$25 Adv/$15 Community Ticket Price

The Gospel Messiah started in Portland, Maine in 2025 inspired by a successful production in Los Angeles, CA by theatrical director Carol Tanzman and composer/musician Jack Maeby. and was specifically reconfigured to make it more meaningful for the Portland community. More relevant than ever given the ever-increasing number of refugees seeking shelter worldwide, the recent and horrific campaign of terror instigated by our Federal government and executed by ICE, this theatrical production features local musicians, a core group of singers, and actors, 90% of whom are BIPOC, who tell the refugee story against the backdrop of Handel's music in a dynamic gospel interpretation to create a riveting musical experience on stage. 

One of the essential questions that Gospel Messiah poses is: How does a community respond when, in essence, the going gets tough? Mainers have previously fought, and continue to fight for their at-risk communities. The way is fraught, at times dangerous, and frankly, exhausting. The soaring melodies and vocals of Handel’s Messiah help give solace as well as inspiration for Mainers to keep going; the fight is worth it. The unexpected gospel arrangements, steeped in African, African-American, and European musical heritages, brings community together in a surprisingly satisfying way. The stunning poetry of Moon Machar, serving as the Spirit Guide, gives us context and emotional resonance. The addition of a family leaving their beloved homeland to embark upon a precarious journey as refugees lends a human face to the situation.