Like a Thief
Scenes and Songs
Below are summaries of scenes and recorded drafts ofthe songs that accompany them, along with a PDF containing lyrics and some stage directions. Some are more developed than others, all are still in drafting stages and subject to change.
Song 1 - Welcome to the 21st Century (Intro)
This is the opening number. As we meet our characters, a 14-year-old Jesus embraces modern ammenities and endures modern annoyances, such as high school and His overbearing mom. Mary, troubled by conflicting information coming from all directions, comes under the impression her Son may not be able to attend his neighborhood school as she hears on the news that God isn't allowed in Gail County Public Schools. In the same news segment, we hear from the fringe group behind the hysteria, as well as their convenient solution: a public charter school in Gail County where God is allowed! What a relief, what could go wrong?
Listen to Draft
Lyrics and Dialogue (PDF)
Song 2 - This Time
After meeting His classmates, Jesus learns that in spite of their nominal commitment to His teachings of loving their neighbor, their stated values reflect a philosophy of every man for themself. Worried their striking similarity to the Pharisees might land him on yet another cross, Jesus reflects on His situation, and the last life He spent running from an inevitable fate. When He remembers He is just fourteen, an age during which no one in history has bothered writing down what He does, He sees an opportunity to fit in and be a kid - before the inevitable catches up with Him yet again when He's 30. Luckily, that is a long way off!
Lyrics and Dialogue (PDF)
Listen to Draft
Song 3 - Moms U Mess With
At the grand opening of Mosaic Classical Charter Academy, (MCCA) its founders, members of the political activist parent group The Mother Frontier, share the evolving origin of their fight for the rights of their children... to be educated under the sole will of their rightful guides, their parents. In this country-coded introduction we meet our key Moms.
Lyrics and Dialogue (PDF)
Listen to Draft
Song 4 - Terrible Parables
Now using a pseudonym to hide His identity, Jeenald Carpenter attempts to fit in on His first day of school. The first class on His schedule is listed as sex ed, but as all parents opted their kids out of the health curriculum, and into religious education, the students instead have a lesson on the parables of Jesus Christ. Samantha, who is forced into substitute teaching as admins could not find a certified teacher willing to work at MCCA, leads the activity. When Jeenald inevitably talks back to her, she punishes Him by making Him play the role of Jesus Christ in a play-within-a-play showcasing parables, but through a Mother Frontier lens.
Lyrics and Dialogue (PDF)
Listen to Draft
*I consider this draft to be in a stage of very rough. It will be expanded and re-recorded, but this version delivers the gist. Hurry and listen now while it's still at least a little cringe!
Song 5 - Get Outta the Kitchen
After mouthing off in class, Jeenald is offered a chance to redeem Himself by serving as an alternate for the pickle ball team in the upcoming game. Before the match, the students prepare for a cutthroat competition for merit. As they set their sights outperforming the rest, Jeenald starts to wonder if they are pushing themselves to beat the other team... or eachother. When a player pushes too hard, and proves themself weak by taking a ball to the head, which also breaks their glasses, Jeenald sees His chance to restore His rapport with the principal. Even with the encouragement if His mom and MCCA staff, and the students quick dismissal of their teammate's weakness, Jeenald can't help but empathize with His hurt teammate. Instead of jumping in as an alternate, Jeenald heals the students' injury - and restores their vision. His kindness amazes the student... but earns Him a suspension.
Lyrics and Dialogue (PDF)
Listen to Draft
Song 6 - Contr0vrzy
Mary, now distraught at her Son's disruptive conduct at school, attends a Mother Frontier meeting with hopes they can offer her support in parenting. At the local brewery, The Lead Tap, the Moms welcome Mary. As they get more and more drunk, they teach her how she can get her way by controlling the narrative: creating controversies. Mary is somewhat offput as this feels sort of like... lying. But, having her personality somewhat flattened into the image of virgin her whole existence, she wonders what she could do if she controlled her story for once.
Lyrics and Dialogue (PDF)
Listen to Draft
Song 7 - The Carpenter Boy
While Jeenald is out on a suspension for giving His classmate the easy way out by restoring their vision, the students are made to drill the MCCA's rules into their heads in the form of hand-written, cursive, two-sided essays on the school values: Respect, Accountability, and Merit. The kids aren't supposed to, but they cannot help them selves from gushing about... that new kid... was His last name Carpinter? The kids cannot remember His name, but He apparently made a remarkable impression. Samantha, or Mrs. Spade as as students must call her, cannot control Jeenald - let alone a classroom full of kids that won't shut up about Him. Annelise begins to worry that the children of The Mother Frontier hanging out with riff raff from Sycamore Hill might threaten the operating status of the charter. Naturally, Annelise and the Mother Frontier see this as Samantha's failure as a teacher.