Lenny Solomon, a musician and performer well-known and well-appreciated among religious Jews for decades, is in the final stages of putting together a musical theater production based on the first six chapters of the Book of Daniel, a feat that has yet to be attempted by any other musical.
As composer and co-producer, Solomon teamed up with Director/Choreographer Kay Cole, originally from A Chorus Line, theatre manager Kevin Bailey, and Music Director Steve Bill. They will be producing ten performances of Daniel in Babylon that will take place in a mid-sized theatre in Southern California in mid-2022. Two of the performances will be filmed in the highest industry standard using a team of cameras including a drone. The music will be recorded and mastered in a studio. After editing, they will release Daniel in Babylon to the public at the end of 2022.
The musical Daniel in Babylon explores the 63-year period of the Jewish exile in Babylon and the relationships between Daniel and Kings Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius the Mede. It will include scenes featuring “The Fiery Furnace”, “The Party in Babylon” and, of course, “The Lion’s Den”. Through these entertaining scenes, the audience will meet the wizards, executioners, and Daniel’s three friends: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
Solomon explained the importance of the Book of Daniel as his impetus for producing the musical.
“The Book of Daniel is the most sought-after Bible story today, around the world,” Solomon told Israel365 News. “Every religion reveres Daniel as a Prophet and a Saint, and many people have tried to interpret his visions in the closing chapters of the book. Sir Isaac Newton spent the last five years of his life writing a treatise on The Book of Daniel.”
Solomon, a Torah observant Jew living in Israel, emphasized that the universal significance of the Book of Daniel gives it a broad appeal.
“Of course, Daniel is a Jewish prophet, but Christians place a strong emphasis on his prophecy. Performance is the best way to engage young people in the Bible. This is a musical the entire family can enjoy together.”
Solomon has completed writing the sung-through musical and is raising investment funds from the general public to make the Biblical dream a reality. After production, revenue will be split equally between management and public investors.
Find out more about the project and help bring it into the world at this website.
