Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference: Festival Performances

The Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival is an opportunity for academics and theologians, pastors and practitioners, artists and church workers, and any and all Christians to come together and engage one another in our common work towards peace in our world. As part of this conference and festival we are pleased to welcome several different artists who will offer the following performances:

Thursday, June 15, 7:00pm: Selah’s Song, performed by Theatre of the Beat

             Selah’s Song is an original, heartwarming musical written by Theatre of the Beat co-
founder Johnny Wideman with music by beloved Mennonite musician Bryan Moyer
Suderman. The musical tells the story of a young girl whose courage inspired a village,
and whose song became an anthem for peace. Selah, a burgeoning songwriter, is excited
to hear that her father is coming home from the war in West Candling. But, the joy of
having her family reunited is short-lived when a harsh War Tax is started instead.
Inundated with catchy pro-war propaganda songs, Selah is inspired to share her own
music with the village, creating some competition for the King.    

Friday, June 16, 7:00pm: Elsewhere Ensemble

            The Elsewhere Ensemble is an eclectic group of artists coming from different cultures, different
generations and disciplines. Unlike most ensembles it is not defined by its form – it is neither a
music group nor a theater group, neither a string quartet nor an acting company (but it can be any
one, or any combination of these) – it is defined by the desire to find a way of working together
so that the whole is somehow greater than each part… the belief that art should be born out of
the ties which bring us closer together, reminding us of our humanity. With the continued hope
that “classical” music and “theater” are not for an elite but a human necessity.
The Ensemble was created, in part, because many projects didn’t seem to fit completely into one
set form. But mainly it was born out of long term collaborative work and relationships with
artists looking for another way of working together, an “elsewhere” where love was put back at
the center of all creating and where human relationships – that of the artists between themselves,
and the artists with their audience – were considered the starting point for all creative work. The
group has performed in New York, Boston, Paris, Lyon, Montreal, London, Beirut and has
participated in The Edinburgh International Fringe Festival, The New York International Fringe
Festival and the Nehna wel Amar wel Jiran Festival (Us, the Moon & the Neighbors) in Beirut
Lebanon.

Saturday, June 17, 7:00pm: Selah’s Song, performed by Theatre of the Beat

            Selah’s Song is an original, heartwarming musical written by Theatre of the Beat co-
founder Johnny Wideman with music by beloved Mennonite musician Bryan Moyer
Suderman. The musical tells the story of a young girl whose courage inspired a village,
and whose song became an anthem for peace. Selah, a burgeoning songwriter, is excited
to hear that her father is coming home from the war in West Candling. But, the joy of
having her family reunited is short-lived when a harsh War Tax is started instead.
Inundated with catchy pro-war propaganda songs, Selah is inspired to share her own
music with the village, creating some competition for the King.

Location: EMU Mainstage Theater, 1307 Park Road

Program Length: 2 Hours