School of Music premieres concert version of musical “Amazing Grace”

• Liberty University School of Music helped perform and produce the concert version of the Broadway musical.
• The creator of “Amazing Grace” was inspired to write the musical after reading a biography of John Newton.

 

The concert version of “Amazing Grace” the Broadway musical premiered Oct. 13 at Liberty University’s School of Music Grand Concert Hall, during Homecoming week. The event also served as the official dedication of the Grand Concert Hall in the music building.

 

The musical was written by Christopher Smith to depict the little-known story behind the well-known hymn written by John Newton.

 

Condensed from the two-hour musical, the concert version lasted around 40 minutes. Both students and faculty presented the story through song accompanied by the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra.

 

The musical has been 20 years in the making and began its journey of coming to Liberty in concert form two years ago. This past April, Smith came to Liberty and held auditions for the lead roles.

 

The six-character cast was chosen based on vocal abilities and age in comparison to the age of the character.

 

This fall, Smith assisted in directing the first week of rehearsals for the cast, which kicked off preparations for both the main roles and the choirs participating.

 

Dr. David Hahn, department chair of commercial music and associate professor of music and worship at Liberty University, rewrote the orchestrations for the 12 songs and created the four choral arrangements.

 

The official concert version materials to be published will include three additional songs that were not able to be incorporated in the Liberty performance.

 

The expansion of the music was exponential with the original Broadway musical ensemble numbering 16 singers and 13 instruments, in comparison with Liberty’s 370 singers and 83-piece orchestra.

 

“When I came up with the idea for Amazing Grace, that was what it sounded like, a full orchestra…” Smith said in an interview after the performance. He continued, “This was the first time I experienced that.”

 

All of the musicians including the lead roles worked on a completely volunteer basis. LU Praise, a specialty student group, was featured in three songs.

 

Designers for sound, lighting, and costumes were brought in to assist current music staff for the performance. Dr. Kathryn Voelker, assistant professor of music education, conducted the concert.

 

Smith traveled from his hometown in Pennsylvania to Liberty’s campus for the last two dress rehearsals and the event. He served as the narrator for the concert. The main characters were in costume.

 

However, Hahn explained that due to Broadway licensing issues, the only direct dialogue that occurred could be found within the songs themselves.

 

When asked his thoughts on the performance, Smith said he loved the show, but his only regret was that in being the narrator, he was on the side stage and couldn’t experience it to the fullest.

 

Smith reflected that his favorite part was LU Praise doing the Welcome Song, which was performed for the first time at Liberty.

 

Smith was inspired to write the musical after picking up a biography on John Newton from the library.

 

The musical was described in the “Amazing Grace” theatrical study guide as being “an epic tale of adventure on the high seas, which becomes a metaphor in itself, for the turbulence in John’s soul and heart. Storms from within and without.”

 

With an initial budget of $600,000, the musical premiered at the Bank of America Theatre in Chicago during the fall of 2014.

 

From there, it was recast and moved to the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway, finishing its last performance October 2015.

 

According to Smith, in all, the production cost $19 million. He predicted that the cost will be made up on the national tour, which will go to 70 cities in the first half of 2018.

 

As a former Pennsylvania police officer and youth and education director, this was Smith’s first entry to the musical and Broadway field.

 

When asked about the challenges of beginning on Broadway, Smith said that it was daunting because he has had no formal training and no connections in the field. The most intimidating part was putting his career aside while he still had a family to support.

 

Describing how his police and youth ministries work affected the musical, Smith said “service is what transcends the barriers” in all three areas.

 

According to Smith, this key element is often missing, especially in theatre where instead there is a lot of focus on self. Smith would spend rehearsals going around touching every seat in the building, which in Chicago was 18,000 seats, and praying for the people that would be there.

 

While he didn’t know what was going on in each individual’s life, Smith said their lives had a chance to intersect for 2 ½ hours and he wanted the experience to be impactful.

 

The “Amazing Grace” musical was the first time a slave auction occurred on stage at Broadway in its 120-year history. Smith designed it that way on purpose. He recounted that people were horrified and you could feel a cold wave go through the audience as they viewed slaves being caged and branded as well as witnessed other realities of what occurred.

 

Smith said his goal was to teach the audience from the start without glossing over what sin really looks like.

 

Smith noted that they had to be sensitive to the actors because it was a very dehumanizing thing to portray. He said it was especially potent because all the actors knew they were representing their ancestors.

 

Smith mentioned that the director of “Lion King” on Broadway, Joseph Church, served as the musical director for “Amazing Grace.” The musical was also commended by many including the Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, and Associated Press to name a few.

 

Hahn had the opportunity to attend one of its showings on Broadway. In an interview, he described it as “stunningly amazing and quite moving.” Recounting the event, he said the most touching part was when he saw in disbelief, “hardened New Yorkers” standing to their feet of their own accord and joining in to sing the final song, “Amazing Grace.” He pointed to this as proof of the impact the song has had on Christians and non-Christians alike. He continued to express his excitement at being able to perform the concert version on campus.

 

There was much anticipation across the School of Music before the event. “We are really excited about the students getting a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to premiere this kind of work,” said Dr. Vernon Whaley, dean of the School of Music, in an article for LU News. “It’s a huge opportunity for the school. It’s great music, with great musicians and a great message. The event will do more than entertain; it will be inspiring and spiritually motivating. The sheer amount of musical activity going on all at one time will be electrifying.”

 

From the huge following it generated on Facebook during the event, it seemed to accomplish just that. The concert sold out the morning of the performance. For those unable to attend, the concert was live streamed on the School of Music Facebook page, where a video recording is currently posted.

 

Having the concert performed at Liberty was an interim step in Smith’s vision to make the concert music available to other schools and churches. Several representatives from prospective churches and schools attended Liberty’s performance.

 

Going forward, the musical will be performed at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., beginning Nov. 14 before commencing a 140-day national tour this spring. On Monday, Oct. 16, they started practice for the tour.