VietNamNet Bridge – HCMC Catholic Youth Group has launched a project to perform Broadway-styled musical The Eternal Lamb (Con Chien Khong Moi) for free starting from December 20.

The 90-minute Vietnamese-language show presents 22 songs from world’s popular films and musicals, including Bring Him Home by Claude-Michel Schönberg; Close Every Door by Andrew Lloyd-Webber; Vivre Pour Le Meilleur by David Hallyday; Mary, Did You Know by Buddy Greene; I Will Follow Him by Franck Pourcel, I Dreamed a Dream by Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.

Thirty one people joining in the show are both Catholics and non-Catholics aged between 19 and 35 and have been recruited to play The Eternal Lamb thanks to their singing and dancing talents.

According to Nguyen Tran Tuan Kiet, chief executive of The Eternal Lamb, the musical is a conversation between Simon Peter, one of the apostles of Lord Jesus Christ, and a stranger. Towards the end of the conversation, he realizes that the stranger is his Master, Jesus, who has risen from death. Kiet explains the name of the musical, “Lamb” refers to Jesus the Lamb while “Eternal” refers to God’s tireless love.    

The organizers hope to bring audiences a brief and concise picture of the Gospel, stretching from the Old Testament to the New Testament by the art of musical theater. It is expected to serve at least 800 viewers. The organizers also aim to generate excitement and appreciation of Broadway musical among local public and to nurture musical talent to be ready for larger performances.

The first two performances will take place at the Redemptorist Church in Ky Dong Street in

HCMC’s District 3 on December 20 from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and at Thanh Da Parish Church in Binh Thanh District in late December. Then, the show’s team will consolidate the initial experiences and plan for a series of larger shows, which is expected to tour the major urban areas outside HCMC and start in early March 2015, after the Lunar New Year holiday.

The organizers are also searching for donations and volunteers to help bring the musical to more audiences. For further information, contact Nguyen Tran Tuan Kiet (Mr.), email: jeankiet@gmail.com or Vu Thi Quynh Giao (Ms.) via email gvu@gc.cuny.edu.

SGT/VNN