When the !Hero - The Rock Opera Tour, featuring Michael Tait (Tait, dc Talk), Rebecca St. James, Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline), and T-Bone arrived in Wabash IN, tour management was advised of threatened protests in Wabash and perhaps other cities. The protest threat stemmed from Michael Tait, an African American, performing as the title role of !Hero (Jesus). Wabash opened without incident, but was watched closely by a contingent of city and county officers, both inside and outside the venue.

In both venues, the audience reaction was an affirmation that the years of work creating !Hero were well served. "After ten years' planning, writing, and developing !Hero, watching it take life in Wabash was overwhelming," said creator Eddie DeGarmo. "People wept at the scene of the crucifixion, and they screamed praises when !Hero is seen alive. It was quite emotional, not only for the audience, but for me. The people were talking -- about Jesus. That was my dream."

!Hero was a family effort. DeGarmo's wife Susan designed and created the costumes. Longtime associate Bob Farrell co-wrote the musical with DeGarmo.

At the World Premiere in Wabash, a couple attended who drove 7.5 hours from Jackson TN after hearing the tour promoted on WAY-FM Nashville. Post-event interviews with attendees evidenced the broad demographic who attended. Said a senior citizen who attended as a theater season ticket holder, "At first I thought it was pretty loud, but when I listened, I caught on to the story and it was great." A youth group left looking for other nearby performances. "We are going to tell our friends and try to go to another show." An African American twenty-something said, "Seeing Michael Tait as Jesus was exciting. Not that Jesus is black or white, but it is the first time I've seen something like this, and it was refreshing."

Theater management in Wabash said that the show sold out quicker than any performance since Weird Al, and they were amazed at the standing ovation. "People here don't stand. I was blown away!" they said. Both sold out shows concluded with extended standing ovations.