This week I interview Ellis Nassour, author of Jesus Christ Superstar: Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon.
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
FROM AMAZON.COM
In 1969, when Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice decided to write a rock opera about Jesus Christ, they had little idea they were about to embark on one of the most popular, boundary-pushing, and influential musicals ever. The show’s success was hardly assured at first: unable to secure enough funding, they initially resorted to just releasing its title song as a single. A full album followed to widespread acclaim, and only then could a full production get underway. More than fifty years later, Jesus Christ Superstar continues to be beloved in all its forms—the live show, various cast albums, and the wildly successful movie.
Few people had the chance to witness the musical’s evolution from as many angles as Ellis Nassour, whether collaborating with Rice and Lloyd Webber at MCA, writing for the New York Times, or assisting with the Broadway and LA productions. In this expansive, beautifully illustrated book, Nassour draws on a wealth of knowledge, first-hand experience, and new interviews to give the definitive story of the musical. Combining an engaging narrative with abundant photographs—many in color and never before published—he follows the show from its uncertain beginnings, through setbacks and controversies, to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ultimate triumph, serving up an unparalleled look at one of the most important and best-selling musical works of all time.
ABOUT ELLIS NASSOUR
Ellis Nassour is a New York-based international arts journalist, author, and playwright. Is a native Of Vicksburg, Mississippi. He’s the author of the best-selling (still in print after 40+ years) Honky Tonk Angel: The Intimate Story Of Patsy Cline, The First Book On The Legendary Singer.
He is a veteran of The New York Times and New York Daily News.
As director of artist relations for Universal Studios/MCA Music, he participated in the development of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar (gold record), and the careers Of The Who, Elton John [supervising his U.S. debut and first tour], Rick Nelson (gold record), Loretta Lynn (gold record), Brenda Lee (gold record), Conway Twitty, Bill Cosby, Neil Diamond (gold record), Crystal Gale, Bing Crosby (gold records), Florence Henderson, classical guitarist Andres Segovia.
At MCA, he also worked with Oscar-winning composer Alfred Newman on his last score, Airport; and such artists as Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Clint Eastwood, and Chirley Maclain.
Independently, Ellis did publicity for disco Diva Gloria Gaynor (gold record), soul diva Millie Jackson and composers Jerry Herman and Stephen Sondheim; and on the Broadway revival Recording of The Boy Friend, starring Judy Carne and Sandy Duncan.
The hit revue Always, Patsy Cline is four pages of Ellis’ interviews with Patsy fan Louise Seger from his biographies. Ellis provided the Patsy Cline material for Robyn Archer’s hit Australian and London West End revue A Star is Torn. He Co-hosted with K.D. Lang Bravo TV’s The Voice [Patsy Cline Segment], the BBC specials Country Girls and vRock Shrines [Patsy Cline segments]; and contributed source material/photos for the Virginia Public TV documentary, Patsy Cline: The Lady Behind the Legend. He wrote Country Weekly’s 40th anniversary Patsy Cline Tribute. Excerpts from his biography are featured on the Patsy Cline [“Shoebox”] Collection (MCA).
He wrote for Playbill for over 20 years and helped launch Playbill On-line. He has contributed to Gannett Newspapers, New York Lifestyles, Theater Life, Broadway Stars, Theatermania, and Stage Directions. He was a contributing editor and contributor (film, tv) to Oxford University Press’ American National Biography. He is also the author of Rock Opera: The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar, From Record Album to Broadway Show and Motion Picture. Ellis has conducted creative writing seminars at Universities across the country.
September 2005 saw the dedication of the Mamie and Ellis Nassour Arts & Entertainment Collection, in memory of his parents, in The University of Mississippi William Faulkner Archive at the J. D. Williams Library.
Ellis was instrumental in Patsy Cline’s induction into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. The Musical Music City U.S.A.: Ev’ry Country Gal’s Hollywood is adapted from his biography. He was a Time 2006 Person of the Year and is featured in the coffee table book Mississippians.
SEE ALSO:
jesuschristsuperstarthebookbyenassour.com
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