JCS Ted Neeley's Farewell Tour — Page 2

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!

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

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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.

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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...

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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.

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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.

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

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