A star is born, again

Sometimes it is the appeal of the show that draws people to a performance; sometimes it is the actor in the lead role. For the touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which makes a stop at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday, May 1, and features Ted Neeley in the title role, it is both.

"People definitely keep coming back to see the show because of the music," said Shannon Fuller, who is in charge of media and merchandise for Jesus Christ Superstar, "and to see Ted, as well. Ted has a lot of people who have followed his career through the years, and they are very excited to see him play Jesus during this tour."

Jesus Christ Superstar is the theatrical masterpiece by the legendary writing team of Andrew Lloyd Webber (music) and Tim Rice (lyrics), which opened on Broadway in the fall of 1971. The first collaboration between Webber and Rice to be performed on the professional stage, Jesus Christ Superstar features such notable songs as Superstar, Everything's Alright and I Don't Know How to Love Him.

Set in two acts, Jesus Christ Superstar tells the story of the last seven days in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. The show dramatizes Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, the unrest caused by his preaching and popularity, his betrayal by Judas, the trial before Pontius Pilate and his ultimate crucifixion.

Neeley, best known for his Golden Globe-nominated role as Jesus in the 1973 Norman Jewison film of Jesus Christ Superstar, recreates the role in this tour. Featured in the role of Judas is Corey Glover, best known as the lead singer of the Grammy-winning, platinum-selling rock band, Living Colour. Glover also has issued albums as a solo artist and acted in television and movies including Oliver Stone's Platoon. Jesus Christ Superstar marks Glover's theatrical debut.

Whereas this is Glover's first theatrical experience, Fuller thinks that many people seeing the show will have seen it before, perhaps several times.

"I believe the show has stayed as popular as it has over the years because it is a story that everyone knows," Fuller said. "It is a story that has been around for thousands of years. People who came to see it in the 1970s now bring their children and grandchildren. Many people who come to the show know all of the words of the songs because they grew up listening to the records in their homes, and now pass the show on to their young ones. Many people tell us that they also use the show as a learning tool for their kids, to show them, in an interesting way, what the last seven days in the life of Jesus Christ was all about."

As the rock opera vision of "the greatest story ever told," director Dallett Norris believes that Jesus Christ Superstar may be more potent in today's troubled world than when it was first produced.

Said Norris, "Here we are, 21 centuries later, and it is clear; we need the message of this story now more than ever."

Jesus Christ Superstar will be presented at 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, at the Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora. Tickets are $45.50, $55.50 and $65.50 and can be purchased at the Paramount Theatre box office, by phone at (630) 896-6666 or at any TicketMaster ticket outlet.

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