‘Jesus Christ’ returns, and faithful say amen

The celebrity-heavy audience gathered in a toasty theater at Hollywood and Vine was overcome Sunday by its passion for the Christ -- as well as its passion for the Mary Magdelene and the 12 disciples. It even showed its passion for the Judas.

An eclectic mix of baby boomers, tweens, Hollywood heavyweights (DreamWorks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg and Harrison Ford) and lightweights (reality show terror Danny Bonaduce) descended upon the Ricardo Montalban Theatre to worship the one-night concert staging of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.” The near-religious fervor of the attendees was stoked by the reunion of three stars from the 1973 film version -- Ted Neeley, Yvonne Elliman and Barry Dennen -- as well as appearances by Ben Vereen and a wicked cameo by Jack Black as King Herod.

Even the lack of air conditioning (the theater has been largely dark for the last few years), high ticket prices ($110 to $520) and the advanced age of the show’s veterans could not wither the response of the faithful, who showered the performers with continuous rapturous ovations.

The staging of the rock opera, which chronicles the last days of Jesus, was a benefit for the Ricardo Montalban Foundation and YouthTheatre America, a nonprofit national theater arts program for young people. The performance was dedicated to Carl Anderson, who had played Judas in the film version and served as the Broadway understudy for Vereen, who originated the role on stage. Anderson died of leukemia in 2004.

Many in the audience were devotees of the score, considered to be one of the most accomplished by Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice, and the film, which starred Neeley as Jesus, Elliman as Mary Magdelene and Dennen as Pontius Pilate. Some fans clutched weathered copies of the album soundtrack.

Though the movie, directed by Norman Jewison, was not a big hit when it was first released, it has developed a loyal following, and Neeley and other cast members have appeared in numerous national touring versions. Sunday’s performance kicks off a national farewell tour that will include stops in Thousand Oaks and Cerritos in 2007.

“I’m just a total freak for ‘Jesus Christ Superstar,’ ” said writer-producer Nicole Yorkin, who bought tickets weeks ago. As a teenager, she listened to the original album and has now swept up her two young children in her “Superstar” mania.

When Neeley, Elliman, Dennen and Vereen made their first joint appearance to the climatic chords of the show’s overture, the whooping standing ovation drowned out the musicians stationed at the rear of the stage.

Some audience members pumped their fists and screamed as if the Rolling Stones had just walked into the auditorium. Neeley, wearing a white shirt, white slacks and a white coat that stretched down to his heels, raised his arms in Christ-like fashion and smiled warmly.

The performers, accompanied by a large ensemble of dancers and singers, stalked the scaffolding and elevated catwalks of the barebones set. Vereen, who had flown in from Massachusetts just days before, brought a guttural intensity to his portrayal of Judas, breaking into a dance during the show’s title number. Elliman exhibited a soothing unease during “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” the musical’s best-known hit.

Unquestionably one of the evening’s biggest draws, Black expectedly brought the house down when he emerged with a crown and sunglasses from a fog-shrouded trapdoor. With his signature raised eyebrow and mischievous smile, he danced and vamped through the vaudevillian “King Herod’s Song,” in which the king taunts the captured Jesus.

But it was the 62-year-old Neeley who earned one of the biggest ovations with his rendition of “Gethsemane (I Only Want to Say),” in which Jesus transitions from fear to angry resignation as he accepts his fate. Closing his eyes, Neeley, whose hair is only slightly shorter than it was in the film, hit piercing high notes as he screamed, “All right, I’ll die!”

Even audience members who were not as familiar with the show appeared to become true believers during the two-hour staging. Actress Tracie Thoms (“Rent,” “Cold Case”) continually danced in her seat.

“There’s only one word for this,” Thoms said after the show. “ ‘Great.’ This was great.”