VICKSBURG, Miss – Ellis Nassour, author and playwright, is a Vicksburg native. He returns home July 22-26 for signing events/readings for his new book, Jesus Christ Superstar ~ Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon. The book channels Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s controversial 45rpm record that wouldn’t fly to it becoming the world’s best-selling two-disk album, authorized/ unauthorized concerts (two stirred Jackson protests), non-traditional rehearsals, Broadway and Los Angeles productions, and the film shot in Israel, with the Six-Day War as background.
Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice
About The Book
Nassour, it’s been noted, takes readers behind the scenes in exclusive interviews to reveal the trials, tribulations, frustrations, and pitfalls of the stage premiere, which became the most expensive show in Broadway history for its era. The mini-coffee table book and E-Book contain 70 B&W photographs throughout and a gallery of 28 color photographs, which include spectacular Broadway production shots. Many photos have never been seen. Nassour also gives readers a riveting present-tense scene-by-scene rundown of the Broadway production that puts them in a front row seat.
Jesus Christ Superstar ~ Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon has quite revealing interviews with creators Rice and Lloyd Webber, as well as rock opera stars Ben Vereen, Yvonne Elliman, and Ted Neeley (who has gone on to portray Jesus around the world in over 5,000 performances). Trivia buffs will enjoy how Bette Midler was considered for the role of Mary Magdalene, John Lennon and John Travolta for the role of Jesus, in addition to cameos by the Bee Gees, Noel Coward, Phyllis Diller, Tennessee Williams, David Frost, and none other than Barbra Streisand.
The album, Broadway staging, and film, which are coming off 50 th anniversary celebrations. stick amazingly close to Scripture in detailing Jesus’s Passion over His last six days on earth. Once the subject of controversy and religious protests for pushing boundaries with rock music and slang, the rock opera has gained widespread popularity today, even to the point of being used in Sunday Schools.
About Ellis Nassour
Ellis Nassour is an international arts journalist and playwright, a veteran of the New York Time, who began his career while in high school writing for the Vicksburg Post. He continued to contribute features and interviews over the years. He’s also contributed features to the Clarion-Ledger, Natchez’s Bluffs and Bayous magazine, and, at Ole Miss, the Daily Mississippian. He’s the author of the best-selling biography Honky Tonk Angel – The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline — the first on the legendary singer (in print 44 years and counting); the narrative of the hit revue Always, Patsy Cline is sourced from his book.
As director of artist relations at MCA Universal Pictures/Music, Nassour worked on films starring Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Clint Eastwood, Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman, and Joanne Woodward. In addition to his involvement with Superstar, he worked with Neil Diamond, introduced Elton John to U.S, media and industry trades, toured with the Who and assisted in securing the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for its first rental for the “farewell” performances of Tommy, and country artists Conway Twitty, Brenda Lee, and Loretta Lynn, coordinating her Coal Miner’s Daughter LP campaign. He also authored Rock Opera: The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar from Record Album to Broadway Show and Motion Picture.
Signing/reading events are:
Tuesday, July 23 at the Big Muddy Inn B&B and music venue, 411 North Commerce Street, across from Stanton Hall, Natchez, from 5 – 7 P.M. Popular cookbook author Regina Charboneau and owner of Regina’s Kitchen cooking school (621 Franklin Street) will host with special snacks, sandwiches, and her famed French 75s. Big Muddy Inn co-owner Amy Allen will perform songs from the rock opera. Books will be discounted to $31 all inclusive.
Wednesday, July 24, signing/reading, Lorelei Books, 1103 Washington Street, Vicksburg, 5 – 7 P.M. Books will be discounted to $31 all inclusive.
Friday, July 26, signing/reading, Lemuria Book Store, Banner Hall, 4465 I-55, Jackson, 5 – 7 P.M.
Nassour will be interviewed July 18 by Amanda Harris on WVBG Radio, Vicksburg. He will be on Mississippi Public Broadcast’s “The Marshall Ramsey Show” on July 22 at 10 A.M, and featured on WLBT-TV NBC Studio 3 at 3 P.M.
In Jackson, Nassour is meeting with the University of Mississippi Medical Center to plan a lobby installation of rare circus posters for the Children’s Wing. The posters come from The Mamie and Ellis Nassour Arts & Entertainment Collection, which Nassour and his brother John Nassour of Vicksburg donated in memory of their parents. This collection is housed in the William Faulkner Archives/Special Collections in the Williams Library at Ole Miss.
The collection is the largest of its kind in the Southeast. One third of the collection circulates among faculty and students. The remaining two thirds are archived for exhibition and research.