Jesus Christ Rocks Campus Tonight

The five-time Tony Award-nominated rock opera, “Jesus Christ Superstar, ”will be performed at 7:30 p.m. today in Reynolds Performance Hall.

Ted Neeley, who portrayed Jesus in the 1973 movie version and served as Jesus’ understudy in the original Broadway production, will be reprising his role.

Jerry Biebesheimer, director of UCA Public Appearences, said that the musical by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber is a “timeless story, which many of us know so well we really do not think about the people involved.”

The plot revolves around the seven days before the crucifixion of Jesus. It follows the anxiety Jesus created with his teachings and how he and his disciples handled it. It focuses on the relationship between Jesus and Judas Iscariot, the disciple that betrays Jesus to the Romans.

The musical, adapted from an album by the same name, debuted on Broadway in 1971 and ran for 711 shows over three years. It has been reproduced about a dozen times since.

The work has been controversial since it was first produced. The resurrection isn't depicted and Jesus isn't portrayed as divine. The sympathetic portrayals of Judas and Mary Magdalene also angered many Christians. The musical was banned in South Africa for being "sacrilegious."

Tickets for UCA students with a current I.D. are $18, $15 and $10 with a limit of two tickets.

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