The most beloved rock opera of all time, Jesus Christ Superstar, arrives at the EuropAuditorium Theater in Bologna on May 31 and June 1 (9pm). In Massimo Romeo Piparo’s version, which boasts over 2 million spectators in Italy and Europe, the musical will see on stage Ted Neeley, in the role of Jesus, and Frankie hi-nrg mc, for the first time in the role of Herod in a hip hop version.
Jesus Christ Superstar, who started his new Italian tour from the stage of the Sistina Theater, is produced by PeepArrow Entertainment in the original version by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice and is considered a real international phenomenon always rewarded by audiences and critics.
The extraordinary protagonist of an incredibly talented cast will once again be the charismatic Ted Neeley, the original Jesus of the famous 1973 Norman Jewison film, called to give face, body and voice to a character who renews an eternal myth, whose message of peace, spirituality and dialogue are 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. Among the absolute novelties of 2022, there will be the debut of Frankie hi-nrg mc in the role of Herod, for the first time in a hip hop version. Italian precursor of the genre (he was the first Italian to publish a hip hop song for a major in 1992), Frankie hi-nrg mc will in fact play the role of a character who sadly evokes the tremendous relevance of a selfish “commander” focused on himself to the point of neglecting the real interest of his own people and the kingdom he is supposed to represent. At their side an extraordinary cast of over 30 artists.
In its 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 to offer one’s closeness to Ukraine with the universal language of art. 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 musical perfectly combines 70s-style rock music, the tradition of the musical and a story with universal values. The work knows no boundaries, it is capable of conquering spectators of all ages and of all nationalities and this is demonstrated by 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 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 (Maria Maddalena from the historic film), the Negritas, 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 Musical World Award, one of the most authoritative international awards in the field of musicals, which awarded the Jesus Christ Superstar produced by PeepArrow Entertainment by Massimo Romeo Piparo as the best international production in the Netherlands in 2016.
Jesus Christ Superstar at the EuropAuditorium Theater in Bologna on May 31 and June 1