Jesus Christ Superstar benefit show 8/13 with Ted Neeley, Ben Vereen, Jack Black

[latheatrelover]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:18pm

I saw an article in the L.A. Times that stated on Sunday night there will be a special performance at the Ricardo Montalbaun Theater in Hollywood of "Jesus Christ Superstar" to benefit YouTHeatre America, a newly formed nonprofit national theater arts program for young people founded by Jack Nakano, artistic director emeritus of the California Youth Theater, and it will also benefit the Ricardo Montalbaun Foundation.

Ted Neeley of the film version will star. Also from the film are Yvonne Elliman as Mary Magdalene. and Barry Dennen as Pontius Pilate. Ben Vereen, who was in the stage version, will recreate his role as Judas. Clint Holmes will play Simon Zealotes and Jack Black will play King Herod. The only tickets left are $265 and $520. Here's the website: www.youtheatreamerica.tix.com

I'd like to go but can't afford it.

Updated On: 8/12/06 at 07:18 PM

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:21pm

"...and Clint Black will play King Herod."

That would be VERY untraditional casting (btw, I think you mean JACK Black)

[latheatrelover]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:23pm

Sigh, I got it right in the header but had just written Clint Holmes and goofed. Yes, Jack Black.

[tourboi]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:26pm

Sorry, but Jack Black in a musical (ANY musical) is enough to frighten me away from the box office.

[latheatrelover]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:36pm

lol, if Josh Mostel could get through that one number, Jack Black can. It would be worth going to see Ben Vereen.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 7:41pm

I hope they send the tapes of Ted's high notes to the theater on time!

[latheatrelover]

Posted: 8/12/06 at 8:04pm

Well, this is interesting. I noticed the article about it in the paper today and posted the info here in case anyone was interested in it and also that it is going to be a charity benefit for a youth theater program. And, so far, the posts in response have been: 1. pointing out a name typo; 2. a person who will stay away because of Jack Black; and 3. a catty joke.

Updated On: 8/12/06 at 08:04 PM

[wayne2]

Posted: 8/14/06 at 10:55pm

Just a tiny extra bit of trivia. It should be quite a reunion of sorts. Besides appearing in the film of "J.C. Superstar", Ted Kneeley was understudy to Jeff Fenholt(Broadway's original Jesus), Ben Vereen was Broadway's original Judas (Understudied by Carl Anderson), Yvonne Elliman was Broadway's original Mary Magdalen and Barry Dennen was Broadway's original Pilate. I saw the show Both Opening and closing night at the Mark Hellinger Theatre. Closing night was exciting but opening nights original cast was just plain electrifying.

[MTVMANN]

Posted: 8/15/06 at 2:17am

This sounds really cool and I hope they raise the money!

I got into JCS when I was cast as Annas in the summer of 2005. I'm glad to see that Yvonne Elliman is doing this!