The Frida Cinema in Santa Ana is going to be all about celebrating Jesus this weekend.
But no need to dress in your Sunday best or be ready to confess, just be ready to rock out as the independent theater marks the 50th anniversary of the musical drama film “Jesus Christ Superstar” on March 17-18.
In attendance at the screening will be Ted Neeley, who starred as Jesus; Kurt Yaghjian, who played Annas, the High Priest; along with the film’s choreographer Rob Iscove and set photographer David James.
“I think the movie is as equally if not more exciting and popular than it’s ever been. In 50 years, each new generation has turned their kids onto it, so it’s even more fantastic to be able to do this now than it was in the very beginning,” said Neeley, who has presented the film at the Orange County theater a few times before.
Neeley and the rest of the cast will introduce the film and answer questions and will stick around after the screenings to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
Logan Crow, executive director and founder of the Frida Cinema, expects this screening to rock even more than previous ones he’s held since it’s attached to a milestone anniversary.
“Fans of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ will be celebrating 50 years of one of the greatest screen musicals ever produced alongside stage and screen legend Ted Neeley,” Crow reminded. “It’s going to be electric, it’s going to be great. We’ll have people dancing in the aisles, singing along.”
The movie is an adaptation of the 1970 rock opera of the same title that turned the story of the last days of Jesus into a flashy musical spectacle featuring a memorable score by the legendary Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. “Jesus Christ Superstar” also opened on Broadway in 1971 and sold out the shows, which also ignited several protests with some religious groups who argued that it was blasphemous.
Neeley was a member of that original stage production, as part of…
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