What do Kent State, cats and “Jesus Christ Superstar” have in common? Ben Vereen.

A Tony award-winning performer, Vereen will perform at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10 in the E. Turner Stump Theatre. According to Kent’s web site, the show is called “Steppin’ Out with Ben Vereen” and will feature songs from musicals such as “Cats” and “Hair” as well as songs by Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. He and his band will also feature music from “Jesus Christ Superstar”, for which Vereen originated the role of Judas Iscariot on Broadway in 1971 and was nominated for a Tony Award.

Tickets for Vereen’s performance are $50 gold circle seating, $25 general reserved seating, $20 for seniors 60+ and $10 for students with ID and those under 18. Tickets go on sale at box office in the Roe Green Center for the School of Theatre and Dance in the Music and Speech Center on Sept. 10, and can be reserved by calling 330-672-ARTS (2787) or online at http://www.kent.edu/artscollege.

The following day Vereen will give a free lecture at 7:30 p.m. in the Kent State University Ballroom. According to Kent’s web site, he will discuss “personal experiences in with thoughtful reflections on arts advocacy, overcoming adversity, arts in education, and disabilities in the arts.”

Vereen’s performance and lecture are sponsored by Kent State University’s College of the Arts and the Thomas Schroth Visiting Artist Series.

Contact Rebecca Reis at [email protected].