Yes, Ted Neeley has been playing the title role in Jesus Christ Superstar on and off for nearly 40 years. Yes, he is 68 years old. And yes, those simple chronological facts might inspire the snarky, nigh-blasphemous suggestion that he’s old enough to be Jesus’ father. But fans of his iconic portrayal continue to travel from around the world to see him—and his latest stop is for a two-week run in Park City. 
Starring the incomparable Ted Neeley as Jesus! A super-hipster Rock-Opera loosely based on the last week of Jesus's life, as seen through the eyes of disenchanted disciple Judas Iscariot. Is Jesus a man with a dramatic new message or a Superstar, a god? 
“I’ve never once had a person walk away being unhappy with the experience, because it’s not what the people expect who feel it might be blasphemous,” Neeley said. “Once they see what we are doing, they understand that it’s not based upon anything that could be blasphemous. It’s based upon a concept about the last seven days of the man called Jesus Christ as seen through the eyes of his contemporaries. It’s not disavowing anything. It’s talking about how people may have perceived this man who created such massive miracles for all of us.”
The original Broadway production was directed by Tom O’Horgan, famed for his involvement in other rock musicals of the ’70s, including “Hair,” which also starred Neeley as Claude. “Jesus Christ Superstar” was first created in 1969 as a concept album by the then-unknown composer/lyricist duo of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice. After it premiered on Broadway, it was turned into the movie starring Neeley and directed by Norman Jewison.
“I shall forever be 33, thanks to that film,” said Neeley, who is now 68 but said “age is absolutely of no consequence” when it comes to his continued involvement with the show.
Neeley has enjoyed a career in music and has starred in several acclaimed revivals and touring productions of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Although he has not kept an exact count, Neeley estimates he has performed the role of the carpenter from Galilee more than 3,000 times now.
That level of involvement has left this diminutive actor and singer understandably protective of the show.
“This is a child to me,” he said. “This is my father and mother to me. This is my spiritual existence to me.”
Ted-Heads
Neeley is keenly aware of the devout fan base around the world who also feel a spiritual connection with the show’s music and message. Ted-Heads, as his uber-fans are called, host countless fan websites devoted to Neeley. In a press release, the Egyptian Theatre management stated that it is aware of several people traveling from as far away as Germany just to see Neeley play Jesus again.
“People come into the theater, no matter where we are, with their hearts open about this piece,” Neeley said. “They sit down in that theater, and the energy that they throw up on that stage is absolutely remarkable, and then we do our best to throw it back. So it’s this wonderful cycle of positive energy and support that goes on during that two-hour performance, and it happens every single night.”
Neeley’s passion and knowledge of the piece was evident during a dress rehearsal earlier this week as he gently but firmly guided the nine-piece band during the heart-wrenching “Gethsemane: I Only Want to Say” number.
It was obvious Neeley is fully invested in the production and takes his portrayal quite seriously.
“Here’s a man who is challenged with accomplishing that which he came to do and feeling that he hasn’t done what he was supposed to do,” Neeley said of the soul-searing scene. “Who can he talk to? He turns and talks to his dad. That’s what it is, a personal relationship and seeing a man who is questioning his purpose. What’s better than that for us to relate to on a human level?”
Although he did look over a copy of his original Broadway score on his flight to Utah, Neeley said, the music and lyrics are permanently “embedded in a beautiful sanctuary in the corner of my brain.”
Playing the same role so many times would be a challenge for even the most talented of performers, but Neeley said it has never bored him.
“I can walk into the theater after having had the worst day of my life and the minute I hear that overture music start, it takes me somewhere else,” Neeley said. “It’s never boring, it’s never tiring and it’s never something you go, ‘Oh God, I have to do that again?’ I can’t wait to get up there and have the opportunity to feel that again with the audience and the cast and the crew and the band and everybody.”
At the end of the day, this Texas-born rock ’n’ roll drummer describes himself as someone who got lucky with the part of a lifetime that not only affected millions around the world, but forever changed his life as well.
He credits the show for not only his career and spiritual life, but also another important aspect of his life.
“Had I not been a part of this, I never would have met my wife, so this has turned my life around in the most positive of ways,” Neeley said. “I have been so fortunate to be able to ride this beautiful wave for so many years. It’s remarkable the way people treat me — my goodness. I wish you seriously could stand in my sandals and just see what it’s like.”
As much as I’ve connected with the soundtrack, it’s the movie that has been so memorable to me these past 35 years. 
Gethsemane has been my favorite song from JCS since I can remember. The lyrics are evocative and emotional and to hear Ted Neeley sing this live was a dream come true. No one can feel its power or embody Jesus’ pain, doubt, or resolve more than Ted who has performed this some 3,000 times throughout his career. It was a moment, and if you need but one reason to see Jesus Christ Superstar in Park City, this is it. And it’s the reason that I’ll be going back to see it once more before it ends.
When I approached Ted, I told him how meaningful Jesus Christ Superstar had been to me over the years and how lucky I felt to be able to see him and meet him. He was so gentle and kind. As I started to walk away, I turned back to him and asked him if I could please ask him one thing that had long bothered me. I said, “I don’t understand why Jesus doesn’t get on the bus at the end”. Of course I could speculate, but I’ve always wondered the real reason. Ted put his hands on my shoulders and quietly said, “I’m so glad you asked me this question.”
Melissa Leilani Larson has written 16 article(s) on this blog.
