NewsRelease

(Posted 2-11-04)
Contact: Dan Nonte, 336-334-5371

UNCG Theatre Stages ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Feb. 20-29

GREENSBORO — This is definitely not your father’s “Superstar.”

UNCG Theatre and School of Music will present a hip, contemporary production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in Taylor Theatre Feb. 20-29. The rock opera tells the story of the last seven days of Christ’s life as seen through the eyes of disillusioned disciple Judas Iscariot.

“I've always been more interested in directing plays that are exciting to our students to perform,” said Professor Jim Wren, the director. “This has led me to want to do the more edgy rock musicals: ‘Tommy,’ ‘Hair’ and ‘The Rocky Horror Show.’ The student energy and interest in this production has been intense.

“February 2004 is the right time to produce this play. Students had requested it for the last 10 years, and we feel our current students are a great match for the demands of the production.”

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, “Jesus Christ Superstar” debuted in 1971 and became a huge hit, running for 720 shows.

In UNCG’s production, scene and lighting designer John Wolf and costume designer Kelsey Hunt set the tone for a slicker, sharper, more modern environment. In the original, the followers were hippies. Now, instead of long hair, they have shaved heads, tattoos and piercings. The Roman soldiers’ costumes resemble gear used by riot police.

Dance Professor John Gamble is choreographer, and David Oertel is musical director.

“Historically, we've always done our big musical early in the fall semester,” Wolf said. “We decided to change the schedule this year and push the musical into February. This provides us more time to design, build and tweak the production elements. This is UNCG Theatre’s most expensive production ever.”

The play will be performed at Taylor Theatre on Tate Street at 8 p.m. Feb. 20, 21, 27 and 28; at 2 p.m. Feb. 22 and 29; and at 7 p.m. Feb. 22, 24, 25 and 26. The performance at 7 p.m. Feb. 22 is youth group night. Free parking for all shows is available behind the Weatherspoon Art Museum.

To order tickets by phone, call (336) 334-4849 on weekdays between noon and 5 p.m. Tickets also are available at the University Box Office and one hour before curtain time at Taylor Theatre. Tickets are $6 for UNCG students, $11 for members of the Alumni Association, $12 for students and seniors, and $15 for adults.

For more information, visit the Department of Theatre’s web site at www.uncg.edu/the.

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