Ted Neeley Returns as Jesus in Rome's Jesus Christ Superstar

Ted Neeley reprised his iconic role as Jesus in the English-language production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar, staged at Teatro Sistina in Rome on December 6, 2018, running through December 16. Directed by Massimo Romeo Piparo, the show features a live orchestra conducted by Emanuele Friello on a rotating platform, with minimalist set design. The production faithfully reproduces the original score, including sound effects like the whipping during the flagellation scene. Neeley, who first auditioned for Judas on Broadway in 1971 and later played Jesus in the 1973 film, was joined by Nick Maia as Judas, Simona Distefano as Mary Magdalene, and Salvador Axel Torrisi as Herod. The performance incorporates contemporary imagery on LED screens, such as Auschwitz, Martin Luther King, and Gandhi, to connect the biblical story to modern times. The production ends with Jesus walking through the audience, breaking the fourth wall.