Star of ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ hosts Easter screening at Sacramento’s Crest Theatre

The original film version of the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” will screen at Sacramento’s historic Crest Theatre on Easter Sunday, with special guest Ted Neeley, who starred in the title role in the classic 1970s rock opera.

Neeley and the newly remastered film are scheduled to appear in Sacramento Sunday as part of the actor’s nationwide farewell tour, more than a half-century after the film debuted in 1973.

“Jesus Christ Superstar,” which began as a concept album before creators Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber adapted it for Broadway, drew both controversy and acclaim for its reimagining of Christ’s final weeks, set to the sound of early 1970s rock.

Director Norman Jewison, known for “In the Heat of the Night” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” cast Neeley, a former Texas rock drummer and stage understudy, in the lead role. The role defined Neeley’s career, with the actor returning to the part on stage for more than 40 years, according to a Turner Classic Movies essay on the film’s history.

Doors open at 2 p.m. for the 3 p.m. screening at the theater, 1013 K St. in Sacramento. Neeley is expected to introduce the film and meet fans afterward.

Admission is $20. Tickets are available online at cresttheater.com while VIP tickets are available at tedneeley.com.

This story was originally published April 3, 2026 at 10:34 AM.

Darrell Smith

The Sacramento Bee

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Darrell Smith is a local reporter for The Sacramento Bee. He joined The Bee in 2006 and previously worked at newspapers in Palm Springs, Colorado Springs and Marysville. Smith was born and raised at Beale Air Force Base and lives in Elk Grove.