While the Christmas play at Rosebud Theatre changes annually, the experience of visiting the artsy hamlet remains as timeless as ever.
This year’s home-grown Christmas musical May and Joe is a love story that asks each of us: ‘If miracles exist, could one happen to me?’
“May (Lauren DeGraaf) and Joe (Aaron Krogman) are flush with young and innocent love,” says Morris Ertman, Rosebud Artistic Director and co-author of May and Joe. “When May’s suddenly expecting—and the baby isn’t Joe’s—it triggers a crisis of faith. May says it’s a ‘miracle baby’, but how is a person expected to believe something like that these days?”
The cast includes an Angel (Nathan Schmidt) who has come out of hiding; re-awakened after 2000 years by the love between the young couple. May and Joe features original music composed and arranged by Paul Zacharias and performed onstage by a musical band of three wise guys.
“Joe believes in anything but angels and wise men and shepherds,” says Ertman. “As Angel leads May and Joe on their journey—including a ‘blizzardy’ drive from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay on Christmas Eve—he waits for Joe’s eyes to open to dreams and miracles. When they do, Angel will be there with a hallelujah chorus of music.”
In May and Joe, an Angel, reawakened after 2000 years by the innocent love between young unmarried May and Joe, brings an unexpected miracle gift that causes their blossoming relationship to whither. Fast-forward to Christmas Eve and May and Joe are on the longest road trip imaginable, from Winnipeg to Thunder Bay, Ontario in a snow storm. May is expecting, and the baby isn’t Joe’s. It’s a miracle baby, but how is a person expected to believe something like that? Angel rides along in their pickup truck, unseen by Joe, blurred from May’s eyes by swirling snow. It was easier 2000 years ago. Joseph believed. But Joe ... well, he believes in anything but angels and wise men. So, Angel waits for Joe’s eyes to open to dreams and miracles, and when they do, he’ll be there with a Hallelujah Chorus of music.
This Rosebud original musical reveals that the simplest Christmas miracle of all is well within our reach. May and Joe runs from November 2 to December 22. Purchase tickets at Rosebud Theatre by calling 1-800-267-7553, or online www.rosebudtheatre.com
