Jonah: A Musical Version of the Bible Story

A contemporary, entertaining retelling of the Biblical tale of Jonah in musical form. Jonah, the Old Testament prophet, is portrayed as a modern-day minister. When he is called to give up his comfortable middle-class lifestyle and preach to the Ninevites, whom he despises, Jonah tries to flee from his ordained mission. As he takes passage aboard a ship, God sends a storm that threatens to sink it until the crew throws Jonah overboard, where he is swallowed by a great fish. Praying and repenting, he is cast ashore in Nineveh. Accepting God's will, he goes forth to preach among the Ninevites, with such power that they repent their sinful ways and are forgiven by God. The contemporary setting and music reinforce the timeless moral of this piece: that prejudice is against God's will and that we cannot flee from God, no matter how far we might run. Cast of thirteen (10M, 3F), with chorus.