JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Seattle

Nothing says Christmas like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's festive JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. I remember listening to JCSS on Christmas day when I was a kid and the album first came out in 1970. I was only seven and those opening electric guitar strains totally freaked me out (they still do).

So this Christmas, to get our kids in the holiday mood, we took the kids to see this wonderful holiday classic at The Paramount. I was especially excited since the first time I saw this musical on stage was back in '93 in Toronto when I was pregnant with my first child. She kept kicking during the show, so I thought it was only fair that she see it from the outside this time.

I was delighted to find out that Ted Neeley was once again playing Jesus. He was Jesus in the Toronto production I saw back in '93, and of course in the Norman Jewison 1973 film. Incredibly, he is 67 years old and can still wail like, well, like the son of God. He is so wonderfully calm and majestic on stage, and beautifully takes his time with each lyric. It turns out that Ted Neeley has spent much of his career playing Jesus:

From this Wikipedia entry:

"Ted Neeley is best known for his vocal range and his role in Norman Jewison's 1973 film Jesus Christ Superstar. In the Broadway version of the stage musical he was the Christ understudy, and in the Los Angeles stage version he played the title role of Jesus Christ. In 1969 Mr. Neeley played the lead role of Claude in both the New York and Los Angeles productions of Hair.

Ted Neeley released a solo album in 1974, called "1974 A.D.". He was a frequent musical guest star on network variety programs and as a guest actor in network dramas during the 1970s and 1980s.

Twenty years after first playing the role, Mr. Neeley gained renewed success, and a new generation of fans, in the lead role of Jesus Christ in the 1990s touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar. This modernized version of the original production included a day-glow temple scene, and a glass crucifixion cross that elevated above the stage and was lit from within. From 1992 to 1997, the hugely successful tour criss-crossed the nation multiple times.

As of 2007, Neeley is in the middle of yet another critically acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar. Billed as his national "farewell" tour of playing the role of Jesus Christ, this new production is a stripped down version with staging and set limited to a few risers."

We all came prepared with earplugs, but the sound on this production was good -- not too loud. It was a fairly sparse production, but that didn't take away from the music and the performances. Tiffini Dodson as Mary Magdelene was terrific and the supporting cast was great.

However, I didn't love Aaron Fuksa's (King Herod) mugging or his breaking the fourth wall, although the audience did seem to love it. And I can't say I loved Corey Glover as Judas. He is famous for being the lead singer of the band Living Color, but spent way too much time riffing away from Lloyd Weber's melodies, and didn't seem quite desperate enough. Of course, in all fairness, I'll never get the amazing rendition of Judas done by Carl Anderson in the movie out of my head.

Needless to say Jesus ascended to heaven after the crucifixion. However, everytime I see actors lifted up on wires the only thought that goes through my mind is: "Oh God don't let them fall, Oh God don't let them fall". Thankfully, He didn't let me down.

We spent the rest of the afternoon singing songs from the show while doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in Pacific Place.

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