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Beyond Bethlehem: A Christmas Musical (2004)



Book and Songs by Jason Spraggins with additional lyrics by Andy Brown

Back in 2002, I spent the summer writing a Christmas musical called Beyond Bethlehem. It was a two-act show with over twelve original songs. I was fortunate enough to see it performed for the first time in 2004, and I thought I’d share some videos from that initial production.

The musical combined both Easter and Christmas themes. It opened and closed at Golgotha, just after the execution of Christ, with the birth story told through flashbacks in front of the Cross. The show explored how faith can be a transformative force, capable of changing people for the better. Looking back, I’ve grown a lot as a writer and would approach the story differently now. However, I still believe that faith in something greater than ourselves is essential to finding true happiness in a challenging world.

I was only 22 when I began this project, and I was heavily influenced by the pop/rock Broadway shows I listened to at the time. My tastes have evolved since then, and there are many things I’d change. But it was an invaluable learning experience. Steven Whiston, who played Joseph, was fantastic (and still is!). Mia Diamond as Mary, along with the rest of the cast, did an incredible job bringing my early attempts at songwriting to life.


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© 2020 Jason A. Spraggins

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