“The Confession Musical” is based on the best-selling book series “The Heritage of Lancaster County,” written by Beverly Lewis and written for the stage by Emmy-Nominated screenwriter Martha Bolton. Katie Lapp, a young Amish girl, discovers her parents have been keeping a secret from her... she is adopted. Katie decides to seek her birth mother, defying the rules of her Amish village and risking a shunning.
Meanwhile, her wealthy birth mother, Laura Mayfield, battling an illness that might take her life, begins searching for her long-lost daughter to bequeath her inheritance before it is too late. Secretly plotting against her is the gold-digging husband Dylan (John Schneider), who is scheming to make sure he inherits her fortune. With the help and prayers of her Christian maidservant (Chonda Pierce), they try to foil Dylan’s plan and reunite Katie and Laura.
The Confessional Musical will be in theaters for One Night Only, FEBRUARY 20, 2023! This production is a Fathom Event so click on the LINK to find the nearest THEATERSand toBUY TICKETS!
The play is a mixture of a dramatic story of secrets and separations that touch the heart and the music and merriment give the play an entertainment value to delight audiences. However, with a running time of 3 hours, I wouldn't advise bringing children. There is an intermission, but it's just long enough to stretch your legs, have a restroom break and maybe refill snacks. This is better suited for grown-ups, maybe even a Girl's Night Out event.
Giveaway: $10 Amazon gift card. Enter no later than 2/23/2023 using #TheConfessionMIN in a comment.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Blue Gate Musicals for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
"The
Confession" tells the story of an Amish Family in turmoil when their
daughter, Katie Lapp, discovers she was adopted, and her biological mother is an Englisher (not
Amish) woman. Meanwhile, the woman, Laura Mayfield, heir to a vast
fortune and on her death bed, is searching for her lost daughter to
bequest her the estate. Standing between her is her gold-digging husband
Dylan (played by John Schneider), who is plotting to claim the fortune
for himself with the help of a hired imposter pretending to be the
long-lost daughter.
While
the story is dramatic, writer Martha Bolton sprinkles in humor, mostly
from award-winning comedian Chonda Pierce as the maid and
internationally renowned British comedian Colin Hearn as the English
Butler. The music is powerful under the direction of multiple Grammy-nominated Dan Posthuma and songwriter Wally Nason. And the screen is
filled with spectacular visuals using twenty actors and dancers and one
of the largest LED screens in the country. Be sure to check out the main cast on the website.
Sparks fly between a famous model and a
farmer with a young daughter when she returns to a favorite place from her childhood for a visit. The town is in danger of losing their beloved Santaland festival, but
miracles can happen with a little love, family, and faith.
Focus on the Family’s Plugged In says it has, “a
message that goes a couple of layers deeper than your typical holiday rom-com.
This one drives home the importance of understanding what makes us valuable as
human beings.”
"THE FARMER AND THE BELLE: SAVING SANTALAND has a very strong Christian,
biblical worldview with an emphasis of finding one’s worth from the
truth of God rather than the world’s low standard." - MovieGuide
“So much of the
content we see during Christmas season misses the opportunity to show God’s
perspective on true beauty that the Bible makes so clear,” said Jenn Gotzon,
who stars in and produces the film. “Every person – women, men, girls and boys
– needs to see that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. We are a treasured
inheritance. It puts the focus of beauty on the heart and how we serve and love
others.”
The music of the film will definitely infuse you with Christmas spirit! Amy Grant gave a shout-out to Justin Peters and Rhonda Vincent on the film's hit song, Santaland!
Justin shared, "'Santaland' has been a special song. It is the first song you hear in
the movie. The Chorus was started in a beach house in North Carolina by
Steven Rupe and myself at one of my Songs For The Planet songwriting
camps. It was one of over 40 songs written for the movie. We then worked
on ideas for the song on 2 different flights back to Nashville. Over
the next few days we met at my studio/office where we chipped away at
the song until it was finished. I sent Jenn Gotzon a ukulele/vocal work
tape on it...they liked it...then they came back and asked me to write a
different song for them with a similar theme... I wrote 3 others and
then they eventually came back to “Santaland” which made me quite happy
as I thought it was the perfect one for the movie. I recorded a master
with me singing the song and later they asked if a female voice could be
on it since the movie was focused on the female character’s story. The
next day I called Rhonda Vincent who just happened to be Christmas
shopping here in Nashville for clothes for a cruise she was going on. I
asked her if she would come do a duet with me on “Santaland.” She said
yes and eleven minutes later she was at my studio. I arranged and taught
her the part and recorded her complete vocals that night. A few days
later we debuted the song together at the New York Stock Exchange in New
York."
The Farmer and the Belle: Saving Santaland soundtrack includes more music from Justin Peters as well as John Schneider, Beckah Shae, Tiffany Ashton, Tobi Lee, and more... including the score with James Covell.
You can download the soundtrack by clicking on one of these links: iTunesor Amazon.
You can buy charm bracelet from the movie on QVC! Click on the hyperlink to go directly to the QVC page. You will definitely want one for yourself or to share with your loved ones.
Distributed by Vision Films, Inc., Mill Creek Entertainment and produced by
Idealist-Gotzon Films in association with 2 Actors Productions, THE FARMER AND THE BELLE: SAVING SANTALAND features
Jenn Gotzon (MY DADDY IS IN HEAVEN), Jim E. Chandler (AMC’S Lodge 49, Stranger Things), Corbin Bernsen (Major League), John Schneider (Dukes
of Hazzard), Natasha Bure (Home Sweet
Home, Fuller House, The Voice), Delilah (nationally-syndicated radio host),
Robert Amaya (COURAGEOUS, OCTOBER BABY), Henry Cho (Standup Comedian), and introduces Adele Chandler. The movie is directed by award-winner, Wes Llewellyn.
This award-winning, must-see faith and family
film from Vision Films is streaming now on all major VOD, cable and DVD
platforms and available at retailers nationwide, suitable for audiences from
kids to grandparents.
