he died. The man who’s been portraying him on stage for almost 40 years in the rock musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” is twice that age. Ted Neeley just kicked off “Superstar’s” latest tour in Riverside.

During a frank hour-long interview with KPCC, the 66-year-old Neeley makes a confession — he didn't want to play Jesus at first. To this day he covets the meatier role of Judas.

“Oh yeah, yes! Every night, you hear that guitar go “raaaarrrr, b-b-errrr!” and then we do the overture and Judas goes 'My mind is 
 clearer now, at last…' And I wanna go, 'JEEEEESUS!' — but I can’t!,”                                          Steven Cuevas & Mike McCully laughs Neeley. “I’m back there going, Hmmm, how would I do that if I   1: Ted Neeley at the Fox Performing Arts Center in Riverside 
were doing that? I thought it would be a great way to present a new        (Steven Cuevas) 2: Ted Neeley & KPCC reporter Steven Cuevas character. So I auditioned — and the director said 'that was wonderful,   (Mike McCully)
but I’d like you to sing the other guy.'”

Neeley got the part — first as an understudy then in the lead. Nearly 40 years on, Neeley is still playing Jesus.

In some ways he was born for the part. He’s a lean, shaggy haired Texan who grew up in a staunchly Baptist community. He no longer attends church, but Neeley is steeped in scripture. As a kid, the choir caught Neeley’s ear — and so did rock n’ roll. He took up the drums — and by the mid-60s, he was rocking his own band, the Teddy Neeley Five, on the Sunset Strip.

In the late 60s, L.A. led to Broadway — first in the rock musical “Hair" then in “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The stage show was a huge success and led to the classic 1973 film shoot in Israel. Neeley again took the lead, going sandal-to-sandal with his longtime friend Carl Anderson as Judas.

The film was also a smash. It led to a flood of short-lived and now long forgotten religious rock operas like “The Survival of St. Joan” and “Salvation: A Rock Opera”. But Neeley says not everyone was applauding.

“When we did this in ‘71 in New York City, we had to fight our way through picket lines every night. “Jesus is singing with a rock ‘n’ roll band! Blasphemy!”

These days, “Jesus Christ Superstar” is embraced by people of all faiths. But Neeley says there are still the occasional protestors. The musical helped legitimize Christian rock — and its songs, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber, are frequently covered by secular performers.

In 1993, Neeley marked the 20th anniversary of the “Jesus Christ Superstar” movie by resurrecting “Superstar” on stage. It ran five years and earned over $100 million. Then came the so-called “farewell tour.” That was four years ago. No one calls it a “farewell” anymore.

“There are three generations of people who tell me, when they think of Jesus, they see my face. That scares me! I know Jesus was much more handsome, much taller” says Neeley. “And I keep saying: I’m a rock n roll drummer from Texas who screams high notes and that’s a character I get to play.”

At 66, Neeley can still nail the high notes. His once smooth mid-range is a bit rougher, but it lends his portrayal of Jesus an appropriate weariness. After all, Jesus knows he’s going to die. Neeley says aging has helped him reveal new aspects of Christ and of himself — as when Jesus angrily chases merchants from the temple.

“And he falls to his knees and talks to his father, and says 'my time is nearly through,'” explains Neeley. “And now, every night when I sing that line, that’s me! That’s just me in life. I don’t know how much more time I got. And that has so deeply influenced my psyche and my spirituality. Whenever that time happens, that’s when I feel that every night: “My time is almost through.”

“Jesus Christ Superstar” plays in cities across the U.S. through April. The next tour hasn’t been booked yet. Ted Neeley says as much as he wants to audition for the role of Judas, he’ll be happy to play the lead again.

COMMENTS:

jane
2 weeks, 5 days ago


just saw the sunday production in tempe az, absolutey amazing! I cried twice it was so moving. all that neeley says in the above article I was thinking watching him play this role again. I saw him perform it probably 35 years ago, I love how his aging has changed the role for him and how luminously his message comes across in his body language as well as that voice! so there's a bit of a rasp here and there, folks the man is getting ready to die! it fits the part. and the big notes and screams blow you out of the theater. truly.
the biggie for me was that they didn't 'understand what power is, understand what glory is' yes, I'll bet Neeley has seen the truth of that in his years..
judas nails his part and pilate almost makes you feel bad for him. I love that mary is always who jc turns to and she's always there. herod does the switch from funny to frightening seamlessly, making it really punch strongly.
all the other cast members did a standup job as well, great dancing! the finale girls in black and white hit just the right note!
if you haven't got there yet, and it comes your way, don't miss it. I've been singing the songs still 3 days later.



 

#60 TEMPE, AZ

WordPress.com - 3/1/10

http://rakstagemom.wordpress.com/2010/03/01/different-desert-different-time/

http://rakstagemom.wordpress.com/2010/03/04/mom-has-jesus-called-yet/


stage mom

FRONT PAGE


Different desert, different time

March 1, 2010 · Leave a Comment

I answered my phone one morning to the sound of a smooth southern voice, calling from a bus traveling between stops on the current tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The gentleman on the other end of the line was Ted Neeley, originally from a small town in Texas, now in his fourth year of a tour that was scheduled to run just three months.

Neeley’s charm is disarming, albeit genuine, as he shares a bit about his experiences with the work. Neeley toured with the original production before appearing in the film version (“starring” might be the better word but I’m not sure Neeley would use it). He’s 60-some years young.

About Lynn Trimble



Lynn Trimble is a writer/blogger for
Raising Arizona Kids magazine.

Our conversation turns quickly to Neeley’s family—his wife, son and daughter—as he shares some of the ways their encounters with the arts continue to transform both their individual and their collective experiences. He’s appreciative of our work at the magazine, which is a genuine labor of love by and for parents.

Neeley proudly shares that his wife is a ballet dancer, having grown up studying, performing and teaching with the National Ballet of Canada. He chuckles a bit when I ask whether either of his children have caught “the theater bug.”

He recalls having them along on tour since they were just seven and nine years old, sharing that they’ve really “grown up with the show.” It’s allowed them to see every state and much of Canada. Today their interest in theater remains, but college is rounding out their acumen with the business side of the biz—marketing and such.

I shared with Neeley a bit about my previous experiences with the work—including listening incessantly to the original cast recording with the same fervor my daughter now displays for “Next to Normal,” and then seeing a touring production as a teen.

I don’t remember seeing the movie, which featured Neeley, when it was released in 1973 (my nose was probably stuck in a book at the time), but I do recall seeing the work on tour again a decade or so ago (with a different lead).

My children joined me for that performance at ASU Gammage, and we loved the over-the-top rock opera spectacle of it all. But this time around, shares Neeley, the show has a different feel.

Seems the audience members he’s renowned for chatting with after the show have shared with Neeley the role “Jesus Christ Superstar” has played in helping them imagine a different country, a different time—when Jesus walked the earth.

Those who see the current national touring production, coming to ASU Gammage in April, may feel they’ve been transported to a faraway desert some 2,000 plus years ago. Still, reflects Neeley, the work is more “spiritual” than “religious.”

“There is a universal spirituality that connects all of us independent of whether or not we embrace a particular religion,” reflects Neeley. He notes that “Jesus Christ Superstar” recounts the last seven days in the life of Jesus as seen through the eyes of his contemporaries, when “no one saw him as more than an outspoken man.”

“Jesus Christ Superstar” looks at Jesus the man, something Neeley says was rare at the time the work was developed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. Composer Webber was just 21 at the time, while lyricist Rice was all of 25.

Neeley recalls that when he first performed “Jesus Christ Superstar” in New York during the early 70s (before the film was shot and released), Jesus was “omnipresent.” Harkening to his childhood of regular church-going, Neeley describes Jesus as “the stained glass man.”

Scholarly study of Jesus the man has blossomed since that period, according to Neeley, who says the plethora of books on this topic today provide a wealth of material with which to research Jesus and refine his portrayal in meaningful ways.

So what should we expect when Neeley and the rest of the “Jesus Christ Superstar” cast take to the ASU Gammage stage next month? I’ll share more about that—plus some of Neeley’s other projects—in a future post.

I’ll also share Neeley’s thoughts for those of you pondering or preparing for a career in the performing arts. Folks who’ve sailed past 60 while continuing to earn accolades for their artistry—whether Ted Neeley, Bruce Springsteen, Angela Lansbury, Quincy Jones or Chita Rivera—are esteemed for a reason.

Stay tuned to learn more…

–Lynn

Mom, has Jesus called yet?

With so many irons in the fire of each day around here, I’m often on the lookout for ways to remember the things that absolutely have to get done. The calendar on the side of the fridge is nice, but it’s hard to get that sucker into my car.

I fear I may be years away from even learning to dial my fancy new cell phone, let alone use it with any type of scheduling feature. And the ‘lipstick on a pig’ lady pretty much ruined the whole writing on the palm of one’s hand thing for me.

Hence I had to resort to drastic measures after scheduling a telephone interview with Ted Neeley, performing the role of Jesus in the touring production of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

So I told the kids—“Don’t let me forget that Jesus is going to call me today.” I meant no disrespect. I simply knew this would make everyone pay serious attention. It worked—and here’s a peek at part two of my conversation with Mr. Neeley to prove it…

You’ll recall from my earlier post (“Different desert, different time”) that Neeley has been touring with the current production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” for four years, and that it’ll reach ASU Gammage in Tempe next month.

Neeley says the audience for “Jesus Christ Superstar” often includes “a complete cross-section of age from three to 80” and marvels that he once met five generations of a single family who saw the show together.

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen this work performed, you may be surprised at some elements of the current production—which no longer has the glaring and blaring rock opera feel of its predecessor.

You’ll still experience music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, but the staging and lighting have evolved over time.

“Most people who are interested in seeing the project,” he says, “don’t enjoy heavy duty sets and lights.” Neeley notes that his audiences nowadays prefer “a minimalistic approach.”

Many are seeking a live version of the film they’ve found so moving (“Jesus Christ Superstar,” 1973, directed by Norman Jewison), and Neeley feels humbly gratified to deliver it.

In its current incarnation, the live production draws little of the controversy that surrounded the movie’s release.

The work’s appeal, says Neeley, may stem from a feeling of shared human experience. He notes that, like the Jesus depicted in this work, “all people experience shortcomings and confusion.”

Neeley describes the current tour as a “concert staged in theatrical arenas” rather than a “Broadway show.” He says the piece is “different every night” thanks to new cast members and evolving audiences.

I asked Neeley whether he finds much time for one of his first loves, the drums.  “I hit the drums as often as I can,” he says. “I thrash away whenever I get the opportunity. It’s very therapeutic.”

The rigors of the road, reflects Neeley, “make it impossible to focus on anything else.” Still, he has a couple of projects he’ll be able to move front and center should the tour some to a close at some point (it’s hard to imagine since Neeley enjoys a large and loyal following).

There’s the rock musical titled “Rasputin,” which explores the lives of Russia’s royal Romanov family seen through the eyes of Alexei, a young heir living with hemophilia, and the dynasty’s relationship with infamous peasant Grigori Efimovitch Rasputin—as well as a newer musical titled “Pandemonium.”

Our conversation grew to a close sooner than I would have liked, but bus travel makes for poor cell phone reception and Neeley had already been more than generous with his time. I posed a few questions on behalf of readers pursuing the theatrical life.

“Any facet of the industry is very difficult,” shares Neeley, “but no more than any others.” He affirms what aspiring and established actors have told me time and time again. Performance art is hard work.

Take note if you’re a parent concerned your child’s interest in theater is merely frivolous. Acting, albeit fun, is hard work requiring discipline, commitment and teamwork. It’s a fabulous forum for developing the organization and communication skills we all want for our youth, so beware of assuming otherwise.

Neeley notes that he’s done master classes with kindergarten through college age students, sometimes sharing his own experiences with everything from “Hair” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” to “Sgt. Pepper” and “Tommy” to illustrate a thought he holds dear…

 “Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t pursue your dreams.”

Finally, I asked Neeley about whether and why live theater matters—especially in an age when so much information and entertainment is available online.

Neeley is quick to note that he’s not against technology, citing its role in leading us toward the future, but readily admits to finding it less meaningful than personal interaction.

“I treasure the opportunity to communicate,” says Neeley. Theater offers that opportunity, and the chance to feel and experience life with family and friends.

Neeley says he “sees movies all the time” but still finds there’s nothing like sitting and enjoying a live experience with others.

Live theater, reflects Neeley, allows actors and audience members to be a part of a shared community, a shared experience.

It’s essential, says Neeley, that we all work to “protect and save live theater.”

Whether you study or teach the performing arts; whether you contribute as part of a cast, crew, or creative team; whether you’re a reserved or spirited audience member; whether you spread your love of the arts through blogging, posting show flyers around town or volunteering for arts organizations—what you do matters.

Neeley might even say that the real superstar is you.

–Lynn

Note: Tickets for the ASU Gammage 2009/2010 “special engagement” of “Jesus Christ Superstar” running April 6th through 11th are available now. Details at www.asugammage.com. Watch the website for “Gammage Goer” reviews of this and other exciting shows (next up for ASU Gammage is “Avenue Q,” making its Valley debut March 9th-14th).

Gilbert Theatre Examiner - 3/23-24/10

http://www.examiner.com/x-38337-Gilbert-Theater-Examiner~y2010m3d23-Gilbert-Theater-Examiner-Chats-with-Ted-Neeley-star-of-Jesus-Christ-Superstar-Part-One

http://www.examiner.com/x-38337-Gilbert-Theater-Examiner~y2010m3d24-Gilbert-Theater-Examiner-Chats-with-Ted-Neeley-star-of-Jesus-Christ-Superstar-Part-Two

GIL1Gilbert Theater Examiner: Chats with Ted Neeley star of Jesus Christ Superstar Part One

March 23, 9:59 AMGilbert Theater ExaminerJoseph Gordon


The National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar will open at the ASU Gammage on April 6 and continue through April 11. Jesus Christ Superstar has the distinction of being the first smash stage success of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Following on the innovative heels of Hair, Superstar firmly established the sound of rock in Broadway musicals. It is also the show that catapulted Ted Neeley 

Jesus Christ Superstar logo courtesy of ASU Gammage

to international stardom. Since that opening night on October 12, 1971, the names Jesus Christ Superstar and Ted Neeley have become forever joined as one and the same.

Last week, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Ted Neeley about his rich and rewarding history with Jesus Christ Superstar. I found him to be open, personable and gracious. While his place in the history of rock music is assured, Neeley is disarmingly unassuming about his ample talents and achievements.

Ted Neeley was such a delightful raconteur that this interview will be published in two parts. This is Part One. Part two will be published tomorrow.

You are well known for playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar but you have had a great career in both theater and music. Other than Jesus, what are some of your other favorite roles that you have played?

 

Oh, my goodness! That would take us hours. I can try to edit that down to say every piece that I have had the honor to be in has been a wonderful educational process for me. Most importantly, the very first one which was Hair. That was my first experience in theater and I got to be in that show for three years prior to
being a part of Jesus Christ Superstar,

         Ted Neeley and company photo by Joan Marcus

During that three year period, I had the great good fortune of working with a magnificent director named Tom O'Horgan. Bless his heart! He just passed away recently. I had the opportunity to be his student, if you will, in theater for three straight years. Literally, the man taught me everything I know about what it is that I do when I get the opportunity to be in a wonderful production.

I played the role of Claude in Hair who is the one character in the piece that chooses not to burn his draft card and ends up going to fight in the Vietnam war, ultimately losing his life. The great experience was that I was able to go from that production of Hair directly into Superstar because Mr. O'Horgan was the original director of the Superstar production in New York in 1971.

I saw that production.

 

Well, then you saw the magnificent visionary ability of Tom O'Horgan and his design partner Robin Wagner who was the set designer and co-creator of not only Hair and Superstar but also the production we did of Sgt. Pepper. Both those gentlemen did many other productions but those are the ones that I specifically worked on with them. They also conceived and directed the first National Tour of Superstar. That show opened at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, a theater that was actually built for the Jesus Christ Superstar production that year; that was in 1972. I just have to say that no matter what I have had the pleasure of doing theatrically, or on film, or on television, or whatever, nothing whatsoever compares with the experience I have had with Jesus Christ Superstar. It is something that has changed my life drastically in every possible way, all for the better, and it is something that I shall forever be thankful for having had the opportunity to be a part of.                                                                                                                               

Ted Neeley and James Delisco photo by Joan Marcus

 

You have played Jesus over 1700 times. What about Jesus Christ Superstar has inspired to make it such an important part of your life?

 

Actually the experience itself! I initially auditioned for the role of Judas. I got a call from Mr. O'Horgan saying, “Ted, I'm doing this play and I want you to be in it. The producers don't know your work. Please, just pick up the album, choose a song and come sing for us.” So I did!


When I heard the album I gravitated toward the songs that the character Judas sang and certainly the character as well; primarily, because of my   personal upbringing, growing up in a tiny Texas town with churches everywhere.            

Ted Neeley and company photo by Joan Marcus 

I had a deeply religious background so I was very familiar with the whole concept. I honestly didn't think it would be a very wise decision for an actor of my limited ability to take on the role of the most well-known icon in all of history. I opted for the role of Judas so I could play someone that people didn't know so much about other than an initial dastardly deed.

I auditioned; I sang the song Heaven on their Minds which is the opening song. Once the song was finished I noticed Mr. O'Horgan jumped out of his seat in the theater and ran up toward the stage. I was thinking, “My goodness, maybe I got the part.” He ran up on stage. He threw his arms around me. He told me, “That was lovely but if you wouldn't mind, please come back tomorrow and sing the other guy.” And I have been singing the other guy ever since!

 

Will this be your farewell tour in JCS?

 

Oh, I sincerely hope not! Certainly that rumor has been flying around for quite some time. In fact, to be honest with you, when we first mounted this show in New York, in 1971, we thought it was the farewell experience for all of us. We had no idea it would go past opening night. At that time no one knew about the plans for a film. So every time I have been a part of this, everyone thinks it will be the last time it's done. I have no desire to retire from this business, ever. I am hoping that I have at least another 2000 years performing this role.                             

Ted Neeley and company photo by Joan Marcus

 

 

For further information regarding ticket availability and/or performance schedule, please contact the ASU Gammage box office directly on line or by telephone (480) 965 3434.

ASU Gammage 1200 South Forest Avenue Tempe 85281

 

GILBERTGilbert Theater Examiner: Chats with Ted Neeley star of Jesus Christ Superstar Part Two

March 24, 9:58 AMGilbert Theater ExaminerJoseph Gordon

The new National Tour of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's .Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley will open at the ASU Gammage on April 6 and continue through April 11.

 

Following quickly on the innovative heels of Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar made certain that the

Jesus Christ Superstar logo courtesy of ASU Gammage                  

sound of rock would be the new dominant force behind Broadway musicals.

The theater names of Jesus Christ Superstar and Ted Neeley have become synonymous since that fateful opening night of October 12, 1971 at New York's historic Mark Hellinger Theatre. After speaking with Mr. Neeley, I could not resist sharing all the wonderful things he had to share about his experiences with Jesus Christ Superstar. I decided to split the interview into two parts.

This is Part Two. Part one was published yesterday. Click HERE to read Part One.

 

You have been a recording star, sought after record producer and have worked with some of the great names in the music world as well. Tell me a little about your music? 

I have been writing since I was a child. Nothing of value, if you will. Just little things I think of and jot down and am able to talk some friends of mine to go into the studio and play around with.  

The fact that I have been in this business as long as I have, I've had the great opportunity of working with wonderful people. A lot of people will ask me to write lyrics to their music or music to their lyrics. I've collaborated with many people. Also, I have had the opportunity, as well, to write for film scores and theatrical productions and all that.

 

What inspires your music?

Everyone with whom I have worked and/or heard sing, perform since the day I was born. Literally, as a child, I was never anywhere without the radio blasting in my

Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar photo by Joan Marcus


ear. My parents, I remember, used to come in and say, “Ted, you're never going to finish that homework if you don't turn off that radio.” So, it's always been part of my life. Everything I see on a daily basis, conversations I have with someone, words that someone will say in a cab ride or something, can inspire me to just jot down the thought and the next thing you know it becomes a song. And there you go!



Tell me about your rock musical Rasputin. 

Thanks for mentioning that! Yes, we have a piece called Rasputin and we also a piece called Pandemonium. Both of them are similar in scope to Superstar in the fact that they are sung through. They are not dialog pieces. The stories are told through the lyrics of the songs themselves. Both of them are completed and ready to go. In fact, we have already done the complete cast recording of Rasputin. Whenever this particular tour runs it's course, we hope to have one or both of those up ready to go in a short period of time.


You also were involved with Murder in the First. Please tell me about that experience. 

I wish I could take the credit for writing it. I didn't write it but had the great good fortune of being able to perform in Murder in the First with the Rubicon Theatre Company in Ventura, California. I have belonged to the Rubicon Theatre Company now for going on twelve years. It's a wonderful community theater group where we do original and classic works. We do at least six productions a year out there. Pandemonium and Rasputin are both being developed through that particular group. I am very proud to be a part of that. It gives me the opportunity to work with some magnificent artists, all of whom collaborate on each project in various capacities.

We also have a wonderful outreach program that takes care of the children in the community who are interested in becoming involved in theater. We have a summer program for those children to come and be a part of it. They've named themselves the Stinky Feet Theatre Company and each summer they come and choose a play or musical that they wish to be a part of. We then rehearse it and work with them and then do the production and they are all in it.

All of this has been made possible for me because of my

Ted Neeley, Craig Sculli and company photo by G Creative          

long association with Jesus Chris Superstar. I have initially Tom O'Horgan to thank for that and also Norman Jewison, the great director, who made the film. 

For further information regarding ticket availability and/or performance schedule, please contact the ASU Gammage box office directly on line or by telephone (480) 965 3434.

ASU Gammage 1200 South Forest Avenue Tempe 85281

AZCentral.com - 4/2/10

http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/stage/articles/2010/04/02/20100402ted-neeley-jesus-christ-superstar.html


 



Q&A with Ted Neeley, 'Jesus Christ Superstar' for life

Ted Neeley was the understudy when "Jesus Christ Superstar" opened on Broadway in 1971, but he has owned the title role ever since. He starred in the film version two years later and in many stage productions since, including the current national  tour.

Before inheriting the mantle of "Superstar," Neeley played the lead role of Claude in the first Broadway production of "Hair," and decades later he played another title role, in "The Who's Tommy," in LA. He has performed in film and TV and in the music studio as singer, songwriter, arranger and producer.

But it's "Superstar" that he's known for, and he's perfectly happy with that.

Question: Many Christians hold that Jesus was 33 when he died and rose again. And you are . . . ?

Answer: Thirty-three. I shall forever be 33, based on the fact that this film was made and I portrayed a character who was 33.

Q: What was it like making the film compared with performing onstage?

A: It's a completely different experience because, no matter what you do, the camera is always in your face, even when you don't see it. It's so very personal. You know that every little move you make has a little suggestion to the viewer. Whereas theater, it's live. . . . You're there, and you're saddled with whatever decisions you make at the moment. Recalling the film puts me in the right frame of mind every time I perform it onstage.

Q: It set your performance?

A: Certainly.

Q: You have starred in three of the great rock musicals of our time, "Hair," "Superstar" and "Tommy." Can you pick a favorite?

A: You missed a fourth, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the


Joan Marcus

Ted Neeley (center) and the touring company of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

_______________________________________

• Deadline April 5: Win tickets

'Jesus Christ Superstar'

When: April 6-11. 7:30 p.m. Tuesday- Friday, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 7 p.m. Sunday.

Where: ASU Gammage, Mill Avenue and Apache Boulevard, Tempe.

Admission: $23.25-$68.50.

Details: 480-965-3434, asugammage.com.
_______________________________________

 Road." All but "Tommy" were by the same director (Tom O'Horgan). I got involved merely because I had the ability to scream high notes, so it was just a great opportunity to be part of it. It's impossible to say which was the better experience because they come out of that era of great concept albums. But if it wasn't for "Hair," none of these shows would have made it on the stage.

Q: "Superstar" was controversial in its day, but for you, playing this role has been an act of faith.

A: I was drawn to religion as a child, growing up in Texas, where there was a church on every corner. . . . My faith has not been challenged, it has been deepened by that experience. I am pretending the essence of Christ almost every night of my life, and I know the expectation from everyone in that audience. There's a personal spiritual commitment, whether they believe Jesus was the son of God or not. I want to present the essence of Christ in the most respectful way I can every time I walk on that stage.

Q: How did you approach the character in the beginning?

A: The whole concept of this piece deals with the essence of Jesus as man, and as a child, I never heard that expression. Growing up Southern Baptist, Jesus to me was the interpretation of the minister at the pulpit and the stained-glass windows in the walls of the church. So when I was faced with the fact that I was performing the essence of Christ as a man, where do you go to research that? . . . The only thing I could find in the early '70s was (Nikos) Kazantzakis' novel "The Last Temptation of Christ." Now, it's everywhere. There have been so many books published on that subject matter.

Q: Speaking of "Last Temptation," what did you think of Willem Dafoe's interpretation of Jesus?

A: I think Willem Dafoe is absolutely magnificent. I'm a big fan of his work, and, of course, it was a collaboration with Martin Scorsese. . . . It was a great interpretation.

Q: How about James Caviezel in "The Passion of the Christ"?

A: I thought he was absolutely magnificent. Mel Gibson chose to deliver the film in Aramaic with subtitles. I took issue with that going in, but I found early on in the film, I didn't even look at the subtitles. I didn't need to. The visual story carried me through. . . . It was also the only film I've seen that shows a relationship between Jesus and his mother.

Q: Among the musicians you have worked with is Meat Loaf. How did you become friends?

A: We were in the (Los Angeles) production of "Hair" together. . . . Director Tom O'Horgan was so free in . . . working with actors that we would go into the theater every night not knowing what role we would be assigned to. So Meat played every role except for maybe Sheila. And he could have played Sheila if he'd been a little more svelte.

Reach the reporter at kerry.lengel@arizonarepub lic.com or 602-444-4896.


Win tickets to 'Jesus Christ Superstar'

Ted Neeley has been singing the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" for nearly four decades.

For a chance to win free tickets to opening night (Tuesday, April 6) of the Broadway tour at ASU Gammage, send an e-mail with the word "Superstar" in the subject line by 11 a.m. Monday, April 5, to kerry.lengel@arizonarepublic.com.

Include your name and a daytime phone number. Winners will be chosen at random and must be able to pick up their tickets in downtown Phoenix before 5 p.m. the day of the show.

 

YourWestValley.com - 4/4/10

http://www.yourwestvalley.com/news/role-14554-judas-andrew.html



'Superstar' shines at ASU Gammage

Today staff

Ted Neely auditioned for the role of Judas in the original Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s rock musical "Jesus Christ Superstar."

"I wanted to create a character that many people just didn’t understand historically," Neely said.


                        enlarge
                                                   Submitted photo
Ted Neeley is center stage as Jesus in Andrew Lloyd Webber's “Jesus Christ Superstar,” opening Tuesday at ASU Gammage Auditorium in Tempe.

But he lost the role to Ben Vereen, signed on for a part in the ensemble and became an understudy for the lead. He performed as Jesus in a Los Angeles production, and portrayed the character in the 1973 film version, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination.

Neely has returned to the role a number of times in several touring productions, including the current national tour, which stops Tuesday at Arizona State University’s Gammage Auditorium.

"It’s funny because in the beginning, I was really frightened to death to take this on because he’s so iconic, but now I embrace every moment of it," Neely said.

The longevity and popularity of "Jesus Christ Superstar," Neely said, could be attributed to Webber’s music and a strong fan base.

"His melodies are fantastic, then you put it behind the greatest story ever told, and you have one of the most memorable musicals," Neely said from a tour stop in Augusta, Maine.

The rock opera, written by Tim Rice and Webber, is based on the last week of Jesus’ life with his followers and ending with the crucifixion. But it’s told through the eyes of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

"This piece approached Jesus as man, and that’s what made it so different," Neely said.

More than anything, Neely said "Jesus Christ Superstar" is considered a pioneering work — as is "Hair" — in the rock musical genre. It’s helped pave the way for hits such as "Rent," "Spring Awakening" and Green Day’s "American Idiot," which opens next month on Broadway.

"They’re all rock ‘n’ roll-based designed concerts that have strong theatrical elements that resonate strongly with audiences," he said.

Returning to the role of Jesus always has been a joy for Neely, who said he won’t forget filming the movie.

"It was just remarkable and unbelievable to be in Israel where all of this happened," Neely said.

Being associated with the role for more than three decades could make an actor stay away, but not Neely. He’s enjoyed every tour.

"This never gets old or tiring at all," he said. "‘Superstar’ works no matter where you do it and how it gets done."

 

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
WHEN: Tuesday through April 11.
WHERE: Gammage Auditorium, 1200 S. Forest Drive, Arizona State University, Tempe.
COST: $23.25 to $63.50.
TICKETS: Call Ticketmaster at 480-784-4444 or Gammage at 480-965-3434, or visit www.asugammage.com.

See archived 'Top Story' stories »

Gilbert Theatre Examiner - 4/7/10

http://www.examiner.com/x-38337-Gilbert-Theater-Examiner~y2010m4d7-Jesus-Christ-Superstar-reviewed-at-ASU-Gammage?cid=exrss-Gilbert-Theater-Examiner


GIL2Jesus Christ Superstar reviewed at ASU Gammage

March 23, 9:59 AMGilbert Theater ExaminerJoseph Gordon


The National Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar starring Ted Neeley opened last night at ASU Gammage. The classic rock opera will continue through this Sunday, April 11 and promises to justifiably pack the house nightly. 

Jesus Christ Superstar was the first work by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice to reach Broadway. The musical began its life as an enormously popular “concept” album. Under the visionary, Fellini inspired direction of Tom O'Horgan, Jesus Christ Superstar logo courtesy of ASU Gammage
it made a seamless translation from discs to stage. Lloyd Webber's rock opera debuted on Broadway on October 12, 1971 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. Despite receiving a decidedly mixed reception from the critics still uncomfortable with the theatrical sound of rock, the theater going public immediately embraced the musical and kept it running for nearly two years.
Jesus Christ Superstar closed on June 30, 1973 after 711 performances.

HAIR and, most particularly, Jesus Christ Superstar were instrumental in legitimizing the sound of rock for Broadway. Lloyd Webber and rock music came to dominate the musical theater for the next decade.

The 1980's became known as “The British Invasion.” Soon to follow were Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Song and Dance (all Lloyd Webber), Les Miserables and Miss Saigon (the latter two by Schoenberg and Boulbil...okay, technically French but brought to the stage by Brit Cameron Macintosh).

Last night, from it's opening notes, Jesus Christ Superstar had the unmistakable sound of rock. This is the fresh sound of a young Lloyd Webber, a voice that was still original and firmly his own. Evita followed the same path as JCS, first as another “concept” album

Ted Neeley and company. Photo: © 2006, JOAN MARCUS

and then a full    theaterproduction by the legendary Hal Prince. In retrospect, Evita capitalizes too much on what made Jesus Christ Superstar work so well and truly suffers by comparison. Judas in Superstar is used as a narrator, sort of a Greek chorus. Che's role in Evita is used in much the same way but to a far lesser effect. Che had no real contact with Evita Peron while Judas was very much a part of Jesus' life on earth (we all know that story). Evita's ultimate success was the result of Prince's brilliant, uncompromising, dynamic vision and, of course, Lloyd Webber's score.

Co-author Tim Rice has always rested unfairly in the shadow of his collaborator. His contribution to Jesus Christ Superstar is staggeringly brilliant. After all, where would this show be without Rice's lyrical words, filled with satire and such dramatic irony? 

Jesus Christ Superstar has always been among my favorite Rice and Lloyd Webber collaborations. I was sadly disappointed with it's original Broadway staging. My expectations simply did not mesh with O'Horgan's over the top vision. Last night, the current National Tour corrected that initial disappointment. Under the able hands of director Dallett Norris and choreographer Arline Phillips, Jesus Christ Superstar was magnificently resurrected. This new production finally gave me the vision I had always imagined for this great work. Superstar is redeemed and now possesses the fluidity and simplicity that was, for me, the authors' original intent. Gone were the pyrotechnics and lamé jock straps of O'Horgan! Scenic

 

Ted Neeley and company. Photo: © 2006, JOAN MARCUS

designer Bill Stabile and costume designer Fabio Toblini have given the visual production a spectacular simplicity.  


Ted Neeley and Jesus Christ Superstar continue to be unmistakably, forever joined as one. There is a touching humanity to Neeley's dramatic and vocally powerful performance. His Jesus is a man trying to do God's work but frustrated by the limitations of his very humanity and the looming end to his existence on earth, so beautifully illuminated in his Gethsemane.

Neeley is supported by a wonderfully talented ensemble. John Twiford is simply brilliant as Judas. From his entrance singing Heaven on Their Minds, Twiford takes hold of the audience and keeps them in his firm grip. One of the evenings many highlights is his powerhouse delivery of the shows title number at the close of the show, backed by three female singers I will call the Judettes. This scene, as envisioned by Norris and Phillips, is an affectionate nod to the wild abandon and imagination of Tom O'Horgan's original staging.

 

James Delisco and the Soul Singers. Photo: © 2008, G CREATIVE

Sarah Hanlon's Mary Magdalene is breathtaking. She brings to I don't know to love him a painful touching, reality, filled with Mary's uncertainty and confusion at her unrequited love for Jesus. Andrew Hartley's debauched and dizzy Herod is another highlight. While the rest of the ensemble is mostly clothed in somber black or neutrals, Herod is amusingly and colorfully dressed with a more contemporary, fashionable flair. His King Herod's Song is a delightful 11 o'clock, vaudevillian throwback, more reminiscent of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat than the serious rock sound that dominates Superstar.

The closing orchestral piece John 19:41 is an exquisite requiem, beautifully illustrating Lloyd Webber's classical roots. The visual tableau is stunning as the crucified Jesus is seen to rise, body and soul, to Heaven while his burial shroud falls to earth.

Hurry! You only have till this Sunday to experience the wonders and joys of this most entertaining, revelatory production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

If you would like to read further about the remarkable Ted Neeley, here are links to The Examiner interview we had:

Click HERE for part one

Click HERE for part two

All production photos by Joan Marcus and G Creative courtesy and ASU Gammage.

For further information regarding ticket availability and/or performance schedule, please contact the ASU Gammage box office directly on line or by telephone (480) 965 3434.

ASU Gammage 1200 South Forest Avenue Tempe 85281

 

 

#61 LAS CRUCES, NM

What's up - 4/8/10

http://www.whatsuppub.com/showArticle.asp?articleId=8918




‘Jesus Christ Superstar’: Controversial rock opera comes to Pan Am

By Amy Arsenault

Alex Mackyol, a Los Angeles resident who hails from Wisconsin, has always wanted to visit Las Cruces.

“My godparents live in Las Cruces,” he says. “They are really almost like my second parents. We are really close, and I have always wanted to visit them and see them out here. Now I finally can.”
Mackyol will tour through town this week as a cast member of the controversial musical “Jesus Christ Superstar,” scheduled Monday at the Pan American Center.

His life as an actor in a nationally touring production began in Watertown, Wis., where he grew up acting and putting on shows for family as a kid. After graduation he moved to the West Coast, got his bachelor’s in musical theater at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in L.A., and gained traction in his career.

“It’s funny,” he says. “Everything I have done in acting since I was a kid has led me here. Now I am finally getting to perform in one of the largest traveling productions with people like Ted Neeley.”

Neeley is famous for playing the title role in the 1973 movie, which he continues to this day.

“I really admire Neeley,” says Mackyol, who plays the high priest Annas. “He is one of those unique actors who can sing and play a role just as well, or even better, than he did in his 20s. He is just fantastic to work with.”

For the uninitiated, the musical production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” is an interpretation of the last seven days of Jesus Christ. The viewpoint of the story, however, comes from an unusual source – that of Judas Iscariot. Judas, a disciple of Jesus, is infamous for betraying the prophet to Roman authorities and for allowing Jesus’ crucifixion to happen.

“The story has one of those themes of race versus race or person against person,” Mackyol says. “Judas is plagued throughout the story with voices in his head and confusing thoughts. He eventually makes a decision to hurt someone and when he realizes what he has done, it’s too late. There are a lot of really prevalent themes that the audience will realize when they come to see the show.”

The rock opera, with lyrics and music by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Weber, has grated many religious groups since its 1971 Broadway premiere. Twentieth-century slang pervades the script, and many Christians have been offended by the allusions and overall message of the show. Some argue it’s sacrilegious because the resurrection is omitted from the storyline.

The controversy follows the show to this day.

“There has been quite a bit of controversy with the show,” Mackyol says. “We have seen some protests along the way, but I think it’s been from people who really haven’t given the show a chance. If you come with an open mind, you are really going to enjoy its unique perspective and the entertainment factor that comes along with it.”

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’
Pan American Center, NMSU
Monday, April 12 – 7:30 p.m.
$26-$52 plus fees
Tickets available at Ticketmaster
outlets, Ticketmaster.com
or call 1-800-745-3000

Comments or questions about this story? E-mail Secret@whatsuppub

 

Las Cruces-Sun News - 4/7/10

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-entertainment/ci_14840459

'Superstar' of the stage: Ted Neeley fronts 'A.D. Tour' at the Pan Am on Monday

By Doug Pullen/El Paso Times

Jesus is a Texan. Actually, the guy who's played the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" for the better part of the past 38 years, is from Texas.

Ted Neeley — who grew up in tiny Ranger, Texas, and now makes his home in the Houston area — said a sense of humor is vital to his job.

"I need all the jokes I can get," Neeley said by phone. "If you can't have a sense of humor doing what I'm doing, you might as well get out."

That's not something he's been able to do. Neeley understudied the role when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's first hit opened on Broadway in 1971.

Neeley played the title character in its first national tour a year later. And he starred as you-know-who in Norman Jewison's film version in 1973, receiving a Golden Globe nomination in the process.

Though he revisited the character only sporadically from the late "70s to early "90s, the 66-year-old starred in it again in tours that ran from 1992 to 1997 and the current so-called "A.D. Tour," which launched in 2006. It comes to NMSU's Pan American Center on Monday.

Neeley also has sung the part in concert versions, but he's done plenty of other things, including recording solo albums, producing and arranging for other artists and creating several roles for the theater. He played Billy Shears in a theatrical touring version of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road" and the title roles in stagings of the Who's "Tommy" and "Rasputin," which he helped put together.

But there's no other role with which the Texas native, who started his career as a rock drummer in the 1960s, is more closely associated.

It's led to some interesting conversations with the play's fans and critics over the years.

"I talk to people from every possible root of philosophy — believers, people who believe nothing, people who are not sure, agnostic, on and on and on," Neeley said.

The musical, which is based on Christ's last seven days, strikes a chord deep in the hearts of many people who see it, he believes.

"They all come from from the same place, which is what I believe to be a universal spirituality," he said. "It has nothing to do with religion in any way, shape or form, nothing to do with the kind of organized crap that says, "Send money.'"

That's been one of the biggest surprises for a guy who grew up in a small town. "Where I grew up, in north central Texas, the Southern part of the Bible Belt, Jesus was a stained glass window. I accepted what was taught by the ministers and the Sunday school teachers," he said.

His views have changed since then, though Neeley said he's still infused with the idealism and anti-war sentiments that were roiling when "Jesus Christ Superstar" debuted as a rock opera album in 1970, with Deep Purple's Ian Gillan singing the role.

Neeley started playing in bands in Texas, when he was a contemporary of El Paso rock legend Bobby Fuller and worked clubs in Texas and New Mexico, including El Paso.

He was based in Los Angeles when he landed a part in the chorus for the first Broadway production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1971.

Those were scary times, he said, mostly because the notion of a musical that depicted Christ as a man, set to the devil's music no less, led to protests, pickets and charges of blasphemy from some Christian groups.

"When we first did it in New York, we were picketed literally every night in front of the theater, and backstage they tried to stop us from going in,"

Neeley said. "They thought of us all ultimately as blasphemous."

The play still gets some protesters today, but Neeley said time has been good to "Jesus Christ Superstar." It's just as likely to be staged by a church group as a professional touring company today.

Neeley said it's evolved into a "spiritual "Sesame Street.'"

"They look at us as a learning tool for children to find the spiritual element of life," he said of modern audiences. "Now these groups who were protesting are the most strongly supportive. They use it in their sermons."

Neeley does some sermonizing of his own, criticizing what he calls "the brainwashing that organized religion has become," and speaking out about the evils of war whenever he can.

"Sorry, I'm preaching," he said.

Playing Jesus for a living has had a profound affect on Neeley, professionally and personally.

How could it not?

"I had a deeply religious background as a child, so it was an easy bridge to cross," Neeley said. "I had no idea it would have the depth of interest it would have for me, or the range of education. It allowed me to do what I'm doing now."

Doug Pullen writes for the El Paso Times, a member of the Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership, and may be reached at dpullen@elpasotimes.com; (915) 546-6397. Read Pullen My Blog at elpasotimes.com/blogs.

If you go

What: "Jesus Christ Superstar"

When: 7:30 p.m. Monday

Where: Pan American Center

How much: $29, $39, $45 and $55, plus service charges (some children and group discounts available), on sale at the box office, Ticketmaster outlets, ticketmaster.com and (800) 745-3000

Info: (575) 646-1420

El Paso Times.com - 4/9/10

http://www.elpasotimes.com/entertainment/ci_14847443


'Jesus Christ Superstar,' and the actor who plays him, have evolved over the decades


EL PASO -- Jesus is a Texan.

Actually, the guy who's played the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" for the better part of the past 38 years is from Texas.

Ted Neeley -- who grew up in tiny Ranger, Texas, and now makes his home in the Houston area -- said a sense of humor is vital to his job.

"I need all the jokes I can get," Neeley said by phone. "If you can't have a sense of humor doing what I'm doing, you might as well get out."

That's not something he's been able to do. Neeley under studied the role when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's first hit opened on Broadway in 1971.


Courtesy of Troika Entertainment Ted Neeley, who's been playing the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar" off and on since 1972, stars in the musical, coming Monday to the Pan Am Center in Las Cruces
He played the title character in its first national tour a year later. And he starred as you-know-who in Norman Jewison's film version in 1973, receiving a Golden Globe nomination.

Though he revisited the character only sporadically from the late '70s to early '90s, the 66-year-old starred in it again in tours that ran from 1992 to 1997 and the current so-called "A.D. Tour," which launched in 2006. It comes to NMSU's Pan American Center on Monday.

Neeley also has sung the part in concert versions, but he's done plenty of other things, including recording solo albums, producing and arranging for other artists, and creating several roles for the theater. He played Billy Shears in a theatrical touring version of the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band on the Road" and the title roles in stagings of the Who's "Tommy" and "Rasputin," which he helped put together.

But there's no other role with which Neeley, who started his career as a rock drummer in the 1960s, is more closely associated.

It's led to some interesting conversations with the play's fans and critics over the years.

"I talk to people from every possible root of philosophy -- believers, people who believe nothing, people who are not sure, agnostic, on and on and on," Neeley said.

The musical, which is based on Christ's last seven days, strikes a chord deep in the hearts of many people who see it, he believes.

"They all come from from the same place, which is what I believe to be a universal spirituality," he said. "It has nothing to do with religion in any way, shape or form, nothing to do with the kind of organized crap that says, 'Send money.' "

That's been one of the biggest surprises for a guy who grew up in a small town.

"Where I grew up, in north-central Texas, the Southern part of the Bible Belt, Jesus was a stained glass window. I accepted what was taught by the ministers and the Sunday school teachers," he said.

His views have changed since then, though Neeley said he's still infused with the idealism and anti-war sentiments that were roiling when "Jesus Christ Superstar" debuted as a rock opera album in 1970, with Deep Purple's Ian Gillan singing the role.

Neeley started playing in bands in Texas, when he was a contemporary of El Paso rock legend Bobby Fuller and worked clubs in Texas and New Mexico, including El Paso.

He was based in Los Angeles when he landed a part in the chorus for the first Broadway production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1971.

Those were scary times, he said, mostly because the notion of a musical that depicted Christ as a man, set to the devil's music no less, led to protests, pickets and charges of blasphemy from some Christian groups.

"When we first did it in New York, we were picketed literally every night in front of the theater, and backstage they tried to stop us from going in," Neeley said. "They thought of us all ultimately as blasphemous."

The play still gets some protesters today, but Neeley said time has been good to "Jesus Christ Superstar." It's just as likely to be staged by a church group as a professional touring company today.

Neeley said it's evolved into a "spiritual 'Sesame Street.' "

"They look at us as a learning tool for children to find the spiritual element of life," he said of modern audiences. "Now, these groups who were protesting are the most strongly supportive. They use it in their sermons."

Neeley does some sermonizing of his own, criticizing what he calls "the brainwashing that organized religion has become," and speaking out about the evils of war whenever he can.

"Sorry, I'm preaching," he said.

Local theater veteran Greg Taylor, who is a friend of composer Tim Rice, said Neeley was "fantastic" in a production he saw in the '90s at the Abraham Chavez Theatre.

Taylor, who has staged the musical in his capacity as director of UTEP Dinner Theatre, believes its enduring popularity is no mystery.

"I don't think the popularity of the show will ever go down," he said. "It's Jesus. It's a story, obviously, for all time, and I think the fact that in the time period they wrote the show, the late '60s, using rock music and the operatic format was considered blasphemous.

"This was Jesus for young people. It's been 40 years since, and it's still Jesus for youngish people."

Playing Jesus for a living has had a profound effect on Neeley, professionally and personally.

How could it not?

"I had a deeply religious background as a child, so it was an easy bridge to cross," Neeley said. "I had no idea it would have the depth of interest it would have for me, or the range of education. It allowed me to do what I'm doing now."

Doug Pullen may be reached at dpullen@elpasotimes.com; 546-6397. Read Pullen My Blog at www.elpasotimes.com/blogs.




make plans

  • What: "Jesus Christ Superstar."
  • When: 7:30 p.m. Monday.
  • Where: Pan American Center, NMSU, Las Cruces.
  • How much: $29, $39, $45 and $55, plus service charges (some children and group discounts available), on sale at the box office and Ticketmaster outlets, www.ticketmaster.com and 800-745-3000.
  • Information: 575-646-1420, panam.nmsu.edu.

Las Cruces-Sun News - 4/7/10

http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_14840464

'JCS' performer excited to perform for godparents in Las Cruces

By Lucas Peerman/Pulse Editor
Lourdes Bonet admitted she may have tears in her eyes during the performance of "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Pan American Center on Monday. Not necessarily because of the power of the play, but because Bonet, a Las Cruces resident, will be watching her godson perform on stage in a major touring production.

Alex Mackyol, who plays Annas (an advisor to the high priest Caiaphas) in "JCS," said he'll be excited to have his godparents in the audience.

"They moved (to Las Cruces) from Wisconsin about 10 or 15 years ago," the 23-year-old Watertown, Wisc., native said about Ely and Lourdes Bonet. "I've never been able to visit, so it's going to be nice to see them there."

Mackyol said the "JCS" role, which has him performing in 75 cities across North America from late December to early May, is his first after graduating with a bachelor's degree in musical theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in Los Angeles.

"This tour's been pretty special because I've been able to go to cities where I have connections," he said. "My uncle got to see me in Tempe (Ariz.), my girlfriend in San Diego. In Milwaukee, there were about 75 people that I knew at the show."

And the crowds have been very supportive.

"We have not had a performance yet where the audience has not given us a standing ovation," he said.

Lourdes said she's not at all surprised of her godson's chosen profession. "When he was a kid, he was very, very outgoing," she said.

And Lourdes, a Cuban immigrant, said she'll have some godmotherly life advice for Alex during their pre-show meal: "I tell him, "One day, you be the star.'"

Lucas Peerman can be reached at lpeerman@lcsun-news.com; (575) 541-5446


#63 FT. SMITH, AR

Trading Markets.com - 4/8/10

 

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/abfs_-jesus-christ-superstar--900143.html

   c

'Jesus Christ Superstar'

Posted on: Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:21:06 EDT

Apr 08, 2010 (Times Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

The Golden Globe-nominated actor in the film version of "Jesus Christ Superstar" will take viewers on a music-based journey through biblical times with a contemporary twist this month.

Ted Neely will join his castmates for the Broadway touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" at 7:30 p.m. April 15 at the Arkansas Best Corporation Performing Arts Center, 55 S. Seventh St. Featuring the collaborative storytelling efforts of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the show is ideal for all theater and music fans from early teenage years to senior citizenship, said Stacey Jones, associate vice chancellor for campus and community events at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

"In terms of the national touring show, this is the first time that it has played here," he said of the production, which is part of UAFS' Season of Entertainment 29 schedule. "Musically speaking, this features some of Webber's best work."

Opening on Broadway in 1971 and becoming an Oscar-nominated musical film in 1973, "Jesus Christ Superstar" documents the final week of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus is seen entering Jerusalem, a place where his popular presence and teachings meet unrest and controversy.

"I saw Ted Neely in the movie

version, and wow, he owns that part (of Jesus)," Jones said. "It's very well-written and it's a high-energy piece."

Featuring memorable costumes and set designs. "Jesus Christ Superstar" also presents Jesus' betrayal at the hands of Judas, as well as the mob-like trial before Pontius Pilate and Jesus' crucifixion.

"There was a little bit of resistance when it first came out, but theater-goers love it," Jones said.

The production runs two hours and 15 minutes and includes an intermission, he said.

"This is a big show with a lot of technical (aspects)," Jones said. "It's a real treat for the Broadway-lover. It might be a little sophisticated for those who are too young, but I would say those who are in junior high and older definitely will enjoy this."

Rumors recently have surrounded the production, but they have been controversy-free discussions, he said.

"I wouldn't be too surprised to see Ted Neely retire after this," Jones said. "He might do one more tour after this, but I'm hearing rumors that he might retire after this."

Admission to the production is by season or individual ticket. Individual tickets are $37 and $40 and can be purchased by calling 788-7300, at the UAFS Box Office and at www.uafortsmith.edu.

For information, visit www.thejcstour.com.

UAFS Season of Entertainment 29

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

When: 7:30 p.m. April 15

Where: Arkansas Best Corporation Performing Arts Center, 55 S. Seventh St.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" is the popular, rock-based Broadway musical from Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and stars Ted Neely from the Oscar-nominated 1973 film version. Admission is by season or individual ticket. Individual tickets are $37 and $40 and can be purchased by calling 788-7300, at the UAFS box office and at www.uafortsmith.edu.

For information, visit www.thejcstour.com.

To see more of the Times Record or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to

http://www.swtimes.com. Copyright (c) 2010, Times Record, Fort Smith, Ark.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.



#65 DALLAS, TX

Pegasus News.com - 4/19/10


http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2010/apr/19/theater-review-jesus-christ-superstar/?refscroll=435

 

Monday, April 19, 2010

Theater review: Jesus Christ Superstar at Majestic Theatre in Dallas


by Mark-Brian Sonna of MBS Productions

I’m not one who willingly or frequently will give a standing ovation. This production more than deserved it.

Brilliant. Flawless. Awe-inspiring. Monumental. Gorgeous.

There are some shows that are impossible to praise enough. This is one of them.

Jesus Christ Superstar (which just finished a one-weekend run at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas), the groundbreaking musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is not an easy show to do right. Because it is episodic, with each song being its own small narrative, it requires the performers to build upon these scenes and create an ever-building momentum. This of course should lead to an explosive finale, but in truth, after the convulsively loud title song “Superstar” we still have about 10      Cast of Jesus Christ Superstar                  minutes of near silence with Jesus being crucified and uttering his last few words, and the orchestra playing ever more softly. This seems like an “anti-climatic” climax. But if done right the effect is devastating and haunting. This touring production gets it right. They get it so right that the audience at one point collectively gasped and then held their breath. This has got to be one of the most powerful endings of any musical I have ever seen. I walked out of the theatre shaking, in tears, and at the same time in elation.

This is a completely different emotion then the last time I saw the show, which was the critically-lashed New York Broadway revival several years ago. On that occasion I walked out angry for I felt I had wasted a small fortune to see a poorly directed and conceived show -– the performers were good, but the director and choreographer had ruined the musical.

What makes this production the new definitive version is the confluence of talent from the production side, the direction and choreography, and the performances. There is perfect unity. This is the version to go see. I am a big fan of the film and this is 10 times better.

The metal scaffolding styled set designed by Bill Stable is harsh in its coldness, yet because we can see through it doesn’t overwhelm the stage and doesn’t seem heavy. Because we can see through it the lighting design by Rick Belzer allows the use of shafts of light to go through it, bounce off its edges, create unique shadows, and thus create all the different locations the musical takes place. Add to this the costuming by Fabio Toblini which explodes in colors and then can be oppressively dark, and we see once again how in sync all the technical elements are and should be for every show. Perfect.

This show has hyped the fact that Ted Neeley, who played the role of Jesus on Broadway and in the film, is touring. Most of my acquaintances and theater friends immediately asked: "Isn’t he too old to play the role?" I can answer after seeing his performance: Absolutely not. His voice is not that of the film, for a quarter of a century has passed since them. It is more gravelly, and some of the notes are not as pure. This is not to say he isn’t a phenomenal singer, for he still is. What he has now that he didn’t have before is a long-term understanding of his character. When a performer plays a role for so many years two things can happen: they deliver canned performances, or they continue to develop the role and find subtleties that will enthrall the audience. He literally stopped the show after his glorious performance of “Gethsemane.” You hear about “showstoppers.” This is one of those moments that is so rare in theatre. The orchestra had to hold for the audience to calm down.

The crucifixion scene is bloodless, yet it is as agonizing as anything I’ve ever seen on stage or in film. His glorious performance is framed and interwoven with one of the most beautiful images I’ve ever seen created on a stage. He is suspended on the cross; how I could not tell at first. It was similar to the famous Dali painting. A moment after he dies he gives an audible gasp and while holding his arms outstretched he begins to rise up into the air and into the vault of the stage. He was rigged to be lifted, but the lighting hid it beautifully so we as an audience see only him and a shaft of light. His resurrection was so breathtaking you could hear a pin drop in the audience. In a manner of minutes, Ted Neeley had us in tears and beaming with hope. All he did is hold his breath and gasp. His breathing alone was able to cause the audience to react so viscerally. That is how powerful Mr. Neeley is on stage.

The other fascinating detail in his performance was his continual talking to God. As the scenes were being played out he was conversing silently with God. We saw his mouth move, and make gestures. It was a bit disconcerting at first, but it emphasized his uniqueness and divinity. Here is a man that is not like the rest. It also emphasized why he was being seen as peculiar to some, and in awe by others. This choice is unexpected yet it is perfect.

The show also hinges on the performances on the rest of the cast and each performer had their own jaw-dropping moments.

John Twiford as Judas redefined the role. Besides having a sublime and vocally-expressive tenor voice, he is playing the role of an overgrown, spoiled, yet likable man. His adoration of Jesus is palpable, but so is his internal conflict of what he wishes Jesus to be. He becomes, like Jesus, a tragic hero. His agony over the betrayal redeems him. He is caught in the role of the divine plan which he cannot escape. The scene leading to his death is full of sorrow, and his suicide is brutal. Emotionally he leaves the audience devastated. Mr. Twiford is magnificent.

Sarah Hanlon, who plays Mary Magdalene, mentions in the program that this is her tour debut. She belongs on Broadway. Of course, if she was there we would not have had a chance to see her perform here. Her voice is sublime, one of the best I’ve ever heard. She’s sensuous and glorious. Her vocal nuances are full of impact. Her inner conflict of desiring Jesus as a man and her Ted ever-growing realization that he is divine provides an added level of pathos to the show. She too      Neeley as Jesus in Jesus Christ redefines the role, and makes it perfect.                                                                                           Superstar 

Darrel R. Whintey as Caiphas and Alex Mackyol as Annas are much more subtle in their portrayal of the Jewish leaders that lead the revolt against Jesus. They don’t start off as cruel. They show us exasperation as to what to do with the political unrest Jesus is causing. As their exasperation grows it turns into anger and eventually leads to cruelty. These roles are seldom portrayed in such a three-dimensional manner. The two men find new depths to their characters. They fascinate.

Benjamin Van Diepen’s Pointius Pilate is brilliantly unique. Here he is cast as a young man. It’s a kid dealing with a major problem. He’s smart enough to devise a solution to prevent the crucifixion, yet he comes across as inexperienced in being able to appropriately carry it out. He is woefully unprepared for the problem at hand. Mr. Van Diepen is wise in portraying Pilate in this matter. Had he tried to “act” older it wouldn’t work. Because he’s young he used his age to make Pilate absolutely compelling. He also has another tremendous voice full of expressivity. I found myself wishing a musical could be created for him and this character for he played him superbly.

There is one moment of much-needed comic relief in this show. By act two the tension is so great we need a respite. Andrew Harley’s king Herod is funny and very scary. When he begins his scene he is so lighthearted and I appreciated the break of tension. But then he turns this on its head. Within the space of the three minutes of his song, he becomes a demented monster. His is not anger at Jesus for being uncooperative, but a fury because he doesn’t get his way. He had us laughing at first and frightened by the end. His mental instability was truly threatening and horrifying.

Peter is played by Adam Scott Campbell. Though it is a small role, it too redefined how this part should be played. His pain at his betrayal is palpable. His portrayal made me wish the role had been larger.

Matthew G. Meyers plays the fanatical Simon Zealots. What makes his take so unique is that he chose to portray his fanaticism in a selfish way. He likes Jesus and what he stands for, but there is no doubt that his adoration will vanish in an instant if Jesus doesn’t live up to his expectations. It drives the point home of how quickly fanaticism can lead to hate. His performance finds and edge to this character unseen before and it works.

All of these performances are enhanced by the stunning direction of Dallett Norris. He creates an onslaught of visual moments of unbridled beauty. During the last supper for a moment the famous Da Vinci painting is recreated and it brought a round of applause from the audience. How could it not? The moment wasn’t forced it simply happened. He continuously creates references to classical paintings of the life of Christ. It is a continual visual feast. His surreal staging of the beggars and lepers is harrowing. He has the entire cast enshrouded in one enormous piece of fabric with only their heads showing through. This large human organism, spurts, jerks, and continuously grows as they plead for cures and help till it overwhelms Christ and he’s engulfed by them. Mr. Norris is a genius at staging.

There is less dancing in this show then other versions I’ve seen. Arlene Phillips’ choreography is superb. Odds are most people will have seen the film version and because of it they will have certain expectations for the dancing which was brilliantly executed. She makes a few choreographic references to the film, enough to satisfy the audience, but then she adds her own touch which takes the choreography onto a whole other level.

Michael Mitchell’s music direction keeps the spirit to the original cast recording. This said, what he does better then the recording and the Broadway version I’ve seen is give emphasis on musical phrases that enhance the action on stage. There are also some variations in tempos and instrumentations which improve upon the original. The unity of the orchestra with the performances on stage is seamless.

In retrospect, I can’t think of anything wrong with the show. Seldom do I see a stage production I consider flawless. This is one of those rare instances. As I left the theatre, I immediately called friends and told them to go and see this musical and not wait for this review to come out.

Lastly, I’m not one who willingly or frequently will give a standing ovation. This production more then deserved it.


COMMENTS

Robert Politano, says:

Excellent review Mark. I saw the Saturday evening performance of Superstar at The Majestic Theatre here in Dallas. This was the 5th time I've seen a stage version of JCS and yes, it was truly magnificent. This touring show pretty much went back to the traditional staging of this work (which I prefer more), compared to the 2000 Broadway revival production and subsequent touring show, which put this Rock Opera into a more modernistic point of view. Yes, Ted Neeley has aged (haven't we all) yet he still fits the part to a tee. Although I've seen several actors portray the role of Jesus in this show several times in the past, Ted's performance will always be the one that sticks with me, mainly because of his portrayal in the lead role of the 1973 film version, which will always be considered one of the greatest cinematographic achievements in modern film.

Verified


#68 HAYS, KS

The Hays Daily News - 4/22/10

http://www.hdnews.net/Story/Firestone042210




'Jesus Christ Superstar' amazes Hays audience

Published on -4/22/2010, 10:30 AM

The rock opera "Jesus Christ Superstar" by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, the last event of the FHSU Special Events "Off-Series," played to a capacity crowd at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on Tuesday evening. Even in these hard times -- perhaps because of these hard times -- people are willing to pay higher prices for a great show that also is inspirational.

According to the program, the plot depicts "the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth." This probably is a holdover from earlier conceptions, which maintained a neutral, even skeptical attitude toward the divinity of Jesus.

This production leaves no room for doubt -- these are not his last days. Jesus resurrects, ascends from the cross, and returns, transfigured, before the final curtain. This approach is less ambiguous, less intellectually stimulating, even though motivations and dialogue still bear little or no resemblance to the biblical texts.

However, it allows for continual focus on Jesus' superhuman qualities, paving the way for a number of stunning theatrical effects.

The scenic design, lighting and costumes project the atmosphere of Renaissance religious art -- think of Da Vinci, Rembrandt and others. This is especially effective in scenes like the one in which the sick beg Jesus to heal them -- the golds and reds of their costumes stand out through the smoky darkness that surrounds them; rays of light appear to exude from Jesus, clad in white.

There are several scenes in which Jesus demonstrates his powers accompanied by blinding shafts of light, but the most amazing moments of the show are his crucifixion and ascent. Jesus, fastened to the cross by Roman soldiers, hangs upon it until he dies. Then, against a dark background, he rises from the cross and ascends upward, disappearing into the flies -- with no visible wires or cables.

On the other hand, some effects work better than others do. There was more night and fog than necessary -- visibility in the theater was limited even during intermission. I also wonder why three female dancers rejoicing over Jesus resurrected were wearing modern footgear.

Maybe one reason for the fog was to blur the appearance of Jesus. Ted Neeley has been playing the part for 40 years and needs a little help looking 33 (this is alleged to be his farewell tour). He also needs a little help sounding 33 -- some of his sustained high screams sounded like he was a victim of the bodysnatchers.

But the advantages of his vast experience outweigh any symptoms of aging. He was unfailingly effective in introspective moments like the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane and in public displays like "The Temple," in which he throws out all the riff raff.

All of the supporting players are good, too. Possessed of a glorious tenor voice, John Twiford is convincing as Judas, whose dissatisfaction with Jesus' leadership leads to the events of the Passion and his own death.

Sarah Hanlon, with a very attractive, sweet voice and manner, makes Mary Magdalene an even more sympathetic character than usual. Darrel R. Whitney reveals an impressive bass voice as Caiaphas, the High Priest, and Benjamin van Diepen deals authoritatively with Pilate's inability to make an unpopular decision.

And, in a cameo that suits him exactly, Andrew Hartley excels as a spoiled, effeminate buffoon who wants Jesus to prove he's really a "superstar."

Many thanks to Carol Brock and her committee for another fine Encore Series and off-series season.

Ruth Firestone is a supporter of music and theater in Hays.

rfiresto@fhsu.edu

4 comment(s) found
: 4/23/2010
Jesus Christ!
(Posted by: )
jJESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: 4/23/2010
I AM SORRY THAT THIS ARTICLE IS SO DEMEANING TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN IT AND TO THEIR EFFORT THAT IS INVOLVED WHEN THE TITLE STATES THAT THE HAYS AUDIENCE WAS AMAZED BY THE PERFORMANCE.. WHERE IS THE WRITERS HEAD..I WAS FROM HAYS, NOW IN AZ..I SAW THIS PRESENTATION HERE AT ASU ON THE 11 TH OF APRIL..IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THE APPRECIATION OF TALENT IS SO UNAPPREICATED ,,SHAME ON THOSE WHO KNOW NO BETTER
(Posted by: PATRICK)
Wonderful Show!: 4/22/2010
I'd have to respectfully disagree with Ms. Firestone...Neeley's voice did not in any way sound as though he was "a victim of the bodysnatchers". Rather, Mr. Neeley is well known to possess the timeless voice of a the rock star that he was and still is; and he convincingly displayed that voice to those in attendance. If you were looking for a sweet tenor, you won't find him here. Ted Neeley is the iconic Jesus and portrayed him so that the audience had a glimpse into the pain that Jesus suffered as he spent His last days on earth. Bravo, Mr. Neeley and the entire cast for a thrilling production and performance!
(Posted by: JCSS Fan)
Fantastic!!: 4/22/2010
We took this opportunity to watch this musical and we were amazed as well. The singing was outstanding. What a fantastic production it was!!
(Posted by: Teresa)


 

#69 FT. COLLINS, CO

Coloradoan.com - 4/22/10

http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20100422/ENTERTAINMENT01/4220302


'Jesus Christ Superstar' to take center stage

BY P.J. NUTTING • pjnutting@coloradoan.com • April 22, 2010

Throughout much of his nearly 40 years as an actor, Ted Neeley has depicted Jesus. And in that time, he has seen the church community shift from protesting the fusion of religion and rock music to embracing it.

"'Jesus Christ Superstar' is the reason that (rock) music is used in churches today," Neeley said in a recent phone interview between stops reprising his original role with the show's national tour. "There was no such thing before 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' I promise you, I was there. I grew up in churches in the South, and there was no possibility a rock 'n' roll band would be allowed to play in the church."

Without Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's vision of combining rock music with the last week of Jesus' life, contemporary church bands and commercial Christian rock would not have been possible, Neeley said.

"Now, (religious rock music) is everywhere," he said. "(Churches) depend on rock musicians to inspire their members."

The Coloradoan

It has been a long time since the 1971 Broadway premiere of "Jesus Christ Superstar." Neeley said he remembers the outrage of those who were afraid the production would tear away the religious fiber of the community. "And that was in New York City," Neeley said, recounting the hundreds of protesters at each tour stop who tried to prevent the cast from performing.

Fast forward to today when church groups routinely perform the production.

"Once people saw what we were doing, they realized it was not anti-religious," Neeley said. "It was absolutely supporting the whole philosophy of their religious base."

Even the '90s tour with its DayGlo temple and shining glass crucifix was found acceptable by the religious community. Each director takes a different artistic approach to the story, Neeley said, but time has shown that people aren't as concerned with the rock theatrics as they are with the power of the story and the music.

"We learned after all these years that the people who come to see this are people who want to hear the music first and foremost," he said. "They don't necessarily appreciate a lot of the special effects; it just gets in the way.

"So we're trying our very best to get the essence of the film version (in which Neeley also starred) in its simplicity, so you see a sampling of the way people looked and lived 2010 years ago in the desert in Israel, and believe me, there were no special effects then," Neeley said.

Where he once was considered a mocker of Christianity, now Neeley is invited to speak at churches as a religious authority. And why not? He has been spreading the gospel of Jesus for most of his career.

"Now it feels to me that we are perceived by the public as a spiritual 'Sesame Street,' " he said. "They know, after all these years, that small children can more easily learn about Jesus by watching the movie.

"This is not a Broadway show," Neeley said. "This is a spiritual awakening in theater. I've been told that all my adult life by people all over the world. They tell me that if they had not seen JCS, they would not have understood the passion of the spirit."


#70 CHEYENNE, WY

WyomingNews.com - 4/20/10

http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2010/04/20/entertainment/01ent_04-20-10.txt


"Jesus Christ Superstar" comes to the Civic Center

By Karen Cotton
kcotton@wyomingnews.com

In 1971, the world of musical theater was changed when the first rock opera hit the stage.

That show was "Jesus Christ Superstar" with Ted Neeley starring in the lead role. It's a show Neeley has performed off and on in for nearly four decades.

You can see him in the role of Jesus Christ in the national touring production of "Jesus Christ Superstar" as it comes through the region later this week.

The show, Neeley said, has something in it "that we all can understand."

"I like to call that a universal spirituality," he said. "After all of these years of working in this project, I know those people connect because I talk with them every night after the show and they tell me that.

"People come from all over the world. There's not just going to be people there from Wyoming or Colorado."

He expects people will be on hand from Japan, other Asian countries and even as far away as Australia.

"People follow this show everywhere because it has such universal appeal," he said. "The key is we all connect to the personal spiritual connection, whatever that might be."

The production will be at the Lincoln Center in Fort Collins for five performances and then a single show on Sunday at the Cheyenne Civic Center.

Neeley received Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor and Best Newcomer for the motion picture version of "Jesus Christ Superstar."

Research was hard to come by when Neeley first took on the role of Jesus.

"It was not easy because we started this in 1971,"

See Superstar, page D4

Neeley said. "The role of Jesus as we all perceived - Jesus as the Son of God - there is plenty of information.

"But for this particular project, the concept is looking at Jesus Christ in the last seven days of his life as he was perceived through the eyes of his contemporaries; therefore, perceiving Jesus as a man."

This show doesn't depict Jesus as a deity.

"It loosely accepts Jesus as the Son of God, but it looks in the eyes of people who knew him only as a man prior to his death and didn't discover that until post death," he said.

It was difficult for Neeley to find reference material.

"I searched everywhere, as we all did for information," he said.

The only book Neeley came across at the time was the Nikos Kazantzakis novel "The Last Temptation of Christ."

"So, we read that and we kept reading that," he said. "Even so, for those of us grew up in America and had various religious backgrounds, we thought of Jesus basically as the stained glass window and never referred to Jesus as man."

Once Neeley got into the idea that Jesus was perceived as just a man, he said it became easier for him as an actor.

"If we were there 2,000 years ago, we would have seen this wonderfully outspoken, intelligent man speaking on the streets," he said.

Neeley said there is one thing that he really likes about this role.

"The accessibility with the audience, without question," he said. "There is something so special about the familiarity of this story because everybody knows something about this story, whether a person individually embraces and believes in the story as it is scriptured, it doesn't matter."

Neeley said he has been able to speak to devout Christians of all denominations, but the connection doesn't end there.

"I've spoken with atheists and agnostics, people who have no connection whatsoever with the Son of God," he said. "They still come and see the show and love it no matter who you are, or where you come from. They love it regardless of whether or not you have a religious organization that you may or may not embrace."

"Jesus Christ Superstar"

Starring Ted Neeley, national Broadway tour of the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber musical

When: April 25, 2 p.m.

Where: Cheyenne Civic Center, 510 W. 20th St.

Ticket info: $62, $52, $42

More info: 637-6363, www.cheyenneciviccenter.org

-- In Colorado

When: April 21 - 24, 7:30 p.m., April 24, 2 p.m.

Where: Lincoln Center, 417 West Magnolia, Fort Collins

Ticket info: Ticket prices range from $37 to $44 More info: 970-221-6730, www.lctix.com

"Jesus Christ Superstar": www.thejcstour.com

Synopsis: "Set in two acts, 'Jesus Christ Superstar' tells the story of the final seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. 'Superstar' dramatizes Jesus' entry in Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate, and his ultimate crucifixion."

Courtesy of the official Web site




#72 KINGSTON, ONT, CA

The Kingston Whig Standard - 4/24/10

http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2549080



A 'Superstar' performance

Posted By GREG BURLIUK, THE WHIG-STANDARD

Posted April 24, 2010

For nearly 40 years, Ted Neeley has been wearing a crown of thorns and couldn't be happier about it.

He's been playing the title role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Jesus Christ Superstar ever since playing it in the film version directed by Canadian Norman Jewison in 1973.

Neeley brings the popular musical to the K-Rock Centre on April 30.

The  role of Jesus is a taxing one. Not only does the actor get beaten, scourged and crucified every night, but also he must sing the song Gethsemane, a seven- minute tour de force that includes screeches of almost inhuman heights.

At the age of 66, Neeley doesn't back away from those notes either. A check on YouTube of recent performances shows he can still hit them.

"I'm thankful my voice still works," says the genial Neeley, who describes himself as a Texas rock and roll drummer. "I don't do anything but sing to keep it in shape, but I've always sung."

Neeley freely admits he was an unknown when cast in the Superstar film. He had appeared on the original Broadway production, but only as an understudy to Jesus and doing several small roles.

At the time, he was in Los Angeles, rehearsing for the premiere of the rock opera Tommy, where he was to play the title role. When he heard Jewison was in town doing some casting for Superstar, Neeley was determined to get an audition with him. But time was scarce because of his Tommy commitments.

Finally, Neeley was able to convince Jewison's agent to have the director come see a performance of Tommy. The only problem was the night Jewison came, Neeley wasn't on stage. At the matinee earlier that day, he'd suffered a concussion after being banged around by some chorus members in a physical scene.

"In that performance, I was the deaf, dumb, blind and unconscious kid," chuckles Neeley.

Still he was able to have lunch with Jewison, who was going back to London to finish casting Superstar.

"I even offered to pay for the screen test myself," says Neeley. "Mr. Jewison looked at me as if I was crazy. He said he'd call me, but I didn't expect to hear from him."

A few weeks later, however, Jewison called. Tommy had closed and Neeley was rehearsing for a touring version of Superstar. Jewison said he'd pretty well cast the film, but offered to fly Neeley to London. He'd be the stand-in for the actors Jewison was seriously considering. Neeley asked if he could bring his friend, Carl Anderson, along to stand in for the role of Judas. And in the end both got the parts they were standing in for.

Neeley got an extra bonus making the film. He met his future wife Leeyan Granger on the set as she was a dancer who had trained with the National Ballet of Canada.

The actor has been in several different touring productions of Superstar. One in the 1990s had all sorts of high tech bells and whistles. The one coming to Kingston is much simpler with the characters dressed in biblical costumes.

"That's what people want to see," says Neeley. "They have requirements and they don't include special effects.

"It's an experience for them and it's a new experience for me every night."

The play is in two acts, but Neeley adds a third one every night as he meets his audiences and signs autographs afterward.

"I love that," he says. "It's very important to me."

He's become so associated with the role, that Neeley understands there's no way he can afford to be rowdy or ungracious in public.

"I've come to accept that," he says. "I understand that for some people, I'm representative of what Jesus would be like. It's a wonderful compliment."

And Neeley has found his own spirituality grow from having performed the role so many times. Raised a Southern Baptist he says, "I've been researching this character all my life. I grew up in a tiny Texas town and we were always in church. That was our social life. But we were always taught about Jesus as God.

"This play presents Jesus Christ as a man and that's where I hit the wall. But after all these years, I feel something special, a connection of the spirit."

- - -

Essentials

What: A touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, with Ted Neeley playing the title role, which he also played in the 1972 movie.

Where: The K-Rock Centre, 2 Barrack St.

When: Friday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets:$45 to $65.

Article ID# 2549080


Comments on this Article.

Any bets that this show won't sell out?

 
Post #1 By shadowman, 2 days ago 

It seems the Whig doesn't like the comments coming in on ticket sell-out for the Sis Elton show, perhaps it would be better just to cancel the appearance. The ticket sale debacle is a huge discredit to a great talent and a great person. Are the people running the place so stupid that they could not have anticipated this situation?

Post #2 By don quichotte, 2 days ago 

Sorry; should read "Sir" Elton.

 
Post #3 By don quichotte, 2 days ago 

Commenting on this article is now closed.


#73 MONTREAL QB, CA

canada.com - 3/9/10

 

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/Superstar+returns+with+Neeley/2662094/story.html


Jesus Christ Superstar returns with Ted Neeley

 By Denise Duguay, The Gazette  March 9, 2010

                  

Ted Neeley in the lead role in a scene from the 2008 touring version of Jesus Christ Superstar, which was performed at Place des Arts.
Ted Neeley in the lead role in a scene from the 2008 touring version of Jesus Christ Superstar, 
which was performed at Place des Arts.

Photographs by: Joan Marcus, From Gazette files


Jesus Christ Superstar, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, returns to Montreal for a two-show run at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts on Saturday, May 1, at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Ted Neeley, who last performed the role here in 2008, returns in the lead role, under the direction of Dallett Norris.

Tickets for the show go on sale Saturday, March 13 at noon. Prices will be $45, $55, $65 and $80, plus service charges.

For more information, contact Place des Arts box office at 514-842-2112 or www.pda.qc.ca or contact Gillett Entertainment Group at www.geg.ca

 

Click here to read Gazette Culture Critic Pat Donnely's interview with Ted Neeley before the February 2008 Jesus Christ Superstar shows at Place des Arts.

 

http://www.canada.com/entertainment/movie-guide/From+archives+2008+Neeley+Once+Jesus/2662077/story.html

From the archives, 2008: Ted Neeley, Once a Jesus ...

 
 

Editor's note: This interview with Ted Neeley was originally published in the Gazette on Feb. 6, 2008.


MONTREAL - What if Jesus Christ had lived another three decades, raised two kids in Texas and taken his show on the road?

Thoughts like these ran through my mind as I prepared to interview Ted Neeley, the actor who first performed the title role in the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical Jesus Christ Superstar in L.A. back in 1972, then went on to star in the film version, directed by Norman Jewison, in 1973.

Neeley is coming to Place des Arts on Feb. 17 (2008), for one night only, as Jesus, in the latest North American touring version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

When we talked this week, it felt like chatting with an old friend. That he was calling from Whitewater, Wis. (the home state of my late father, who art in heaven if anybody is) added to the impression. After I hung up the phone, I searched deep into The Gazette database to find I had, indeed, talked to Neeley once before, 15 years ago, in 1993, when a glitzier version of the same show had played here. Furthermore, I had apparently enjoyed the show. (After a couple of decades covering theatre, keeping count on the number of Jesus Christ Superstars - or Cats - you've seen is a challenge.)

True, Neeley, is the veteran of all stage Jesuses. At 64, nobody can touch his track record. His toughest competition is his celluloid self, now easily accessible via clips from the 1973 film on YouTube.

Why is he still doing the show? "Because I love it," Neeley replied, without hesitation. "That's as honestly and as simply as I can place it. It is probably the most fulfilling thing I've ever done in my life."

And he has done many other things, both as a recording artist and as an actor. His first break was being cast as Claude, the one guy who got to keep his clothes on (because he was singing) during the nude scene in the 1969 Broadway production of Hair. With Jesus Christ Superstar, he began as a Jesus understudy, plus the bit part of Reporter/Leper in 1971. The next year, he landed the title role, in the Los Angeles production, which led to being cast as Jesus in the Norman Jewison film. (Neeley met his wife, Leeyan Granger, a dancer, during the shoot in Israel. They're still together and have a daughter and a son, both in college.)

After the film, Neeley returned to pop music, doing guest spots, singing back-up on recordings by the likes of Bo Didley, Keith Carradine and Meat Loaf, composing and singing songs (like the Highway to Heaven theme song) and arranging songs for others. He also has done some non-musical theatre, notably playing Lucky in Waiting for Godot, with the Rubicon Theatre Company in 2004.

But all roads led back to Calvary. "I have projects that I've done and attempted to do and still plan on doing (like a musical based on the life of Rasputin)," he said, "but each time that I've gotten involved with the most recent project, someone will call and say, 'Ted, how do you feel about doing Jesus Christ Superstar one more time?' And I have a tough time saying no because I love it."

Is he religious? "I would have to ask you to define that term," he replied. Born and raised in a small Texas town where the social life revolved around the local churches, "I learned all the Bible stories and I studied the Bible diligently," he explained. "This was extremely helpful for me whenever I approached this piece. I am, however, very, very supportive of what I like to refer to as 'the universal spirituality' all of us embrace, regardless of what religious group we may endorse, or may hail from."

So the answer is basically, yes, but, "I'm not a person who goes to church on a regular basis. I go there for weddings and funerals. I tend to endorse the philosophy that the church of life is in your spirit. But I do embrace everything there is about this piece. And I must tell you, in all honesty - I hope this doesn't sound too egotistical - but when I'm on that stage for those two hours, every show, I do everything I possibly can to emulate the essence of Jesus Christ."

At age 33? "Well, I don't really think in terms of age," he said, "because I think that age is immaterial."

That being said he's surrounded by a youthful cast, including a Mary Magdalene (Tiffini Dodson) who's just out of college.

"The piece keeps me young," he said, adding even though the rest of the cast are youthful enough to be his progeny, "They have a tough time keeping up with that guy that puts on the robe and sandals."

The biggest challenge, he said, was finding the right Judas. This revival was already in the planning stages when Carl Anderson, who had played Judas in L.A., the film and on tour, died of leukemia in 2004. "I miss him profoundly," Neeley said.

But he has nothing but admiration for Corey Glover, lead singer of the band Living Colour, who now plays the part: "Corey is an absolutely outrageous powerhouse on stage."

About his own singing talents, he's modest: "I'm a rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas who hits the high notes. That's what I do."

The production is modest, too. "We're very much endorsing the minimalistic approach here," he said. "That's what this piece needs. Everybody knows the story. My goodness, they don't need any bells and whistles. They need to hear these wonderful songs."

pdonnell@thegazette.canwest.com


The Gazette - 4/22/10

http://www.montrealgazette.com/mobile/story.html?id=2936347



'Ted-Heads' still flock to Jesus Christ Superstar

Thursday, April 22, 2010
By ADRIAN CHAMBERLAIN, Canwest News Service
 
 
Ted Neeley in the lead role in a scene from the 2008 touring version of Jesus Christ Superstar, which was performed at Place des Arts.
Photographed by:
Joan Marcus, From Gazette files

What do you call a superfan who has seen Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar hundreds of times?

A Ted-Head. So says Neeley, arriving in Montreal next weekend with a bus-and-truck production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 40-year-old rock opera. The shaggy-maned performer reprises his role as Jesus for a North American tour that will have two performances next Saturday, May 1, at Place des Arts.

"I spoke with a lady two nights ago who's seen this show 366 times," Neeley says on the phone from Regina. "The folks who come the most refer to themselves as Ted-Heads."

Now 66, Neeley played Jesus Christ in the original Los Angeles stage production and the 1973 Norman Jewison film. Over the years, he has starred in numerous revivals. He stopped counting performances back in the 1990s, after they topped 2,000. Other pop-rock musicals of the period - Godspell (1970) and Hair (1967) - have dated poorly. Yet somehow, Jesus Christ Superstar retains its appeal.

The current production, with minimal set, was launched in 2006. Originally slated to finish in 2007 (and billed by some as a "farewell tour"), it continues because of popular demand, Neeley says.

On the original album, the role of Jesus was sung by Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Recent stage "Jesuses" include Sebastian Bach of Skid Row and Swedish glam rocker Ola Salo. Most aficionados agree, however, that Neeley is the definitive Jesus Christ Superstar.

He has performed the role so long, Neeley once encountered five generations of a single family of fans. He has befriended devotees in cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

"It's opened such an avenue of friendship for me worldwide," he says. "I feel like I can go anywhere and feel like I'm at home."

He recalls almost losing the film role that clinched his reputation.

Neeley was starring in the rock musical Tommy when he got word Norman Jewison was seeking the lead for a film version of Jesus Christ Superstar.

He invited Jewison to watch him perform in Tommy. However, Neeley was injured for that performance. Jewison ended up seeing the understudy.

To make amends, Neeley invited the director to lunch. Because he "looked like a 12 year-old" as clean-shaven Tommy, Neeley had a friend paste a fake beard to his face.

"When I sat down with Norman, you would have thought he was watching the best comedian in the world. He just fell out of his chair, laughing."

Although Jewison was polite, Neeley thought he had made a fool of himself.

Still, something about the young performer impressed the director. He later summoned Neeley for a London screen test, where he landed the coveted role.

Neeley insists playing Jesus Christ for four decades never went to his head.

"Some people envision me as that person," he says. "I let them know, 'Folks, I am just a rock 'n' roll drummer from Texas.' I'm up there playing a character."

Jesus Christ Superstar plays, in English, at Salle Wilfrid Pelletier of Place des Arts on Saturday, May 1, at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $45 to $80 (plus service charges) and are on sale via Place des Arts - www.pda.qc.ca or 514-842-2112 - or Evenko, at evenko.ca or 514-790-2525.

© Copyright (c) The Montreal Gazette




#75 PETERBOROUGH ONT, CA


Peterborough Examiner - 4/15/10


http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2535283




Neeley still excited about playing Jesus Christ

Posted By WERNER BERGEN , EXAMINER ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Posted 23 hours ago

Why would Ted Neeley spend decades of his career playing Jesus in Jesus Christ Superstar?

"Because I love every single thing about it," said Neeley, in a telephone interview.

"Nothing is anywhere as fulfilling as this production.

Neeley, who starred in the Broadway production and in the movie created by Canadian Norman Jewison, is coming to perform in the rock musical at the Memorial Centre on Monday, May 3.

I've been a road dog all my adult life and the show has always been well received," he said.

He said the music was released on a double album in the late 1960s, became a Broadway production and then a movie.

"That's when it became a worldwide phenomenon," said Neeley.

"It was the first music video. I don't know if we inspired the world or destroyed it."

Neeley said he's done various other projects including three years in the musical Hair. "But there's nothing like this one. I can't wait to jump up there and do it again.

"It's an extreme challenge and I welcome that," he said.

Neeley credits Jewison for the success of the musical.

Jewison was filming Fiddler on the Roof in Yugoslavia and the cast included someone in the process of helping record the original album. He had a recording of the three songs he sang as Pontius Pilot and three other songs.

He had Jewison listen to them. He was so impressed he found out who had the rights and called Universal and said it should be made into a movie. Jewison then wrote, directed and produced the film.

"It's Norman who made this work, and he's been overlooked," said Neeley.

Neeley said he was approached in the 1990s to do a three-month tour, open ended to six months. "It ran for five years," he said.

"We went everywhere."

He praised Jewison for taking a young cast to Israel to film the movie and mentored everyone. It was this bonding by cast and crew that created friendships that last to this day, he said.

When Neeley was informed that the role of Jesus Christ was also played by a Peterborough native, he was surprised.

Sebastian Bach performed Jesus Christ Superstar for six months ending in April 2003.

Neeley said he didn't realize that Bach was even a Canadian, but was happy for Bach for having performed the role.

Neeley has been able to play Jesus throughout his career; in 1975, he appeared in a show with both Carl Anderson and Yvonne Elliman reprising their roles.

In 1992, Neeley and Anderson appeared in the AD Tour, touring for five years and grossing over $100 million, states his website.

March 9, 2004 Neeley sang the soliloquy Why Must I Die? from the Garden of Gethsemane scene in Superstar at the memorial service for Carl Anderson (Judas).

- - -

Show facts

What: Jesus Christ Superstar

When: Monday, May 3, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Peterborough Memorial Centre

Tickets: $48.55 to $66.50 plus charges, call box office at 743-3561 or online at

www.memorialcentre.ca


STAR 93.3.com - 5/3/10

http://www.star933.com/default.asp?pid=10950



STAR 93.3 Podcasts - Audio on Demand

 

Ted Neeley - Jesus Christ Superstar



Ted Neeley spoke with Joel about his role as lead in Jesus Christ Superstar (Peterborough Memorial Centre May 3). Hear Ted talk about the amazing circumstances that landed him the role in the Norman Jewison movie version of the stage play and much more! 

 
Part 1 - click here
 
Part 2 - click here




#76 EAST LANSING, MI


The State News.com - 4/29/10

 

http://www.statenews.com/index.php/m/article/2010/04/musical_ensemble_member_talks_about_life_in_show



Musical ensemble member talks about life in show

Published: 04/29 6:46pm
By: Karen Confer

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” the classic rock opera by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, premiered on Broadway in 1971. Two years later, the play was adapted into a film starring Ted Neeley as Jesus.

Now, 37 years later, Neeley is reprising his title role as part of the “A.D. Tour.” The play will run at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Auditorium.

The State News sat down with Amber Hurst-Martin, a disciple girl and understudy for soul singer, to discuss what it is like working on “Jesus Christ Superstar” with the show’s legend, Neeley.

The State News What makes this show stand out from the typical biblical retelling of the Passion of Christ?

Amber Hurst-Martin I think it’s a really unique production because it’s told from the point of view of Judas, which I think is a story that doesn’t get told as often.

It’s really interesting and I think it’s a story that needed to be told. (It) gives people a little bit of insight into maybe what was going on with (Judas) and definitely shows him in a better light.

(It) helps people empathize with the character of Judas and shows the strong relationship he had with Jesus. So often Judas doesn’t come (into the story) until the betrayal and death and is portrayed as the bad guy, but he was Jesus’ best friend.

SN What is your favorite part of the show?

AHM (The song) “Gethsemane,” Jesus in the garden just after “The Last Supper” when he’s essentially asking ‘why?’ The music is extremely powerful. Webber’s score is … very powerful. It sort of builds as the song goes on.

Jesus is tentative about talking to his father like this and then as time goes on it just intensifies and he wants to know why he should die, why he should be crucified.

I also love, during “The Last Supper,” there’s a scene between Jesus and Judas, and (Judas) says, ‘Every time I look at you, I don’t understand why you let the things you did get so out of hand,’ because it shows they really cared for each other, there was just a misunderstanding with Judas as to what the whole thing was going to be.

SN What’s it like working with Neeley?

AHM He’s as wonderful offstage as he is onstage. He’s always there for any of us to talk to … and he’s so knowledgeable about the show. He’s like a father figure to us out here.

SN What are the costumes like for the show?

AHM The designer had a really neat concept with the costumes for this show, because it is a rock opera, kind of edgy, and the costumes are actually very traditional looking.

It’s a very pastel palette. In sharp contrast to the pastels of the disciple scenes, the priests are all in black.

When we do the mob scenes later on when things start to get a little darker, a little heavier, we’re in these dark, navy blue costumes … (The costumes are) very biblical looking, which I think is unique for “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

SN What do you try to offer the audience when you perform?

AHM It’s my job to carry on the legacy of the show. I remember when I was a little girl and got to see it with Ted Neeley, I was moved and inspired. Now I hope there’s a little girl in her hometown, that she’ll be as moved by it and love it as much as I did.

That’s what motivates me — to give people the experience of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” because I think it’s a great show whether you take it religiously or historically or musically, whatever you get out of it. There’s a lot of reasons to like the show.

Tickets for “Jesus Christ Superstar” are $15 for students and $35-$50 for general admission. For tickets or more information, contact the Wharton Center Box Office at whartoncenter.com or (517) 432-2000



The NWITimes - 5/2/10

http://www.nwitimes.com/entertainment/arts-and-theatre/article_b974858e-1d95-56d2-ae0e-82662c0182b4.html


A shining 'Superstar'

Ted Neeley to grace the stage of Star Plaza Theatre

By Eloise Marie Valadez - eloise.valadez@nwi.com, (219) 933-3365 | Posted: Sunday, May 2, 2010 12:05 am

Ted Neeley accepted a role of a lifetime nearly four decades ago and continues to sing its praises.

Neeley, star of the Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice rock opera and popular film "Jesus Christ Superstar," has never tired of bringing Christ to life on stage.

"Every night that I perform it is like the first time all over again for me," said Neeley, by phone recently.


PROVIDED PHOTO Ted Neeley will again stir up his passion
for playing
the Messiah when "Jesus Christ Superstar" rocks 
into the Star Plaza
Theatre Wednesday for one performance.

"It's so fresh. It's so wonderful. First of all because the material is about Jesus, the most famous icon in all of history. And the audiences who come to see it. always bring so much positive energy and spiritual connection. It is just so fulfilling to me," he said. 

Neeley will again stir up his passion for playing the Messiah when "Jesus Christ Superstar" rocks into the Star Plaza Theatre Wednesday for one performance.

The actor/singer said the Northwest Indiana show will be one of the last performances of the current leg of the tour.

"When this tour started back in 2006, it was going to be a three-month tour and here we are years later," he said.

"We're scheduled to end this wing of the tour at the end of May," he said.

Although there's been talk this may be his farewell stint, nothing's really definite.

"I honestly can't say that it is but by the same token, I can't say that it isn't, because I would certainly love to do it again," he said.

Neeley also starred in the show during a mid-'90s tour of "Superstar" and then didn't perform it at all from 1997 to 2006.

"I'd be honored to be a part of it again if they would like me to do that. I don't know how long the public would accept me playing this particular role," he said, laughing.

Back in the '70s when Neeley, a native of the Lone Star State, auditioned for the film, he had no desire to be cast as Jesus.

"I auditioned for the role of Judas. I loved the songs Judas sang," he said.

"In the theater there's a critic in every seat. And everyone knows who Jesus is to them personally. I didn't want to take on that mountain."

After Neeley auditioned for Judas, though, he said the director came up to him with a special request.

"He said 'Ted, that was good but I'd like you to come back tomorrow and sing the other guy.' And I've been singing the other guy ever since," Neeley said.

Calling himself a "rock and roll drummer from Texas who screams high notes," Neeley said he's grateful for the monumental role.

"I'm the fortunate one to be a part of this. I've met people all over the world for years who tell me their lives have been changed in such a positive way by virtue of this piece and I wish to embrace that in any way that I can," he said.

Through the years, generations have flocked to the show, many attending over and over again.

"These are people who felt wonderful about seeing the film when it first came out in 1973 and they come back and see the show again and again and bring more family members and friends."

Neeley said "Jesus Christ Superstar" is not just a Broadway show but "an experience."

The production chronicles the last seven days in the life of Christ and climaxes with the Crucifixion and Resurrection. Its score contains such powerful tunes as "Heaven on their Minds," "Gethsemane," "What's the Buzz?" and "I Don't Know How to Love Him."

"People love the songs and they sing the songs with us," Neeley said. "They want to hear the songs the way they originally heard them in the film or on the record."

Neeley said Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber did update some of the lyrics and orchestrations for the current tour to make it a bit more modern but the strong score still stands the test of time.

Neeley and his wife Leeyan, a dancer he met while working on the "Superstar" film, have been married since 1981. They reside in California.

The entertainer is also the co-founder of the Rubicon Theater Co., based in California's Ventura County. FYI: www.rubicontheatre.org

"Jesus Christ Superstar," starring Ted Neeley, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday

WHERE: Star Plaza Theatre, I-65 and U.S. 30, Merrillville

COST: $45

FYI: Call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 or visit www.starplazatheatre.com



#78 BOSTON, MA


The Lowell Sun - 4/29/10

 

http://www.lowellsun.com/entertainment/ci_14982093



The Daily News Tribune - 5/5/10

http://www.dailynewstribune.com/entertainments/arts/x1920406948/Ted-Neeley-bids-farewell-to-Jesus-Christ-Superstar-in-Boston




Ted Neeley bids farewell to ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ in Boston
Photos



Ted Neeley will star in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, for five performances only, May 7 through 9. Tickets are available at the box office, online at www.citicenter.org or by calling 866-348-9738. Discounted tickets are available 
for groups of 12 or more by calling Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at 617-532-1116.
By R. Scott Reedy, correspondent
Posted May 05, 2010 @ 12:05 PM

Boston audiences have a chance to witness theater history this weekend when Ted Neeley makes his farewell appearance in the title role in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s landmark musical, at Boston’s Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre.

Neeley’s Golden Globe nominated performance as Jesus in the 1973 Norman Jewison film of “Jesus Christ Superstar” made him an international star. Neeley has toured, on and off, with the stage version of the show ever since. Now 66, the Texas-born Neeley has decided that he will give his final performance, in his most famous role, in Boston.

With a rock opera score that includes “I Don’t Know How To Love Him,” “Could We Start Again Please” and of course, “Superstar,” the musical – which opened on Broadway on October 12, 1971 - is credited with making rock music acceptable in church. Nearly 40 years after its New York premiere, the musical continues to touch audiences with the emotional intensity of its epic retelling of the St. John’s Gospel account of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. 

Ted Neeley will star in “Jesus Christ Superstar” at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, for five performances only, May 7 through 9. Tickets are available at the box office, online at www.citicenter.org or by calling 866-348-9738. Discounted tickets are available for groups of 12 or more by calling Citi Performing Arts Center Group Sales at 617-532-1116.

The Boston Herald - 5/7/10

http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/arts_culture/view/20100507christ_almighty_ted_neely_is_a_superstar_in_role_of_jesus/



Christ Almighty

Ted Neely is a superstar in role of Jesus

By Jenna Scherer
Friday, May 7, 2010 -

Ted Neeley has been playing Jesus Christ longer than Jesus played Jesus. He started with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” when it first opened on Broadway in 1971. He’s returned to portray the Son of God countless times since then, most notably in Norman Jewison’s 1973 film version.

Now the 66-year-old actor and musician is on the final leg of his farewell tour with the show. What started as a three-month tour has gone on for four years, and Neeley is still loving every minute. The Herald spoke with him from the tour’s stop in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.

Photo by Joan Marcu

Ted Neeley and company in ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.
How many productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar” have you been in now?

I honestly don’t know. Certainly more than you can count on both hands and both feet. I’ve done enough performances that I should know the material quite well by now. Almost got it down. I’m having as much fun, if not more, than I had the first time I ever was onstage with it. It keeps growing positively and it is an absolutely magnificent experience. I cannot wait to get back up onstage tonight and do it again. Sometimes, I tell ya, our feet just do not touch the ground.

Have you seen audience perception of the show shift over the years?

Three hundred and sixty degrees. When we first did it, it was perceived as the ultimate blasphemy. We were picketed outside the theater in New York every single performance. We had to push our way through just to get in the building to go to work. And now, we’re still doing the same thing, but the perception of society has changed regarding what this piece is all about. We are perceived pretty much as a spiritual “Sesame Street.” People have learned over the years that their children can so much more easily learn about their spirituality through watching this show and singing these songs.

Do you approach the role differently now that you’re older?

Absolutely. When we first started this there was almost no material from which I could get an idea of Jesus as man. Now you can go to any bookstore anywhere and find an absolute plethora of material that deals with this subject. Also just doing the role as long as I have gives you a personal feeling about what you’re trying to portray. Everybody who comes in to see the show brings their own interpretation about what Jesus means to them and they reflect that back to us.


Have your own religious views changed in the course of playing this role?

They’ve certainly deepened. I grew up in a tiny Texas town where going to church was as normal as having breakfast with your family. It was just part of your life. By virtue of that experience, I was learning all the Bible stories. Once I started working on “Jesus Christ Superstar,” I pulled from that constantly. Just having experienced life all these years has added a tremendous level of perception for me. Back then, I was a rock ’n’ roll drummer from Texas who screamed high notes for a living and got really lucky. Now I’m a husband and I have a family and I have dear friends literally all over the world as a result of being part of this wonderful project.

Do you think nonreligious or non-Christian audience members can get something out of the show?

I have talked to absolute atheists who think the show is magnificent. It crosses all barriers. And it communicates to everyone. Whether you have a religious connection or not, you have that spiritual connection. No matter what you believe there’s something in this show that will appeal to absolutely everyone. Forgive me if I sound like I’m preaching because I don’t mean to. But I have literally seen people’s lives change as a result of their watching this show. You may find in your heart that that’s really silly, and I have no problem with that.

What’s the secret of the show’s appeal?

What “Jesus Christ Superstar” gives you is the humanity element. People can look at Jesus as a human being. It’s looking at him the way he was perceived as a man, through the eyes of those who knew him before his death. It’s not making anybody a good guy or a bad guy. It’s putting the facts out there in song and letting the audience make up their own minds. That’s what makes it work.

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” at the Wang Theatre, today through Sunday. Tickets: $28-$98; 866-348-9738.

- jenna.scherer@gmail.com


RapidShare Alive Download Link - 5/10/10



http://alivedownload.com/dl/Ted+Neeley



Flickr - 5/10/10
http://www.flickr.com/photos/protestphotos1/4594538358/



Jesus Christ Superstar-Ted Neeley's Final 
Performance As Jesus



Ted Neeley, who portrayed Jesus in the 1973 film and 34 years in the play, gave his final 
performance as Jesus in Boston, Massachusetts at the Citi Center on May 9, 2010.



The Edge - 5/10/10


http://www.edgenewengland.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&sc=music&sc2=&sc3=performance&id=105452



For Ted Neeley, Farewell is not Goodbye

by Robert Israel
EDGE Contributor
Monday May 10, 2010

Ted Neeley, the star of the musical Jesus Christ Superstar, which makes its last tour stop in Boston at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theater on May 7-10, has seen the posters emblazoned with the words "Farewell Appearance."

"I was walking into the theater in Kansas last night," the 66-year-old actor, singer, composer said from his hotel room in Hays, Kansas, "and the words announcing my final appearances were in bigger type than the name of the actual show."

Yet Neeley, who has performed the role of Jesus of Nazareth in the stage version as well as the film version of the show since the 1970s, does not want to say goodbye to the show.

"As far as I’m concerned, I am never going to stop doing this," he said. "I’m against this ’farewell’ idea. It makes it sound like I’m retiring, which I am not going to do, and it makes it seem like the show itself is riding off into the sunset never to be staged again, which is also not true. I am honored to be part of this show and will always feel it has been a life-altering role for me. And I’m not letting it go."


Making a sea of change

Neeley grew up in Ranger, Texas, a rural town, and began performing in his twenties as a rock and roll drummer and singer for a group he founded called The Teddy Neeley Five. In 1969, during the famed Summer of Love, he joined the cast of Hair in both the New York and Los Angeles productions. His stage work led him to be cast, initially in the role of Judas, in Jesus Christ Superstar, penned by the famed team of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. The musical tells the story of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, his betrayal by Judas, trial before Pontius Pilate and ultimate crucifixion.

Neeley remembers when it first opened on Broadway in New York, there were protests over what many religious people assembled to picket the show felt was "blasphemy."

"In 1971, and we were considered to be committing the ultimate blasphemy against the word of the Lord," Neeley said. "So, I went out and talked to the protesters and invited them into the show, as my guests. We were being called scoundrels and all sorts of things and all the entrances of the theatre were blocked. Well, some folks did come to the show and stayed afterward to talk to me. That’s a tradition I have maintained all these years later. At the end of each production, no matter what town or city we’re in, I speak to the members of the audience after the final curtain. And I’ve noticed a sea change. The same people who protested in the 1970s are now coming back to the theatre with their children and grandchildren. The movie version, directed by Norman Jewison and shot in Israel in 1973, is now being shown in churches. The music is being sung in those churches. We’ve come 360 degrees as a society since then."

It was during the making of the film that he met his wife, and he credits the musical for bringing them together there, on location, in the desert of Israel.

"Performing as Jesus has been the most rewarding experience of my life," Neeley said. "I am, right now, one of the older cast members. In fact, many in the cast could be my children or grandchildren. But I do not think in terms of age. I feel great. I do not drink or smoke. I have a healthy diet, I exercise, and I feel better than I ever have at any point in my life. Why would I want to make this my farewell tour? In my mind, I’m always 33 years old."


For his work on Superstar he is most proud

In addition to performing as Jesus, Neeley has performed in the cast of Tommy and Sgt. Pepper. He is presently developing new plays with the Rubicon Theatre Company, located not far from his home in Los Angeles. He’s got a record of country songs in the works, and has done occasional television work, too.

Yet it is his work on stage in Jesus Christ Superstar that he remains the most proud. The show, he insists, has a message of universality, of acceptance and nurturance of humanity that resonates with him and connects him with others.

"I could joke around and use the Blues Brothers line that ’I’m on a mission from God,’ but that’s how it feels, because there is a spiritual connection with others when I’m involved in this show," Neeley said. "This present tour was kicked off a few years ago, initially as a three month tour and then more and more dates and more cities and towns were added on. It’s been a long and wonderful journey that I do not want to end. Even still, Boston will be the last stop. I chose Boston as the last stop because it was in Boston where the last tour ended, in the 1990s."
Neeley speaks with a deep, rich voice that is flavored with the warmth of a Texan twang. He is grateful for his voice, he said, because it has been the source of his success as an actor and singer.

"I’ve surely abused the hell out of my voice over the years," he quips, "but it still keeps on keeping on."

And so does Ted Neeley, who refuses to go quietly from the stage, and who, in his heart, believes there’s another revival of the musical he’s come to love just on the other side of the horizon. This is not a pipe dream; it’s been that way for years. There’s no saying another production with his name in the marquee won’t come around again.

Jesus Christ Superstar plays May 7th-9th at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre. For tickets and information visit www.citicenter.org


Robert Israel writes about theater, arts, culture and travel.


COMMENTS

"For Ted Neeley, Farewell is not Goodbye"


POST TOUR ARTICLES

 

The Soul Connection - 6/3/10

 

http://www.thesoulc onnection. net/2010_ 06_01_archive. html


Thursday, June 3, 2010

Eternally Rock

Sometimes an entertainer secures his place in history with one iconic role, and no matter what he or she has done before or does afterward can top it.

Ted Neeley is one of those people.
 
Neeley cut his rock teeth by starting his own band, playing the club circuit for years, recording an album, and then, at age 25, venturing out into live theater in 1968 to star in the Los Angeles versions of two forgettable rock musicals.

But Neeley's stage work then took an interesting turn.

In 1969, Neeley played the lead role of Claude in both the New York and Los Angeles productions of Hair. His work with that show's director, Tom O'Horgan, led to him being called when O'Horgan was hired to stage Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar for Broadway. Ironically, Neeley originally auditioned for the role of Judas, seeing it as a great opportunity to create a character few understand. However, when Ben Vereen was chosen for the role, Neeley signed on as chorus and also became the Christ understudy.

This particular opportunity led to him taking on the title role in the Los Angeles stage version (which played at the Universal Amphitheatre) after receiving a standing ovation during a performance earlier in the tour. After the tour ended, Neeley was also cast in the title role of the Los Angeles version of the rock opera Tommy. This led to Neeley being cast as Jesus of Nazareth in the 1973 film version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Here's a clip of his Gethsemane performance in the film:
 

Twenty years after first playing the role, Neeley gained renewed success in the lead role of Jesus in the 1990s touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar. Originally planned as a 3-month tour to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the motion picture, the "A.D. Tour" went on to become the longest running revival in North American theater history. From 1992 to 1997, the hugely successful tour criss-crossed the nation multiple times, allowing Neeley the opportunity to reprise his role over 1,700 times.

In 2006, Neeley began headlining another production of Jesus Christ Superstar. This clip from early in that tour shows how Neeley has magnificently reinterpreted the role, making his 21st century version of Christ's song "Gethsemane" a powerfully emotional conversation with his Father:


Originally billed by some as his national "farewell" tour, he disavowed the claim and the tour is now known as the new "A.D. Tour." The tour was supposed to last through 2007, but audience and critical reception for the show was so great that it continues to be extended and is currently booked through 2010.

Others have played Christ, but 37 years after his first performance, Neeley is still in it, still there. . .he's made it for the long haul. Rock on, Ted.     ;p

The Naperville Sun - 6/4/10

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/lifestyles/2352292,6_5_NA04_PULSE_S1-100604.article

Brothers making it big singing and acting

 


June 4, 2010

Pulse: Two Wheaton brothers are following their dreams into the world of musical theater. At 23, Jeremy Sonkin has just completed a national tour of "Jesus Christ Superstar" with veteran actor Ted Neeley. His 22-year-old brother Tyler, studying theater at Millikin University, has won the lead role in the Summer Place's production of "Lend Me A Tenor" in July.

"Touring with Ted Neeley was the greatest experience anyone could ask for," Jeremy said. "Not only was he someone to look up to and learn about many different aspects of the business from, but he was a genuine person."

Brother Tyler would like to work in all aspects of entertainment.

"I am a singer and I love musical theater, but I would hate to be confined to just that one aspect of acting and theater because there is so much out there," Tyler said.

 

 

 

 


##################################

 

GENERAL  UPDATES


UPDATE 11/11/09

LATEST AUDITION CASTING NOTICE FOR LEG 4 IN LOS ANGELES

SUPERSTAR NATIONAL TOUR AUDITIONS- NEED JUDAS AND ANNAS-WED.

Dave Clemmons November 10 at 6:13pm Reply
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR – JUDAS AND ANNAS
Non-Equity National Tour
L.A. AUDITIONS

Open Call for Male Singers
Friday November 13, 2009
11:00 a.m.
Sign-up begins at 10:00 a.m. – PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 10:00 a.m.!
Hollywood Dance Center
817 N. Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT will hold open calls for the 2009-2010 non-Equity national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, starring TED NEELEY in the title role. Directed by Dallett Norris; choreographed by Arlene Philips; musical director: Phil Edwards; casting by Dave Clemmons Casting. Rehearsals begin December 9, 2009; tour opens December 26, 2009 and is booked through May 2010. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a dramatized version of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Seeking one AMAZING pop/rock singer for the role of JUDAS ISCARIOT:

Judas Iscariot– Male 20-40. Rock Tenor (low D to high C). Intense and conflicted, he loves Jesus deeply but ultimately betrays him. He is idealistic, highly intelligent, and increasingly disillusioned. ANY ETHNICITY.

Annas- male-20s to 40s- “freaky” high tenor. One of the opposition to Jesus. A schemer. ANY ETHNICITY.

Please prepare 16-bars of pop or rock song (with sheet music in the appropriate key) that shows off your voice, and bring your book. Please prepare “Heaven on Their Minds” (available on our website at www.clemmonscasting.com). Accompanist will be provided. ABSOLUTELY NO A CAPPELLA. All auditioning MUST bring a current headshot/resume, stapled together. All positions paid salary plus travel, housing, per diem and health insurance. Specifically seeking all ethnicities.

 

AUDITION: SEEING JUDAS FOR SUPERSTAR TOUR W/ TED NEELEY...non-equity

Dave Clemmons November 4 at 5:14pm Reply
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - JUDAS
Non-Equity National Tour
L.A. AUDITIONS

Open Call for Male Singers
Friday November 13, 2009
11:00 a.m.
Sign-up begins at 10:00 a.m. – PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 10:00 a.m.!
Hollywood Dance Center
817 N. Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90038

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT will hold open calls for the 2009-2010 non-Equity national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, starring TED NEELEY in the title role. Directed by Dallett Norris; choreographed by Arlene Philips; musical director: Phil Edwards; casting by Dave Clemmons Casting. Rehearsals begin December 9, 2009; tour opens December 26, 2009 and is booked through May 2010. JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a dramatized version of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Seeking one AMAZING pop/rock singer for the role of JUDAS ISCARIOT:

Judas Iscariot– Male 20-40. Rock Tenor (low D to high C). Intense and conflicted, he loves Jesus deeply but ultimately betrays him. He is idealistic, highly intelligent, and increasingly disillusioned. ANY ETHNICITY.

Please prepare 16-bars of pop or rock song (with sheet music in the appropriate key) that shows off your voice, and bring your book. Please prepare “Heaven on Their Minds” (available on our website at www.clemmonscasting.com). Accompanist will be provided. ABSOLUTELY NO A CAPPELLA. All auditioning MUST bring a current headshot/resume, stapled together. All positions paid salary plus travel, housing, per diem and health insurance.

Specifically seeking all ethnicities.

UPDATE 8/30/09

OPEN AUDITION CASTING NOTICE FOR LEG 4 IN NEW YORK CITY

The tour opening date listed is wrong, and the audition dates listed originally said 2008, not 2009, but we have heard back for the Dave Clemmons office and the listing is legit, so here's the online link and breakdown :

http://www.clemmonscasting.com/auditions.html#JCS



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
Non-Equity National Tour

Open Call for Male Singers
Thursday September 17, 2009
9:30 a.m.
Sign-up begins at 9:00 – PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 9:00 a.m.!
Stepping Out Studios, 37 West 26th Street, 9th Floor (Betw. 6th Ave & B'way)
New York, NY 10010

Open Call for Female Singers
Friday September 18, 2009
9:30 a.m.
Sign-up begins at 9:00 – PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE BEFORE 9:00 a.m.!
Stepping Out Studios, 37 West 26th Street, 9th Floor (Betw. 6th Ave & B'way)
New York, NY 10010

TROIKA ENTERTAINMENT will hold open calls for the 2009-2010 non-Equity national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, starring TED NEELEY in the title role. Directed by Dallett Norris; choreographed by Arlene Philips; musical director: Phil Edwards; casting by Dave Clemmons Casting.  Rehearsals begin December 9, 2009; tour opens December 26, 2009 and is booked through May 2010.  JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR is a dramatized version of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Seeking EXCELLENT pop/rock singers of ALL ETHNICITIES for the following:

Jesus of Nazareth [UNDERSTUDY ONLY] – Male, 25-35. Rock Tenor (low Bb to high E, with pop falsetto to high G).  The quietly powerful leader of the poor and downtrodden, he is intense, compassionate, driven, and sincere.  Must have a strong, charismatic presence.

Judas Iscariot– Male 20-40. Rock Tenor (low D to high C).  Intense and conflicted, he loves Jesus deeply but ultimately betrays him. He is idealistic, highly intelligent, and increasingly disillusioned.

Mary Magdalene – Female, 20-late 30s. Pop-Rock Mezzo (low G# to High A).  Streetwise and tough, she is fascinated by Christ and ferociously protective of him.  Must be very attractive and in great physical shape.

Caiaphas – Male, 30-60. Bass (D below low D to middle F).  Head Jewish High Priest. He is strong, cerebral, monolithic.  Menacing physical presence.

Annas – Male 25-40.  Tenor (low F to high C#).  High Priest, second only to Caiaphas. Shrewd, coldly calculating, and manipulative. 

Pontius Pilate – Male 30-60.  Baritone or Tenor (low A to high Bb).  Roman governor with strong, stoic presence. Very oriented towards law and order and is conflicted and reluctant to play a role in the persecution of Christ.

King Herod – Male 35-60. Baritone/Tenor (low B to middle G).  Puppet ruler - petulant, spoiled, larger than life.  Can turn on a dime from amusing eccentric to truly dangerous madman.

Peter – Male, 20-40. Baritone/Tenor (low Bb to high G).  Gentle apostle who betrays Jesus but eventually finds his strength and becomes a stabilizing force among the Apostles.

Simon Zealotes – Male 18-30. Rock Tenor (low Bb to high G). Youthful, exuberant, idealistic, and increasingly militant. 

Male Ensemble – excellent pop/rock singers who move very well to play Apostles, Priests and to understudy the principal roles.

Female Ensemble – excellent pop/rock singers who dance or move very well to portray Soul Sisters and others.  All women must be very attractive and in great physical shape. 

Please prepare 16-bars of pop or rock song (with sheet music in the appropriate key) that shows off range, and bring your book.  If you are auditioning for a specific role, please have that material prepared as well (available on our website at www.clemmonscasting.com).  All auditioning MUST bring sheet music for a piano accompanist IN THE CORRECT KEY, AND a current headshot/resume, stapled together.  All positions paid.  Minimum salary $350/week plus travel, housing, per diem and health insurance.  Specifically seeking all ethnicities for all roles.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

UPDATE 9/8/08

OPEN AUDITION CASTING NOTICE FOR LEG 3 IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK CITY

Here's the online link:

http://blog. auditionalerts. com/2008/ 08/04/jesus- christ-superstar -national- tour/

I'm not speculating as to why every role is listed, because even if the cast is returning, understudies are needed, and no one can read Troika's mind. Let's just leave this at "better safe than sorry," and wait until there is an official announcement (if there is one at all) to know who will - or won't - be returning for the third leg. On the bright side, if any of you out there have dreams of doing a professional production of JCS, here's your shot, and you can go to either coast to audition!  Break-a-leg!!!

 

UPDATE 11/22/06

MISLEADING BOOKING ON TICKETMASTER.COM

Da:S sent me this link on 11/18:

http://www.ticketmaster.com/artist/843994start=21&rpp=20&list_view=1 and asked me to clarify whether the Tour was indeed performing at this venue, due to the fact that the booking is listed on the same page as their Vancouver booking, and the Tour logo is at the top of the page. I had a devil of a time getting through to any Ticketmaster person who would even listen to me about a possible mistake on their website. One Manager even tried to tell me that this was, indeed, the Tour, and that there were several groups of it performing in different places at the same time. Well - as Da:S said to me, unless Ted has learned to bi-locate, this isn't possible! :-) So, I called the theatre, and they gave me the phone number for the company doing this show - which is North Carolina Theatre. Their website does not have the Tour logo posted, and their phone recording (the theatre is closed for Thanksgiving) states that the show stars Ray Walker. I will verify this on Monday, when the theatre reopens after the holiday, and update this posting if the information is different from them then, but for now, if any of you live in or near NC, or were planning to go to this venue, this is not, repeat not, a tour booking!!!

 

UPDATE 10/7/06


Tina sent me a link last night for a JCS date in Seattle (10/13-14/06). The link is here:

http://www.ballparks.com/tickets/theater/jesus_christ_superstar_tickets_seattle.htm 

Ted and company are booked in Clinton MI that evening, and the ticket prices are WAY above the average price being charged on this list. However, this site also lists a number of the other bookings that are happening to buy JCS tickets. I called the Mccaw Hall for an "official" statement. I was told that Ballpark is a ticket site that has just "popped up". It's similar to the other online ticket sites, however, this information is NOT ACCURATE. JCS is not scheduled to play Seattle for the time being. I was told that they have had trouble with Ballpark, and that I should be wary of buying any ticket from this website or service.

 

UPDATE 3/9/06

OPEN AUDITION CASTING NOTICE IN BACKSTAGE- ISSUES 3/2 and 3/9/06

I guess I need to read the newspapers and magazines I subscribe to! I picked up my copy of Backstage, which I received yesterday, and was flipping through it just a little while

ago, when I ran across the open audition notice for Jesus Christ Superstar - starring Ted Neeley. The call for men was yesterday at 10AM, and for women it's today at 12 noon (okay- so if I got in my car and left right now I'd get to NYC about 10:30AM - which occurred to me to do for about a minute, followed, of course, by an immediate attack of sanity, when I read the statement that the women had to be "very attractive and in great physical shape". (Yes, I can sing, and yes I think I look okay - but great physical shape? Oh yeah - me with the racing pulse when I run one flight of stairs...). And I doubt Ted will be there anyway.). The notice states that this tour will begin rehearsals on August 7 and opens on or about September 9 (Karyl Lynn - what does this mean for La Mancha?).

Anyway, here's the notice (my comments are in red):

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

'JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR'

Troika Entertainment is casting a new national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, the Andrew Lloyd Webber rock opera about the last days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth, starring Ted Neeley (although they spelled it Neely) in the title role. Dallet Norris, dir; Arlene Phillips, choreo.; Dave Clemmons Casting, casting. Rehearsals begin on or about Aug. 7; tour opens on or about Sept. 9 and runs through June 2007.

Seeking---Jesus of Nazareth: 25-35, male, rock tenor (low Bb to high E, with pop falsetto to high G), the quietly powerful leader of the poor and downtrodden, intense, compassionate, driven, and sincere, must have a string, charismatic presence, seeking understudy only; (so is this just for - God-forbid - illness - or is this who will take over when Ted does La Mancha, I wonder?)  

Judas Isariot: 20-40, male, rock tenor (low D to high C), intense and conflicted, loves Jesus deeply but ultimately betrays him, idealistic, highly intelligent, and increasingly disillusioned;  

Mary Magdalene: 20-late 30s, female, pop-rock mezzo (low G# to high A), streetwise and tough, fascinated by Christ and ferociously protective of him, must be very attractive and in great physical shape;  

Caiaphas: 30-60, male, bass (D below low D to middle F), head Jewish high priest, strong, cerebral, a monolithic, menacing physical presence;  

Annas: 25-40 male, tenor (low F to high C#), high priest, second only to Caiaphas, shrewd, coldly calculating, and manipulative;  

Pontius Pilate: 30-60, male, baritone or tenor (low A to high Bb), Roman governor with strong, stoic presence, very oriented towards law and order and is conflicted and reluctant to play a role in the persecution of Christ;  

King Herod: 35-60, male, baritone/tenor (low B to middle G), puppet ruler, petulant, spoiled, larger than life, can turn on a dime from amusing eccentric to extremely dangerous madman;  

Peter: 20-40, male, baritone-tenor (low Bb to high G), gentle apostle who betrays Jesus but eventually finds his strength and becomes a stabilizing force among the Apostles;  

Simon Zealotes: 18-30, male, rock tenor (low Bb to high G), youthful, exuberant, idealistic, and increasingly militant;  

Male Ensemble: excellent pop-rock singers who move very well to play Apostles, Priests, and to understudy the principal roles;  

Female Ensemble: excellent pop-rock singers who dance or move very well to portray Soul Sisters and others, must be very attractive and in great physical shape.

Note: Seeking actors of all ethnicities.

Auditions will be held March 13 at 10 a.m. (male principals and male ensemble) & March 14 at noon (female ensemble and Mary Magdalene) at Chelsea Studios, 151 W. 26th

St., 6th fl., NYC. Prepare 16 bars of pop or rock song (with sheet music in the appropriate key) that shows off range, and bring your book. Do not sing from the show. All auditioning must bring sheet music for piano accompanist. Bring pix & resumes, stapled together.  

Pay, plus per diem, travel, housing, and health insurance.

(First posted 3/2/06)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

OKAY - THAT'S IT. More as soon as I hear or see anything!

 

UPDATE 3/10/06

Called Troika - Heather Grabbing, from the Marketing Dept. was in a meeting, but called me back. She had not even heard about any breakdown in talks with ALW, and stated that what Barry apparently heard is exactly what Lynne stated. A RUMOR. SO:

OFFICIALLY - THE TOUR IS GOING FORWARD!!!!

Now, some of what Heather stated doesn't quite mesh. She said that the tour is definitely starting in September, 2006. We all know this can't be, unless the tour does not have any dates booked in October, when Ted does La Mancha (no, I did not mention this at all, BTW, so don't worry Karyl Lynn). And, with rehearsal, that would have to include at least the last week of September for Ted (Karyl Lynn?). I know that during the Anniversary Tour, Ted and Carl often didn't come in until the last tech. once the show was up and running (Equity rules, I think - even though Ted is no longer a member - and, as I understand this - this will be a non-Equity tour). I'm sure this will be all be clarified soon enough.

Heather also said that Troika is not affiliated with Broadwayworld.com - which clashes with the original statement we were given, that they post all their tours on that site. So who knows what will show up on that site where the block that John found exists? As far as any official tour announcement, Heather said that the press conferences and media had already happened, and that the tour announcement was - I think a month ago. BUT - UNFORTUNATELY, Heather told me that, due to contractual agreements, she could not tell me any dates or venues for the tour. In fact, apparently the only way to find these out is when the theatres announce their seasons. (She suggested Googling JCS - and I told her we had been doing that - and what had come up with the searches). So ... everyone ... as much as I hate to say this, the only way we're going to know where the tour is booked (at least for now anyway) is by finding the bookings on the web, the same way we found Schuster Center and the Lyric Opera House.

***SIGH***. Yes, that's about as frustrating as it gets, isn't it?

AT LEAST WE DO KNOW, THOUGH, THAT TED IS GOING TO TOUR WITH JCS, AND HE WILL BE ON THE ROAD IN LATE 2006/EARLY 2007.

If/when I get anymore news on this, you can find it here, or on the list. Sorry there is nothing more definitive on dates at this time. I know this is trying everyone's patience, but I'm SURE we will know more sooner than later. (If there's no other way, of course, we can always ask Ted at La Mancha, right?)

 

UPDATE 3/9/06

One rumor from Lynne (homesickmoose):

I came across a comment, I think it may have been on a message board somewhere, that talks have broken down between the producers of this Farewell Tour, and the Little Toad's (ALW) company, The Really Useless Group. Given the probable source of this information, I'd treat it as a *rumour* until corroborated by something more official. Troika does have a cast photo of Ted up on their JCS page. Those who know him can tell the rest of us if this is a recent picture (he looks mighty nice, if it is!).

... Moose

Now, this does concur with what Barry Dennen said in his e-mail response to Mary, but I will still call Troika about this later today and post the "official" statement on this - if there is one.

EVERYONE CROSS YOUR FINGERS!!!

Thanks Guys.

 

UPDATE 2/27/06

I spoke with McKenna at Troika again today to check on the progress with JCS, and she said that their Booking Agent is on the phone about about this tour constantly (people don't  realize that there are a lot involved of things involved in booking a tour that none of us think about - what with contracts, availability and the like), and she says that they are still "getting their act together" on this. She spoke with the person who will be doing the posting of the tour when it is "officially announced", and she told McKenna that the site they post tour announcements on is actually www.broadwayworld.com, and the announcement will appear under "shows". McKenna thinks that this will probably happen in the next couple of weeks. So ... just be patient a little longer. After all, especially with Ted, good things come to those who wait!

*Also, there have been some "suggestions" on the list about who can join Ted on this tour to make it a real reunion of sorts (now that Carl is gone). John wrote Yvonne and here is what he found out:

I sent Yvonne a letter a week ago to her Hawaii address asking if there was any chance she might be joining Ted's Farewell Tour of JCS this fall. I asked her to either respond by mail or e-mail. I just received the following today...

Dear John,

No, I wasn't planning on joining his tour, because I didn't know anything about it! Tell me more!

Aloha,

Yvonne Elliman

I replied with the following...

All I can tell you is that TROIKA which is one of the largest national tour production companies has on their website www.troika.com  that JCS the Ted Neeley Farewell Tour is an upcoming show. A friend of mine called them and they told her they expected the tour to kick off late fall. Also I have pasted below an excerpt from Tim Rice's web news page...

Troika, which is currently running both Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat North American tours, will soon be launching a Jesus Christ Superstar tour. The tour will be Ted Neeley's "farewell tour". Further details to be provided.

I know it will be difficult for Ted to take this show on again without Carl. It would be so wonderful if you could check into it and possibly join the tour, even if for only a few weeks of it. I know I would travel anywhere to see the two of you together.

Please let me know if you do.

All my best,

John Conti

And Mary heard from Barry Dennen:

2/19/06:

Dear Mary:

Thanks so much for writing. There was some talk of a Farewell Tour but negotiations seem to have failed with Andrew Lloyd Webber. I would certainly do it and so would Yvonne Elliman.

Let's keep our fingers crossed. In the meantime, thank you for your kind words.

Best from Barry Dennen

 

Well - stranger things have happened, so who knows? They may all get together again yet!

 

UPDATE 2/16/06

I spoke to Troika yesterday morning. Apparently, the Department doing the bookings hasn't released the list of dates/locations yet, because they are still debating on some of the dates. The Woman I spoke to still thinks this tour is starting in September. She asked why that surprised me. I DID NOT GO INTO SPECIFICS, BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT TED IS PLANNING AND DID NOT WANT TO MESS THINGS UP (got that?), but I did allude to an event we knew about in October on the West Coast (and that's ALL I SAID). She said that sometimes tours include a "down-time" - meaning an amount of time where the tour is on vacation, so to speak, and cast members do other things. So, maybe that's what Ted is doing. Of course, with the 40-city La Mancha tour planned, that would still be difficult (Karyl Lynn - any news on this?).

NOW, THE WOMAN ALSO SAID THAT IT'S POSSIBLE THE WHOLE TOUR IS BEING PUSHED BACK, AND THAT'S WHAT THE DEBATE IS ABOUT. SHE DOESN'T KNOW FOR CERTAIN, AND THE GUY IN CHARGE WAS NOT IN THE OFFICE TO ASK. (But this makes sense for what Jenn said she was told about 40-bookings for this tour - all on the East Coast.)

All that said, she told me that this will most likely be announced on Broadway.com - and possibly as soon as next week. That's the site they announce their tours on.

That said, I will keep trying to find things out, and the first I hear - YOU WILL ALL KNOW HERE AND ON TED'S LIST.

So, all of you planning Baltimore, it's possible Ted may be in your backyard before that date even plays. Be just a LITTLE MORE patient, and I'm SURE there will be good news for  EVERYONE!!!!!

 

UPDATE 2/11/06

SIR TIM RICE: http://www.timrice.co.uk/trpage.html

News & Recent Events Troika http://www.troika.com/index.html, which is currently running both Evita and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat North American tours, will soon be launching a Jesus Christ Superstar tour. The tour will be Ted Neeley's "farewell tour". Further details to be provided.

MUSICALS.NET

Musicals Message Board:

http://musicals.net/forums/archive.php/o_f__f_45__jesus-christ-superstar.html

And a specific thread about the Farewell Tour

http://musicals.net/forums/archive.php/looks-like-ted-neeley-s-farewell-tour-will-happen__o_t__t_44776.html

 

UPDATE 1/24/06

FALSE ALARM!!!

*I was on Yahoo Messenger with Gibson on Monday (1/23/06) who told me that Evan (Grubbs) found a link which lead him to believe that booking had begun on the farewell tour. The link: (http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/57644/) was for a Ticketmaster site which had Jesus Christ Superstar booked for the weekend of April 7-9, 2006 at Kimberly Clark  Theater Fox Cities Pac in the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center, located in Appleton, Wisconsin. Gibson said Evan thought it might be The Farewell Tour, because the dates would work in conjunction with La Mancha, which was a theory that made sense. However, while Ted and Carl did do a lot of one-weekend stands with The Anniversary Tour, rarely (if ever) were the ticket prices as low as the $18 price posted on the Ticketmaster site, so I had my suspicions.

I managed to find the website for the theatre and the JCS link inside the site: (http://www.foxcitiespac.com/Events/4-7.htm), which states it is being  presented by Stageplay  Productions, rather than Troika Entertainment. Finally, yesterday, I was able to reach someone in the Box Office, and found out that this production is NOT The Farewell Tour, but  is actually a community theatre production, and that Stageplay Productions is the theatre's community theatre company. This is the official info from Kimberly Clark Theatre, though, so I thought I'd post it here in case this comes to light again and/or anyone has any further questions down the road.

 

UPDATE 12/13/05

Von Thompson (dabaone@yahoo.com) reported last night that there is a Troika Entertainment website showing pre-production materials for the "Jesus Christ Superstar Farewell Tour" starring Ted Neeley. Here is the site's URL: http://www.troika.com/mktjcs.html. I spoke to the Marketing Manager (I believe she was, anyway) on this and here's what I found out, as well as my thoughts on this:

I posted this (with a few changes) on Ted's e-mail list this morning

(12/13/05):

Everyone,

I just spoke to the Marketing Department at Troika. This is very curious.

The website Von found is for venues who are presenting JCS to upload the marketing materials for the show. I asked her about website use, and she told me that, while she would be more than glad to allow it, she didn't have the capacity, because THIS IS AN ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER SHOW (So, sorry folks, at the moment, I can't post the materials here). Gee, has the "Master" finally woken up to the fact that TED IS THE ONLY REAL JESUS JCS ever had? (Or maybe he's decided he'd actually like to stage a JCS that will be SUCCESSFUL? I mean, how many times, without Ted, has this really worked for any length of time? Poor Glenn Carter and Eric Kunze, though talented, had bigger shoes than they could fill.).

However, here is what doesn't match:

The poster is on the "Upcoming Productions" page. Everything there is in PRE-PRODUCTION (meaning it's not been done yet). On that same page are posters for: Chicago (which has already been touring for over a year, played Cleveland a few months ago - for the 2nd or 3rd time - and with this poster), and Little Shop of Horrors (which is already on the road - and played Cleveland last month - also with this poster and program cover)). So maybe it's a case of their website not being up-to-date. Also on the page are La Cage (someone tell me - isn't that touring now?), Floor Play and Bye Bye American Pie (I know nothing about these. Anyone?), and Sunset Blvd. (that's been in the works for awhile - in fact, there's a  film being scheduled with Glenn Close set for release NEXT OCTOBER. It has not been filmed yet, in fact, recently Liza Minnelli and Hugh Jackman were rumored to be frontrunners with the project. According to this site: http://www.closeup.co.uk/blvd/homepage.htm, it's Glenn Close now - which makes sense, since she won the Tony - and both Hugh Jackman and Ewan McGregor - (OH GOD HELP US - HE REALLY STUNK IN THE STAR WARS PREQUELS - WHAT IS SO HOT ABOUT THIS GUY???!!!, and what is the sin in showing one wrinkle on the screen? Joe does not have to be young!) - are in the running for Joe. Oh, BTW, MARKY - here's the URL on a new Sunset production in Melbourne for August, 2005: http://www.closeup.co.uk/blvd/html/info/news.htm).

Now here's what's even MORE curious:

The woman I spoke to told me that Jesus Christ Superstar was set for next season. NEXT SEPTEMBER, to be exact. Okay, we all know where Ted will be next October, and once La Mancha plays RTC, he will be on a 40-city US Tour with it (RTC still has this info listed in their donation letters - I got one of those last night). Now, I would assume  (although I know what that word really means) that RTC is still going ahead with the 40-city tour (Karyl Lynn?), so where does that leave JCS? Incidentally, I did not tell this woman anything about the RTC 40-city tour, when she told me next September was the date that JCS was due to open. And, BTW, she did not know where it would open, so, perhaps the venues aren't set at this time. Maybe Troika isn't up-to-date on Ted's availability schedule or the JCS tour production schedule, or maybe someone's playing Russian Roulette? In any event, it will be interesting to see how this plays out.

An aside, it is a REAL SHAME that this couldn't have been done 2 years earlier - then Carl would have been on that tour too, and Ted would have had his wish. Thank you ALW for being late as usual!

Here is the website, in case anyone wants another look at the materials: http://www.troika.com/mktjcs.html

Cindi :)



"We all need each other to ultimately feel complete.  However, until we feel complete within ourselves, as an Island to an ocean, we cannot help all complete the circle."