By Susan Eernisse
Children’s Music Editor/Jubilate Music Group

Presenting a children’s musical can be a great springboard to beginning a children’s choir at your church. Musicals can also bring energy and excitement to an existing children’s choir program, whether the program is thriving or in need of an infusion of energy and creativity. Although large churches with unlimited resources can offer huge productions, musicals can also be produced simply with a small cast and minimal resources. If you have been reluctant to stage a musical for whatever reason, perhaps now is the time to give it further consideration. 

Why Musicals? 
As you think about the value of musicals and discuss possibilities with your ministry team, create a list of positives. Here’s a short list to get you started.
- An appealing musical with a strong message and developmentally appropriate music offers children the opportunity to examine, grow, and share their faith in a unique way. 
- The weeks of preparation promote unity and a strong sense of purpose as children learn important spiritual truths and expand their musical skills. 
- The project can be multi-generational in scope as youth and adult volunteers can be enlisted as actors, rehearsal assistants, prompters, artists, publicists, photographers, builders, costume designers, snack hosts, and more – a great way to strengthen community!
- The performance can become a “front-door” to church engagement as friends and extended family members who have never attended a worship service come to see and hear their special child.

Reviewing and Selecting a Musical
Before you begin your search, you should assess your particular situation, the resources you have, the performance venue, the makeup of your group (ages, abilities, parental support), and the type of musical that would most closely align with your church’s mission. Do you want a musical based on a biblical character or significant event in the Bible? Or perhaps you want a contemporary setting with a spiritual application. Decide when you will present the musical and determine the category of musical that will be best – seasonal/holiday or non-seasonal. Make note of the performance time of each musical and look for any “extras” offered by the publisher: performance recordings, download options, practice recordings, rehearsal helps and tips, etc. Here is a list of considerations as you review each musical. 

Make a checklist of these and other relevant points as you review potential choices. After making your top selections, consider a listening session with your ministry team to make the final call. 

Final Tips
By now you have noted my love of lists. Let me leave you with one more. 
Keep these things in focus as you and your team work with the children:  
- Set realistic goals and expectations for yourself, the children, and all volunteers.
- Highlight spiritual connections regularly.
- Point out and explain Biblical truths – read related scriptures, never assuming they already know the stories and verses. (Create games to help with teaching and memorization.)
- Rehearse the prominent musical features in each song – make the children successful musicians, not just rote learners with a demo recording – teach for the future! 
- Establish a calm, stress-free atmosphere for kids and teachers – be aware of children with performance anxiety and other issues that may be triggered. 
- Use a team approach with no “superstars” – everyone should be valued and included.

A musical can lay the groundwork for starting, restarting, or enhancing children’s choirs in your church. Capitalize on the energy and enthusiasm of the moment and look for ways to involve more families in your children’s choir ministry. Choir in general and musicals specifically will leave a lasting impact on the children and their families/audience for years to come.

Jubilate Music Group has a complete catalog of bestselling children’s musicals for Christmas, Easter, and all year long including the new Mystery at Christmas Manor.  Click HERE to peruse those publications.

Susan Eernisse is a veteran children’s music director and writer/editor of children's music materials. She is a respected children's choir clinician and has served on the faculties of children's music camps and festivals for many years.  She is the Children’s Music Editor for Jubilate Music Group, which has a complete catalog of children’s musicals.