A church youth choir opts out of its summer choir tour in favor of a concert, just for God, on a mountaintop in a national park. While sensing that their trip is a holy invitation, a shoplifting incident and unfavorable weather conditions threaten to derail their plans and challenge their faith. What does it mean to follow God, be disappointed in the actions of others, encounter frustrating obstacles, and still experience, more deeply than ever, the true meaning of worship?
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Synopsis
ALISA BAIR (Bookwriter/Lyricist/Composer) received double undergraduate degrees in both Music Education and Music Therapy from East Carolina University, and her MFA from New York University's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. She served a variety of churches in music, worship and arts ministry for over 30 years, with her words and music having been published by Columbia Pictures Publications, CPP/Belwin, Hope Publishing, Heritage Music Press, Choristers Guild, Guideposts, Good Books, and Walnut Street Books.
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She is the composer of Hello Sky, which premiered in 2010 with OperaLancaster, and librettist for The Lost Son (Neal S. Harnly, composer), which enjoyed its world premiere in 2010 with the renowned Indianapolis Children's Choir. She is a member of Dramatists Guild of America, Inc.
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Since the launch of her book, Grief Is a Dancer, she has partnered in speaking engagements with HurleyInMotion, featuring the original, evocative choreography of Gregg and Susan Hurley.​​
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From the author
Without question, the four-day Audience of One trip I led with our church's youth choir and adult mentors back in June of 2000 was the most powerful event in all my decades of church music ministry. I've never felt less competent, more lost as a leader, more stretched in my faith, or, ultimately, more surprised and inspired by God.
I've told our story numerous times since, and while people have always been moved, and a pastor or two even suggested I replicate the experience with new choirs in new congregations, absolutely no one said, "You should turn this story into a musical!" But doing so came like a holy invitation all these years later, much like the trip itself did.
With a cast of 13 adults, 16 youth, dancers, and an overriding theme of worship with an undercurrent of the raw struggle between faith and doubt, this musical has the potential to be an inter-generational community builder, and a personal and corporate call to deeper, more authentic worship.
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