The Answer The Musical 2025
I recently was given the opportunity to be in a musical. Me? In a musical… of all things? Yes, it sounds crazy and as I write this and after having gone through one audition, four rehearsals, one dress rehearsal and eight shows at four different churches... it still sounds crazy. When I was approached about the musical by the director, Christina (a musical prodigy and playwright) I thought she was joking or just being nice. I mean I know her from my church (where she is musical director) and I am a huge fan so maybe she was just throwing me a bone, or something. But, with great hesitation I said 'yes' I will audition. I thought by auditioning it would be two-fold. One, this will get me out of my comfort zone enough to satisfy my Lenten offering and two, this will prove to her and confirm to me that I DO NOT belong on stage! I belong in the audience as an enthusiastic fan of The Answer The Musical, of which I have seen many times over the years.
My friend Ron who is a veteran of this musical as Doubting Thomas (and can sing and act) also encouraged me to audition and even accompanied me to the try-out. “It’s like a family and everyone is so supportive”, he said. First thing when I got to the audition at my church was to fill out a form. Basic info like name, address, email and acting experience; I left that blank, of course. I was then called into the music room a few minutes later. Full of nervous energy, I had to sing a few bars accompanied by piano keys, played by Christina. Not only that, one of my favorite musicians (who also performs at my church), and people, Josh sat in for my audition (which amped up the intimidation level a bit)! Josh even offered to sing with me which Christina immediately shot down. "Thanks for trying though, Josh but everyone knows you can sing", she said! I’m glad I got Christina a chocolate bar just in case I blew the audition. At least she would have a sweet treat to cover any sour feelings. I went for it!
After singing, and to my utter shock, I was given two thumbs up by Christina, who said I would be singing with the group! I know how important this production is to Christina, and I know she wouldn't want to poison the musical by having someone as untalented, uncoordinated, and unworthy as myself in the production. But the audition went on and I was given a few lines from the script to read. I hammed it up the best I could. Another two thumbs up? Yes! Christina then said, "Say, ‘Jesus, teach me to pray!’ “ With great emotion and enthusiasm, I repeated "Jesus, teach me to pray!”
The Answer, The Musical is about the life and public ministry of Jesus (according to John's Gospel) as told through the lens of "Old Peter" who (from a raised prison cell) is recounting his life with Jesus from Baptism all the way through to the Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Peter sets up a scene from the gospel and it’s our job to act it out.
So not only was I officially "in", I was given a line to speak... to Jesus (as portrayed by the wonderful Ernesto Alcantara). How can I, who never imagined being in a musical, had no musical or acting experience, be a member of this amazing cast? Some of these cast members have been together for a decade and longer! Even the newer cast members seemingly all had some acting and singing experience. Yes, even the kids! It felt like the game of "one of these is not like the others" and I was the one.
Then it became real. Was I really gonna do this? Was I really going to put in these long hours on Sunday afternoons of rehearsal? Was I really going to be on stage? Which sounds crazy! This is when I really had to put my "Trust In The Lord" and my trust in Christina, who said she would "make it work for me."
Make it work for me because I have Cerebral Palsy because of being born premature in the late 70's without the use of my underdeveloped lungs. Try as they might, the little oxygen suckers, couldn't. So, I was incubated and placed on 100 percent braincell destroying oxygen for a few weeks until my lungs could, like, function. This left me with an affected right side which later turned into an orthotic fill, a prosthetic hip, and a dependency on a cane to walk. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful to be here writing this, while walking (I'll be it with a pronounced limp), talking, seeing, and understanding (at least some things).
So, Christina made it work for me by me not having to climb on the stage steps, and instead I could do all my scenes on the ground level. And I did not have to do the more hurried crowd scenes (such as cleansing of the temple and Palm Sunday). And I was given a special backstage area or what she called "top dollar seating" in between scenes at one of the larger venues. And I'm getting ahead of myself....
I told her I was going to make her proud of me. I hope I did!
The first Sunday rehearsal I had circled on my wall calendar, February 16th. I was anticipating this day for weeks with a mix of excitement and dread. Ok, well the first rehearsal will be laid back, easing me into the musi... oh shoot the first rehearsal was CANCELED a couple hours before due to bad road conditions?! And Christina almost never cancels practice! Four left followed by dress rehearsal….
So, the official first rehearsal was February 23rd. That day I was going in without my friend Ron, who was out of state at a wedding. I was so nervous I called him anyway asking where he was. Luckily, he answered and reminded me he wouldn’t be there.
There I was at the first practice in the church social hall still wondering if I belonged. I knew some cast members who are fellow parishioners, while some others I met a couple weeks prior at my audition. I sat down at a table with people I didn’t know hoping to break the ice. The people I didn’t know were from another church and they were also new to the cast! We all had name tags, so it made things easier. Martin, Sharon, and Hannah who all sing at their church, Solid Rock, and are truly lovely people. Still, my impostor syndrome self couldn’t shake the feeling I didn’t belong.
The first practice featured ice breakers like introduce yourself to five people and a concentration game involving counting up and clapping. Clap each time you get a number divisible by 3 and 5 while counting up from 1 to as high as 30. It was ok but hard for me to catch on. We then lined up by our singing groups. Baritone and bass together. I sat next to Martin who has a rich baritone and bass singing voice. Luckily there were many of us singing a similar style. The tenors also sat together in the middle and the sopranos sat up front. This was our Postilion B. We learned the group parts for “Trust In The Lord”, “Prepare” and, “Our Father”. We also had to sing the “Hosanna” while winding around the hall in a group. Finally, we got in groups of 2, the bad crowd side and the good crowd side (for the trial scene). I was on the good side and I even cried during an intense exchange between Pilot (Al, who has perfected the role) and Jesus (Ernesto). My tear-stained face was even featured on The Answer social media feed! What an honor! Speaking of Ernesto, the guy walks into the room and gives off this warm, genial energy- almost a saintly glow. And for being the star, he is so humble and easy to talk to. Hopefully one day I will get to pray with him, one on one.
Rehearsal 2 was March 2nd and like the first with a little more refinement. We got our roles and costumes. I am Caleb The Wounded Zealot and wear a tunic, head tie and have a money pouch on a rope belt. Also, I got to practice my line, changed slightly to “Teacher, Teacher! Show us how to pray!” This line introduces a new song called “Our Father”. So, the timing must be just right. Christina wanted the microphone placed by my mouth just before the line, too. More on that later.
Rehearsal 3, March 9: More refinement with focus on smaller groups like the apostles. The most memorable part was getting to see the debut of “30 Pieces”, a song written by Josh (Obaz), Elizabeth (Mary Magdalen) with their brother Nathan (Judas) about the betrayal. Such a catchy song and became one of my favorite’s backstage. It was my mom’s birthday, so I had to go straight from rehearsal to dinner. I couldn’t stop talking about how amazing the rehearsal was, all dinner. It was a full day for sure, but fun.
Rehearsal 4, March 16: Every scene was rehearsed in order and in costume. The only difference between this and the dress rehearsal was we didn’t wear makeup. By now I had my line down!
The best part of the rehearsals was getting to know and gel and pray with this amazing cast! There were several occasions where informal witness was given about how Jesus worked through people to get them here! Plus, each rehearsal and pre-show cast meeting started with group prayer, breathing exercises, and loads of encouragement. Even after so much preparation I felt a little in-the-dark about getting through an actual full run of The Answer.
Week 1 at St Joseph Church, Amherst: Dress rehearsal was intense, but everything went ok. I went through all the crowd scenes, and I was tired from so much walking all throughout the church! I felt I wouldn’t be able to handle the full schedule. The 5:30 call time for the first live show of the season was upon us! I was feeling a mix of fear and excitement. Thankfully I was given a seat behind the sacristy which is right by the stage. Also, my new friend Mike (Joseph of Arimathea) stayed with me the whole show! And we didn’t have to do all the crowd scenes, which helped! Still, will I be able to speak my line cleanly or will I forget them? What if I say the wrong thing or freeze and say nothing? Will I ruin this wonderful musical? Those negative thoughts were just pouring over me! So, the microphone didn’t get up to my mouth during my line, but I said my line and I know I rushed it! It seemed like Ernesto didn’t hear me (and neither did anyone else). I felt deflated and wanted to go back to the room behind the sacristy and cry. Intermission came and Christina didn’t comment (during our cast debriefing) on my part, but she figured out the microphone placement and timing. The ever-reliable Elizabeth (Mary Magdaline) would be holding the microphone for me going forward! I decided to make the best of the other scenes I was in, and I cried during the trial scene. After that show on Friday in front of so many friends and family, all I could do was walk off stage and go directly to Christina, hug her and cry. I felt like I let her down. I know she didn’t really feel that way but it was hard for me to think otherwise.
The Saturday show was a little better than the Friday show for me. Although I said my line (so loudly my voice cracked), I should’ve waited another second or two until the cheers (from Jesus healing the crippled child) died down. Martin (Matthew) didn’t mince words, “They couldn’t hear you.” He went on “Oh well, six more chances to get it.” From there, I made it my mission to perfect my line.
Joy (Martha) who has one of the best singing voices ever, gave me advice I will never forget. She said to say “teacher” over and over until I can hear myself. Now I had a strategy that made sense to me. Also, I told Ernesto (Jesus) I would say ‘teacher, teacher’ and wait until he locked eyes with me before saying the rest. I took Joy’s advice, and it worked!
The crowds at both shows were amazing and I was starting to feel very comfortable on stage. I was looking forward to Port Clinton!
My neighbor Ron was so nice to offer me a ride with him to the shows. On those Fridays though, he had to go straight from work to make the 5:30 call times. Fortunately, I was able to get a ride to Immaculate Conception Church on Friday thanks to Jerry, Brenda (Phillip The Apostle), and Alissa (Bride at Cana). That really brought my anxiety level down and I am so grateful!
Week 2 The Immaculate Conception Church, Port Clinton: The Immaculate Conception Church is beautiful but oddly shaped. The altar faces a wall. On either side of the wall are rows of pews, so it’s a split church! Christina called the shape of the church like “Eastern and Western” churches coming together which is beautiful. Durning blocking for “Trust In The Lord” (which is lining up for the last song as a group and performing it on stage, so we all know where to stand) we were told to bring the audience into the production by looking at and interacting with them, so we made a concerted effort to look all around the church. Elizabeth held the microphone up to my mouth, I locked eyes with Ernesto for my line after saying “Teacher, teacher!” then I turned my head to the crowd, extended my hand to the audience and said, “Show us how to pray!” It’s the first show that the line came out clearly and it felt great (and I felt relieved)! During the intermission debriefing, Christina exclaimed “We finally heard Michael!” Everyone applauded! We were really finding our stride as a team (family?) and I was really enjoying playing Caleb! The audience was small for both nights but those who braved the severe weather threats really enjoyed the musical and were moved by it!
Week 3 St Justin Martyr’s, Eastlake: I was again given a ride to the church on Friday by my new friends, Jerry, Brenda, and Alissa. I’m so ever grateful to them!
These two shows were in the elementary school gym, and Mike and I were staged at the “high dollar” seats just off stage behind a curtain. One cool perk about being stationed just off stage is seeing so many of the main players getting into character and me being able to give them encouragement, high fives, fist bumps just before their scenes. My main rationale for being in the musical was getting friends and family to see the show and to encourage the cast by showing love and support.
The audiences at both shows filled out most of the seating. The cast changing area was upstairs, so Mike and I had our own "private, VIP" dressing room on the main floor which was a second-grade classroom. Wow, the student desk chairs are so tiny! Luckily, we had a couple regular chairs, mine of the folding variety and his being the teacher’s desk chair.
Two very high energy shows! I thought to myself how much I’m going to miss being in this production when it’s over.
Week 4: Solid Rock Community Church, Elyria: We made it to the final week, which is close to home for many in the production. The pastor of the nondenominational church, Pastor Kevin, his wife, and staff were amazing to us. They prayed for and encouraged us before each performance. They fed us fish sandwiches on Friday which was very thoughtful as many in the cast are Catholic. On Saturday they fed us roasted chicken with plenty of sides and dessert! Christina said she chose this church, not because it's the biggest church, but she felt the Holy Spirit present there, and I think we all felt His presence that weekend! Plus, she said proudly that Pastor Kevin was the best pastor in the entire city. We all applauded and cheered!
Goodness were these last performances emotional. Singing “Trust” on that final night felt so special. A group of us were singing off stage at the start of the song. I don’t think anyone wanted it to end that Saturday night, I certainly didn’t. Also, the last two shows, while not perfect, were my favorite of the run. I will never forget the camaraderie that was building throughout the season. I will never forget the kindness of so many in the cast and crew. A special thanks to:
Jesus for conquering sin and death so that we may live forever.
The Holy Spirit for leading us through a successful season.
Mike for staying with me and helping me with timing, and the new friendship.
Tim for keeping things light with humor, the stories, and the live mic.
Linda for staying with me and leading me off stage between scenes.
Johnny for always making sure I had a place to sit backstage.
Heather and Dave for their constant encouragement, generosity and fellowship and for an amazing afterparty!
Sophie for featuring me in The Answer social media post.
John and Andrea for their example of faith, kindness, and love.
Elizabeth and Josh for always making me feel welcome and loved in The Answer, in church, and in life.
Nate, Nick, and Zack for their energy and enthusiasm, which really was infectious.
Sarah and Sophia for the high fives.
Heath, Matthew and all the younger cast members for cheering me on.
Luke and Rudy for saving me from being wounded for real!
John for calling me his "Zealot bro" and for his witness.
Martin, Sharon and Hannah for sharing their church and friendship.
Ken for always checking in on me.
Joy for her wonderful advice.
Al for his kindness and leadership.
Ernesto for being such a positive, calming, loving, and prayerful man of God that he truly is.
Jerry, Brenda, and Alissa for the rides, prayers, love, and encouragement.
Ron for encouraging me, making me feel comfortable and being a brother to me.
Christina for inviting me to join The Answer Family, for showing me a side of myself that I didn't know existed, for making it work for me, and for leading me closer to Jesus through this difficult yet rewarding and grace-filled season.
For everyone involved with The Answer! For all the fist-bumps, hugs, tears, laughter, words of encouragement, food, witness, prayers, and for "looking out for the Mikes." They are a family to me now!
For all the sponsors, family, and friends that supported me!
There is a song in The Answer called “He Changed My Life.” This experience changes lives. I never want to go back to the old way of doing things. I never want to live life on my terms. My heart is full, and I am happy. Thank you, Jesus.
Best regards, Michael "Caleb The Wounded Zealot"