A brand-new "theatrical event" about the life of Jesus Christ will premiere at Grandscape in The Colony in May 2023.
Called His Story: The Musical, it's produced and directed by Tony Award-nominated talent and written by Dallas-based Anna Miriam Brown, now 22, who was just 16 when she started working on the book, music, and lyrics.
A new state-of-the-art, 1,300-seat performance venue called the Broadway Tent will be set up in the (currently empty) lot in front of Grandscape's Ferris wheel. Designed by Matthew Churchill Productions, Ltd., it will feature plush seating, 360-degree overhead projection mapping, and full A/C and heating.
“Immediately on hearing the music, I knew I wanted to bring His Story: The Musical to a worldwide audience, and knew that Grandscape was the perfect place to start the journey,” says producer Bruce Lazarus, who helped produce Broadway's Say Goodnight Gracie and was the original lead legal counsel for Disney's The Lion King. “We are committed to creating a production that not only entertains and inspires Dallas-Fort Worth audiences, but we also aim to hire cast and crew locally, providing over 80 new jobs to the region.”
An open casting call will be held in Dallas in January 2023, with details to be announced. Update: Here is the casting notice for February 11.
In this contemporary pop take on the the life of Jesus, "a common man from a sketchy family arrives in the big city and defies expectations. He performs miracles and speaks great wisdom, but chooses friends from the dregs of society and hangs out in the wrong part of town. Mocked by the establishment, he is adored by the people. Melding a youthful voice with a timeless perspective, the greatest story ever told is brought into the third millennium, reminding us of the universal power of love and redemption," reads the press release.
In addition to Lazarus, the producing team includes Brad Reeves/Bill Noble, Thinking Tree LLC, Jill Wilkinson, Cooper Collins, Mike Collins, Troy Duhon/Bob Katz, and Willie and Korie Robertson, stars of the television show Duck Dynasty and New York Times best-selling authors.
“I have worked on 17 Broadway musicals, but nothing prepared me for the shock and awe of meeting this truly amazing artist, Anna Brown,” says Tony-nominated director Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Bonnie & Clyde and Newsies). “Anna’s Gen Z perspective has made this familiar story youthful and contemporary … not exactly adjectives I had previously associated with the Bible. I am excited to use the theater to bring all types of people together to share a message that is so needed in today’s climate. My prayer is that once you experience His Story: The Musical, you will leave the theater with a renewed optimism about the potential of humanity.”
The show features choreography by Eamon Foley (Annie at The Hollywood Bowl), music supervision by Rick Hip-Flores (Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 and In Transit on Broadway), and arrangements by Rick Hip-Flores and Paweł ‘Bzim’ Zarecki.
The original concept recording of His Story: The Musical is available on Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and all major platforms. The show also enjoyed a workshop in New York City.
Producers held a press preview on December 15 at Grandscape, where the show's creatives and even The Colony's Mayor Richard Boyer spoke about the musical, which is initially set to run through September 10, 2023.
Performances begin May 5, 2023, with opening night set for May 18. For further information, including performance schedules, visit www.HisStoryTheMusical.com.
Tickets range from $39-$139, with VIP packages starting at $219. Special rates for groups of 12 or more are available by emailing groups@hisstorythemusical.com or calling 855-HIS-STORY (855-447-7867).
