Ten Miles Outside Damascus

New for 2025, a World Premier Presentation of 10 Miles Outside Damascus – a David Meece original rock musical with arrangements by Dennis Willen. David Meece is a groundbreaking pioneer of the Contemporary Christian Music genre and a member of the Christian Music Hall of Fame. His musical works have impacted worldwide audiences for generations. This contemporary rock musical features over 2 dozen original songs as it takes us on the journey of Paul as he is transformed from a chief prosecutor of the early Christian church to a bold and tireless leader for the cause of Christ.

10 Miles Outside Damascus is an updated presentation of what was originally presented in 1972 as Paul: A Rock Opera.  The original script was lost in a fire and has been in re-development for several years.  The musical arrangements were redeveloped and modernized by Dennis Willen.

This production is presented as a gift to the community by Christ Memorial Productions and takes place at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 5252 S. Lindbergh Blvd, St. Louis, Missouri on Friday, March 21 and Saturday March 22 at 7:30pm and Sunday, March 23 at 2:30 pm. Doors will open 30 minutes prior to the performances. CMP will provide free refreshments. This theatrical production will include a live rock band and will be directed by Dianne Mueller.

Tickets: Tickets for reserved seats will be made available at no cost at this web page beginning at 2 pm on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

Be sure to CLICK HERE to sign up for CMP’s email news to keep up to date and to be notified when ticket distribution begins.

CAST

  • John Jauss: Paul
  • Madi Moyer: Mara (Paul’s sister), Ensemble
  • Kristyn Smith: Joanna (Chuza’s wife), Ensemble
  • Derick Smith: Barnabas, Chuza, Ensemble
  • Jacklyn Stephens: Hannah, Ensemble
  • Reuben Jones: Stephen, Ananias, Ensemble
  • Noelle Jones: Narrator, Ensemble
  • Katelyn Klaus: Stephen’s Wife, Ensemble
  • Sarah Dubberke: Mary of Bethany, Ensemble
  • Dianne Mueller: Holy Spirit, Ensemble
  • Carson Lee: Ezra (Mara’s child)
  • Bill Winterbauer: Gamaliel, Ensemble
  • Lauren Kreienkamp: Ensemble
  • Jan Wheatley:  Ensemble
  • Tom Wilson: Ensemble
  • Jamie Raleigh: Ensemble
  • Nino Heres: Ensemble
  • Jake Stephens: Ensemble
  • Dave Fiedler: Ensemble
  • Nahla Jones: a child
  • Ensemble includes:
    • Soldiers, Pharisees, Chorus
 
  • Director:  Dianne Mueller
  • Music Director: Joe Paule, Sr.
  • Rehearsal Accompanist: Tafra Perryman
  • Set Design and Build:  Dianne Mueller, Mark Amen
  • Costumes: Krysta Fagerquist
  • Lighting Design:  Jonathan Hartley
  • Technical Operations and Support Team:  Bob Bentrup, Keith Hampton
  • House Manager/Public Relations:  Lynette Jost, Rebecca Nickel
  • Production Assistant: Mackenzie Bick
  • Photography and Videography: Mark Amen, Trevor Jost
  • CMP Artistic Director:  Dianne Mueller
  • CMP Production Manager/Sound Mixing: Larry Jost

About David Meece

Australian Gospel Music Festival 2005

David Meece is a native of Humble, Texas.  He grew up in an abusive household and turned to music to escape his troubles.  He had a natural talent as a pianist and began performing as a concert artist at age 10.  By age 16 he was touring Europe and performing with the Houston Symphony Orchestra.  David found his faith while attending the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. 

David became a youth pastor at First Baptist Humble where the original version of this musical was first presented.  David signed with Myrrh Records in 1976 and entered a successful career in Christian Music that carried him around the world for almost 4 decades. 

David received two Dove Award Nominations in 1982, was inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2008 and received the 2009 Visionary Award for the Inspirational Male Soloist division. In November 2012, he was presented with the AMG Heritage Lifetime Achievement Award. His life continues to impact millions worldwide and his passion for excellence in the field of Contemporary Christian Music will leave a powerful legacy for generations to come. He now resides in Franklin, Tennessee.

Learn more about David at DavidMeece.com

SYNOPSIS
Act One – Mara, and her son, Ezra, leave a basket of food for her brother, Paul. They are Christians and worried about how angry Paul has become at their beliefs. Joanna is also a Christian, determined to help spread the good news. Chuza, her husband and steward to Herod Antipas, cannot deal with the political fallout of her actions and sends her away. Paul speaks to God about his respect for the Law and his hatred for the Christian heresy (Paul’s Declaration). Joanna mourns her loss of Chuza and wonders where Love can be amidst all the violence brewing around her (Where is Love). Paul confronts Hannah, Ezra, Joanna, and the other Christians with their lack of respect for the Law while they counter with the importance of Love (I Can Feel It). Stephen joins in the argument with such passion that the Pharisees rouse the crowd to stone him. Stephen prays that God will open their eyes to His love and asks that their sin be forgiven (Help Them to Understand). Hannah and Stephen’s wife eulogize Stephen and forgive Paul for his role in the stoning (A Song for Stephen). Paul goes to Ezra, Ezra’s sweetheart Hannah, and their friend Barnabus demanding to know where Mara can be found. They argue over the new teachings and Paul is so enraged that he begins to physically attack Christians (I Know the Truth, Persecution). It turns out that the Holy Spirit has be speaking to Paul, but he does not understand the message – only that he cannot sleep because of his dreams (I Wish that I Could Go to Sleep, Through Faith You Will Understand). Paul overhears Joanna and Hannah singing of their love for Jesus and his anger turns rage at God (I Love the Way). He will act where God does not. Along with Joanna and a few other Christians, Barnabus sets out to spread the good news outside of Jerusalem (Day to Day, Everybody Left Town).


Act Two – While composing a letter aimed at helping him stop the spread of Christianity, Paul shouts to God (and to himself) that he will hold tightly onto the Law (I Want to Live My Life). Mara makes a final plea for Paul to embrace Love (A Love that Never Ends). As more Christians set out to found new churches (In Your Heart), Paul demands that the High Priest empower him to stamp out the new faith (Send a Letter). A group of Christians celebrate the Eucharist in Damascus at the home of Mary of Bethany while hiding from Paul (In Remembrance of Him). Breaking under the strain of rounding up Christians while still following God’s commandments (Ten Miles Outside Damascus, Can No One Else Find), Paul is confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus and struck blind. Ananias accepts the responsibility of nurturing Paul’s new-found faith (Come Along to Our Town). After Ananias prays over him, Paul can see again. The group of Christians are talking quietly, maintaining their lookout for Paul when Mary of Bethany reminds them of their faith and their calling (Thing Called Love). To everyone’s amazement, Paul joins in, declaring that now he can really see the power of Jesus’ love (Love is Here). Paul preaches on the importance of Love (Without Love). As a group, they rejoice in Paul’s conversion and accept him (Love is Patient, God is Love).

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