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Christine Anderson's WAIT! It's a Musical is the first Christian rock musical I've had the opportunity to review in some time. I don't remember reviewing anything quite like this ever, matter of fact. Simple in concept and straightforward in execution, the musical documents the days immediately prior to the birth of Christ. The characters are regular, everyday people with regular, everyday needs and wants. It is just that in this instance these regular, everyday people are visited by the divine, where their various responses lyrically (and humorously) play out.

I enjoyed the down to earth responses of these people, especially Mary and Joseph, who find themselves faced with the inexplicable. Several of the songs are quite good and could probably stand by themselves as Christian pop. I particularly liked Where Are You?, where the aging Elizabeth and Zecheriah (the mother and father of John the Baptist) express their wish to have a child. Likewise, Leap of Faith is a believable retelling of Joseph's dilemma: whether and how to believe in the virgin birth.

The varied, upbeat arrangements combine pop, country, and light rock, the cast turns in lively performances, and the play is entertaining throughout. This will no doubt become a standard performance piece for progressive churches, and rightly so. Chris Anderson's musical is one of the freshest Christmas offerings to come along in quite some time.

--Richard Banks
(Reviewed in 2004)

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From the liner notes:

Vocals: Sherri Edelen, Janine Guilsano, Eric Lee Johnson, Sean McLaughlin, Russell Sunday, R. Scott Thompson, Tim Tourbin, Heidi Gerber, and Chris Anderson.

Guitars: Paul Bell and Steve Mutter

Bass: Wade Matthews

Drums: Andy Hamburger and Stan McMullen

Keys/piano: Benjie Porecki

Percussion: Pete Jarkunas

Saxophone: Chris Watling

Violin: Bob Spates

WAIT - It's a Musical! is an upbeat look at the people waiting for a leader, right before the birth of Jesus, based on text from Luke and Matthew. It's biblical. It's cool and it rocks! This exciting musical was developed to be performed by churches or theaters and has flexible production requirements. Companion products are available through A.M. Tuneshop.

Chris Anderson

WAIT - It's a Musical!

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