From a melody to the stage

By Connie McKinney
Contributing writer

 

Playing Jesus in a new musical about the aftermath of the resurrection was a challenge for Tristan Holden.

“You have to embody that you are the Savior,” he said. “It’s a very huge role.”

Holden was one of the cast members who performed in “Ascend the Musical” on Aug. 14 at Two Rivers Church in Johnson City. Lori Zabadal-Dayton, a lifelong parishioner at Church of the Holy Trinity in Binghamton, wrote “Ascend.” She hopes the musical will be performed every year somewhere in the Binghamton area before Easter Sunday or during the 50 days of the Easter season, which ends with Pentecost.

“Binghamton is the grassroots of this musical,” she said. “This is where I was born and raised.”

Zabadal-Dayton said she plans to reach out to other artistic directors in the hopes her musical can be performed elsewhere.  

It began with a melody 

This is Zabadal-Dayton’s first musical, written without any formal training in lyric writing or composition. 

“It was a calling to fulfill my life’s purpose,” she said.

It all started 15 years ago when Zabadel-Dayton woke up with a melody that she couldn’t get out of her head. She got out of bed and went to her piano, where she captured what she was hearing. Four months later, the melody became “My Heart’s on Fire,” one of the songs featured in “Ascend.”

Zabadal-Dayton began collaborating with her piano teacher, Ken Martinak, who wrote the music for “Ascend” along with Zabadal-Dayton, she said.

In 2017, the first version of the musical was performed at the Endicott Performing Arts Center. Since then, “Ascend” has undergone numerous changes and rewrites, including some new lyrics and new songs, she said.

The musical looks at the days following the crucifixion and Jesus’ resurrection and what it was like for the disciples after their leader died. This was a rough time for the disciples, Holden said.

“A lot of people were confused. They were distressed,” he said.

One of the main characters is Peter, who famously denied Jesus three times. But he transforms by the second act and becomes the first leader of the Catholic Church. “He gets that second chance because he let go of his past,” Zabadal-Dayton said of Peter.

Although it wasn’t easy, playing the part of Peter was enjoyable, said Gavin Demars.

“Peter is a very fun character to play,” he said. “It’s quite the journey.”

Zawadi Yebo, who plays Mary, the mother of Jesus, reflected on how her character’s personality compares with her own. 

“She’s very calm, cool, collected,” Yebo, also a mother, said of Mary. “I am very extroverted.”

Grace Holt plays Mary Magdalene: “She’s a very strong character who doesn’t get enough attention for her faith.”

Ascending themes

“Ascend” contains some uplifting, inspirational themes for the viewers, Holden said. 

“I want [the audience] to realize that no one is perfect,” he said. “We all make mistakes. But Jesus can help them through it.”

Another theme “Ascend” explores is forgiveness and getting new chances to do what’s right, Yebo said.

“There is hope,” Yebo said. “There is redemption no matter how far you’ve strayed away or gotten off the path.”

The musical also contains a message of perseverance, hope, and faith, Demars said.

“Never give up,” he said. “Always have faith and hope that something better is around the corner. Most importantly, know that Jesus loves you and will always accept you.”