When Jesus Christ Superstar debuted on Broadway back in 1971, it was considered a revelation. The musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice was at its best when making the bold connection between the rebellious aura of Jesus Christ and the cult of celebrity that has dominated popular culture. But did it really rock? Well, just a glance at the recent Hedwig and the Angry Inch puts things in perspective; capturing the essence of rock should best be left to the real rockers. But make no mistake about it; while it might not seem like it 30 years later, Superstar was groundbreaking stuff. Producers were so nervous about it that it was released as an album first before premiering at the Mark Hellinger Theater on Oct. 12, 1971, with a young Ben Vereen as Judas Iscariot. Despite stirring up a mass of controversy, the musical became a hit and was credited for breathing a little youth into stodgy old Broadway. The 1973 film barely survived the ham-fisted direction of Norman Jewison and earned the no-brainer Oscar for best original song score and/or adaptation. (Josh Mostel stole the show with his portrayal of King Herod.) Locally, the Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) has some star power ready to mount this quizzical piece of musical theater on Saturday and Sunday, particularly with Kris Shaw at the helm as director. Shaw and JPAS conductor Dennis Assaf lead a cast that includes tenor John Giraud ending a six-year hiatus with the lead role of J.C. himself. Tenor Tom Grace plays opposite as Judas Iscariot, with mezzo soprano Darla Wigginton as Mary Magdalene. Webber's songs, rock-challenged though they may be, are hook-laden to say the least, whether it's the majestic sweep of "Superstar," the heart-wrenching poignancy of "I Don't Know How to Love Him," or even the mirth of "King Herod's Song." Tickets are $23-$25 for adults, $12 students/children and are available through JPAS (885-2000 or www.jpas.org). Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, with a special student performance at 9:45 a.m. Friday. -- David Lee Simmons

Love Makes Things Happen 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, March 19-23, 2 p.m. Saturday, March 23 Saenger Theatre, 143 N. Rampart St., 524-2490 Though touring musicals tend to tout the fame and talent of their behind-the-scenes composer, few can make the boast of having the golden touch of 10-time Grammy Award winner Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds as their songwriter. Known best for his work as producer and his string of 16 songs that reached No. 1 on the pop charts, Babyface presents 10 new and classic songs for Love Makes Things Happen, part of the Urban Broadway Series. He teams up with the show's writer and director, David E. Talbert, for this musical's 22-city U.S. tour. Talbert's tale charts the charming romance that blooms from a chance encounter between Sheila Carter, a sharp professional making six figures, and Chauncy Brown, a dashing man working for $6 an hour. Tickets range from $20 to $35, and are available through Ticketmaster (522-5555, www.ticketmaster.com) or the Saenger (524-2490). -- Frank Etheridge

Eleni Mandell 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 19 El Matador, 504 Esplanade Ave., 569-8361 The music of Los Angeles-based Eleni Mandell is a whirling confluence of her influences, among them Raymond Chandler, X's Exene Cervenka, and Mandell's longtime mentor: singer-songwriter Chuck E. Weiss, the Tom Waits collaborator who inspired Rickie Lee Jones' "Chuck E.'s in Love." Singer-guitarist Mandell is a woman on the rise -- her song "Pauline" made it into the season finale of HBO's hit series Six Feet Under -- and she's touring for her third CD, Snakebite (Space Baby). Now she's got critics on both coasts gushing about her songwriting and live shows, and Mandell is a perfect fit for New Orleans' intimate red jewel, El Matador. Watch and listen closely and you'll see how -- within one vintage dress -- a spring songbird can dwell alongside a whiskey-voiced seductress. New Orleans Jazz Vipers open. Admission $5. -- Katy Reckdahl

Earth Fest 2002 at Audubon Zoo Friday and Saturday, March 23-24 Audubon Zoo, 6500 Magazine St., 866-ITS-A-ZOO (866-487-2966) The Audubon Nature Institute marks its "Celebrating Our World" program for Earth Fest 2002 with fun, games and food accompanying a weekend's worth of education about the environment. Zoo visitors can learn from exhibitors who represent nonprofit groups, government agencies and businesses dealing in environmental issues. Hands-on fun can be found at the Litter Critters Tent, where toys are created from recycled trash. There will be plenty of food and music, with gumbo, po-boys and crabcakes with crawfish sauce, and a variety of local music acts will perform. Folk artists from around the South will present their crafted works such as birdhouses, art and jewelry made of recycled materials and painted steel sculptures. Earth Fest is free with regular zoo admission, $9 adults, $4.75 children 2-12 and $5.75 for seniors over 65. For more information, call (866) ITS-A-ZOO (487-2966) or visit www.auduboninstitute.org. -- Etheridge

Suddenly, Last Summer 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 22-23; 2 p.m. Sunday, March 24; 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 28-30 Contemporary Arts Center, Freeport McMoRan Theatre, 900 Camp St., 528-3800 In celebration of the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, the Dog & Pony Theatre Company presents one of the famed playwright's darkest works, Suddenly, Last Summer. Set in a bright room in a Garden District home, the plot follows the relationship of the institutionalized Catharine Holly (Diana Shortes) and her family as they cope with the dual struggles of confronting death and denying truth. Holly is to undergo a lobotomy unless she recants her sordid version of her cousin's death while vacationing. Her psychiatrist referees an encounter between Holly and her oppressive aunt, Mrs. Venable (Maggie Eldred), to find the truth. John Grimsley directs. Tickets $20, $18 CAC members. Tickets available through Ticketweb (866-468-7630 or www.ticketweb.com) or the CAC box office at 528-3800. -- Etheridge

Brian Stoltz's Super Funk Throwdown 10 p.m. Friday, March 22 The Howlin' Wolf, 828 S. Peters St., 522-WOLF Here's the lowdown on the throwdown: For one night, funky Meters guitarist Brian Stoltz has invited keyboardist John Gros, guitarist June Yamagishi and bassist Peter V. from Papa Grows Funk to join his own hard-hitting New Orleans funk band. "It's going to be a good bit of what I do," says Stoltz, "with some Papa Grows Funk songs, also." One of the most intriguing aspects of the show will be hearing Stoltz and Yamagishi side-by-side; both men are masters of the ringing, chicken-scratch licks pioneered by Leo Nocentelli, but they've each got their own bag of tricks, too. "We're going to try and complement each other," Stoltz says, "and I want it to be a funk free-for-all." Add in the wild card-playing of pedal steel wizard and Stoltz bandmate Dave Easley, and it's a syncopated string extravaganza. Opie Gone Bad opens. Admission $10. -- Scott Jordan

Fat Black Pussycat Midnight, Friday, March 22 Municipal Auditorium, 587-3737 DJ Heaven blesses the Municipal Auditorium for a Fat Black Pussycat party on Friday. Sometimes the underground is simply too good not to surface in the mainstream. Such is the case with DJ Heaven, a female DJ succeeding in the male-dominated form on merit of her spins of bass-driven house music that has taken the former club act to sold-out tours of Europe and Australia. Currently the resident DJ at New York's famed Limelight club, Friday night DJ Heaven headlines a triple bill assembled by local party-throwers Fat Black Pussycat featuring Chicago's John Curley and the group's own resident DJ, Sean Carnahan. The all-night party also offers other sounds with the "hip-hop arena" and "lounge" hosted by local acts. Rounding out the sights and sounds are fashion shows presented by Kenneth Cole, Karl Kani and UCME. Tickets $30 in advance, $40 at the door, and include admission and open bar. For more information or tickets, call 587-3737 or visit www.fatblackpussycat.net. -- Etheridge

Ponchatoula Strawberry Jam'n Toast to the Arts 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday, March 23 Downtown Ponchatoula The historic streets of downtown Ponchatoula will be transformed for a day into what is billed as "The Little Jazzy Fest on the Northshore," with numerous musicians, art displays, antiques and the unveiling of a sculpture marking the event. Up to 60 bands on 10 stages will perform a wide range of styles, including jazz, blues, gospel, classical, rock, folk, children's music, alternative and country. Visual artists will line the streets to showcase their work and paint fresh canvases. At 11 a.m., the Ponchatoula Public Arts Commission will raise the curtain on a life-size bronze titled The Horticulture Lesson, a piece created by Meraux artist Bill Binnings to honor the area's strawberry farmers. For more information call the Tangipahoa Tourist Commission at (800) 542-7520 or visit www.strawberryjam.com. -- Etheridge

Frigg-a-go-go 10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23 Hi-Ho Lounge, 2239 St. Claude Ave., 947-9344 Lafayette natives Frigg-a-go-go deliver fierce rock 'n' roll in a string of unadulterated surf-punk scorchers, putting MTV pseudo-punk to shame. Chad "Flash" holds down the quintessential backbeat, slamming it on the two and four, while '60s-era organ riffs burn furiously through guitar crunch. But there's melody in the midst of all this thrashing, as lead singer Ronnie Ramana spits out threatening lyrics about the desecrating effects of rock 'n' roll on numbers like "Burnin' Hell Blues." Emerging from one garage or another in the mid-90s, Frigg has put out a meaty set of albums over the years, including vinyls like Frigg-a-licious and CDs like The Penetrating Sounds of ..., which are hell to get your hands on these days. Admission $5. -- Cristina Diettinger

Played in Cuba 10 p.m. Saturday, March 23 Tipitina's, 501 Napoleon Ave., 895-TIPS On March 3, the Jonathan Ferrara Gallery opened its current Made in Cuba exhibition, bringing a slice of Havana's vibrant art scene to New Orleans. Now Ferrara and associates have planned a large-scale bash to close the show. Merging the energy of Cuban music and art with elements of New Orleans culture, the show will feature a good sampling of local bands that concentrate on Cuban styles. Los Vecinos will lead the charge with traditional acoustic son music, playing favorites from the Buena Vista Social Club songbook, as well as originals in the son style. Chevere, led by pianist Dave Ellington, offers a bigger, bolder Latin sound with aggressive piano work and burning brass melodies. Tres player Javier Gutierrez and his band Vivaz (formerly known as Acoustic Swiftness) are also on the bill to provide forthright salsa. The Voodoo Museum drummers will keep you moving between sets. Admission $7. -- Diettinger

Improvisational Arts Council 10:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23 Blue Nile, 532 Frenchmen St., 948-BLUE Despite its institutional moniker, the Improvisational Arts Council is a music group with a liberal plan for creative output. Dancing on the boundary between unfettered improvisation and way-out jazz composition, the band's five-piece core ventures to both sides at different points. Its members originally got together to play free-form music, but last year's Zeitgeist Creative Music Festival saw them doing tributes to jazz giants like Coltrane and Mingus. And while they still offer a healthy dose of free jazz, bassist and composer Jimbo Walsh (Naked Orchestra, Michael Ray's Cosmic Krewe) contributes delightfully quirky compositions. With freewheeling drummer Endre Landsnes painting accents on the rhythm and Janna Saslaw adding flourishes on flute, the band morphs willingly from one style to another, with frequent sit-ins by local visionaries like Astral Project's James Singleton and space trumpeter Michael Ray. Admission $5. -- Diettinger

Fifth Annual Academy Awards Night 6:30 p.m. Sunday, March 24 Prytania Theatre, 5339 Prytania St., 523-3818 What better place to watch the televised Oscars ceremony than from the homey seats of New Orleans' venerable theater? Each year, the Prtyania and the New Orleans Film Festival (NOFF) combine to make watching the local viewing of the Oscars an "event," with a little bit of buffet dining, a little bit of wine, and a box or two of popcorn as we all try to figure out if A Beautiful Mind will knock out The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Guests are encouraged to enter the predictions and trivia contests, with prizes from the NOFF, the Prytania, and Dick & Jenny's Restaurant. Tickets are $15 general admission, $10 NOFF members and are available at the box office (891-ARTS or 487-7112) or through TicketWeb (www.ticketweb.com). -- Simmons

Beverly Penn: Arcadia Through March Heriard-Cimino Gallery, 440 Julia St., 525-7300 What you notice is the leaves -- 70 oversized yet realistic magnolia leaves seemingly sprouting from the pristine white walls of the gallery. Minimal, conceptual and spaciously arranged, they present an improbable sight. It is Beverly Penn's Arcadia, in which a steel architectural structure cuts through the boughs of a mythic grove of magnolias, symbolizing the clash between civilization and the wilderness. Superficially, civilization always seems to win -- but look again and there's an elaborate root system growing out from the wall. In Penn's world nothing is quite what it seems, as nature cast in bronze reclaims its turf from static architectural forms. A minimalist expressing a latter day mythic spirit, she says her sculpture gives us "a voyeuristic glimpse of the underlying systems which nature typically conceals." -- D. Eric Bookhardt