Meet the University of Miami graduate who plays one of the most hated men in history

Omar Lopez-Cepero is getting used to playing one of the most hated men in history.

A University of Miami graduate, Lopez-Cepero joined the touring company of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which follows the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus, in January. He plays Judas, a Biblical character so reviled that even Dante stuck him in the lowest circle of hell in “Inferno.”

In the musical, which opens May 31 at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, Judas does not view himself as a villain, of course. Any actor playing the role can’t think of him that way, either, Lopez-Cepero says.

“You have to think you’re righteous, that you’re doing the right thing,” he says. “The way we interpret this is Jesus and Judas are best friends. He’s trying to look out for his best friend and his whole group of friends, trying to protect them from what he sees as impending doom. He’s saying, ‘You’re not listening to me,’ and Jesus is saying, ‘No, it’s fine, it’s going to work out.’ ”

Aaron LaVigne, who plays Jesus, is a friend of Lopez-Cepero’s in real life. The actors have known each other for 12 years, and LaVigne was a groomsman at Lopez-Cepero’s wedding. Lopez-Cepero hopes that reflected closeness makes Judas’ betrayal of Jesus all the more powerful.

There has been renewed interest in the musical, which debuted in 1970, since NBC aired a live performance of it starring John Legend as Jesus on Easter Sunday in 2018. You may remember the breakout song “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” sung by Mary Magdalene (played in this version by another UM grad, Jenna Rubaii).

Even if you didn’t see the TV version, though, you have a pretty good idea what happens. After all, this story has been around for thousands of years.

Lopez-Cepero says he knew the part would be challenging physically and emotionally.

“Andrew Lloyd Webber is notorious for torturing singers,” he says, laughing. “He definitely writes material that stretches the range of any singer.” The part, he says, requires “intensity for the entire scope of the show. His emotions are so high. He’s at a 10 the whole time. You have to find ways to pace yourself. You can’t sing this at 100 percent the entire way and still be standing at the end.”

But like any actor, he relishes the big moments.

“ ‘Heaven on Their Minds’ has such an iconic guitar riff,” he says. “You start the show with that, like you’re shot out of a cannon, and it sets the tone for what the rest of the pieces will be. ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ is another great moment. It’s incredibly visual, and intense choreography is happening all around you. The hardest one is Judas’ death. Any time you have to go to that place emotionally every night, that’s really difficult. Thank God it’s a 90-minute show.”

Some performances are harder to come down from than others. But after surviving the national theater shutdown during the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020, Lopez-Cepero is grateful to have the opportunity, especially since his wife Arianna Rosario is an actress.

When the theaters closed, they stayed with family in Florida. When they realized the shutdown would continue, they moved to Atlanta, hoping the film and television scene would reopen more swiftly. They worked on video auditions and hoped for the best.

Their first moment back on stage happened in St. Louis, playing Emilio and Gloria Estefan in a production of the musical “On Your Feet!”

“We probably had the most idyllic return to stage you could imagine,” Lopez-Cepero says. “To both be working was a blessing.”

“Jesus Christ Superstar”

Where: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami

When: May 31-June 5

Tickets: $35-$130; arshtcenter.org

This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 6:00 AM.