Ted Neeley, Jesus Christ Superstar, 2012 tour

[lonesome coyote]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 9:48am

Tedheads Unite!
Ted Neeley has just announced a tour of the US, starting out this fall in the Northeast. Ted fronts his five piece Little Big Band and opens up the archives, with music, stories, photos, and video clips from his long career in addition to music from his new CD. Check out neeleytour.com for dates and info!

Update: Now that this thread has unraveled a bit, I feel it necessary to reference the above paragraph; and though it pains me to risk offending any of the august citizens of Snarkville (Pop: You), all your visions of an octogenarian, becrutched Jesus hobbling about whilst surrounded by a rush of florid AMDA applicants must come to naught. Just Ted, as Ted. Covering material he is known for, and not known for. And as to the endless JCS tour incarnations, the critical points are well taken; we've worked some of those Spinal Tappish moments into the show. All in good kitsch, right?



www.neeleytour.com Updated On: 8/20/12 at 09:48 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:05am

I'm sorry, but after sitting through the excruciatingly painful tour of Jesus Christ Superstar a few years ago, I can't see him perform again.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:11am

A 60 year old Jesus?

or

A 60 year old? Jesus!

Updated On: 8/20/12 at 10:11 AM

[wicked1492]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:17am

Just when you thought he was done, he keeps going and going and going and going...

[lonesome coyote]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:17am

Wow! Edifying comments. Perhaps this would be of interest:

He’s just a man… He’s just a man…


Try telling that to Quentin Tarantino. On one of those ubiquitous sunny California
winter days in early 2012, Ted Neeley sat in an idling car at an imposing security gate
waiting for a response from the large house on the hill above; he had been summoned out
of that LA blue by Tarantino, ostensibly for some as yet unnamed film project. The OK
for entrée given, the gate slowly rolled open and a figure appeared at the top of the
driveway. Arms splayed wide, the call of “Jeeeeeeeeezusssssssssss” rang through the
semi-peaceful valley and Tarantino, manically animated as ever, swept down and
scooped up Ted in a big bear hug. “I used to play you in my bedroom as a kid!” he
extolled as the two men regarded each other. Tarantino, ever the lover of all things
movie, particularly those of the fringe and kitsch, had such a high regard for both the film
and Ted as its central figure that he wanted to include Neeley in his latest film, the
spaghetti western cum southern gothic slave romp, Django Unchained. How could
Teddie Joe say no to that offer?
And as usual, Tarantino is on to something. In a recent online poll featured on The
Huffington Post, formatted as a March Madness style system of brackets that pitted
classic Jesus films against each other, Jesus Christ Superstar bested Monty Python’s Life
of Brian to take the championship. And although one may certainly credit the great
Norman Jewison for his direction, or stirring performances by the late great Carl
Anderson and the rest of the ensemble, Ted Neeley is at the center of it all - as one would
expect of Jesus in a film about Jesus, to be sure. Yet something remains of the energy, the
naïve enthusiasm of the times, dare I say it – authenticity? With its stripped down, desert
back-dropped production design, its liberal (also somewhat reflective of the cinematic
times) use of the camera zoom, and fervent, earnest performances the film holds its own
against all comers. It has a raw, almost unselfconscious quality that few other films of
that genre have, and certainly stands out in the current climate of the uber-jaded, cloying,
image controlling entertainment industry.
And Ted? Raw? He was back those many years ago in Ranger, Texas, a dusty little
town between Dallas and Amarillo where he first picked up a pair of drumsticks and
performed locally with his school buddies whenever an opportunity presented itself. Less
raw when that band morphed into a rough and tumble outfit that could play a county fair
or a beer-soaked honky-tonk. And even less as the band crawled its way across the
Southwest towards the glimmering mirage of Los Angeles, paying for the gas and food
by playing at any shack or shed that would have them.
And then they landed on the Sunset Strip in the mid-sixties, right at the genesis of the
seminal LA scene that would launch so many artists. Seeing as they had played so many
gigs and covered so many musical genres out of necessity, the band began working
immediately. And Ted began to attract attention. As he puts it, “I was the guy who could
hit the high notes”. Most of the boys eventually filtered back to Texas, but Teddie stayed
on. In 1965 he signed a contract with Capitol Records at the helm of the Teddie Neeley
Five and yes, he even made the cover of Teen Beat magazine. But teenybopper stardom
wasn’t in the cards for Neeley. Almost by accident he wound up at an audition for a new
rock musical when he accompanied an actor friend to the open call. Next thing you know,
he was standing in the stark glare of a single stage light. A voice from the darkness
commanded him to sing something, anything. The voice belonged to director Tom
O’Horgan, and the show was Hair. And the rest, as they say….
Eventually came Superstar on Broadway, and in LA (the first show ever at the
Universal Amphitheatre) and a series of misses and near misses that led to Neeley’s
casting in the 1974 film and Golden Globe Nomination for Best Actor in a Musical and
one for Newcomer of the year - another one of those overnight successes that are many
years in the making. A few films followed, an album, television appearances; Ted
composed for several films and worked in the studio with various artists.
And then again came the divine light; several regional reprises of the Superstar role
led to a large-scale revival of the show that reunited Ted and his erstwhile Judas, Carl
Anderson. That tour lasted from early 1992 until 1997. Other versions followed, so much
so that those of us who know Ted quip that he’s been Jesus longer than Jesus was, or that
perhaps he might want to consider a re-imagining of the show as “Moses Christ
Superstar”.
But that wouldn’t really fit Ted. He is eternally young, almost preternaturally so. And
as in those ancient days of Sunset Strip yore, he’s still “the guy who can hit the high
notes”. At a recent mounting of Ted’s new stage show at the venerable Rubicon Theatre
in Ventura, California (which Ted was a founder of) the audience was on its feet as
always for Neeley’s searing “Gethsemane”. This is wine that has aged well. The notes are
still there, but the gravitas experience hath wrought brings with it facets of interpretation
that were missing in the original.
But no world-weariness for Ted; he’s too busy with the present. The new show
features highlights of his musical and professional history, lore and back-stories mostly
untold except for those who know him personally, and music from his new CD that
combines the rangy Texas dust of his youth with the nuances of a world wanderer. He’s
fronting a band again as he was in the beginning; and he’ll be in that Tarantino film when
it hits the silver screen this December. And when you come to his show this fall, should
you thrust your arms out and shout out “Jeeeeeeeeezusssssssssss”….
Well, that’ll be all right by him.

[artscallion]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:21am

You may have a good point or two in there somewhere. But no one will ever know it because who can read a 2000 word, split-lined paragraph? The human mind just won't allow it.

Updated On: 8/20/12 at 10:21 AM

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:22am

Your fandom is quite scary. Unless you are Ted. Which I would still find scary.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:22am

His performance as Jesus in last godawful national tour was without a doubt the absolute worst performance I have seen by a performer in my life. It was horrifying. #horrified

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:23am

It's not a tour OF JCS, just him. (Right?)

[lonesome coyote]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:27am

yup

[wicked1492]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:28am

Even more #horrifying is that post that I read about two lines of before I got a migrane. Thanks. #horrified

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:29am

But that wouldn’t really fit Ted. He is eternally young, almost preternaturally so. And as in those ancient days of Sunset Strip yore, he’s still “the guy who can hit the high notes”.

Eternally young? Yeah ummmm NO. Definitely not. And he may have hit those high notes at one point, but he sure as hell didn't on the night I saw the tour.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:30am

Long story short:

You read it HERE first.

As for you, phreak, you must have seen him on an off night. I saw him four times on this tour, and each time he was electrifying, certainly a much better performer than he was in the film.


He's a man... he's just a man... (posted by ME)

Updated On: 8/20/12 at 10:30 AM

[lonesome coyote]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:34am

Not fandom. It's an announcement. Of a show. g.d.e.l.g.i. got it right.

Updated On: 8/20/12 at 10:34 AM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:43am

Given your username and the title of an ambient track on Ted's tour site, might a guess that you're involved with the tour in some way be off the mark? If so, send me a PM; would love to kibbitz on projects of mine and Ted's mutual interest.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 2:00pm

Oh but why?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 3:40pm

After seeing Neeley's JCS tour in the mid-90s, I never ever wanted to hear him "sing" (meaning, scream) again. Especially that role. It was one of the worst productions I've ever seen and heard. We stayed for the second act thinking it couldn't possibly get worse. But it did.

Oh, and I really liked the film and Neeley's performance in it. But what he did in the tour was NOTHING like his performance in the film. He talked most of his mid-range music and then SCREAMED his upper range and the entire show was amplified to eardrum shattering decibels. But the real icing on the cake was after Jesus died, during John 19:41, Neeley had to physically YANK himself from the velcro (while trying to pretend he was all dead and stuff) that held him to the cross, which caused Jesus to sway back and forth as he rose into heaven and the cross lit up like a Vegas marquee.

There was nothing good to take away from that production. The sets, costumes, direction, lighting, sound and performances were all horrible. Incidentally, at a BC/EFA fundraiser, I won a black denim tour jacket from that tour with the logo and tour dates embroidered in gold and silver on the back (given to cast and crew only). Trying to remember if I even still have it or not.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/20/12 at 4:23pm

^ I agree with all of your comments regrading Neeley. The tour I saw was one of the worst productions I have ever seen. The set was literally a metal bridge. I remember for some reason they thought it would be cool to have to entire theatre filled with haze upon entering for seating. It was like sitting in a giant cloud of pollution while waiting for the show to start.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 2:25am

I saw Neeley as Jesus opposite Carl Anderson's Judas in the God-awful "A.D. tour" of the early 90s. Nothing against the 90s, btw.

But, like a member above me stated, I found Neeley and Anderson to be the saving grace of that tacky neon-laced production bathed in synth strings. They were both indeed electrifying.

I have no doubt y'all indeed witnessed a travesty of unimaginable proportions, although at this point, I'm left to make an educated guess and assume y'all just can't buy an old, grandpa Jesus and what was so horribly terrifying was his oldness.

Sorry if I got it wrong, but I don't have the luxury of reading any meaningful insight, critique, or review of any kind that suggests anything more than just a set of insults. =P

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 10:57am

Agreed, M.O.M. (my, but those seem like unfortunate initials now, don't they? ;D); it's got to be them, because whatever they saw, the critics didn't (side note -- these are just the handful I found on Google):

"At 63 years old, twice as old as Christ himself, Ted seems ageless and if anything, he has deepened his grasp of this character from his Messiah-like appearance to the open conversations he has with heaven. [...] Neeley [...] delivers a stellar performance and hits all the money notes effortlessly." - Pati Buehler, BroadwayWorld

"Forty years after he first starred in ?Jesus Christ Superstar,? Ted Neeley can still let out a high-pitched rock wail. [...] the 66-year-old gave a moving performance as the Messiah at Thursday?s opening show at the Gallo Center for the Arts. He?'s still agile and can keep up with the considerable physical demands of the part, which require him to be pushed to the ground, whipped and crucified on a nightly basis. [...] His finest moment was his passionate rendition of ?Gethsemane.? His ascension gave me chills and made me impressed with his bravery." - Lisa Millegan, Modesto Bee

"Few actors are as identified with a single role as Ted Neeley, who has been performing the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar for nearly four decades. The good news is that Ted Neeley still gives a star-worthy performance in this iconic role. [...] It has been a decade since I last saw Ted Neeley in Jesus Christ Superstar. The ageless wonder still has the chops for the role, with his charisma most evident in the Garden of Gethsemane and the crucifixion scenes. [...] he can still deliver power vocals that most performers can only achieve in their dreams." - Steven McKnight, DC Theatre Scene

"Let me state one thing up front: Mr. Neeley gets respect. The man is sixty-five and he's performing some serious power-wails as Jesus. When he comes in to kick the asses of the moneychangers in the temple, you believe him. He conducts himself through "Gethsemane" considerably well, all things considered -- because that's a hard damn song. I know, I've sung it before, though not in a full-on Superstar production. But regardless, it's hard. [...] I've got nothing but respect for the man..." - Widge, NeedCoffee.com

"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." - Mark-Brian Sonna, Pegasus News

"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. [...] his performance has become a cultural icon..." - Donald Munro, Fresno Beehive

"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." - Joseph Gordon, Examiner.com (reviewed at ASU Gammage)

Is he a little long in the tooth for the part? Unquestionably, or he wouldn't finally be doing a solo tour after 40 years. But the tour pulled in audiences sizable enough to last for at least three and a half, four years, and as someone who saw one performance from each of the four legs, either I got lucky and saw him on great nights (which is not statistically improbable, but highly unlikely), or he was that good more often than not. Given the bend of my post, you probably know which way I'm leaning.

Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt he got a little tired sometimes. On the third leg, he didn't miss a single performance, so sometimes he was performing whilst under the weather, or not having had anything to eat, etc. I've also heard (in)famous stories from the Nineties tour of Neeley performing with the flu, which led to some hilarious ad-libs when he had to run offstage and hit the vomitorium with a vengeance ("Who was that broken man..." being one). This was/is a man dedicated to his part.

Updated On: 8/21/12 at 10:57 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 11:08am

I have no doubt y'all indeed witnessed a travesty of unimaginable proportions, although at this point, I'm left to make an educated guess and assume y'all just can't buy an old, grandpa Jesus and what was so horribly terrifying was his oldness.

I just can't buy a Jesus that can't sing or hit any of the right notes. He was far from the only problem I bad with the production, but he was definitely one of the biggest ones. If Ted could still pull off the part at his age it would be different. I'm not a fan of having an old Jesus by any means, but that was not my problem with Neeley. Saying the only reason I personally couldn't "appreciate" Neeley's performance was because of his age is simply incorrect.

[ChiChi]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 11:18am

In the last tour he just stood there. All the action would come to him.

I couldn't believe he actually took his clothes off for the crucifiction.

[Outoftowner2]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 11:22am

Saw him many times over the years. I think he's a great performer. Enjoyed it every time.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 11:30am

In the last tour he just stood there. All the action would come to him.

I couldn't believe he actually took his clothes off for the crucifiction.

That's not really a Ted thing, though; that's more uninventive blocking. In fact, most productions of JCS that I've seen have that sort of air to them -- Jesus just stands around, and the apostles are around him, and they just kind of move him around. It bothers me, but the sad fact is that I can't really think of a more energetic way to portray the character.

And that's why I don't direct.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/21/12 at 11:57am

I have no doubt y'all indeed witnessed a travesty of unimaginable proportions, although at this point, I'm left to make an educated guess and assume y'all just can't buy an old, grandpa Jesus and what was so horribly terrifying was his oldness.

It had nothing to do with his "oldness" when I saw him. Like I explained, it was his voice. Anderson sounded a bit better, but I had no problem with the ages of anyone in the cast. That's probably the only thing that DIDN'T bother me about the production.