We Are the Children of Abraham

Cast: 12

Set: Single set of platforms with various heights.

Synopsis: WE ARE THE CHILDREN OF ABRAHAM is a new play with music about three groups of American tourists: Muslims, Christians and Jews, who climb separately to the top of Mt. Sinai in the Egyptian desert. Avoiding the heat of the day, they all reach the top in the dead of night. All of them are there to  honor Moses, the great prophet.

One of the travelers suggests that they all warm up and unwind by acting out some of the stories of their Abrahamic traditions. As they tell the stories of the near-sacrifice of Isaac, of Sarah and Abraham, and of Ishmael, the travelers learn interesting things about Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.

Though they all share a belief in one God, and honor the law and the prophets, their song and stories eventually become embroiled in argument. The discussion reaches a boiling point, and it’s unclear if they can have any meaningful dialogue.

The rabbi who is with the Jewish group suggests that they re-enact a final story: the Parable of Nathan the Wise. Through this exercise, the group comes to some interesting conclusions.

Running Time: 1 hour 45 minutes with an intermission between acts.

Music: 14 songs

Costuming: Contemporary casual, with Muslim women wearing hijabs.

Performance history: This play was performed at the Community United Methodist Church in Half Moon Bay, California in May of 2009. There were discussions afterwards, led by speakers of different faiths. The response to the play and the discussions was overwhelming to me. So I have a new mission. The wonderful actor-singers who performed this work have committed to do it again in May of 2010, and we will be taking the show to some other locations and venues.  Script and music are available.