'Amazing Grace' Musical Tells A True Story Of A Slave-Trader's Redemption; and It's Being Performed in a Museum

Josh Shepherd : Jul 5, 2019
The Federalist

"The spiritual heart of this story was very alien to people on Broadway—and still is," says Smith, going on to quote cynics he met. "'You want to do what? Tell the story of a 1700s guy who was a slave trader? That sounds really controversial. So then he has this religious revelation, he changes, and he becomes a priest. Why are we doing a musical about this?' I really had to sell it throughout that whole time."

[TheFederalist.com] ...Having directed Idina Menzel and premiered an original Stephen Schwartz production, among other highlights of his storied career, Broadway veteran Gabriel Barre knows of which he speaks. This summer, he is helming the historically based musical at a newly opened DC performance venue—the $800 million, high-tech Museum of the Bible. (Image: via The Federalist)

"It's a cool place for this show to be staged," says actress Debora Crabbe, a co-star. Only weeks ago she won a prestigious Helen Hayes Award for her role in "As You Like It" at The Keegan Theatre. "People experience all these historical facts and contexts of the Bible itself, then this musical finds its inspiration in the same text. It ties everything together and people gain more from the experience."

Presented five times every weekend throughout the summer, the story Barre raves about is not without controversy. The world's most-sung hymn, "Amazing Grace" was born of a depraved sailor who for years bought and sold men, women, and children. He was betrayed, enslaved in Sierra Leone, rescued, and nearly shipwrecked before finding faith. It's a surprising narrative for a rousing musical, especially with its stark portrayals of chattel slavery such as helpless people being branded by hot iron... Subscribe for free to Breaking Christian News here

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