Musical gives full picture of King David's life

Beginning January 26, Calvin College's communication arts and sciences department is bringing the life of King David to the stage in "David: A Play with Psalms." Co-director Joy-Elizabeth Lawrence noted that the script for the musical is taken directly from scripture but takes place in modern times.

"He [David] was like a celebrity and a hero combined," said Lawrence. "So, we are showing him in this world. We are showing him in a contemporary rock star position."

While the high points of David's life are often told and retold in church dramatizations, Lawrence says that this play gives a more complete picture of David, focusing also on the more somber moments in the hero's life, such as David's adultery and his murder of Uriah; the rape of David's daughter and the betrayal of his son.

"These are stories you haven't often heard," said theater department chair David Leugs, who designed the lighting for the musical. "We're showing the fact that he's human."

The play explores the themes of kingship, covenant and family relationships. "Most of it is about how God keeps his promises," Lawrence said. "From David, this very flawed, charismatic person, comes Jesus. That's why David is important."

The play is pulled directly from 1st and 2nd Samuel and Psalms. Lawrence says while the play is entirely based on scripture, it is highly edited and not in chronological order. Interwoven into "David: A Play with Psalms" are contemporary musical arrangements of Psalms 23, 51, 133, 45 and 72 created by local composer and Calvin alumnus Matthew Gruppen.

"When we reach a high point or a low point in his life, we sing Psalms," said Leugs.

The play, created as a companion to the Psalms Bible Study and the 2012 Symposium on Worship, will be performed January 26 through 28 and February 2 through 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Gezon Auditorium. (There will also be a high school matinee on Friday, January 27 at 10 a.m.)

Note: Walter Brueggeman, who wrote a commentary on 1st and 2nd Samuel, will be on-campus during the play's opening weekend as will New Testament scholar N.T. Wright for the Symposium on Worship.

For ticket info, contact the Calvin College Box Office at 616-526-6282 or visit www.calvin.edu/academics/cas/ctc/2011-2012 (Based on the inclusion of 2 Samuel 11 and 13, this play may not be appropriate for some children.)

For more info, contact Lawrence at ctcpublicity@calvin.edu

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Received on Mon Jan 16 10:01:05 2012