May and Joe at Rosebud Opera House
Manny Everett
Times Contributor
Christmas is around the corner, and what better time to be reminded of the miracles surrounding the season. The Rosebud School of the Arts is proud to present their new “homegrown” show “May and Joe” for the Christmas season.
This tender, whimsical story engages in us the sense of wonder and excitement that surrounds the possibility of a modern day miracle.
“May (Lauren DeGraaf) and Joe (Aaron Krogman) are flush with young and innocent love,” says Morris Ertman, Rosebud Artistic Director and co-author of May and Joe. “When May’s suddenly expecting – and the baby isn’t Joe’s – it triggers a crisis of faith. May says it’s a ‘miracle baby,’ but how is a person expected to believe something like that these days?”
Amid the crisis, the tender songs of young love fill the air with the occasional undertone of familiar carols and hymns played by the three piece “angel band” of Sarah Penner on piano, Joel Stephenson on the upright bass and Paul Zacharias, the composer of the original songs in the show, as the guitarist.
“The band is just as integral to the story as the actors, because they make an incredible contribution to this musical, actively interacting with the story. This three piece band has to deliver Handel’s Hallelujah chorus, and they do deliver when the moment arises,” he said.
A wonderful and vital contribution to the story is the arrival of the 2,000 year-old angel “Gabriel” played by resident actor Nathan Schmidt.
Ertman says, “Nathan is poised to bring both a wonderful comedic, yet poignant understanding of an ancient being who is haunted by a dark part of the traditional Bethlehem story that we seldom talk about.”
A happy ending awaits the young couple and the angel after their own personal struggles with accepting the miracles that are presented to each of them.
For more information or to purchase tickets for this Christmas show or any of the upcoming productions in the 2013 season call 1-800-267-7553, or online www.rosebudtheatre.com.