# jesus christ superstar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 1, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537 "2012-05-01T17:52:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkeith135_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/1 "2012-05-01T17:52:48Z")
I have been a big fan of Jesus Christ Superstar since high school. The cast is amazing! My two favorites are Caiaphas and Annas. The pairing of these two characters was a good combo. Tall guy with Very deep voice and little guy with a high voice. They’re just so SINISTER! Annas is such a weasel. He plays it up unbelievably well. Caiaphas has a really hot six pack! Annas plays the part as sort of gay. Was that his interpretation or is he really gay? No offense–just asking! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/2 "2012-05-01T19:51:22Z")
I assume you’re referring to some particular production of JSS? Which one? ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/3 "2012-05-01T22:09:13Z")
I’ve seen different productions of JCSS in London and the Midlands in the UK, and it truly is a superb show. My personal preference is the obvious one, Judas. I could watch it over and over. Found the movie a little disappointing though. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/4 "2012-05-01T23:39:34Z")
Thread[about the movie](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=642755) from a couple of months ago in case you’re interested. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2012, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/5 "2012-05-01T23:44:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I assume you’re referring to some particular production of JSS? Which one? He’s talking about the movie. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/6 "2012-05-02T00:39:42Z")
> [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](#): > > I have been a big fan of Jesus Christ Superstar since high school. Our high school did a version of it, too, in 1971. Four months before it opened on Broadway. It was the [North American premiere](http://tinyurl.com/87d8kwe) (and grudgingly authorized by Andrew Lloyd Weber). The kid who played Judas did a masterful job. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/7 "2012-05-02T00:45:43Z")
He might mean the current Broadway production, which just garnered two [Tony nominations](http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/05/01/tony-nominees-theatre-superstar.html). The Caiaphas is an old friend of mine, who is very impressive. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/8 "2012-05-02T00:55:34Z")
Welcome new poster to the SDMB! ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/9 "2012-05-02T02:39:38Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > He’s talking about the movie. There have been two film versions. The better known one was made in 1973; it was directed by Norman Jewison and starred Ted Neeley, Carl Anderson, and Yvonne Elliman. The 2000 movie was directed by Gale Edwards and Nick Morris and starred Glenn Carter, Jerome Pradon, and Renee Castle. There’s also a third movie in pre-production, scheduled for a 2014 release. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/10 "2012-05-02T11:16:34Z")
The movie was very watchable (1973) but not as good as the live shows, hence my comment about it being a little disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/11 "2012-05-02T11:31:41Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > The movie was very watchable (1973) but not as good as the live shows, hence my comment about it being a little disappointing. After listening to the album over and over with Ian Gillan, Ted Neeley is a bit of a let down. ---
**Author:** ![mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkeith135_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/12 "2012-05-02T13:14:04Z")
I was referring to the movie version. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/13 "2012-05-02T13:28:55Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > After listening to the album over and over with Ian Gillan, Ted Neeley is a bit of a let down. Would it be uncontroversial to say that no matter how good the subsequent bajillion versions have been, none have ever surpassed the Ian Gillian/Murray Head version? (Except RealityChuck’s, of course) ---
**Author:** ![mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkeith135_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/14 "2012-05-02T13:35:11Z")
Whatever became of the cast members of the 1973 movie version of Jesus Christ Superstar? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/15 "2012-05-02T13:42:28Z")
> [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](#): > > Whatever became of the cast members of the 1973 movie version of Jesus Christ Superstar? Apparently Ted Neely is still performing the role. ---
**Author:** ![mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkeith135_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/16 "2012-05-02T13:45:09Z")
What about the rest of the cast? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/17 "2012-05-02T14:03:05Z")
> [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](#): > > What about the rest of the cast? Note: The only two cast members who did the same roles on the original album, the Broadway production, & the 1973 movie were Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene) & Barry Dennen (Pontius Pilate). She went on to have a few pop hits in the mid-70s & I think a come-back in the early 80s. He is basically retired tho pops up occasionally for a cameo movie appearance (Titanic) or a JSC reunion, from what I’ve heard. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/18 "2012-05-02T14:03:15Z")
> [@mkeith135\_gmail.com](#): > > I have been a big fan of Jesus Christ Superstar since high school. The cast is amazing! My two favorites are Caiaphas and Annas. The pairing of these two characters was a good combo. Tall guy with Very deep voice and little guy with a high voice. They’re just so SINISTER! Annas is such a weasel. He plays it up unbelievably well. Caiaphas has a really hot six pack! > > Annas plays the part as sort of gay. Was that his interpretation or is he really gay? No offense–just asking! Fellow fan. The movie is pretty good, though it’s “very 70s” (but then, hey, that’s when it came out.) The mannerisms of the various characters in the musical are all, as far as I know, the invention of Andrew Lloyd Webber (or Tim Rice or whomever)… I don’t think there’s any textual support (or opposition for that matter) for King Herrod being a flamboyant fop like he is in the musical & film. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jesus-christ-superstar/620537/19 "2012-05-02T16:45:29Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Apparently Ted Neely is still performing the role. My ghod-he’s old enough to play Jesus’ dad!