Knowing

Introductions: Sarah Thomas, Victoria Reynolds Farmer, and special guest Sophia Kay

Journey to Bethlehem as a Christmas/holiday movie – what are our favorite Christmas/holiday movies?

  • Is/are your favorite(s) overtly religious/Christian, or are they secular?
  • What is it about your favorite(s) that keeps you watching it year after year?

Brief discussion of motivation for this episode

Brief background of the movie

Reading

The movie as a musical geared towards an “all ages” audience

  • The casting: Broadway-experienced actors, Christian music recording artists, sitcom actors, unknowns, etc., and the effects/results for the audience
  • The creative team: prior experience with Glee, etc.
  • The staging/choreography and score
    • Easter eggs: Fiddler on the Roof, Jesus Christ Superstar, potential Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat set references

Character Studies

  • Mary
    • Her first song/first part of the movie = wearing gold like Belle
    • Her song after Gabriel’s announcement = a little “Breath of Heaven”-esque? What do we make of it as a possible counterpoint to the traditional “I Wish” song in musicals?
    • How does Mary’s portrayal–including the comments made about her by other characters–inform the audience’s understanding of her place in salvation history?
  • Joseph
    • Meet-cute = A little “Aladdin meets Jasmine in the marketplace?”
    • Betrothal scene/song = “you’re not the only one who wasn’t given a choice”
      • How does this song/this moment work with or against a Christian/Catholic/Orthodox understanding of free will/the fiat (this might also work with discussion of Mary)
    • His song’s staging
      • Echo of Mary’s song
      • Colors/visuals/choreography
    • What is our assessment of Joseph’s portrayal in this version of the nativity story? As a character about whom comparatively little is revealed in Scripture, does this portrayal do him justice?
  • Antipater
    • As an historical figure (albeit not mentioned in Scripture)
      • Link to Sophia’s slideshow about Antipater here
    • As a counterpoint to his father
    • As someone who is meant, perhaps, to be the most relatable to the audience?
      • How does “In My Blood” contribute to this understanding?
    • Final encounter @ the manger w/ Mary and relationship to fiat

Adaptation of the nativity itself: successes/shortcomings?

Passing On

Sophia – Herod the Great: A Jewish King in a Roman World by Martin Goodman; the song “lowercase t” by Kirrilee Berger

Victoria – Godspell; 13 the Musical

Sarah – Unsung Hero; “The Small One” (Disney featurette, 1978)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *