Christ Church Presents “The Drummer Boy” Musical

By Matthew Becker

 “The Little Drummer Boy” is a beloved Christmas classic, sung and listened to by people around the world each holiday season. A young boy had no gift for the newborn infant Jesus except for his drum, but as the song suggests, he played his best for him. 

Similarly, Christ Church will do its best to bring this holiday classic to life this December with their production of The Drummer Boy. 

Daniela V. Vinci crafted a contemporary reimagining of this story that centers around a teenager named Avishai as he searches for his unique gift. On his journey of self-discovery, he realizes the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of Jesus and the gift of salvation. 

To fully immerse people into this world, convey this powerful message, and provide an unforgettable experience, Christ Church is putting on an extravagant musical production that features professional musicians, dancers, and singers, some of whom are classically trained in opera. The Drummer Boy will include a combination of preexisting and original songs of various styles and genres, including spoken word and hip-hop. As Director of Special Projects Stephen Nickoley puts it, “No matter what type of music you like, you’ll find at least one favorite.” 

This production features several talented people using their gifts to honor the Lord. The musical’s director is Jena Fisher. In addition to working as the principal worship leader at Christ Church, she has performed in several major theatrical productions including The Mile-Long Opera and August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson. Music Director Peter Powers has shared the stage with numerous gospel and mainstream artists and was the composer for the faith-based indie film, After the Wait. Assistant Director Anne S. Joseph also serves as a Christ Church worship leader and has worked with artists like Jackson Chery & Bridging the Gap and Uche Agu. Choral Director Zuumah Gayemen has a bachelor’s degree in music and has performed with and for the late Whitney Houston, as well as Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom), Dionne Warwick, and many others. 

All these incredibly talented artists, among several others, have come together to put on The Drummer Boy for the second year in a row. Rehearsals started during the Easter season. In addition to being profoundly heartfelt and creative through its musical sequences, storytelling, dancing, and even animation, this production is also evangelistic, conveying a message of hope and salvation. Much like Avishai, the Christ Church production team hopes that the power of music and theater will help audiences discover the true meaning of Christmas.

Christ Church will present four performances of The Drummer Boy: Dec. 4 and 5 at its Montclair location and Dec. 11 and 12 at its Rockway location (all shows at 8 p.m., doors open at 7 p.m.). Admission is free, but registration is required. Click here to register or for more information.