Johnson City Arts Center 2025
Digital Program (Director's Cut)
God With Us
Director
Chloe Garbe
Stage Manager
Chloe Garbe
Costume Design
Christina Ward
Lighting and Sound
Calvin Price
Cast
Mary................................................................................................Maia Ross
Joseph.......................................................................................Daniel Bristol
Angel Gabriel.............................................................................Greta Anglin
Eastern Star.................................................................................Callie Athon
Elizabeth.....................................................................................Aidyn Patton
Shepherds.........................Reese Campbell, Lucy Harman, Ellie Woodbury
Wisemen.....................................Henlee Dean, Sailor Jones, Sophie Tolley
Herod.....................................................................................Caroline Anglin
Prophet....................................................................................Dorie Feathers
Jazz Shepherds.......................................Ashley Peterson, Olivia Woodbury
Tap Features........................................................................Alexandria Kiech
"Mourner
"Mourners"
Lexie Bristol, Ellie Clements, Lily Hauck, Lidia Giuliani,
Mae Harman, Susanna Treece, Kennedy Wells
"Women of Nazareth" Small Group
Amilia Alzner, Charlie Bond, Akari Mizuguchi, Ella Mould
"My Deliverer" Group
Greta Anglin, Callie Athon, Reese Campbell, Dorie Feathers,
Lucy Harman, Sailor Jones, Aidyn Patton, Ashley Peterson,
Abigail Rainey, Maia Ross, Sophie Tolley, Ellie Woodbury
Act I
Scene I: The Prophecy
People living in darkness cry out to God. God sends them prophets, proclaiming God's promise to send a Messiah. This promise is passed through generations, and Mary is one of its recipients.
1. The people live in darkness
Music: "O Come O Come Emmanuel" by Casting Crowns
Performers: People in Darkness (Ballet 4), Mourners, Prophet
Choreography: Chloe Garbe
2. Prophets proclaim God's promise
Music: "Soldier, Poet, King" by The Oh Hellos
Performers: The Prophet, People Receiving the Gospel (Ballet 6), Mary
Choreography: Liz Borromeo
3. Mary is faithful to God
Music: "Come Healing" by The Magpie Gathering
Performers: Mary, People of Nazareth (Modern 7)
Choreography: Lea Karnes
An angel of the lord visits Mary and tells her that she has been chosen to bear the Messiah.
Scene 2: The Annunciation
Luke 1:26-35 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God."
4. The Angel Gabriel
Music: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent" performed by Sarah Lane
Performers: Angel Gabriel, Sarah Lane
Choreography: Kathryn Price
5. “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Music: "Be Born in Me" by Francesca Battistelli
Performers: Mary, Angel Gabriel
Choreography: Chloe Garbe
Scene 3: Sharing the News
Mary tells Joseph, her betrothed, the good news. She is rejected by him and the people of Nazareth, who know she is unmarried. The angel Gabriel visits Joseph in a dream and tells him to take Mary as his wife.
Matthew 1:18-21, 24 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took his wife.
6. Mary is Rejected, The Angel Visits Joseph
Music: "Mary Did You Know/Corelli Christmas Concerto" by The Piano Guys
Performers: Mary, Joseph, Women of Nazareth, Angel Gabriel
Choreography: Christina Ward
Mary visits her older cousin, Elizabeth. They celebrate the fulfillment of God's promises and the new kingdom it represents.
Luke 1: 39-45 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
7. Mary Visits Elizabeth
Music: "Joy (Elizabeth)" by Poor Bishop Hooper
Performers: Elizabeth, Mary
Choreography: Kathryn Price
Scene 4: Journey to Bethlehem
Mary and Joseph journey to Bethlehem. There is no room for them as guests, so they instead find shelter where the animals are boarded. A star rises over the small town. Jesus is born.
Luke 2:1, 3-7 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
8. No Room at the Inn
Music: "Prepare Him Room" by Sovereign Grace Music, Integrity's Hosanna! Music
Performers: Bethlehem Townspeople (Modern 3, 4), Mary, Joseph
Choreography: Lea Karnes
9. A Star Rises over Bethlehem
Music: "O, Holy Night" by Danny Gokey
Performers: Eastern Star, Night Sky (Ballet 3, 5)
Choreography: Shannon Stinnett, Gracie Overbay
10. Jesus is Born
Music: "Light of the World" by Lauren Daigle
Performers: Jazz 7, Mary
Choreography: Christina Ward
Act II
Scene 5: The Wise Men
Wise Men see the star rise and follow it, bringing gifts for the Messiah.
Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him." [...] they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
11. The Night Sky
Music: "A Light" by The Liturgists, The Brilliance
Performers: Eastern Star, Little Stars (Ballet Basics)
Choreography: Mary Hoover
12. The Wise Men Follow the Star
Music: "We Three Kings" by Alexander Jean, Casey Abrams
Performers: Wisemen, Eastern Star
Choreography: Kathryn Price
Scene 6: Good News for the Shepherds
Angels tell nearby shepherds the good news: the Messiah has been born.
Luke 2:8-15 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests." When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
13. The Shepherds Watch their Sheep
Music: "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" by JJ Heller
Performers: Baby Sheep (Pre-ballet), Shepherds
Choreography: Macey Whitaker, Chloe Garbe
14. The Angels Visit the Shepherds
Music: "O Come All Ye Faithful" by for KING & COUNTRY
Performers: Angel Gabriel, Angels (Ballet 7, Ballet 2), Tap & Jazz Shepherds
Choreography: Chloe Garbe, Mary Klug
15. The Shepherds Leave to Find Jesus
Music: "Rise Up Shepherd" by Twin Bandit
Performers: Tap Shepherd (Fri/Sat afternoon only), Sheep (pre-tap, Sat evening only), Stable animals (beginner tap)
Choreography: Greta Anglin, Rebekah Knisley
Scene 7: At the Manger
Mary, a mother.
16. Bethlehem
Music: "O Little Town of Bethlehem" by Elevation Worship, Jonsal Barrientes
Performers: People of Bethlehem (Adult Ballet)
Choreography: Kate Palmer
17. Mary, a Mother
Music: "A Cradle in Bethlehem" by Phil Wickham, Evan Wickham
Performers: Mary, The Lullaby (Ballet 1)
Choreography: Shannon Stinnett
The shepherds find Jesus and rejoice. The Wise Men find Jesus and present their gifts. Though from different worlds, they are
Luke 2:16, 20; Matthew 2:11 So [the shepherds] hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. [....] The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. --------- On coming to the house, [the Wise men] saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
18. What Child is This?
Music: "What Child is This/Child of the Poor" by The Hound + The Fox
Performers: Shepherds, Wise Men, Mary, Joseph
Choreography: Kathryn Price
The poor "drummer boy" gives from what little he has, representing the spirit of generosity.
19. Little Drummer Boy
Music: "Little Drummer Boy" by Josh Groban
Performers: Drummers (Intermediate Tap, Advanced Tap)
Choreography: Rebekah Knisley
The shepherds rejoice and spread the good news.
Luke 2:17-18 [...]they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
20. Shepherds Share the Good News
Music: "Go Tell it on the Mountain" by Zach Williams
Performers: Jazz Shepherds, People of Nazareth (Jazz 3, Jazz 4)
Choreography: Christina Ward
Scene 8: Jealous King
Herod feels his power threatened by the new infant king. An Angel of the Lord visits Joseph in a dream and warns him of Herod's wicked intentions. Mary and Joseph flee Bethlehem with their son.
Matthew 2:15, 13-14 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. [....] an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
21. Herod's Rage
Music: "Lullay Lullay (Coventry Carol)" by Annie Lennox
Performers: Herod, Herod's Court (Jazz 6)
Choreography: Christina Ward
22. Joseph's Dream
Music: "Out of Egypt" by Poor Bishop Hooper
Performers: Herod, Herod's Soldiers (Modern 6), Angel Gabriel, Forces of Good (Modern 5), Mary, Joseph
Choreography: Lea Karnes
Mary and Joseph flee to Africa, where they remain until the threat of Herod has passed. The news of Jesus's birth spreads, bringing new hope.
23. "My Deliverer"
Music: "My Deliverer" by Rick Elias
Performers: Mary, Joseph, Small Group
Choreography: Eden Huhn
Scene 9: The New World
24. Christmas Today
Music: "Joy to the World (Joyful, Joyful)" by The Worship Initiative
Performers: Present-Day Children (Beginner Jazz, Jazz 5)
Choreography: Cass Kent, Gracie Overbay
Director's Note
Each year of God With Us brings something new to the table, and I am honored to have the chance to bring this incredible story to life on stage. This year, I find myself drawn back to the words of John 1:4-5 :
"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
We hope that this show is able to bring you a little of that light this holiday season. Merry Christmas!