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Content Analysis

A dance musical

Book and Libretto by Dewey Moss

Lyrics and Music by Jeremy Johnson and David Wise

THE PLAY SYNOPSIS

This new, visceral rendition of the story of Esther reimagines the tale with a modern and authentically alluring flavor, incorporating multiple dance forms and production elements. It’s a heroic woman’s story of faith, strength, and strategy found in the gilded mosaic palace and complex family life of an all-powerful king. This gorgeous, show-stopping musical will keep audiences on-step with the faith-filled historical narrative of this culture-changing queen. A Pre-Broadway tryout, Esther will star Sharna Burgess from Dancing with the Stars.

THE CHARACTERS

HEGAI

EUNUCH 1

EUNUCH 2

EUNUCH 3

EUNUCH 4

EUNUCH 5

QUEEN VASHTI

KING XERXES

HADASSAH/ESTHER

MORDECAI

HAMAN

CANDIDATE 1

CANDIDATE 2

CANDIDATE 3

CANDIDATE 4

HANDMAIDENS

KINGS SOLDIERS

TOWNSPEOPLE

HAMAN’S GUARDS

PRISONERS

MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT I

A Vision of the Future

Welcome

Mine

Vashti's Rejection

Please I Pray

The Decree

Could It Be

Hegai's Invitation

Welcome (Reprise)

Arrival at the Palace

Day After Day / Could It Be (Reprise)

Forever

Assassination Vision

The Parade of Choices

Yours

ACT II

I'm Loving This Life

A Vision of the Past

Haman's Introduction

Opportunity

An Order to Kill / Mordecai's Plea

Hegai's Plea to Esther

No Escape

The King's Dream / A Long Way Down

Esther Approaches the King

See Who He Is

Do You See Me?

Finale

THEMES

FAITH

BRAVERY

GOD’S PLANS

GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY

GOD’S DELIVERANCE

TRUST

CONTENT FOR PARENTAL CONSIDERATION

VIOLENCE

King Xerxes picks up Queen Vashti against her will.  She fights him and he throws her violently on the floor.  Xerxes approaches to kill Vashti but he is stopped before he does.

There is a dance that is acrobatic in nature, indicating the horrors of war and at the end there is a pile of dead bodies.

There is a dance where dancers have weapons to perform various assassination attempts on King Xerxes.

MATURE SUBJECT MATTER

There is an order to kill the Jews

Hegai says:  “My reason to be the reason I was robbed of my sex and forced to passivity no more! In regards to him being a Eunuch.

During the song Mine, King Xerxes finds a woman who is scantily clothed and removes her clothing.

Hegai has multiple visions and is in a trance.  He holds hands with the other Eunuchs and passes the visions and trances onto them.

Esther does a sensual dance for King Xerxes and then King Xerxes and Esther dance sensually together.

When Xerxes removes the dress from the woman, she is wearing a full-coverage bra and panty set in the same color of the dress (in addition to a nude leotard) underneath.

Male dancers are occasionally bare-chested or in open shirts/vests.

ALCOHOL

There are a couple of scenes with wine, drunkenness and acting in a sexual manner at the King’s feasts.

LANGUAGE OR SUGGESTIVE DIALOGUE

In the song Mine, “If you’re standing in my way, there will be blood and hell to pay.”

In the song 12 month Beauty Plan, “Show some Ass - Puration!”

RUNNING TIME

1 hour 30 minutes

20 minute intermission

SHOW DATES

August 30 - September 22, 2024

WHAT IS THE RECOMMENDED AGE FOR ESTHER

If this play was a movie we would give it a rating of PG-13 or higher.  We recommend an age of 16 and up for this performance.

HOW MUCH ARE TICKETS TO ESTHER?

Tickets prices vary between $40 and $65 depending on where you sit in the theater.

Executive Artistic Director’s Note

The story of Esther has been a resonant and inspiring narrative for literally thousands of years. This new telling, a pre-Broadway tryout that we hope will make its way to New York or the West End soon, is a fresh and invigorating take on an ancient and powerful tale. Told entirely through incredible dance, live vocalists, live orchestration, and stunning visuals, the story of Esther will be made new once more for contemporary audiences. Starring international dancing superstar, Sharna Burgess (Dancing with the Stars), ESTHER is a world-premiere dance musical that promises an incredible, powerful, lavish, and hopeful evening of theatre.

Theatre is an art form that from its inception has had the proven power to move and to stir the human spirit. This can have a wide variety of manifestations. We are often stirred up, and that kind of event can have us needing to talk to someone about it. We recommend that you find a licensed mental healthcare professional to help you work through difficult feelings that may have been stirred up by a play. You should always work with someone that you have a great connection with. If you need help starting that process, we recommend our partners at Ellie Mental Health as a starting place.

You might also be stirred to do something about how this particular play made you feel. Below we have provided a quick link to be able to donate to the Holocaust Museum of Houston. If, however, you want to do something meaningful about some of the issues addressed by our shows, we are also including links to organizations that do meaningful work in the areas addressed by the content of our show. These are not exhaustive options, but merely starting places to help you on your journey to continue to effect change in your world.