Jack Carpenter is hoping to generate discussion and not controversy with Theatrix’s latest production. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln student-run theater company will open Terrence McNally’s play “Corpus Christi” Thursday in the Studio Theatre, third floor of the Temple Building.

Directed by Carpenter, a UNL undergraduate theater major, “Corpus Christi” is McNally’s story about Joshua (played by Matt Miller), a Christ-like figure born in Corpus Christi, Texas, whose message of love and tolerance changes the lives of 12 men and the world.

The catch: Joshua is gay.

The play’s theme has generated some headlines since its premiere in New York City in 1998. At the time, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called McNally’s script  "insulting to Christians." 

In 2001, a lawsuit was filed in federal court to halt the production of  “Corpus Christi” at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

“Discussion would be good,” said Carpenter, who saw the original production in New York and thought it would work well here. “I’m not politically charged in anyway. I don’t want to shock people.

“I think this could be a little shocking to them.”

In “Corpus,” Joshua, who is scorned because he is homosexual, leaves his home and sets out on a journey spanning three decades and 2,005 years of forgiveness and brotherhood. His odyssey culminates with a sacrifice on his part.

“(The playwright) says in his forward you would have to be a fool to think that people wouldn’t equate the two,” Carpenter said of similarities between Joshua’s and Jesus’ stories.

“It’s very similar, yet different in a lot of ways, and our production is meant to really stress the differences.”

Theatrix artistic director Brian LaDuca, a first-year graduate student, noted the play has sparked conversation in places such as New York and Chicago.

“But that’s not the route we’re trying to go here,” he said. “It’s just a nice, beautiful theatrical piece.”

One that fits into Theatrix’s mission of exploring and experimenting with contemporary, classical and original material.

“We’re not trying to garner controversy and heavy discussion, but if we do it’s beyond our control,” LaDuca said.

Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.