Rock Nativity
The "greatest story ever told" gets a contemporary pop rock treatment in this holiday musical.
+ Ensemble
The Virgin Mary is onstage with her newborn son, as well as the three wise men, the three shepherds and her husband, Joseph. They have just witnessed the birth of the child who was conceived by a virgin. This moment had been prophesied and it was a miracle ("Prophesies/Praise"). Gabriel the Angel appears above, and everyone but Mary fades away to leave them alone. Gabriel gives Mary a blessing and, in return, she sings her praise of God and the gift that He has given her ("Magnificat").
Joseph appears as Gabriel disappears. It is months earlier, when Mary has first discovered that she is pregnant. She reveals this to Joseph, who is angry and hurt. He wants to know who the father is, since he knows that it is not him. He does not know how they can get married if she is having another man's baby. He worries about what other people will say. It is already the talk of all of their neighbors. Gabriel appears to Joseph and explains that Mary has been chosen to give birth to the Lord, and that he is to be called Jesus. Joseph should still take Mary as his wife, raise Jesus and know that he has been a good man ("Don't Be Afraid"). Joseph accepts it and takes Mary in his arms. They are fearful, but she tells him that they must simply believe. Mary explains that they only need put their faith in God and accept this miracle, that he has chosen them wisely ("Open Your Heart"). Gabriel is pleased and says that they will raise the King of the Jews. As he says this, Herod appears. He laughs and calls this statement nonsense; he is King of the Jews. A scene takes place that is not chronological but establishes Herod and his position. He was appointed King of the Jews by Rome, despite not even being a Jew himself. He has spent his life trying to maintain peace in that region between Persia and Rome ("This Is Herod!"). He has been ruthless and even murdered his own wife and mother-in-law, since they tried to oppose him, but he always dreamed of being king and what that meant ("To Be a King").
The three wise men appear. They are astrologers in far-away Persia, meeting to discuss their new discoveries – the planets are aligning, and a new star, brighter than they have ever seen, has appeared. They must follow this star and find their way to where this miraculous birth will happen, which they have predicted ("Follow the Star"). The scene cuts back to Mary, who is now clearly pregnant. Herod is giving over a decree from Caesar Augustus: All people in Judea are to declare their particulars, wages, etc., and will be taxed. Joseph realizes that there is no way to fight this and that despite his being so poor, he will be taxed on his wife and soon-to-be-born child; finally, they must make the long journey to Bethlehem ("Caesar's Decree, Useless Then to Argue, Going to Be Taxed"). The journey has taken its toll on Mary and she passes out as Joseph is interviewed and pays his taxes. With Mary barely able to stand, they make their way to the inn, which is fully booked. The innkeeper feels for them and allows them to spend the night in the stable ("Mary Barely Conscious"). Joseph assures Mary that he is there to support her and be strong for her ("With You").
The wise men have arrived in Jerusalem and are before Herod. They tell him why they are there, but Herod insists that he is the king. They tell him of the birth of a new, and the greatest, king. He recalls an earlier prophecy and points them toward Bethlehem, but he makes sure to instruct them to return and report back to him, feigning happiness and claiming a desire to worship this new king, as well. The scene then cuts back to Bethlehem, where the shepherds are on a hillside. They reminisce of what life was like before the Romans had occupied their land. Two of them try to go to sleep while the third stays awake and on his watch ("Counting Sheep"). As they nod off, a light in the sky begins to grow brighter and brighter before them. The growing light reveals Gabriel to the shepherds, and he tells them not to be afraid, that God is with them. He tells them to follow and to come worship their new king ("Don't Be Afraid – Reprise"). They worry that they will not know where to find him, but they must go nonetheless. Gabriel reappears and leads them, along with many others ("Come All Ye Faithful"). All have gathered at the manger to witness the birth. The shepherds and wise men give Mary and Joseph their gifts and marvel in what a wonderful welcome this is for their king ("Silent Night / What a Way to Welcome Him").
The entire cast, sans Herod, sings joyfully and rejoices in the Christmas Story ("Ding Dong Merrily on High / Glory Glory!"). Herod disrupts the singing and wonders at the whereabouts of the three wise men. The wise men are discussing what they should tell Herod. They worry about the repercussions if they tell him of the birth. Gabriel watches over and tries to steer their conversation. Herod is sure that the birth did not happen and that he has nothing to worry about. The wise men decide that the best thing to do is to return home without giving word to Herod. They reason that he will assume that they did not find what they were looking for and retreated. Just to be sure, Herod sends his henchmen out to find the wise men and bring them back to him... and if they find this king, to bring him back, as well. The henchmen find that the wise men are long gone and that Mary and Joseph have brought their child to the temple in Jerusalem to be blessed by Simeon, the high priest. Simeon blesses the child and realizes that he is the Messiah. Simeon can now die peacefully, knowing that this child has been born. Herod's spies rush in as Gabriel leads Mary and Joseph away. They try to discover the child's whereabouts from Simeon, but he tells them nothing and dies peacefully ("Herod's Henchmen Hurry, The Blessing, Nunc Dimittis / Peacefully").
Some time has passed, and Mary sits singing to Jesus. She promises to care for him until he is grown ("I Will Watch You Grow"). Joseph tells Mary that he thinks they should stay in Bethlehem. As they discuss this, the Innkeeper's Wife rushes in and tries to push them out. She tells them that her husband has been seized for questioning and that she has heard all sorts of stories of Persian spies and a baby. Herod learns the truth from the Innkeeper, including that this child is gone. In a rage, Herod decrees that all male babies under the age of two are to be killed. Mary tried to appeal to God, wondering why he puts them through such suffering and pain ("What Game Are You Playing, Lord?"). Gabriel appears to Mary and Joseph, telling them that they must flee to Egypt for the safety of their son.
Time lapses as they flee and Herod's men kill the baby boys. The montage ends with Herod himself dying, years later ("Off to Egypt"). Gabriel comes to the Holy family in Egypt and tells them that it is now safe to return home. Everyone gathers to sing of hope for the future. They sing of love and understanding and of a bright future ("Make a New Tomorrow").
Cast Size: Flexible Cast Size
Cast Type: Children
Dance Requirements: None
Character Breakdown
Joseph's wife and Jesus's mother. Bewildered by her situation, she eventually learns to embrace the experience and becomes a truly caring mother.
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Mary's loving husband. He is a dependable man and honest carpenter with a buoyant mood that cuts across the atmosphere. When he learns Mary is pregnant, he becomes extremely conflicted about his own role in the situation.
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: Bb2
An angel sent by God to bless Mary with the annunciation. Omnipresent, wise, and caring, he often serves as a voice of conscience for the characters.
Vocal range top: D5
King Herod
An elderly man and self-proclaimed "King of the Jews." A pompous, majestic, ruthless man who is insistent on maintaining the order and peace in Judea by any means necessary.
Vocal range bottom: A2
Secretary To King Herod
King Herod's right-hand man. Follows his ruler's orders, although he believes the story of the three wise men.
Vocal range top: B4
A Persian wise man and astrologer. He travels to see the baby Jesus. The leader of the trio, he is an intelligent, witty, and authoritative figure.
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: D3
A Persian wise man and astrologer. He travels to see the baby Jesus. Intelligent, logical, witty.
Vocal range top: A4
A shepherd in Bethlehem. The youngest of the group, he is a happy-go-lucky practical joker.
Vocal range top: C5
A shepherd in Bethlehem. He takes himself very seriously and strongly disapproves of Gib's joking.
A shepherd in Bethlehem. The elder of the group, he is a cowardly philosopher who harks back to the old days.
An elderly man at the temple who blesses the baby Jesus. Extremely devout and honest, defending Jesus to his death.
Vocal range bottom: C#3
Innkeeper's Wife
Gives Joseph and Mary a room in the stable. She is focused on her business and not angering the Romans, but has a sympathetic side.
Herod's Spies; Soldiers; Courtiers; Sheep; Travelers; Acolytes
Rock Nativity: Prophesies/Praise
Rock Nativity: Magnificat
Rock Nativity: Don't Be Afraid
Rock Nativity: Open Your Heart
Rock Nativity: This Is Herod
Rock Nativity: To Be A King
Rock Nativity: Far Away In Persia
Rock Nativity: Follow The Star
Rock Nativity: Caesar's Decree
Rock Nativity: Useless Then To Argue
Rock Nativity: Going To Be Taxed
Rock Nativity: Mary Barely Conscious
Rock Nativity: With You
Rock Nativity: Counting Sheep
Rock Nativity: Come All Ye Faithful
Rock Nativity: Silent Night/What A Way To Welcome Him
Rock Nativity: Ding Dong Merrily On High
Rock Nativity: Herod's Henchmen Hurry
Rock Nativity: The Blessing
Rock Nativity: Nunc Dimittis/Peacefully
Rock Nativity: Glory! Glory!
Rock Nativity: I Will Watch You Grow
Rock Nativity: Herod's Decree
Rock Nativity: What Game Are You Playing, Lord?
Rock Nativity: Off To Egypt
Rock Nativity: Make A New Tomorrow
Rock Nativity is a musical with book and lyrics by David Wood and music by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent. It is based on the story of the Nativity, the birth of Jesus, utilized with a pop/rock score. As the Biblical story indicates, a young virgin named Mary is with child. According to ancient prophecy, this child is the Jewish Lord incarnate and will be hailed as King
"Inspired moments of rejoicing."
– Newcastle Journal
"Great fun, and the sheer happiness of the evening is hard to resist."
– Evening Argus
"Rock Nativity is no ordinary musical. It not only makes you want to dance and sing long after it's over... [but it's] a very moving and genuine expression of the birth of Christ... [and] generates the kind of warmth and inspiration reminiscent of a religious revival meeting and a modern version of a medieval mystery play all rolled into one.... Dazzling."
– Eastern Daily Press
"I am delighted to discover that according to the composers of this musical, Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, Rock Nativity does not necessarily mean primarily loud. It can mean infectious, hummable tunes with light and shade; and rock lyrics, according to this writer, David Wood, can have directness, poetry and wit.... I surrendered entirely to its exuberance and sense of theatre."
– Eastern Evening News
"Welcome to a Christmas show which actually celebrates Christmas. [It] ...generates more goodwill than a pyramid of pantomimes."
– The Scotsman
"Full of sunlight, high spirits and love. It is brimming with dance, characters and humour and above all some very good music. It s a show that leaves you happy."
– Eastbourne Gazette
"Brimming with dance, characters and humor – and above all some very good music."
– Edinburgh Gazette
David Wood Official Website (Writer/Lyricist) )
World Premiere Production
Jackie Trent
Tony Hatch
You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
Book and Lyrics by
TONY HATCH and JACKIE TRENT
MTI Billing
In accordance with the Dramatic Performing Rights License, all publicity materials (posters, programs, etc.) MUST include the following credit:
Is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited
Quantity Included
LIBRETTO 20
PIANO VOCAL SCORE 2
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON-10/CS
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
REFERENCE RECORDING
STANDARD ORCHESTRATION
DRUMS FINGER CYMBAL , KIT , MILITARY DRUMS
Music Theatre International - Copyright 2021