Galilee Missionary Baptist Church brings Christmas story to life in 'Nativity'
Director Vincent Williams always gets excited for the Christmas season, but this year he says he is so excited that he can hardly sleep. He is putting together a production called ‘Nativity’ that will premiere December 20th at Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, “I've never done a Christmas performance of this magnitude”.
The performance will tell the story of the birth of Jesus and will showcase the Legacy Dance Company under the choreography of Terry Jackson. It will also combine the sound of the Shreveport choirs Galilee Missionary Baptist Church Chancel Choir, under the leadership of Minister of Music Hattie Wade, and Mount Canaan Missionary Baptist Church Sanctuary Choir, under the leadership of Minister of Music Jerry Maiden.
“We feel what we do, you know, and that's what make the Black race so unique when they perform things like this,” said Williams, adding that the drama will have, “the African American theatre perspective, as well as the African American choir”.
“The first act will be in Bethlehem, so you will hear a lot of Christmas carols. Then in the second act, it will be modern day, so you're going to hear a lot of African and gospel songs,” Williams explains.
Fifteen-year-old Nicholas Webb plays one of the shepherds, “It's a pretty big deal, considering that we're trying to tell the birth of Jesus Christ through song and acting.”
For Webb, the production has been a lot of fun because he is with friends, all close to his age. “You can be a child and you can still be involved with God. Age does not have a limitation on what you feel,” Webb said.
What: Christmas performance of Nativity
When: December 20th at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Galilee Missionary Baptist Church, 1500 Pierre Ave.
Admission is free
This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Christmas performance of 'Nativity' shows the story of Jesus
