Jesus Christ Superstar By Ellis Nassour

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“If you made a list of twenty musicals in the twentieth century, I think Superstar would have a good claim to be there.”
Tim Rice

“The one thing about Superstar is that it goes from A to B in a completely straight line. It never drops the narrative ... There's no fat ... It's so concise.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber

Front cover of "Jesus Christ Superstar by Ellis Nassour" book

978-1-4930-6804-3

352 pages, including B&W photos throughout and 16-page photo gallery.

$36.95. Hardback And E-Book UK Launch February 15, 2024

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Available in the UK and Australia
AND at DRAMA BOOK SHOP, 266 West 39th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue
AND THEATRE CIRCLE, 268 West 44th Street, Broadway and Eighth Avenue

Ellis Nassour has written the essential history of the creation and production of the blockbuster musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. This compelling and colorful read is a guidebook to the golden age of the American theater musical, when it was on the cusp of reinvention. The creators, cast, designers and crew are part of this magnificent story, along with the audience who remain enthralled by it. Ellis Nassour brings his brilliant writing style and expertise to this consummate work. I couldn't put it down, and even better, I could hear the score between the lines of this milestone work.

Adriana Trigiani, author of 17 best-sellers, including The Shoemaker's Wife and The Good Left Undone

Ellis Nassour has written the essential history of the creation and production of the blockbuster musical, Jesus Christ Superstar. This compelling and colorful read is a guidebook to the golden age of the American theater musical, when it was on the cusp of reinvention. The creators, cast, designers and crew are part of this magnificent story, along with the audience who remain enthralled by it. Ellis Nassour brings his brilliant writing style and expertise to this consummate work. I couldn't put it down, and even better, I could hear the score between the lines of this milestone work.

Adriana Trigiani, bestselling author of The Shoemaker's Wife and The Good Left Undone

Ellis Nassour has given us an utterly invaluable tome about Jesus Christ Superstar from the perspective of someone who witnessed much of it up close. Dense with information about the planning and machinations of putting this extraordinary musical together and filled with exclusive interviews and never-before-seen photographs, this should be on every JCS fan's shelf!

Gibson DelGiudice, co-creator of the Jesus Christ Superstar Zone

Fifty years after his first book on Jesus Christ Superstar, Ellis Nassour returns to the world of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber to complete the fascinating story of how the recording of Jesus' last six days on earth pushed boundaries in the world of rock - and eventually become a worldwide phenomenon, not only on record but also stage and screen.

Nassour goes behind the scenes to show the evolution of two young English writers and their success with Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to a controversial 45rpm record that wouldn't fly out of music bins, but which eventually led to their equally controversial rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. He explores not only the frustrations and pitfalls, but also the breakthrough to a mega-selling album, concert tours, much hyped and controversial Broadway [revealing for the first time avant-garde director Tom O'Horgan's secret influence] and Los Angeles stagings, and a blockbuster film (celebrating its 50th anniversary). With never-before-seen B&W and color photos and costume and scenic sketches, Superstar presents a detailed account of the rock opera from 1969–1973 to today - where it continues to be beloved around the world.

There are quite frank interviews with scenic designer Robin Wagner, early in his Tony Award- winning career; Tony-nominated costumer Randy Barceló; O'Horgan' s longtime partner; and cast members from Broadway, Los Angeles, and the shoot in Israel for the Norman Jewison film.

Looking back over half a century after the album of Jesus Christ Superstar launched the careers of both Andrew Lloyd Webber and me, it is hard to recall how we felt before the recording was released in October 1970. I certainly never imagined it would become the huge hit it did and that I would be able to sustain a lifetime career in theater and songwriting.

However, somehow I did, but only with the help of many others. Ellis Nassour was an MCA executive at the time of Superstar's release. In 2023 we still appreciate that without the enthusiasm and expertise of Ellis and his colleagues, especially Richard Broderick, supporting two unknown writers from overseas our careers and lives would have taken a very different course.
Tim Rice