Vicksburg native Ellis Nassour, author and playwright, will return to the River City Wednesday for a book signing at Lorelei Books on Washington Street.

The event will feature his newest book “Jesus Christ Superstar ~ Behind the Scenes of the Worldwide Musical Phenomenon” and will be held from 4 until 6 p.m.

Nassour said The book channels Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s controversial record that became the world’s best-selling two-disk album, and inspired authorized/unauthorized concerts (two stirred protests), non-traditional rehearsals, Broadway and Los Angeles productions, and a film shot in Israel, with the Six-Day War as background.

Nassour is an international arts journalist and playwright, a veteran of the New York Times and former director of artist relations at MCA Universal Pictures/Music. He was involved on film projects with Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Clint Eastwood, Shirley MacLaine, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. 

In addition to his involvement with Rice and Lloyd Webber, Nassour said he worked with Neil Diamond, introduced Elton John to U.S. media and industry trades, toured with The Who and assisted in securing the Metropolitan Opera House in New York for its first rental for the “farewell” performances of “Tommy,” and country artists Conway Twitty, Brenda Lee, Crystal Gayle, and Loretta Lynn, coordinating her “Coal Miner’s Daughter” LP campaign.

Nassour is the author of the best-selling biography “Honky Tonk Angel – The Intimate Story of Patsy Cline,”  the musical revue “Always,” as well as “Patsy Cline,” and “Rock Opera: The Creation of Jesus Christ Superstar, from Record Album to Broadway Show and Motion Picture.”

Nassour said his books will be discounted to $31 for Wednesday’s event.