Advent musical brings Christmas story to life
An Advent Carol, a Catholic musical celebration of the Christmas season that is joyful and meaningful, will be presented at three churches in the Archdiocese of Newark during Advent.
The play is produced by the Xavier Company, a unique group of performing artists who reside at the Jesuit Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York City. Their performances include original works that focus on faith and social justice.
“An Advent Carol offers a message of hope and freedom to the alienated and oppressed and stretches far beyond the traditional Christmas pageant,” according to the company’s website.
The musical will be held in Rutherford, Hasbrouck Heights, and Newark on Saturday and Sunday.
The musical, directed by Carol Ferrone, takes the audience on a journey beginning with the Annunciation in the Gospel of Luke when the archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would conceive and bear a son through a virgin birth and become the mother of Jesus. The play concludes with the Flight into Egypt in the Gospel of Matthew when an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the infant Jesus because Herod would seek the child to kill him. The characters of Mary, Joseph, Anna, Joachim, and Elizabeth are portrayed as genuine people who struggle with hopes and dreams, fears, and doubts.
The dialogue, written by J.S. Pecorella, is both compelling and witty while the uplifting music of Gerard DeMan, Anne Holland, and Laurence Rosania fills the performance with joyful energy, according to a review of the production.
The members are professional performing artists who donate their talents. They are Catholic, with a mission to bring stories of faith alive.
“We are a group of culturally diverse, ecumenical performers who are using the arts to promote spiritual values and social justice,” said Carol Ferrone, founder of The Xavier Company. “We want ‘An Advent Carol’ to bring a message of hope and healing to our audiences.” The company has performed throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
During Lent, the group performed “No Greater Love” — a musical drama that celebrates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Newark’s Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Hundreds came to see that performance.
All productions are free.
Performances:
Church of St. Mary, Rutherford
Saturday, Dec 9, 2 p.m.
Corpus Christi Chapel, Hasbrouck Heights
Saturday, Dec 9, 7 p.m.
Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Newark
Sunday, Dec 10, 4 p.m.
