The modest life of a ‘Superstar’

Lolita Harper

Jesus Christ and hot tubs.

Sure, there were no Jacuzzi’s in the New Testament, but we are

talking about “Jesus Christ Superstar” and its leading man, Eric

Kunze, who happens to own a chain of Sundance Spa stores.

In fact, his first store was in Costa Mesa -- the city of the arts

-- where he has now returned with the rocking religious musical,

which is playing at the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

How does a man go from spa peddling to starring in an off-Broadway

musical?

“‘Superstar’ kind of brought me out of retirement,” Kunze said.

This production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” had starred former

Skid Row front man Sebastian Bach, but when the rock star left

prematurely, the producers looked to Kunze.

“It was supposed to be a short gig, a temporary thing, but then it

was extended,” he said. “The show sells itself. The music is the star

of the show, so they thought, ‘Oh well, maybe we don’t need a big

star.’ So, it’s me.”

Don’t let the man’s modesty fool you. His acting resume, is

impressive with major roles in “Les Miserables,” “Miss Saigon” and

“Damn Yankees.”

Kunze grew up in San Diego County and went to college at UC

Irvine. In 1992, he went to New York, where he started his impressive

musical career. After a great run on the East Coast, he moved in 1997

to Los Angeles to do “the actor thing.”

“You know, the living-up-there, unemployed-type thing,” he added.

The lure of a steady paycheck from Sundance Spas brought him back

to Orange County, and behind the infamous “Orange Curtain.” His other

struggling actor friends in Los Angeles teased him for abandoning the

dream of stardom for the monotony of suburbia, Kunze said.

The actor took a break from the phone interview, which he was

doing from his Orange store, to check on business.

“Is that computer going to Fountain Valley or Mission Viejo,” he

asked. “Oh, OK. I’m back, sorry.”

It turns out the spa gig is a good one, as he now owns stores in

Huntington Beach, Orange, Mission Viejo and Santa Ana.

Kunze lives in Orange Hills. Or he did, until he got the role of

Jesus.

“Now I travel,” he said. “I am a vagabond. It’s a good thing that

this tour is in good cities. I’ll be in San Francisco for weeks.”

Aside from not being able to kick off the sandals for a dip in the

hot tub, what hurdles has Kunze faced playing such a majestic leading

man?

“Jesus was a man, and all of that is fine and easy to do. Besides,

this is more a conflicted Jesus,” Kunze said. “The weirdest thing is

having your friends and peers worship you on stage.”

That and growing out his hair and beard.

“I have my hair in a ponytail, and I have never had it long like

this,” he said. “I am not used to leaning over while I’m eating and

having it fall in my food. Or getting up in the morning and having it

all over my face. People look at you weird, like you are a big ‘70’s

throwback.”

Hot tubs, robes, invoices and people worshiping at your feet.

Welcome to the life of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”