Important Note: When our musical scripts were first written, the choral and accompaniment music for which they were written were current and available. But Christian music literature has a brief shelf life; it goes out of print quickly. (We do not compose music, but write dramatic scripts that work with existing published music literature.)
Rather than remove our scripts because the associated music literature may no longer be available, we have opted to give our users the opportunity to either locate the original music on their own, or substitute music of their own choosing.
Do not plan on using one of our musical scripts until you have made this decision.
The information below includes everything we know about the music literature originally used for this musical. Nothing is gained by writing us for more.
60 minutes / 14 characters
Description
For the choir that’s ready to take one step closer to a real musical (from the cantata format), Movin’ Up To Gloryland fills the bill. Every choir member on stage is a character and gets to dress up in old-fashioned clothes.
(For a newer (and improved) variation on this musical, with a deeper story line, see A New Hope.)
The time is late morning on Saturday, March 4, 1933. In Washington D.C. Franklin Delano Roosevelt is giving his first inaugural address while somewhere in the rural Midwest the local church is holding its annual picnic in the county park.
The women of the church enter and begin preparing a simple, yet hearty meal; the menfolk straggle in bemoaning the current depression and resulting hard times. On the radio, the crowd in Washington applauds a point in FDR’s speech. The people have a faded, weary air about them—yet in spite of their near poverty, they have a strong community spirit of pulling together and a powerful faith in their God.
On the radio, FDR holds out hope for an impoverished country; at the picnic, the people know that their hope is in Jesus Christ—and that even if things don’t turn around on earth, their will always be that day when they will be Movin’ up to Gloryland.
Theme
Our hope and comfort now in Jesus
Our hope for the future in heaven
Notes
This musical—against the standard contata—will require a greater commitment to rehearsing dialogue. While the dramatic portions are relatively simple, they will require something beyond just handing someone a script. The best arrangement for the busy choir director is to place someone else in charge of rehearsing the dramatic portions.
Set
The stage should be set to suggest a picnic, using things such as papier-mache rocks, blankets, small picnic tables, etc. If artfully done, you could even use painted trees and bushes.
Props
An old wooden radio
casserole dishes
bread baskets
red-checkered cloths
old metal beverage cooler
apples, oranges, etc
picnic tables
blankets
Music Information
I’LL FLY AWAY
JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
THE SOLID ROCK
HE’S STILL THERE
GLORY TO HIS NAME/ARE YOU WASHED IN THE BLOOD
WHEN GOD DIPS HIS LOVE IN MY HEART
JESUS LOVES ME/AMAZING GRACE
TEN THOUSAND YEARS
COUNTRY CHURCH MEDLEY
GOOD-BY, WORLD, GOOD-BY
MOVIN’ UP TO GLORYLAND
Joyous Songs for the Evangelistic Choir, Marsh (Benson)
Because of Who You Are, David Culross (Singspiration)
(Movin’ Up To Gloryland is an 8vo)
Wardrobe
A good visual resource for costumes for this musical is the movie, Places in the Heart.
Topics
Movin’ Up to Gloryland Midwest Iowa Farms Depression Thirties FDR Roosevelt Heaven President Hope Despair Picnic Country Church
