THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
http:/www.tuts.com

TUTS' Acclaimed Staging of

'Jesus Christ Superstar'
Comes July 6-18, 1999 To Wortham Center

Ho Sanna Hey Sanna Sanna Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Sanna Ho Sanna. Hey JC! JC! Won't you die for me? Sanna Ho Sanna Hey Superstar....Theatre Under the Stars' "JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR" Now Playing at The Wortham Center July 6th-18th.

Houston, TX -Jesus Christ Superstar, the exultant rock opera by British duo Andrew Lloyd
Webber and Tim Rice, comes to the stage of the Brown Theater at Wortham Center July 6-18 for
16 entrancing performances from Theatre Under The Stars. Last staged by TUTS in 1990, this
musical was acclaimed by The Houston Post as "...easily one of the most dramatic, compelling and
visually striking shows TUTS has ever presented."

Directed and choreographed by Jamie Rocco, this reverent retelling of the last seven days
in the life of Christ has been praised by audiences, clergy and critics alike. Jesus Christ Superstar
combines the greatest story ever told with music by the most popular theatrical composer of recent
decades. From the stirring title song to the pop hit "I Don't Know How To Love Him," Jesus Christ
Superstar is a driving, awe-inspiring stage miracle.

Drawn respectfully from the Biblical gospels, the libretto finds its tone in the youthful rock
fervor and clamor of the 20"' century. Hounded by adoring masses but accused by the priests and
Pharisees, Jesus of Nazareth moves through the final week of earthly ministry in a whirlwind of
desperation, deceit and betrayal. Loyal friends Peter, James, John and Mary Magdalene have just
begun to comprehend the danger. And Judas, one of twelve who were there when the dream began, finds himself the conflicted instrument of it's destruction.

Heading TUTS' cast as Jesus is Erik Kunze, whose Broadway credits include Marius in Les
Miserables, Chris in Miss Saigon and Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees. Taking the roles of the Apostles are Ron Lucas (Peter), Christopher Zelno (John), Joel Newsome (James), Jeffrey Polk (Simon Zealotes), James R. Whittington (Andrew), Robert M. Arniitage (Phillip), Jayme McDaniel
(James, The Lesser), Marc Ellis Holland (Thomas), Seth Hoff (Matthew), Matthew Thibedeau
(Jude) and Ray Walker as the betrayer, Judas Iscariot. Christina Saffran Ashford, whose
Broadway star turns include Singin' in the Rain (Kathy), A Chorus Line (Maggie), Sophisticated
Ladies (Hot Note), Drood (Rosa Bud/Drood), The Music Man (Zaneeta) and Woman of the Year, will be seen as Mary Magdalene.

Lauded for his portrayal of Judas in TUTS' 1989 staging of the musical, Rocco went on to
direct TUTS' highly-acclaimed 1990 reprise. In the subsequent decade he has directed some 18 more productions of Jesus Christ Superstar. For noted regional theatres across the country from New Jersey to California and Texas to Washington, he has directed and/or choreographed such musical standards as Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Sound ofmusic, The Rocky Horror Show, A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls, Grease, Annie, Chess, All Night Strut, Big River and more, plus the new musicals Doin' What Comes Naturally, A Country Christmas Carol, Nite Club Confidential, Rock & Roll Christmas, Wop Bop! and That's Mario. His production of Singin' in the Rain was a 1997 hit in Tokyo, and his musical staging of The Wizard of Oz starring Roseanne began at at Madison Square Garden and continues on National tour with such stars as Eartha Kitt and Mickey Rooney.

Webber and Rice also collaborated on Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor,(9) Dreamcoat
and the Tony Award-winning Evita. Now Lord of Sydmonton, having been knighted in 1992 and
elevated to the peerage in 1997, Webber is the composer of film scores Gumshoe and The Odessa
File, the Latin Mass entitled Requiem and stage musicals Song and Dance, Cats, Starlight Express,
Phantom of the Opera, Aspects of Love, Sunset Boulevard, By Jeeves and Whistle Down The Wind.

Likewise knighted, Sir Tim Rice has added to his Broadway credits the book and lyrics for
Chess as well as lyrics for four Disney musicals -- Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin (with Alan
Menken), The Lion King and Aida (with Elton John) -- winning Academy Awards for Aladdin and
The Lion King. Another of his musicals, Blondel, has appeared only in London's West End, and he
has translated to English the French-Canadian musical Starmania, an album for which already is a
hit in Europe under the title Tycoon.

Tickets ($16-$57) to Jesus Christ Superstar are available by phone via Admission Network
at 1-800-678-5440; in person at the TUTS TIX, 2600 Southwest Freeway at Kirby Drive (Mon-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat I I am-4pm), at Admission Network outlets (Sound Revolution, Vinal Edge); or the Wortham Center box office, 5 10 Preston (I lam to curtain time on performance days); or on-line at www.tuts.com.