Two stories come together in musical about St. Cecilia
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published November 10, 2006
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Photo by Joe Kohn | The Michigan Catholic
Julietta Oliva (right), Melissa Klimushyn and Zac Wieber (far left) rehearse for the musical “The Statue of Maderno.” The play revolves around the life of St. Cecilia and on Nov. 17 will open as the first-ever performance by the Urban Youth and Young Adult Musical Theatre Company. | Detroit — There are two main reasons Detroit’s new urban youth theater company wants you in the seats when “The Statue of Maderno” opens at Sacred Heart Major Seminary’s theater Nov. 17.
First, to see a play about a virtuous heroine, St. Cecilia, a third-century martyr who defied the Roman Empire and died bravely for Christ.
Second, to see that the Holy Spirit is alive in the city, and affectionately exuded by young men and women who want to spread a message of holiness and virtue.
“The goal here is especially evangelization,” says Julietta Oliva, who is directing the first-ever performance by the Urban Youth and Young Adult Musical Theatre Company. “We’re doing this because we think we can reach the hearts of the people who are going to see this opening. It has many values from St. Cecilia, the message of the musical itself — and we hope people can get that message through music, through dances and through the acting part.”
“Statue” was written by Sergio Alvarez, a Mexican composer who originally wrote the play in Spanish before making an English version of it. The story is based on history, though it includes some non-historical characters to fill out the plot.
The musical focuses on St. Cecilia’s promise to live a celibate life for the Lord — despite being forced into a civil marriage. As her identity as a Christian is exposed by those around her to the Romans, her example of Christian purity and devotion changes the lives of her husband, friends and even the Roman assigned to put her to death.
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What: A play about third-century martyr St. Cecilia.
Who: Performed by the new Urban Youth and Young Adult Musical Theatre Company.
When: 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17; 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18; and 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 19.
Cost: $8 per person; $20 per family; children 3 and under are free; group rates available for 10 or more.
For information: Call Alejandro Torres-Antonio at (313) 237-6071. | “St. Cecilia is a beautiful example of purity,” says Gail King, who plays the role of St. Cecilia. “She abandoned herself completely to her Lord in poverty and obedience.… I truly hope that the audience takes the desire of being a saint and makes it their own.”
The desire to be saints is readily seen on the rehearsal stage for “Statue,” too. A full-fledged part of a ministry to urban youth — one open to anyone from city or suburb — cast members pray together regularly.
“We’ve all got our own problems, it’s just a fact of life,” says Zac Wieber, a parishioner of Immaculate Conception Parish in Lapeer who plays Almaquius, the power-hungry Roman official with a zeal for killing Christians. “Being together really helps us to connect and think about the different kinds of things we can do. It lets us know that we’re not alone, except with God, and that we have people inspired by God to help us, as well.”
Jennifer Bowden, a parishioner at St. Gabriel Parish in Detroit who plays a non-historical character named Galia, says she’s learned a lot on the set and she can take something from the play’s central character.
“She kept on believing in God no matter what anyone said, even with how much pain she went through,” says Bowden. “She kept believing.”
And to borrow a chorus line from the play’s closing song — and the message the actresses and actors hope to convey with their performance — “If you live like that, your life will be a song.”
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