Full Synopsis
In the beginning, Father is alone in an empty universe. In a whirl of activity shared by the Storytellers, he creates heaven and earth; morning and night; bugs and fish; and, eventually, Adam and Eve. Father places them in the Garden of Eden, hoping they will prosper and worship him ("Let There Be"). He breathes life into his new children and greets them ("Father's Greeting").
Adam and Eve begin asking questions about the world around them. Eve asks Father about a particular tree, and he finally admits it is the Tree of Knowledge. He makes them promise never to go near it. Father distracts them by tasking them with naming all the creatures in the world ("The Naming"). After the naming, Father puts his children to bed, and they pray ("Grateful Children").
Eventually, curiosity gets the best of Eve, and she makes her way to the Tree of Knowledge ("Perfect"). Adventurous Eve expresses her burning desire to see and learn everything she possibly can ("The Spark Of Creation"). Meanwhile, the Snake suggests that Eve seek knowledge, posing questions about the world that she cannot answer. However, the Snake has a solution: eat the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge ("In Pursuit Of Excellence – Part 1"). At first, Eve resists, but the Snake finally convinces her to eat the fruit ("In Pursuit of Excellence – Part 3"). Nothing will ever be the same ("The End Of A Perfect Day").
Adam tries to hide what Eve has done, but Father finds out what has happened. He tells Eve that she must leave the garden ("Childhood's End"). Father offers to make Adam a new wife, but Adam chooses Eve and eats the fruit ("A World Without You"). With great sadness and fury, Father banishes his children ("The Expulsion").
It is difficult, but Adam and Eve make a life for themselves and bring two children into their family: Young Cain and Young Abel ("Close To Home"). As Cain and Abel grow, Eve sees too much of her curiosity in Cain, and it worries her ("The Spark Of Creation – Reprise"). Cain urges Abel to explore with him, despite Adam's disapproval, insisting that they deserve better ("Lost In The Wilderness"). Just as they prepare to leave, Father approaches them. Abel is eager to greet him, but Cain is bitter and resentful of Father. Cain rushes off, and Father tells Abel that all his hopes for the future live in him ("Lost In The Wilderness – Reprise").
Cain returns home, revealing to his family that he has found evidence of other people. He invites his brother to come be part of this new family ("Clash Of The Generations"), but Abel decides to stay with Adam and Eve. As Cain tries to leave, Adam blocks his path, and in the struggle Cain kills Abel ("Death Of Abel"). A furious Father curses Cain and all of his descendants by placing a mark on Cain that all of his descendants must bear ("The Mark Of Cain").
Many years later, when she is an old woman, Eve tells Father about Seth, the son she and Adam had after Abel's death. She also tells Father about Adam's death and Father finally speaks to Eve again. As she dies, she offers a last bit of advice to her children ("Children Of Eden").
A thousand years pass, and the Storytellers share the history of the generations of Adam, ending with the current generation: Noah, Mama Noah, and their sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth ("Generations"). Father has advised Noah to build an ark and make sure his sons are married. Noah and his family finish the ark, and Japheth, the only son who hasn't wed, tells his family that he will reveal his choice for a wife at dinner. Several courses of dinner pass, and Japheth finally reveals that Yonah, the sweet servant girl, is his choice. Everyone, including Yonah, is shocked ("A Piece Of Eight").
Yonah bears the mark of Cain, and Father insists that Noah's children cannot marry anyone with that mark. Animals begin to fill the ark, and as Noah sings to them, he spots Yonah in the distance ("Noah's Lullaby"). Yonah understands why she cannot stay on the ark, and Noah apologizes to her.
Yonah prepares to weather the storm ("Stranger To The Rain"), however, Japheth insists she come aboard the ark. Yonah is reluctant, but Japheth expresses his love ("In Whatever Time We Have") as Father, disapproving, watches Japheth pull her into the ark. Forty days and nights pass on the ark while Japheth keeps Yonah hidden from his family. Everyone is afraid they will starve before the rain passes ("The Flood"/"What Is He Waiting For"). Yonah has an idea: she releases
a dove into the air, tasking it with finding land, ("Sailor Of The Skies") but Ham and Shem discover that she's been on the ark the whole time.
Shem wants to get rid of Yonah, but Japheth threatens to kill his brother if he touches her. A fight ensues that mirrors the fight between Adam, Cain, and Abel. Yonah rushes to protect Ham and stops the fight. Japheth tells Noah that whatever he decides to do to Yonah, he must do to him as well. Noah speaks to a silent Father, asking for guidance. ("The Hardest Part Of Love"). Noah finally comes to a decision and marries Japheth and Yonah for her strength. As the family awaits their fate at Father's hand, Noah praises Yonah for her strength and asks her forgiveness ("The Hour Of Darkness"). To everyone's great relief, the dove Yonah released returns with evidence of land, and the family rejoices ("Ain't It Good"). They reach land and vow to split up and explore the earth, repopulating the new world and spreading knowledge as they do. Father proudly observes his children ("In The Beginning").
Curriculum Connection
- Writing skills
- Measurements
- Animal classifications
- Water safety and survival skills
- Illustrations
- Religious studies and comparisons
Billing
- Book by
- Music and Lyrics by
Based on a concept by Charles Lisanby
Requirements
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Book by
John Caird
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Music and Lyrics by
Stephen Schwartz
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Video Warning
In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.
Included Materials
| Item | Quantity Included |
|---|---|
| ACTOR'S BOOK | 30 |
| DIRECTOR'S GUIDE | 1 |
| DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES AND MEDIA | 1 |
| GUIDE VOCAL AND PERF TRACKS DIGITAL | 1 |
| PIANO VOCAL SCORE | 1 |
Production Resources
| Resource |
|---|
| ACTOR'S BOOK TENPACK |
| FAMILY MATTERS |
| FAMILY MATTERS (PACK OF 10) |
| HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS |
| HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON? |
| STREAMING LICENSE |