A Coincidental Conversation about "Jesus Christ Superstar" (and more) with Ted Neeley
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- čas přidán 5. 04. 2021
- As part of my "Coincidental Conversations™" interview series, I sat down with Ted Neeley, who has played the role of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" since even before the 1973 movie of the same name, directed by Norman Jewison, came out. During the interview, which promotes the release of a new, extended version of Neeley's "SuperstarS -- Extended Version" documentary about the making of the movie, I learned many things. I also felt many things, most notably that I understood again why Jewison chose him.
SuperstarS - Extended Version:
• Rent it on demand and buy it on Vimeo through April.
• Wide released on multiple streaming channels, Blu Ray, and DVD on August 10.
• Visit www.tedneeley.com for more information.
Learn more about me at www.jameswarda.com.
Ted Neeley seems like the sweetest most down to Earth person ever. I pray one day to meet him!
I just love how down to earth Ted always is
I fell in love with this film as a 5-year-old in 1973. Memorized every word of every song.
"Jesus Christ Superstar" is my favorite musical
my dad passed away last year and when I was little my dad took me in the 70s to see JCS in Hollywood and after that he bought the album and he and I would sing all the songs...we knew all the words! I was like ten and it was a special moment for me...and I always listen to the music of this rock musical...brings memories of my dad
I had the pleasure of meeting Ted after a show and he was the kindest man l have every met. He treated my wife and l like family. Wonderful memory.
I saw the show in Rome ...Ted was 70 then, and just killed it! ...He even had the flu that evening...but that did not detract him the slightest.
An amazing man with a great story...and a big heart.
Ted's humility and authenticity are touching. It must be a burden to be approached constantly by adoring fans, but I love that he takes time to acknowledge each person. What a kind and gracious man.
I've never seen someone more into an interview than James Warda interviewing Ted Neeley. He's making me laugh with his facial expressions.
I was in my 4th yr HS when I watched JCS film and since then I kept watching it thus I memorized all the songs. It was In December 1983 and now it is March 2024, it had been a fan for more than 50 years ❤❤❤
I met Mr. Neeley last saturday, 1/14/23 at the screening of Jesus Christ Superstar and oh boy... WHAT A HUG!!!! I really felt like we have known each other for years!!! what a pleasant experience. And I did show him my JCSS logo tattoo on my leg.... 😁😁 Thank you very much for this interview that allowed us to see what a great person he is. Calm, polite, humble.... Thanks again!!!!!
Ted, I really enjoyed your easy nature and fantastic personality when speaking about your childhood and your path through life. You've made me giggle and smile . In 1973 I was 13 years old and adored you, as I still adore you now !!!. Keep on keeping on 🙏🌅✝️❤😌, Love, Claudia
A touching conversation. Ted Neely the person, is as fabulous as Ted the singer and actor!
Ted is such a lovely genuine person and so humble about his success. I have always loved the film and his portrayal as Jesus. I wish him every success in all his future endeavours.
Although late to this party, what an utterly engaging, sincere, and quite beautiful interview. My admiration continues to grow for this totally down to earth, grounded, and humble man. So passionate about his life, work and experiences, truly moving and touching. I am in awe.
What a wonderful man! Thank you for this interview, seeing the man behind the character is just so touching because he is so genuine
Great interview!! Thanks for unlocking his honest feelings.
I remember this movie (mostly this song) from years back but recently purchased the DVD. Contrary to many, I find it a marvelous interpretation of the story of the last days of Jesus. Ted Neeley gives a marvelous performance of Jesus, subtlety showing Jesus' love & teachings but becoming disturbed when the crowds want violence. His plea to God in the garden of Gethsemane is stunning! Rather than seeing only the "divine' Jesus who suffers without difficulty, Ted Neeley shows fear & doubt of what is to come - he shows the human side of Jesus that you rarely see portrayed. That was the whole point - Jesus was human as well as Divine and would suffer unbelievable horrors with His death and His descent into Hell to pay for our sins. And, although He knows what is to come, He shows His supplication to God's will and His determination to see it thru.
Judas is great as confused and frightened of where things are heading. Carl Anderson shows the different sides of Judas. I have to agree with this portrayal of Judas - it was an unfair situation for him. He had to play the part God had set for him as well as the part He planned for His son, Jesus.
I also like the fact that you never see Ted Neeley as anything but Jesus - you do not see him in contemporary clothing or scenes like you see with the other members of the cast. A subtle message there...he is only shown as "Jesus"
Many comment on no Resurrection as a problem with the film - I disagree. While the cast gets back on the bus they leave Jesus/Ted Neeley behind on the cross but as the movie ends, there is a shot of the cross but Jesus is no longer on it. That speaks of the Resurrection to me........I have since heard that the "shadow" at the bottom of the last scene was a sheep herder who stumbled onto the scene :) Another one of those strange & beautiful coincidences Ted Neeley mentions
Thank you for the interview. Makes it even more special hearing how Ted Neeley feels about it. Amazingly he does not have much a the Texas "twang" - from another Texan from "Podunk" Texas :)
This was incredible! I was 13 the summer this came out. I went to the theater 5 different times to watch it and would watch it at least twice each time. I’m now 62 and i just watched it again about a week ago. I can’t count how many time it’s been for me. The movie changed my life. I was lucky enough to see Ted do the role in stage once. This interview was absolutely incredible for me. Thank you so very much.
I'm almost exactly your age, and my experience was similar. I was never the same after seeing the movie in the theater. I'm glad he knows how many people he affected, and I'm even more glad he's so humble about it.
@@ScottMcCulloughBmax419 That is what impressed me. Completely humble!
✨THANK YOU so much for this outstanding interview! 🦋🙏
My mind is clearer now.
Beautiful, just beautiful. Hi from the UK! such deep insight. Means so much.
Love Ted Neeley
A wonderful man!
*Sharing my personal inner feelings from "Jesus Christ Superstar".*
I remember watching "Jesus Christ Superstar" in 1978 for the first time, this just after I had watched the tv series "Jesus of Nazareth" and the difference between the two can't be compared, not because one is better than the other but rather because they are so different from one another (if that makes sense?). I was 10 yrs old and had a hard time understanding "Jesus Christ Superstar" not because it was complex but rather because it was so ahead of it's time "representation concept wise", for me at that time anyways.
I was raised as a catholic and as I grew older, one could say my mentality changed and so did my faith. The older I got, the more I changed from having faith and became more and more "Agnostic" up to becoming eventually an "Atheist". But as someone once said and I don't remember who? The quote was "I don't believe in God but I am afraid of him", which struck me to my core because for the first time in my life, I finally found a way and the words to describe exactly what I was thinking and feeling when it came down to my way of seeing things clearly religion wise. Before "Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ Superstar" there was a movie that I never missed every Easter, which was "The Ten Commandments".
At the time, I believed in God and watching "The Ten Commandments" was a must see even if I was in the middle of being grounded from watching tv for a week or so. My parents would let me watch the movie no matter what.
Now, as I write these words, I have to acknowledge that my faith is like a yo-yo but from the time I watched "Jesus Christ Superstar" and finally old enough to understand and respect its concept, I was hooked. From that moment on, till today, "Jesus Christ Superstar" has been and still is my favorite "musical movie", to which I can easily say that I watch at least 20-25 times a year. And every time I watch it, I am pulled into this inner battle of believing or being now an Agnostic, which is not a pleasant battle.
I also had the incredible pleasure to watch "Jesus Christ Superstar" live in concert, once with Carl Anderson and the other time with Ted Neeley but alas not with both of them at the same concert. What I remember feeling at those two concert was the exact same thing. I could not believe that I was seeing Jesus Christ Superstar live with the actual two main characters of the movie. I seriously thought I was dreaming because the movie was created and seen for the first time in 1973 while I was 5 yrs old at the time. And when I was a teen and understood the concept behind JCS, I never thought or imagined that I would one day see Jesus Christ Superstar with both Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson in a live concert. For me, this was a "bucket list" desire that I thought would never be possible. So, when those two moments happened, I was or better yet felt lifted, couldn't believe I was seeing Carl Anderson right in front of me on one occasion and another time with Ted Neeley, and had amazing third row center tickets on both occasions.
Now, every time I watch JCS on my tv or Laptop, this "agnostic" needle moves a bit closer to a renewed sense of faith. Which is as I described earlier, a inner battle of feelings that I can't put into words. So, like the quote says "I don't believe in God but I am afraid him". Or better yet, adding to this quote my own feelings and it would go like this "I don't think I believe in God but I definitely do fear him".
So, again, watching Ted Neeley live in concert reprising his role as Jesus in JCS is a moment in my life that I will never forget and was a huge moment which was high on my "To do List" or "crossing it off my bucket list moments".
When someone talks about the movie "Jesus Christ Superstar" or a live concert they went to, without either Ted Neeley or Carl Anderson, I am very fast to say, yeah I've seen the JCS live concerts, but I did so with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson in the cast of the live concerts (yeah I did gloat about it and still do, so sue me).
Those are my feelings from just watching these two immortal giants live in concerts and I can't even imagine how the rest of the cast felt like, touring with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson, what they must of felt during their JCS tours?
Yes, there's been many other JCS live concerts without either of them through the decades, but with all due respect to their talents, none ever came even close to the originals. I never wished having backstage passes more than for these two concerts with Ted Neeley and Carl Anderson. I would of paid thousands of dollars to get a chance to shake either one's hand. But in the end, I'll always have the memories of seeing both of them live about fifthly feet away from me.
*R.I.P Carl Anderson 1945-2004*
This is normal. I was taken to see It's A Mad Mad Mad Mad World when I was 10. I didn't appreciate the nuances of the humor. When I grew up, I loved it!
Thank you for the interview, it touched my heart so much! I also love this musical since my childhood, although I'm from Russia, and I didn't even know english at that time. So, this music and movie touch the spiritual depths of human beings, no matter what language they speak 🙏🏻🙌🏻🔥
Blessed be you both!
Gethsemane..I was born March arch 11th in Bethlehem. Blessings. This is wonderful.
L'chaim, Geshem Israel Geshem Israel elehenu Adonai Hashem. Schlama. Malkuth. Khubba. God is my Father and Rabbi
I get so excited near Easter so I can look for JCSS on TV! Yes, I know I can buy the DVD but it's not the same! LOL!
I loved this conversation so much!! Ted Neeley is such a great guy, and you are a wonderful interviewer and so clearly such a genuine fan! Thank you for making this available to everyone :)
Lead to Ted singing Gethsemane 2021 Live in Boston. A spiritual experience, cleansing tears. Found your interview. How wonderful! And I look forward to reading your book as well. Thanks, James. Grateful, very.
Thanks for sharing, James! So excited to hear the Ted Neely behind JCS; and his audition with Carl Anderson; and his starting off as a drummer!
What a lovely, lovely man! I have always loved the music from JCS and I found myself watching the movie a few weeks ago for the first time in ages and I got curious about the cast and what they're up to now. I went into a deep dive about this show and the cast and came upon the doc mentioned in this interview as well as other interviews. What a great story about how it all came together and how they all were cast! I would love to meet Ted Neeley. I can't seem to find any info about these tours. This year is the 50th anniversary. I hope they get a Toronto date in there if they are doing another tour and screenings of the film.
Don't forget the range for singing he had!
I was in the college show of JCS playing Simon love you Ted Neely X
Hi James, I loved this interview. It really tells so much about Ted - and the stories! I loved listening to all the stories, and you seem like a really great person too. I got to meet Ted once, when he & Carl came to Toronto in the 90s. He was so kind, he invited me backstage and then we got to go for dinner. It was a very personal time in my life because my husband at the time was not so great, but Ted's kindness helped in more ways than he could ever know. (I'm remarried now, and very, very happy). But Ted, he showed me his leather pouch that he'd gotten in Israel (I think) and I was so nervous I spilt my wine all over it. I almost died, but he was like, no, no, it'll just look better. Not upset, didn't make me feel bad, just pure kindness. So I really loved your interview because it separated (for me) Ted from his character. Anyway, I don't think there are many people like him in this world. When I watch JSC (and for me, too, it's like coming home) I see Ted Neeley as Jesus, and I feel very emotional because the movie is so sad, but when I see Teddy, and how wonderful he is, I think I would love him even if he hadn't done this iconic role - because how can you not love someone like him? He's a gem. And your interview captured all that - the real essence of this wonderful man. Just wanted to say thanks, James. And stay safe! Michele xo
Thank you so much, Michele. I completely agree with you. The best way I have to say it is that Ted was a perfect choice to play Jesus.
This is so beautiful!
Thank you very much, John.
This was wonderful, thank you for this.
Thank you very much.
hello James, im Rosa frim ge4many. First of al i hope, can wright a good english, you can understand...
i thank you from the button of my heart for these Interview with Ted!!! it was so amainf for me! Was 16, when the film came into german cinemas. i went for 34 times in the cinema to watch the movie.
my whole life is inspired by the film, and many Times later saw it on video.
my greatwst wish were, to see the show with ted ... but unfortunately it came not to germany and when, i didnt knowed it...
Thank you, Rosa! And I could definitely understand your English. :)
legend
Yes, he most definitely is. :)
Sei troppo belloTed!
Part 2...
ted said something about streaming all over the world... can you tell me, whatit is and how i get this stream?
you are a lovely and kind man too, your words at the end touched me!
god bless you, love Rosa
Thank you very much, Rosa. You can see more about the SuperstarS documentary on Ted's website at tedneeley.com/. I hope that helps.
"whyyyyyyy should I die?"