RAINBOW PUPPET PRODUCTIONS: Jonah

Rainbow Puppet Productions

Jonah

© 2000 Rainbow Puppet Productions / David Messick (752359576025)

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Join Jonah inside the belly of a whale in this exciting new musical re-telling of the famous tale. This original cast album features 9 new songs, all the dialogue and the entire story.

tracks

1 Opening
2 Dialogue
3 Way Down Deep
4 Dialogue
5 God Loves Everyone
6 Dialogue
7 Those Lousy Folks in Ninevah
8 Dialogue
9 God Takes Care of His People
10 Dialogue
11 I'm Not Gonna Do (What God Says to Do)
12 The Storm
13 You Can't Run Away
14 God Takes Care (reprise)
15 On to Ninevah
16 Forty Days
17 Dialogue
18 God Loves Everyone (reprise)
19 Dialogue
20 I'm Hungry
21 Dialogue
22 God Loves Everyone / Finale
23 Way Down Deep (reprise)

notes

GO INSIDE THE BELLY OF A WHALE!

Join Jonah inside the belly of the whale as Rainbow Puppet Productions presents a new musical production of "Jonah."

The story is based on the traditional Old Testament tale of Jonah. Instead reaching out to others, Jonah tries to defy God by taking a ship to the far corner of the earth. Jonah's plan is thwarted when he ends up overboard and soon finds himself inside the belly of the whale.

In addition to diverse styles of puppets, the musical score draws from various song forms. "Jonah was probably the most charismatic character of his day... really able to move a crowd," says the show author David Messick. "His opening number has the feel of a Ricky Martin musical number with dancing and a wide array of colorful puppets."

Other musical styles include a number performed by fish inside the whale's stomach. "Since Jonah is trying to runaway from his responsibilities, I thought of the old Del Shannon song 'Runaway' and created a song with that 1960's pop feel."

"This is one of the most elaborate productions we have ever created," says writer and director David Messick. "The puppets are on a ship in the midst of a terrible storm, Jonah is grabbed into the sea and swallowed by a whale puppet that's almost six feet tall. Later, through black light puppetry, we join Jonah inside the belly of the whale."

"We have tried to incorporate multiple puppet styles into this presentation. There are standard wide-mouth people puppets, a parade puppet that rises ten feet into the air, and numerous sea creatures presented with rod puppets and hand puppets."

"Jonah" premiered to a standing ovation at the Virginia Festival of Puppet Ministry and Creative Arts in August. "This was despite, or perhaps because of a technical glitch that brought the gates of Ninevah crashing to the ground in the middle of the show," said set designer Jason Wiedel.

Newport News artist Laura Huff created principal puppets, including the giant whale. She previously crafted giant dinosaurs for Rainbow's "Really Big Dinosaur Show." Other puppets and props are by Joyce Timberlake, Fiona Andrews, Christine Frank, Kathie Davis, and Jill Harrington. The original songs were arranged and recorded by Steve Scheffler. Scheffler also created many of the vocal characterizations heard in the program.

Wiedel provides the voice for Jonah. Other vocal performances are by Tim Tharrington; Frank Mailander; Chris and Don Bartlett; Lisa, Rich, and Tyler Ryan; Fiona, Gillian and Sarah Andrews. Newcomer to Rainbow, Beverley Slayton, provides his rich bass voice as God.

Rainbow Puppeteers include Kathie Davis, David and Marcy Messick, David Messick, Sr., Judy Silvis, Jason Wiedel, and Mel T. Brooks.

The people at Rainbow Productions began producing shows for local libraries in 1977. Since that time, the company has grown to one of the leading providers of arts-in-education in the state of Virginia. The company now tours nationally, having recently presented at the Puppeteers of America's national convention in Tampa and at the Fellowship of Christian Puppeteers national convention outside of Chicago.

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  • author: JJ

    The words of this musical were unusually clear enough to be well understood and not so fast that the audience would have a hard time getting the point. The sound effects and music were excellent. I enjoyed listening to the CD even without the puppet show.I would like to see the written words to the musical though.

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