Collegiate Times

Hide your first born child, get to your nearest confessional, and start praying because Jesus is coming back to Tech. Relax; this isn?t the Rapture ? in fact it?s quite the opposite. The Broadway hit ?Jesus Christ Superstar? is on a national tour and will be making a stop at Burruss Auditorium on Sunday, Oct. 1.

The play is a musical, a ?rock opera? if you will, written by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber and is based on the final seven days of the life of Jesus.

?I think the biggest draw for students would be that it?s something different from the norm as far as entertainment,? said Ashley Brooks, director of VTU Lively Arts. ?Most people go see movies or something, and this is something bigger. Also, it?s kind of like having Broadway here in the ?Burg instead of New York,? she said.

The show first hit the stage in 1971, dramatically altering the landscape of the musical world. It originally met with harsh criticism for its ?controversial? themes, such as the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene and portraying Judas in an almost sympathetic light.

However, Christine Rea-Briskin, who plays Mary Magdalene in the show, insists that the controversy is irrelevant to the play.

?She (Mary) propels the story with her interactions with Jesus and Judas. This story is about human drama, and human drama is all about relationships, and all she knows is that she has never experienced the kind of love this man has shown her, whether people want to read into that further is their call,? said Rea-Briskin.

So who is starring as the bearded preacher from Nazareth? Ted Neeley takes the title role in this weekend?s event. Neeley was also the star of the film version of the show. A newcomer to the national tour, Corey Glover, is playing the role of Judas. He also had a part in Oliver Stone?s classic film, ?Platoon.?

However, Glover is probably best known for his tremendous vocal work as part of the multi-platinum-selling band ?Living Colour.? The band won their first Grammy in 1990 with ?Cult of Personality? and duplicated that effort the following year with ?Times Up.? The addition of Corey Glover certainly lends some credibility to the play being hailed as a ?rock opera? and music by Andrew Lloyd Weber only further solidifies the play as an intense musical force.

Rea-Briskin also emphasized that the extraordinary talent of the entire ensemble is what makes the play a success.

?This show will not disappoint, we have a kick-butt ensemble that does a great job of supporting what Ted, Corey, and myself are doing. After all, you?re only as strong as your weakest link, and our weakest link isn?t weak,? Rea-Briskin said.

The buzz around the music seems to be why so many students are eager to see the show.

?I?ve never seen the play before, but I?ve heard the soundtrack, and it?s fantastic. I?m personally excited to be seeing this show,? Brooks said.

?I saw the play in high school and I thought it was a good twist on a common story and the soundtrack rivals The Phantom of the Opera,? said Dan Rappucci, a senior finance major and avid patron of the arts.

So what can one expect to take away from this play? Rea-Briskin?s story about her younger brother sums it up nicely.

?I have an older brother, very anti-musical theater. He decided to come to the show because he wanted to support me,? she said. ?I told him it probably wouldn?t be his cup of tea. After seeing(the show) he loved it, loved the rock music and couldn?t believe I told him that he wouldn?t like it. All in all this play is musically diverse, it will appeal to anybody with a pulse, whether you?re spiritual or non-spiritual, it?s about human beings who experience love and loss, it?s just a great story,? Rea-Briskin said.

The show is sponsored by the Virginia Tech Union Lively Arts and tickets can be purchased for $7 at the UUSA Ticket Office in Squires.