What Would Ted Neeley Do?

I attended the opening night performance of "Superstar" at the Busnell last night. The show was fresh and new and the supporting cast to Neely were great. I must admit that I felt that Ted Neely's time in the part has surely passed.
He had difficulty hitting high notes and voice cracked a few times. I would of loved to of seen a much younger person play this part, I was disappointed. I had the pleasure of seeing Ted Neely back in the 70's do this role and he was fabulous, but his time in this role has passed, Ted give it up.

Saw the show last night.

Ted can still bring home the bacon.

thought the reviewer was a bit harsh, but some first timers that i was with were bored to tears and left at intermission! i thought judas was portrayed well by corey glover. very entertaining to watch.
i've seen superstar about 4 of 5 times, and i can admit that it wasn't the best- ted neely was an "older" jesus when he played the role back in the 70s! but i still love the music and sang every word!

Saw the 5/7/08 show and it was the first time in 40 years that I walked out of the theater at intermission. My wife and I couldn't believe how bad Neely was - yelling and screaming his way through vocals. Corey Glover was horrible. The priest, Caiphas could use lessons from the bass voice from the barbershop quartet in The Music Man in the prior week on how to sing with a bass voice. Worst show I've ever seen.

We were stoked to see this show on arrival. But Neeley's Jesus soon sucked much of the excitement out of the show. Had Jesus been compotent, it would have been easy to overlook the over-the-top out-of-control Judas. Judas and Jesus really deflated our experience. We were left to enjoy a terrific Simon, solid dancing, a musical score that still rocks out with the best, and the spiritual journey.

I must say, I suspect the people that have given Ted and the cast poor reviews probably haven't seen the movie.
I've seen the show in different venues both on and off broadway, met Ted more than once. I feel qualified to say the screaming is being mistaken, it is truly the emotion of agony and passion.
Both of Judas and Jesus Christ, as Jesus knew the prophesy from the Old Testament.
Hoping to make the Sunday show, haven't met many actors but I can tell you out of all the people I've met in the world, Ted Neeley is one of the absolute nicest. God Bless you Ted. He even told us the story of how he met his wife.
She's the long haired blond in the original movie!!!!

Richard Pikulski wrote:

Saw the 5/7/08 show and it was the first time in 40 years that I walked out of the theater at intermission. My wife and I couldn't believe how bad Neely was - yelling and screaming his way through vocals. Corey Glover was horrible. The priest, Caiphas could use lessons from the bass voice from the barbershop quartet in The Music Man in the prior week on how to sing with a bass voice. Worst show I've ever seen.

Just out of curiosity had you ever seen the show before? Please note: I'm not being argumentative, but even in the first production 1973, he screamed through many of the vocals, and to the others, his voice cracks on purpose, honest. It always has, to portray his nervousness about to be betrayed, denied and crucified to die for our sins to be forgiven. Keep in mind, if we follow the 10 Commandments, we'll have less sins and Jesus will not have died in vain.
Sorry, old habits die hard, previous CCD teacher coming out.

We've seen the movie more times than we could ever count. People who are so critical should definitely see the movie. Ted's older but wiser and the nicest man we've ever met.

God Bless Ted!!

I just saw the musical on 5/10/08. While Ted is looking his age I loved the show. His vocals sounded as they always had. I would like to be able to sing that well when I am 65... Cory Glover sounded good with the exception of 'Superstar'... I loved his funky take on it with his white suit and sunglasses, but his vocals were not as clear as it was on earlier songs. I have always enjoyed Ted's version but the 2000 London revival is my favorite version.

The Gayle Edward's 2000 London Version w/Glenn Carter and Jerome Praydon is OK. Musically far better than Jewison's movie score. Much closer to the original concept album. It's the best DVD available.

Edward's removed all of Jewison's 'Hippyisms' and it for a pretty good compromise overall.

It does lack the incredible vocal presense of Ian Gillian and Murray Head from the concept album and would have been better with classic Ted Nealey and Carl Anderson than Glenn Carter and Jerome Pradon. It ranks second musically to the original concept album w/ Murray Head and Ian Gillian.

Good interview with Ted Neeley.
I have a copy of J.C. SUPERSTAR on dvd.
I first saw the 1973 movie, on NBC in 1980. I was 17 that summer.
I stll remember the song SUPERSTAR sent chills up my spine,as a child.-it was 1970-I was 7.
Me and my friends celebrated ALW's 60th Birthday LAST
March 22nd.
I can't wait to see Ted Neeley/cast in Tucson,Arizona.
It'll be in 2009.
I did a stage production in California- I was an ensemble/
girl at fire pit.
Thanks Ted for such a terrific Easter ritual.
I love to see the movie EVERY year at Easter week.

I saw Jesus Christ Superstar at the Savannah, Georgia Civic Center on June 5, 2008. The show touched me as did Ted Neeley's performance. I would see it again and again, only if Ted is in the role.

Saw Ted and crew in Orlando, loved it. Thanks Ted.