''DreamSong'' is an Australian musical by

Hugo Chiarella Hugo Chiarella is an Australian writer and actor best known for his work in musical theatre. Chiarella grew up in Sydney, Australia and trained in musical theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts. Writing DreamSong While at university at the ...

(book and lyrics) and Robert Tripolino (music). ''DreamSong'' is a musical satire about an

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide Interdenominationalism, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that affirms the centrality of being "bor ...

megachurch A megachurch is a church with an unusually large membership that also offers a variety of educational and social activities, usually Protestant or Evangelical. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research defines a megachurch as any Protestant C ...

that stage the

second coming The Second Coming (sometimes called the Second Advent or the Parousia) is a Christian (as well as Islamic and Baha'i) belief that Jesus will return again after his ascension to heaven about two thousand years ago. The idea is based on messi ...

Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...

and market him as a Christian pop star. Meanwhile, the actual second coming of Christ occurs.

Synopsis

The story centres around an evangelical mega church, DreamSong, and its

Pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

, Richard Sunday. The church has lost millions in the bad investments and Pastor Sunday decides to stage the second coming of Christ and market him as a Christian Pop Star, as a way through their money problems. At the same time, summoned by the arrival of the

anti-Christ In Christian eschatology, the Antichrist refers to people prophesied by the Bible to oppose Jesus Christ and substitute themselves in Christ's place before the Second Coming. The term Antichrist (including one plural form)1 John ; . 2 John . is ...

, the real second coming of Jesus returns. While the fake Jesus cast his pop-ballad spell over the people of the world, the real Jesus has learned his lesson from his last experience on earth and is determined to keep a low-profile. As the two Messiahs come face to face in a final reckoning, the public are forced to decide what to put their faith in; truth or spectacle.

Productions

While at university at the VCA, Chiarella began collaborating with fellow student, Robert Tripolino, on ''DreamSong''. Chiarella wrote the book and lyrics and Tripolino composed the music. The VCA agreed to support the development of the musical and staged a full production in 2011 directed by

Michael Gurr Michael Gurr (29 October 1961 – 2 May 2017) was an Australian actor, playwright, author, speech writer and screenwriter. Early life Gurr was born in East Malvern, in Melbourne where his father was a kidney doctor at the Alfred Hospital and his ...

with musical direction by Daniel Puckey. The show was selected as part of the Carnegie 19 New Music Theatre programme at

Arts Centre Melbourne Arts Centre Melbourne, originally known as the Victorian Arts Centre and briefly called the Arts Centre, is a performing arts centre consisting of a complex of theatres and concert halls in the Melbourne Arts Precinct, located in the central M ...

, where the show went through an workshop followed by a four night showcase, once again directed by Michael Gurr with musical direction by Andrew Patterson. ''DreamSong'' then received a full production at

Theatre Works Theatre Works is a theatre venue, presenter and producer of independent theatre in St Kilda, Melbourne. Theatre Works was founded as Theatreworks, a theatre company, in 1980 by a group of young graduates from the Victorian College of the Arts ...

in 2014 directed by Dean Bryant and choreographed by Andrew Hallsworth, with musical supervision by Mathew Frank and musical direction by Robert Tripolino. ''DreamSong'' was revived in 2019 by EbbFlow Theatre Company in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

with a production directed by Lauren McKenna at The Alex Theatre, St Kilda. The production featured musical direction by Maverick Newman and choreography by Maddison Lee. Chiarella and Tripolino updated the show extensively for the production, including the addition of a female Jesus Christ.

Original casts

Musical numbers

;Act I *''DreamSong Song'' – Full Company *''Resurrection'' – Pastor Richard, Whitney, Cunningham, Clarice *''April's Prayer'' – April *''The Father Tells Us So'' – Full Company *''The Audition'' – Full Company *''Coming Home'' – April, Paul *''Funeral Song'' – Full Company *''Show Me Why'' – April *''Resurrection'' (reprise) - Pastor Richard, Whitney, Cunningham, Clarice, Neville *''I Hate Conflict'' – Jesus *''Just Have Faith'' – Chris T. ;Act II *''The Carnival's In Town'' – Pastor Richard *''The Miracles'' – Chris T. *''Jesus Is My Boyfriend'' – April *''Pastor Richard's Soliloquy'' – Pastor Richard *''Resurrection'' (reprise 2) – Neville *''Jesus' Epiphany'' – Jesus *''Resurrection'' (reprise 3) – Pastor Richard *''It Isn't Fair'' – Whitney *''Just Have Faith'' (reprise) – Chris T. *''Wonders Will Never Cease' – Jesus *''Forgive'' – Full company

Reception

Despite its controversial subject matter, the show received mostly positive reviews. Cameron Woodhead wrote in ''The Age'', "Viable new musicals don't come along every day. ''Dreamsong'' isn't perfect, but this satire on the far-right Christian lobby has more hits than misses... Music and action are seamlessly intertwined, and ''Dreamsong'' has an engaging storyline, brought to life with dynamic acting, vocals and choreography. The humour can be bleak (there are songs picketing gay funerals and

abortion clinics Abortion is the termination of a pregnancy by removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus. An abortion that occurs without intervention is known as a miscarriage or "spontaneous abortion"; these occur in approximately 30% to 40% of pregn ...

), but the acid satire works well against the natural comic brio of Hill's shambolic, scaredy-cat Jesus". Regarding the updated version of the show in 2019, Casey Bohan wrote for Theatre Travels, "Chiarella & Tripolino’s story is filled with heart and joy and it handles the delicate balance between making a statement and making fun with grace. It is clear this story, while taking place in a religious setting, is not about religion, but the human experience, temptations, tolerance and kindness above all else. No one is being laughed at, but the ludicrousness of some extreme intolerances are being pointed out and highlighted. It is a story for today, for its audiences and it is one worth paying attention to."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:DreamSong 2014 musicals Australian musicals Original musicals Musicals about Christianity Evangelicalism in popular culture