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.
Please note especially for this musical: The music is v-e-r-y old. The choral book was published in 1982, and the demo released by the publisher was not on a CD, not even a cassette, but a long-playing record! 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 / 10 characters
Description
The primary source for The Prophecy is the first chapter of the gospel according to Luke.
The Prophecy was the first part of an ambitious tetralogy we produced in the 1980s. Consisting of one musical, two cantatas and one play, the tetralogy—entitled I Must Decrease; He Must Increase—told the story of Christ, from the birth of John the Baptist to the resurrection.
Our guess is that few people would choose to do all four productions as a package, as we did, and without question the music literature and Trax for which the cantatas and musicals were written are now utterly unavailable. Currently we offer the scripts for this musical and The Surrender, a non-musical.
Zechariah and Elizabeth are people “righteous in the sight of God.” Both are from priestly families and of advanced years. Elizabeth is considered barren and beyond the years of childbirth. This has been a major disappointment in their life. But God has not forgotten them. He will use them to introduce His plan for the salvation of all through His Son, Jesus Christ.
John the Baptist came into this world to prepare the way for the Christ; Jesus came into this world as the Christ—the Messiah. Together they changed for all time the relationship people would have with God. They were the turning point from a religion of salvation by works and the law to a life of eternal light by acceptance of the Savior.
Scenes
Prologue: Mary’s Soliloquy after the ascension of Jesus
Act One
Scene One: Zechariah’s house in a city of Judah
Scene Two: Jerusalem Temple; the next week
Scene Three: Zechariah’s house
Scene Four: The local synagogue
Act Two
Scene One: Zechariah’s house; six months later
Act Three
Scene One: A street outside Zech’s house; 3 months later
Scene Two: Zechariah’s house; eight days later
Characters
Mary (for Prologue, an old woman; later, as younger)
Zechariah
Elizabeth
Anna
Gabriel (in original production an off-stage voice)
Rabbi
Thomas
Aaron
Midwife
John (as an eight-day old baby)
Props
Armload of firewood
Cradle for firewood
Rude, household table
Misc. foodstuffs (vegetables, bread, etc.)
Traveling stick and bag
Altar at temple, Incense
Benches for synagogue
Scrolls
Pitcher & drinking cup(s)
Writing slate (for last scene)
Music Information
O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Program music)
Act One
Scene One: A Promise is a Promise – Zechariah & Elizabeth
Where Do We Go From Here – Zechariah, Elizabeth & Anna
Scene Two: He Will Be Great – Gabriel & Zechariah
Act Two
Scene One: I Can’t Believe It – Elizabeth
Sing Out My Soul – Mary
Act Three
Scene Two: Blessed Be the Lord – Zechariah & Company
For Unto Us/Glory to God – Anna & Company
All music is from Dawn of Promise by Walt Harrah, Word publishers (1982).
Book #38003; Trax #DT 61 (reel); #DC 61 (cassette); Record #WSB-8882
Topics
The Prophecy Zechariah Zachariah Elizabeth Mary Anna Gabriel John the Baptist Belief Faith Pregnancy Temple Priestess Rabbi Disciples Mute
