Jesus Christ Superstar Movie
Apr. 5th, 2026 10:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
switchbladeeyesHappy Easter to those who celebrate religiously and/or culturally.
The spouse and I are going to a screening of the 1970s Jesus Christ Superstar movie today, a movie of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera. The movie is kind of a trip if you haven't seen it.
The fun part is that Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the movie, will be there in person introducing the movie and doing a meet and greet after the show.
It's one of my favorite musicals (I love musicals!) and I saw Ted Neeley perform the role on stage a couple of times in the 90s, including once with Carl Anderson, who played Judas in the movie.
I have seen the stage musical many, MANY times. But not so much the movie. I think this will be fun!
Edited to add: It was AWESOME. I'm putting a few addition remarks and pictures in the comments.
The spouse and I are going to a screening of the 1970s Jesus Christ Superstar movie today, a movie of Andrew Lloyd Webber's rock opera. The movie is kind of a trip if you haven't seen it.
The fun part is that Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in the movie, will be there in person introducing the movie and doing a meet and greet after the show.
It's one of my favorite musicals (I love musicals!) and I saw Ted Neeley perform the role on stage a couple of times in the 90s, including once with Carl Anderson, who played Judas in the movie.
I have seen the stage musical many, MANY times. But not so much the movie. I think this will be fun!
Edited to add: It was AWESOME. I'm putting a few addition remarks and pictures in the comments.
King Herod
Date: 2026-04-05 06:14 pm (UTC)On stage, I distinctly remember two Herods of note: one dressed in assless chaps (with bare ass on full display) and, my favorite, one dressed as and performing in the style of Elvis Presley.
Herod always starts off as playful and then gets angry and mean. Jesus won't perform miracles on command as party tricks. And I'm sure Herod's also none too pleased at others calling Jesus "King of the Jews."
In the movie, Herod was at, idk, a pool party on the Sea of Galilee: https://youtu.be/NEmScsUkbo4?si=wWJCC76ZJWXhjACq
And a few years back they did a broadcast version of the musical with Alice Cooper playing Herod with some showgirls dancing: https://youtu.be/9BnxwP8vLRg?si=_JST659ucWzOUGxa
Yay!
Date: 2026-04-05 08:14 pm (UTC)There's also the (extremely strange and kind of bad) Jesus Christ Superstar 2000, a TV movie. In that one Herod was played by Rik Mayall.
Re: Yay!
Date: 2026-04-05 08:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 12:46 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 02:09 am (UTC)Seats were not assigned so we go there early to get good seats. They had a cool documentary about the movie playing on the screen that people could watch.
When we got our seats, I said I wanted to go look at the merch table. I get there and see off to the side, a different, very short line... to take pictures with Ted. I asked, "Is this for everyone?" (There were VIP tix that we didn't buy so I thought this was maybe part of that).
The staff person said it was for everyone. I waited my turn and said I was so glad to meet him. He offered me a hug (he was like hugging everyone; the man is a hugger). We took pictures together. I said I'd seen him in the 90s on stage a couple of times, including with Carl Anderson. He said he missed Carl all the time and that they'd been great friends since before the movie. I said seeing that production live was very special to me. I also said I grateful for the musical recordings and movie to preserve it all.
Ted was a real sweetheart and seems like the kind of person that if he didn't have staff to move things along, he'd just keep gabbing with fans all day.
Anyway, I went back to our seats and told the spouse that the line was short and maybe he'd like to go get photos. He did, of course! (I was glad we were able to do this before the show. The meet and greet line was super long after the show.)
There were several opening remarks and then Ted sang a refrain from the song "Hosanna" with the crowd singing along. The energy was great!
There was a 10 minute break before the movie started and I went back to the merch table that I'd pretty much completely missed because of the early meet and greet opportunities. My eye spied something on the table that absolutely picked me up and transported me through time to the 90's production with Carl Anderson. It was the program from that tour. No other tour programs were there. Just that one. I recognized it immediately. I am certain I once had a copy (and maybe I still do in a storage box somewhere, idk). When I get struck with memories/nostalgia like this, I call it "time traveling in my mind." The staff member could see it happening in my eyes and I related the story to her. Of course, I bought a copy. Such a special find for me!
The screening of the movie was great. Folks clapping and singing along. One gal came dressed as one of the back up dancers from the song "Jesus Christ Superstar." I saw her after the show and said I just loved her outfit and that she had come that way. She, the spouse, and I all took a selfie together.
Overall, such a fun time!
no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 02:14 am (UTC)Re: Yay!
Date: 2026-04-06 02:16 am (UTC)Oh, ugh, the 2000 TV one had such a cringe Judas.
Re: Yay!
Date: 2026-04-06 02:17 am (UTC)The internet really does have everything lol.
(I made some more comments about today's experience below.)
no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 04:24 am (UTC)Re: Yay!
Date: 2026-04-06 04:20 pm (UTC)More Muppet Christ Superstar here.
I'll read on below....
Re: Yay!
Date: 2026-04-06 04:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2026-04-06 04:30 pm (UTC)