JCS and Ted Neeley

1973, graduation from High School and Jesus Christ Superstar hit the big screen. I resisted at first because I was running from God at the time. Complete teen rebel and stubborn, watching a movie about Jesus was just not what I wanted to do. But there it was, just calling my name. So, I went--alone or with someone, I can not say. I only know I lost part of my heart the first time I saw him on the screen.

As it began with a bus traveling along a very dusty road full of hippies, I was intrigued. Then, out of the crowd, appeared Ted Neeley. He was an odd sort of gorgeous; those eyes that weren't quite straight on but beautiful blue, that lean frame and long hair. And that voice!!  Powerful, intense; it bore right through to the soul.  It was love at first sight.

They followed him, misunderstood him, questioned him, betrayed him and eventually crucified him. For me it was Ted, not Jesus only being mistreated here. Was anyone else sobbing or was it just me? I remember wailing so loudly that during one of the 16 times I saw the movie, whoever I was with moved to another part of the theatre.

Discussions with my mom went something like, 'it's not scriptural'...'there were many untruths'...I argued --'people were at least seeing something about Jesus'...'lives were being changed somehow in spite of the falsehoods'. I would always love Ted Neeley, his face was burned in my mind whenever I thought of Jesus.

In 1992, a good friend took sis and me to Omaha to see the touring play. Ted Neeley was playing his own part and as an added bonus, Carl Anderson was playing his own part of Judas. What an amazing experience! I got to fall in love with him all over again. And at the end, I blew him a kiss and he sent one back! I thought it was a coincidence so I did it again, and again he sent a kiss back. We didn't know about meet and greets and missed the chance to hug Ted and meet Carl. It was the last time the chance to see Carl was possible; he flew away to heaven soon after.

2007 rolled around and the entire family heard JCS was coming to Sioux City. We collaborated and finally had tickets for 7 to see the show. While waiting I joined a Yahoo fan site for Ted, as well as Ted’s own site, NOTR. Imagine! An entire group of people who talked about nothing but Ted Neeley. I thought I died and went to Neeley heaven. There was the tour schedule, the public appearances he did for promotion, and his personal website where we could go to praise him knowing he read everything posted. I became the superfan I always wanted to be.

A local reporter saw Ted's site, NOTR and contacted me for a story.  Before he ever arrived, I was linked with Ted in a story about Jesus Christ Superstar. There in black and white my name and Ted’s linked together. It was heavenly for this superfan!      to be continued.....