Phil Nardulli

Phil Nardulli, director of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and an adjunct faculty member of the communication and theater department at Concordia, says he has wanted to direct the musical for more than 30 years, since his high school days at Luther North in Chicago.

Nardulli says the audience needs to remember the show is intended to stimulate an understanding of Christ's life, death and resurrection.

"I was involved in theater in high school and certainly had an interest in the rock and roll nature of the musical along with the subject matter, the last six days of Christ's life," he says.

Nardulli explains that the material looks at it with this question in mind: What must it have been like for Christ, as man who was God, to walk on this earth?

"It is this human experience that fascinates and thrills me as a storyteller and as a Christian - to have God send his Son to walk in my shoes, to understand firsthand the difficulties of being a human and then to have sacrificed that life for me," he continues.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m.April 5, 6, 11 and 12 in Werner Auditorium located on Concordia's campus, 7400 Augusta St. in River Forest.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $8 for seniors and students.To reserve tickets, call (708) 209-3469.Free parking is available in the Concordia parking structure on Bonnie Brae between Division and Augusta streets.