JCS Ted Neeley's Farewell Tour- Page 2

Posted: 6/16/06 at 9:24pm

I am seeing it, and I ADORE Ted. I understand why people don't like him, but I enjoy him. I LOVE HIM! I am so happy. My mom is getting to see him again as well. She said he blew ehr away. CANNOT WAIT!

Posted: 6/16/06 at 9:55pm

The last time I saw JCS was a horrible production at the Paramount Theatre in Madison Square Gardeb. It was in 1995. The featured performers were Ted Neeley,Carl Anderson,Dennis DeYoung,Syreeta Wright,etc., etc. It was really bad. And I like the show, having seen the original Broadway production and many, many summer stock productions.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 10:17pm

My dream cast:

Jesus: Donny Osmond
Judas: Trent Reznor
Whatever role Dennis DeYoung played: Denis O'Hare
Mary Magdalene: Courtney Love
Herod: Rob Maitner
The Apostles: Eddie Varley, Rufus Wainright, Luther Creek, Kevin Cahoon, Anthony Rapp, John Hill, Stephen Spinella, John Cameron Mitchell, Jim J. Bullock, Harvey Fierstein and Karen Ziemba

[??]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 12:32am

Namo,

Please tell me Donny Osmond was a joke. Joseph sure....but Jesus,have you SEEN Glenn Carter.....well there you go.

Sorry folks, even if Neeley is 63, he has a better voice now than you and I ever could. Listening to Gethsemane by Ted Neeley will make you cry at your own pathetic attempts to sing anything.

I think when people say they don't like what Ted did with the role, they think of the show as the beaten child Gale Edwards made it into. Lets keep in mind that this show was a rock album that was adapted into a show. Jesus and Judas are ROCK singers and when seeing the show you should feel like you're at a rock concert rather then a musical.

With that said, casting Sebastian Bach was actually a wise choice and an attempt to get the show back to the rock screaming, theatre bombing, bad boy piece that it was in the 70's instead of the family musical it is today. Unfortunately, Bach was awful and an idiot. Thank you Danny Zolli and Eric Kunze.

Has anyone ever heard Jack Blacks rough rendtion of Heaven on their Minds? He would be a truly great Judas if given the chance.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 12:38am

Sorry, I saw the first EVER concert version of the Jesus Christ Superstar tour BEFORE they tried to make it into a theatrical show on Broadway. And there was not then, nor is there now, any way in which it was a "theater bombing, bad boy" piece.

Ever. Believe me.

[M J R]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 12:52am

I have had three friends that have toured with him on this show before. They all absolutely (and I don't use the word lightly) HATE Ted. "Star" attitude that would put Ms. Lupone's worst stories to shame....

One specifically - they brought in a new Judas who was bringing down the house - Ted didn't like him, so he simply refused to go on. His understudy went on for one performance and the next day, the actor playing Judas was given the option of being relegated to the chorus or termination of his contract......He chose to leave altogether.

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 12:57am

This was one of my first professional theatrical experiences, and the first that I realized that actors are jsut regular people.

I'd gone to see this my senior year of high school, and had been told by a friend that if I waited by the stage door (if I could find it) that I may get to get autographs from teh cast.

My best friend and I were able to find it, were waiting in line and some women at the end of hte line overheard us talking about how we loved theatre and were both about to go to college to study musical theatre, and whispered to us to go to the back of the line and wait with them.

Turns out they'd been following the farewell tour across the country and had come to know Ted and some o fthe cast personally from meetin ghim after just about every stop of the tour.

So we waited, and, long story short, got a tour of the stage/set from Ted personally, got sooo mcuh advice and great stories about working in professional theatre, went out to get breakfast with hhim and some people after the show (during which I got to sit next to him - the perfect gentleman, he took off my coat, pulled out my chair - very nice) and didn't get back til about 6am...at which poin tmy mother grounded me, and all her firends how love that show pleaded with her to UNground me, reminding her that I'd gotten to meet THE ted neely!

It was insane and I'll never forget it. Honestly changed my life. He's such a dedicated, passionate performer and one of the sweetest men I've ever met. I wish him all the best in the world...

[M J R]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 12:59am

Well, there ya go then - not complete evil...

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 1:03am

I love that there's some segment of the universe where the in front of Ted Neeley, of all people, has great meaning.

It's not like it's the Lionel Barrymore, or the Mick Jagger or anything.

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 1:10am

lol.

first of all, I should point out, this was back in '97.

also, the only reason we SAW the tour, was because my mom's friends took us originally the year or two before as they love the show and I guess Ted Neeley. So...yeah, he's kind of a legendary rocker to them I guess in a sense...I dunno. Old people...can you really explain their tastes?

[??]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 2:37am

Namo,


By "bad boy" I mean controversial and groundbreaking for 1969. First of all, the song Superstar, when released as a single was banned from some radio stations.

When it opened as a show it did create quite a stir, for a start the whole idea of the audience sympthazing with Judas didn't go over too well. Nor did the portrayal of Jesus as man not God, and his relationship with Magdalene. Maybe it was the crucifixtion being done on a set of lips, which I suppose is better then the original idea of Christ, dressed in leather crucified on a Harley Davidson....yes, that was the original concept. JCS was a "bad boy" piece, still today there are those of faith who denounce the show, even though most versions are watered down. (I recently saw one that incorporated the whole Da Vinci Code thing...a little much)

And yes, theatres playing Jesus Christ Superstar WERE bombed when it opened in several parts of the world in the early 70's.

[MusicalComedyMan]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 2:42am

Ted Neeley is old enough to play God now!!!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 2:49am

Namo, isn't there a role for Rip Taylor in your dream cast?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/17/06 at 11:57am

Although my casting is obviously Mormon- and gender-blind, I could not get myself to be toupee-blind.

I'll consider Rip Taylor for Rob Maitner's understudy.