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Siberian City Protests Showing of Musical Jesus Christ Superstar

Allan Warren / Wikicommons

Activists in the Siberian city of Omsk are to protest against the city's performance of popular rock opera “Jesus Christ Superstar.”

The 1970 musical, originally written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, depicts Jesus' final week, death, and resurrection.

The performance is due to take place at the Musical Theater of Omsk on Nov. 1, directed by the St. Petersburg Rock Opera theater.

Members of the regional Orthodox activist group "Family, Love, and Fatherland" declared that the musical's modern style made a “mockery of sacred concepts.”

The organization said that they had already received 2,500 signatures on a petition demanding the play's cancellation.

“This free interpretation of sacred texts is incompatible with Christian ideals, sparking protest in the heart of any believer,” the group said in a statement on their website.

The show, which was first performed in Russia in 1989, has been condemned by some religious groups since it first appeared on Broadway. Some Christians consider the musical's portrayal of Judas, Jesus' betrayer, to be too sympathetic, while others believe that the character of Christ is not portrayed in a divine manner.

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