How many shows has Ted Neeley performed the title role in "Jesus Christ Superstar"? "I have never been one to keep that record," Neeley says by phone before a show in Charlottesville, Va. "Multiply eight shows a week times slightly over 2000 years, then you'll get a round number." Neeley breaks into a hearty laugh. "I'm sorry to go there."
Fans are still going to witness Neeley in "Superstar," the Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber "rock opera" that garnered five Tony nominations after it debuted on Broadway in 1971.
Although he auditioned for the role of Judas, Neeley took a spot in the chorus of that production while also becoming the understudy for the Christ role. For the 1973 film, Neeley stepped into the sandals of Jesus, a role he has continued in numerous theatrical touring productions ever since.
The current tour plays March 25 at Peabody Auditorium in Daytona Beach.
Neeley isn't totally occupied by his Jesus gig. He's also a drummer and composer who's written music for films and TV shows, and he's acted in films, TV and other plays. But the talk was all J.C. when Neeley checked in with The News-Journal.
Are you a Christian?
Yes. I had an extremely religious background as a child. I grew up in a tiny Texas town called Ranger, kind of like Mayberry R.F.D., where church was a part of your life. Southern Baptist. I was in church as much if not more than I was in school as a child. It wasn't forced on me. I learned all of the Bible stories through Sunday school and vacation Bible school and from the ministers in the pulpit. I reveled in all of that.
How has playing the role of Jesus affected your spiritual path over the years?
When I got involved in this wonderful project, it hit me right between the eyes that this was a concept I had not even heard about: looking at Jesus Christ as a man. It was always Jesus as the son of God and the visual was Jesus as a stained-glass window. Completely unapproachable, untouchable and never near enough to communicate. I started searching desperately for some sort of manual, any kind of literature looking at Jesus as man, at the time in 1971. The only piece I could find was the Nikos Kazantzakis book "The Last Temptation of Christ." I read that novel many, many, many times.
"Superstar" does not challenge the deity. It absolutely accepts Jesus as the son of God. But when he walked on this earth, he walked in body as a man. I tried to combine both sides of the coin.
Did the play stir up controversy?
Oh absolutely. It was rampant. We came close to being run out of the city on a rail, literally, back in 1971 during the first Broadway theatrical production. Mind you it was New York City! There were people 10, 12, 15 deep stretched around the block, trying to stop us from doing this horrible, blasphemous piece.
There were four elements people took issue with. One was the fact it was called "Jesus Christ Superstar." They hated the fact that was combined. There is a song by Mary Magdalene called "I Don't Know How to Love Him." People didn't like the idea that Mary Magdalene was singing a love song to Jesus.
Third, Jesus was singing. That was horrible. Fourth was that Jesus was singing with a rock 'n' roll band.
I would say to people, "Have you seen the show?" I would say, "Well, please, as my guest, look at the show, talk to be after and tell me that with which you take issue." Those who accepted my invitation always loved it.
Back then we were thought of as the ultimate blasphemy. Now, if I may use this phrase, we are thought of basically as a spiritual "Sesame Street." I say that because everyone tells me and has told me for 30-plus years: "Our children can so much more easily understand the story because of the music."
In essence this was the birth of Christian rock. Now most churches use that to get young people involved. We're accepted now. If only Jesus had had the same opportunity (laughs).
Yes. I had an extremely religious background as a child. I grew up in a tiny Texas town called Ranger, kind of like Mayberry R.F.D., where church was a part of your life. Southern Baptist. I was in church as much if not more than I was in school as a child. It wasn't forced on me. I learned all of the Bible stories through Sunday school and vacation Bible school and from the ministers in the pulpit. I reveled in all of that.
How has playing the role of Jesus affected your spiritual path over the years?
When I got involved in this wonderful project, it hit me right between the eyes that this was a concept I had not even heard about: looking at Jesus Christ as a man. It was always Jesus as the son of God and the visual was Jesus as a stained-glass window. Completely unapproachable, untouchable and never near enough to communicate. I started searching desperately for some sort of manual, any kind of literature looking at Jesus as man, at the time in 1971. The only piece I could find was the Nikos Kazantzakis book "The Last Temptation of Christ." I read that novel many, many, many times.
"Superstar" does not challenge the deity. It absolutely accepts Jesus as the son of God. But when he walked on this earth, he walked in body as a man. I tried to combine both sides of the coin.
Did the play stir up controversy?
Oh absolutely. It was rampant. We came close to being run out of the city on a rail, literally, back in 1971 during the first Broadway theatrical production. Mind you it was New York City! There were people 10, 12, 15 deep stretched around the block, trying to stop us from doing this horrible, blasphemous piece.
There were four elements people took issue with. One was the fact it was called "Jesus Christ Superstar." They hated the fact that was combined. There is a song by Mary Magdalene called "I Don't Know How to Love Him." People didn't like the idea that Mary Magdalene was singing a love song to Jesus.
Third, Jesus was singing. That was horrible. Fourth was that Jesus was singing with a rock 'n' roll band.
I would say to people, "Have you seen the show?" I would say, "Well, please, as my guest, look at the show, talk to be after and tell me that with which you take issue." Those who accepted my invitation always loved it.
Back then we were thought of as the ultimate blasphemy. Now, if I may use this phrase, we are thought of basically as a spiritual "Sesame Street." I say that because everyone tells me and has told me for 30-plus years: "Our children can so much more easily understand the story because of the music."
In essence this was the birth of Christian rock. Now most churches use that to get young people involved. We're accepted now. If only Jesus had had the same opportunity (laughs).
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