Chris Daughtry - H 2015
Courtesy of WBTVFox’s live Biblical musical The Passion has cast its Jesus and Judas.
Singer-songwriter-actor Jencarlos Canela will play Jesus Christ, while singer-actor Chris Daughtry will play Judas, Fox announced Thursday.
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Hosted and narrated by Tyler Perry, The Passion tells the 2,000-year-old story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth through a variety of popular music, sung by the cast, which includes Trisha Yearwood (Mary) and Prince Royce (Peter) and is arranged by executive producer Adam Anders (Glee). Set in modern-day, the event follows the dramatic and inspirational story of Jesus of Nazareth, as he presides over the Last Supper, and then is betrayed by Judas, put on trial by Pontius Pilate, convicted, crucified and resurrected. As Mary follows her son into Jerusalem, she already has witnessed Jesus struggle with opposition from other religious leaders, but bolsters him with the boundless depth of a mother’s love. Peter, meanwhile, remains one of Jesus’ closest confidantes, but his loyalty will be sternly tested.
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The event will unfold live on Palm Sunday (March 20) at some of New Orleans’ most iconic locations and feature a procession of hundreds of people carrying a 20-foot, illuminated cross from outside the Superdome to the live stage at Woldenburg Park on the banks of the Mississippi River.
Peter Barsocchini (High School Musical) penned the script.
Canela debuted as a theater actor and singer in 2008 musical Miami Libre; his first TV role was in soap Pecados Ajenos. He was a judge on reality show Nuestra Belleza Latina and currently stars on NBC’s Telenovela.
Daughtry finished fourth on season five of American Idol. His acting credits include CSI: NY and Fox musical dramedy pilot Studio City, which did not move forward last season.
