JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
the most loved Rock Opera of all time in the version by Massimo Romeo Piparo conel over 2 million spectators in Italy and Europe
The mythical Ted Neeley returns in the role of Jesus
I’m over 2 million spectators that in Italy and Europe have already experienced the great emotions of “Jesus Christ Superstar“, the Musical by Massimo Romeo Piparo considered a real international phenomenon, produced by PeepArrow Entertainment in the original version by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Ricewhich at Easter from the stage of the Sistina began a new, unmissable Italian tour.
Known as “the most beloved rock opera of all time”, the show began its journey in Italy on 6 April at the Sistina Theater, marking the return of a title that does not know the signs of time and of great artistic depth. , always awarded by the public and critics.
Extraordinary protagonist of an incredibly talented cast will once again be the charismatic Ted Neeley, the original Jesus of the famous film by Norman Jewison of 1973, called to give face, body and voice to a character who renews an eternal myth, whose message of peace, spirituality and dialogue is now more necessary than ever. The “resurrection” of Christ on the stage will be an emblem of rebirth, after the human and cultural catastrophe left by the pandemic, and even now that yet another bloody war is taking place. At his side an extraordinary cast of over 30 artists, including the amazing Feysal Bonciani, again in the role of Judas, Andrea Di Persio (Pilato), Giorgio Adamo (Simone), Francesco Mastroianni (Caifa), Mattia Braghero (Hannas), Michele Iacovelli (Pietro), Axel Torrisi (Erode) the great ensemble of acrobats, waders, fire eaters and dancers choreographed by Roberto Croce, with the sets by Teresa Caruso and the costumes by Cecilia Betona.
In his being a vehicle of eternal and positive values, through the story of the passion of a man-symbol capable of making spirituality his revolutionary banner, the show could not fail to represent also the immense tragedy that the world has been witnessing for weeks and offer its proximity to Ukraine with the universal language of art. By marking the time of the pressing music in the scene of the 39 lashes inflicted on Jesus, the now mythical 39 images of contemporary martyrs will be projected, with a “new”, powerful ending that will be the cry of pain of the Ukrainian people.
With the live orchestra conducted by Maestro Emanuele Friello, the historic Italian edition by Piparo, on stage since 1994, as well as Rome (Teatro Sistina from 6 to 17 April) and Florence (Teatro Verdi from 22 to 24 April), will touch many Italian cities in the course of 2022: Bari (Theater Team from April 30th to May 1st), Bassano del Grappa (Pala Bassano 2, May 6) Genoa (Politeama Genovese, from 13 to 14 May), Turin (Colosseum Theater from 17 to 19 May), Reggio Emilia (Municipal Theater Valli from 27 to 29 May), Bologna (EuropAuditorium Theater from May 31 to June 1).
Perfectly combining 70s-style rock music, musical tradition and a story with universal values, Jesus Christ Superstar is a musical that knows no boundaries, capable of conquering spectators of all ages and all nationalities. To prove it, the numbers of its glorious history: 12 consecutive years on the bill in Italian theaters from 1994 to 2006; more than 1,600 performances; over 2 million spectators in Italy and Europe; over 190 artists who have alternated in the different editions: among others, the late Carl Anderson and Barry Dennen – respectively Judas and Pilate in the original film – staged in Italy in 2000 the first and from 2014 to 2017 the second, but also Yvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene of the historic film), Negrita, Simona Molinari, Shel Shapiro, Mario Venuti, Max Gazzè, Simona Bencini, Amii Stewart, Elio, di Elio e le Storie Tese, etc. And of course Ted Neeley, star since 2014.
With its impressive and spectacular staging, the show, staged in English, not only celebrates talent but honors Italy on international stages, demonstrating that our country has now reached competitive levels in terms of artistic quality and professionalism in the musical. Proof of this are the sold out and open-stage standing ovations that have accompanied the show for years, as well as the prestigious one MusicalWorld Awardone of the most authoritative international awards in the musical, which awarded the Jesus Christ Superstar produced by Massimo Romeo Piparo’s PeepArrow Entertainment as the best international production in Holland in 2016.
Credit photo MARGOT DE HEIDE
Jesus Christ Superstar Directed by Massimo Romeo Piparo
Music Direction Emanuele Friello
Scenes Giancarlo Muselli elaborated by Teresa Caruso
Cecilia Betona Costumes
Roberto Croce choreography
Lights Daniele Ceprano
Sound Stefano Gorini
with
Ted Neeley
And with
Feysal Bonciani / Down from
Francesco Mastroianni / Caiaphas
Mattia Braghero / Hannas
Andrea Di Persio / Pilate
George Adam / Simone
Michele Iacovelli/Peter
Axel Torrisi/ Herod
Ensemble
Greta Bellintani
Nico Colucci
Francesco Consiglio
Laura Fiorini
Dafne Kartsiaklis
Cristina La Gioia
Sebastiano Lo Casto
Rossella Lubrino
Viola Oroccini
Simone Ragozzino
Cialì Moved
Sara Telch
Orchestra
Emanuele Friello – Direction and keyboard 1
Federico Zylka – keyboard 2
Simone Gianlorenzi – guitar
Alex Massari – guitar 2
Pino Saracini – bass
Stefano Falcone – drums
Andrea Di Pilla – trumpet
Mariele Ecca – French horn
TOUR 2022
May 6 – Pala Bassano 2, Bassano del Grappa
Give her Director’s notes by Massimo Romeo Piparo
“Reading the Gospels it almost seems obvious that the background music should be Rock. That the most suitable setting is a desert with some static architectural elements animated by the power of music alone. That the best time for their representation is the 70s.
Yet before Jesus Christ Superstar this was not the case. This is why the work of Webber and Rice has entered the Myth.
And that Myth must absolutely not be desecrated, re-interpreted, elaborated: it must be respected, honored, celebrated. Today that Myth becomes reality through Ted Neeley: a lesson in life and professionalism for all of us Italian artists. After 40 years, his humility, his simplicity and at the same time his boundless strength, his contagious passion are a vivid example of the stature that an artist must have to become a myth.
Thanks to him I retrace 20 years of study dedicated to this Opera and I put my most mature and accomplished version of this masterpiece of musical theater.
And so, with the same emotion of the first day of reruns in that distant 1994, every evening the magical rite is renewed that gives us the idea of an eternal myth. Its confrontation with the same reason for being: on the one hand the people, on the other those who govern it. All at the same time architects and victims of a betrayal committed out of love by those who “live for death” and whose role will be fulfilled only when, having abandoned the institutional role of guardian of a life partnership, they offer and procure death for themselves.
An eternal myth for a people that still today has not stopped undergoing its martyrdom but has seen a multiplication of direct or indirect martyrs: people continue to die because elsewhere, in this land, that’s how it is decided.
Do not try to find signs in this staging, nor comparisons with epochs, historical phases: there is the eternal, timeless sense of anguish for a humanity that has always chosen its own messiahs to then send them to martyrdom, creates its own myths to then to destroy them, he professes his own ideology to promptly deny it
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR
ACT ONE
– OUVERTURE
– HEAVEN ON THEIR MINDS
– WHAT’S THE BUZZ
– STRANGE THING MYSTIFYING
– THEN WE ARE DECIDED
– EVERYTHING’S ALRIGHT
– THIS JESUS MUST DIE
– HOSANNA
– SIMON ZEALOTES
– POOR JERUSALEM
– PILATE’S DREAM
– THE TEMPLE
– I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM
– DAMNED FOR ALL TIME
– BLOOD MONEY
SECOND ACT
-THE LAST SUPPER
– GETHSEMANE (I ONLY WANT TO SAY)
– THE ARREST
– PETER’S DENIAL
– PILATE AND CHRIST
– KING HEROD’S SONG
– COULD WE START AGAIN, PLEASE?
– JUDAS ‘DEATH
– TRIAL BEFORE PILATE
– SUPERSTAR-
– THE CRUCIFIXION
– JOHN NINETEEN: FORTY-ONE