Ben Vereen Is Steppin’ Out in San Diego

By Megan Burke, Maureen Cavanaugh, Peggy Pico, KPBS

In show business, Broadway performers are known as the crème of the crop. They sing, they dance, they can make you laugh and cry. But it takes a certain special energy, charisma and pizzazz to become a Broadway star.

Ben Vereen started showing that special something more than 40 years ago, in a string of legendary performances including Judas in the original production of Jesus Christ Superstar and the lead in Pippin.

Despite a series of devastating personal setbacks, he's returned to the stage in recent years, and he's performing in San Diego this weekend, in his one-man show called "Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen."