MUNCIE, Ind. -- A New York scenery/costume designer and an Indianapolis-area choreographer are helping their alma mater stage "Jesus Christ Superstar" this month.

Ball State University alumni Markas Henry and Holly Stults-Quackenbush are guest professionals working on the university’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic rock opera, staged Nov. 5-7 and Nov. 12-15 in University Theatre.

The mainstage show is presented by Ball State’s Department of Theatre and Dance, College of Fine Arts, with assistance from the Ball State School of Music. It is directed by theater professors Don LaCasse and Beth Turcotte.

"Jesus Christ Superstar" explores the dramatic last week of Christ’s life through the eyes of his betrayer, Judas Iscariot. The technically demanding show features a rock-music score, rock lighting, lush costumes and colors, quick scene transitions and a set resembling an old church temple under construction.

The scenery has been designed by Henry, a Fort Wayne native who was worked with award-winning teams on, off and "off-off" Broadway. His career has included six seasons as resident designer for The Barrow Group, which received the 1995 Drama Desk Award for outstanding off-off-Broadway theater company.

On Broadway, Henry assisted with costume design for the Tony Award-winning "Beauty and the Beast," the Tony-nominated "The Life" and other shows such as "Busker Alley," "Grease," "St. Joan" and "The Tempest" starring Patrick Stewart.

His off-Broadway design credits include "Hide Your Love Away," "The Last Session" and "Old Wicked Songs," which received Dramalogue and Backstage West awards plus nominations for an American Theatre Wing Award and L.A. Ovation Award.

In television and films, Henry was recently the costume designer for the NBC soap opera "Another World," and he has designed for "Prince of Central Park," "Wishful Thinking," "Fled" and the CBS pilot "Family Brood."

He has also designed for the Geffen Playhouse, Circle Repertory Company, Capital Repertory Company, Blue Heron Theatre, Williamstown Theatre Festival, University of Alaska at Anchorage, Rollins College and the Juilliard School. He received his bachelor of science degree in theater from Ball State in 1987.

Stults-Quackenbush of Fishers, Ind., has choreographed "Jesus Christ Superstar" after serving as guest choreographer for the recent Muncie Civic/Ball State summer theater productions of "The Music Man" and "Fiddler on the Roof."

Her career onstage has included performing in numerous shows at Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis, where she has appeared in "A Chorus Line," "Crazy for You," "42nd Street" and "Do Black Shoes Really Reflect Up."

At Ball State she was the theater department’s first dance major and pursued a minor in theater. She spent three months teaching and performing in China with professor Beth Turcotte, represented the university as Miss Ball State and was honored with the Faculty Award in her senior year. She received her bachelor of science degree in dance performance in 1989.