the salvation army central territory presents
a musical dr ama based on In Heaven, But Not Of Heaven by William Booth writ ten & directed Joe Caddy Featuring The Bill Booth Theater Company musical direction William Himes media & stage design Visual Communications production stage manager — Ken Jernberg
Note From The Director William Booth, like many of his 19th century contemporaries, was convinced that he would quite literally win the entire world for Jesus and dedicated his entire life to that end. This unwavering commitment to the cause of Christ is what prompted American poet Vachel Lindsay to pen General William Booth Enters Into Heaven upon Booth’s death in 1912. In this famous ode, Booth is welcomed into the heavenly realms by grateful throngs of once-lost souls that he had helped to find salvation. The poem culminates with the General humbly kneeling before his Lord, weeping, as Jesus presents him with his robe and crown. Years prior to Lindsay’s work, William Booth himself painted quite a different picture of this very same event when he wrote In Heaven, But Not of Heaven. This essay, detailing a divine vision he received, provides the basis for tonight’s dramatic presentation. Like many of Booth’s writings, In Heaven is not easy to digest. It provides a challenging examination of the priorities in the life of an average Christian. On the surface the piece seems to ask the question, “What does one need to do to get into heaven?” but I think that Booth intends for us to look deeper. As I started to process what I was reading, I found myself asking questions like: “How does my concept of eternal life in heaven measure up to the reality of the Kingdom of God?” “Is the main purpose of my life just to get there or am I doing everything I can to influence the world for Christ along the way?” This dramatic adaptation does not seek to re-create a vivid picture of the afterlife in exact detail as that was not the objective of Booth’s original text. Rather, this presentation is offered primarily as a cautionary tale and a stark reminder of our responsibility to bring the transforming message of Jesus to those around us while we still have the opportunity. It is only when we embrace this responsibility that the purpose of our lives shifts from being in heaven to truly being of heaven. Blessings, JOE
The Cast In Order of Appearance
Ian Alexander Dan Foreman Clarence Steve Warren Jill Foreman Caroline Glass James Fisher Elizabeth Fisher Rachel Fisher Christ
Brian James Jody Dalberg Mark Lewis Jonathon Weller Courtney Smith Robyn Winters David Tooley Carol Hedgren Kayla Hedgren Joe Caddy
Angel Choir
EMI Youth Gospel Choir and Southeast Michigan ARC Singers Darius Wheeler Robyn Winters
Redeemed Dancers
Musical Numbers “ALIVE FOREVER AMEN”
Angelic Choir
Travis Cotrell, David Moffitt and Sue Smith
Steve, Jill, Caroline, James, and Elizabeth
“REDEEMED” Benji Cowart and Mike Weaver
“THOSE YOU’VE KNOWN”
Dan, Rachel and Christ
Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater
“O BOUNDLESS SALVATION”
Company
William Booth, Arr. by William Himes
Orchestrations by William Himes “Alive Forever Amen” accompanied by Justified “Redeemed,” “Those You’ve Known,” AND “O Boundless Salvation” accompanied by the Chicago Staff Band & Peter McBride (keyboard)
Special Thanks To Envoy Merle Miller, Justified, and the Southeast Michigan ARC Singers Captain Terry Smith and the EMI Youth Gospel Choir Bandmaster William Himes and the Chicago Staff Band THQ Visual Communications — David Andrews, Emily Aukes, Andrew Grey, Erik Hanson, Sophia Jara, and David Minter PS America Peter McBride Lt. Col. Paul Smith Ken Jernberg