“The Birth” is Christmas unplugged, opening Dec 12 at Spirit Square
Posted on 6 Dec 2011 by Nathan Rouse
One of Charlotte’s newest Christmas traditions is getting a facelift for 2011. Local company Starving Artist Productions’ The Birth: A Reflective Celebration of the Coming of Christ is returning for its 6th year on the Charlotte stage with some new faces, a new uptown venue, and a special one-night-only Celebration Event on December 17th.
“The Birth” is a thematic one-act I developed and adapted for the stage as director of Starving Artist. The show tells the story of the first Christmas through a series of dramatic monologues from various figures involved in the event. Inspired by and featuring the writings of Pulitzer Prize nominee Frederick Buechner, the production has grown each year, and in both 2009 and 2010 was nominated by Creative Loafing for Theater Event of the Year.
Commenting on the show to The Charlotte Observer, local pastor Jonathan Martin of Renovatus Church said the show is “without question the most emotionally resonant depiction of the Christmas story I’ve ever seen. There’s a kind of jolting, naked interaction between the cast and the audience.”
The show will be performed ten times in Charlotte in November and December. The Celebration Event will begin with a performance of the show and will conclude with a concert by Charlotte singer/songwriter and two-song contributor to “The Birth,” Sarah DeShields.
DeShields also joins the cast for the first time this year. Also joining the cast in 2011 is well-known Charlotte actor and broadcaster, James K. Flynn, who performs the role of the show’s Narrator. The Birth has also entered the music business this year by recording a 5-song EP available through their site (thebirth.net) and music download site Noisetrade (noisetrade.com).
The Birth has moved uptown this year, with performances December 12 – 19 at the Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square on Church Street in Charlotte. Tickets cost $18, or $28 for the Celebration Event on December 17th. For more information or to buy tickets, visit thebirth.net or carolinatix.org.
Cast Picture provided by Kyle J. Britt
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