Nativity: A Life Story facts for kids

Nativity: A Life Story is a special Christmas musical. It's based on a famous play called Black Nativity by Langston Hughes. This musical was created to be a yearly holiday show in New York City. It has been performed there every year since the mid-1990s. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has helped support these shows. A writer from The New York Times once called it a "quirky combination of spiritual fervor, showbiz glamour, African-American pride and a celebration of women".

The Story of Nativity: A Life Story

Where It All Began

The musical started in the mid-1990s. It was performed in many different places around New York City. In 2001, the show was at Riverside Church. So many people wanted to see it that the church, which holds 1,900 people, was completely full!

Starting in 2002, Nativity found a new home. It moved to the United Palace Theater. This theater is owned by Reverend Ike and his church group. It's located at 175th Street and Broadway in Washington Heights, Manhattan. The United Palace Theater is huge, with seats for 3,500 people. Three shows were performed there that year. Howard Dodson announced that the United Palace would be the musical's permanent home.

How the Musical Was Created

The show was created by Harold Wheeler and Hattie Winston. They worked with producer James Stovall. He was in charge of the Ministry of the Arts & Culture at the Palace Theater. The musical Black Nativity by Langston Hughes was a big inspiration for Nativity: A Life Story. Black Nativity is a gospel song-play that was first performed in 1961.

The people who made Nativity hoped it would become a yearly tradition. They wanted it to be as popular as the Christmas show at Radio City Music Hall. They also hoped it would be as well-known as A Christmas Carol at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. However, a reviewer in 2002 felt it "doesn't yet have the polish of its downtown cousins." This means it wasn't quite as smooth or perfect as the other big shows yet.

A Big Show with Many Stars

The 2002 production of Nativity was very large. It had a cast of performers, three choirs, and a total of 125 people on stage! Many performers had been in Nativity for several years. For example, Ebony Jo-Ann and Lillias White loved the show so much. They even had special parts in their other work contracts. These parts made sure they could always perform in Nativity. Lillias White, who sang the spiritual song "No Room," said, "This is something I absolutely have to do every year."

Famous Performers and Songs

Some well-known singers were part of the show. BeBe Winans played Joseph, and Stephanie Mills played Mary. They sang a duet called "Love Is a Miracle," written by Joseph Joubert. The song "Have You Heard About the Baby" was sung by an a cappella trio. This trio was led by Freddie Jackson.

A hymn called "Behold the Star" was also performed. It was written by composer William L. Dawson. Priscilla Baskerville led this song. She was joined by the Ebony Ecumenical Ensemble and the Broadway Inspirational Voices. The story was told by narrators like Denise Burse, Keith David, and Phylicia Rashad.

The show ended with a song called "Spread the Word." It was described as a "rollicking gospel chorale." The audience loved it so much that they stood up and cheered loudly. It was like a rock concert ending! This song was a perfect way to finish the "grandly spirited and wholly contemporary show." It showed how much the creators believed in their musical.

Later Performances

In 2003, a review praised the "powerful singing voices" and "dance that delivers the goose bumps." However, it also mentioned that the "production values are reminiscent of an elementary-school pageant." This meant the scenery might have looked a bit simple or homemade.

In December 2006, two performances of Nativity took place. They were held at a nightclub called Joe's Pub. These shows featured George Faison and Lillias White.