Beatles songs provide perfect soundtrack for Christmas story

Paul McCartney says "Let It Be" does not carry religious overtones, but there's no denying his tune and the Beatles' entire songbook is rich in drama and emotion.

So it wasn't a surprise when, about nine years ago, Elic Bramlett, artistic director of the Naperville-based Epic Theatre, became intrigued by the idea of pairing Beatles classics with the Christmas story of love, conflict, hope and joy.

After viewing a 20-minute holiday pageant featuring Beatles tunes produced by a church in Granger, Indiana, Bramlett said he wanted to produce a similar show at Community Christian Church in Naperville, where he serves as associate creative director.

"When I saw that online, I thought, 'This should be a full-length show,'" he said.

The Naperville church's creative team helped make that a reality. Soon, the first production of "Let It Be Christmas" was staged in the auditorium/gymnasium at the Yellow Box, one of the church's 11 locations.

"It kind of started off very small - one act," he said.

The show has evolved over the years, adding scenes, story detail and more Beatles songs. The ninth annual production, which debuts Friday, Dec. 9, for a five-performance run directed by Bramlett, is a two-act theatrical musical that runs about two hours and will be presented in the 1,200-seat auditorium added to the church during a 2014 renovation.

This year, he said, the story will include a new piece about prophets foretelling Jesus' birth.

The show has been well-received and continues to grow its audience. Bramlett said it has become something of a Christmas tradition in some circles.

"The general response is just how amazing it is that these classic Beatles songs we've known for years and years fit into the Christmas story," he said. "One of the interesting things about a rock opera is how none of the actors is speaking dialogue. Everything is sung."

The lyrics - which uncannily fit the story - remain unaltered, sung as they were written, he said.

For example, there's a scene where the three wise men, dressed in outfits that recall the Sgt. Pepper album cover, sing the song, "Because," a tune about the wonders of creation, delivering it in three-part a cappella.

Sadie Bramlett, an 18-year-old senior at Naperville North High School and Elic's niece, plays Mary.

Sadie's father, Eric Bramlett, is the show's producer and the church's creative arts director. Both Bramlett brothers teach at The School of Performing Arts in Naperville.

"I sing 'Blackbird.' That's when the angel comes and tells me I'm going to give birth to Jesus," she said.

The song is accompanied by choreography that features an en pointe performance by the dancing blackbird, a figure that could be construed as symbolizing the Holy Spirit.

"I also sing most of 'We Can Work It Out,'" Sadie said. That song comes after she reveals to her fiancé Joseph that she is expecting a child.

And to her newborn son Jesus, Sadie, as Mary, sings, "Beautiful Boy."

"I love the Beatles. My father loves the Beatles. I've grown up listening to it," she said. "It's such an honor to play such an iconic person. It's such a spiritual thing for me."

Mark Johnson played King Herod in several of the show's earlier productions and is back this year as The Engineer.

"There's lots of allegory and imagery. The Engineer is kind of the speaking role of the show. You may call it the God character.

"Some of the things I'm saying are pure scripture, quoted," Johnson said. "It's not just ho ho ho and carols and costumes and Rudolph the Reindeer. It means something more."

With a degree in music and theater and a resume that includes stints at Second City, BrightSide Theatre and North Central College productions, Johnson's performance career is a sidelight to his information technology career.

"I do a show or two every year. I've always felt like I've had a calling to have a steady creative outlet," he said. "You can't go wrong with the Christmas story. People always have so much fun with it."

A Naperville father of three, Johnson's son Lars, 17, is a backup singer in the show and his 14-year-old daughter, Grace, plays an angel.

Bramlett, who has a BFA in acting and directing from the University of Arizona, has been a professional actor in Chicago for the past 20 years and recently landed a recurring role on TV's "Chicago Med."

He said he's grateful for the creative opportunities he has found, both inside and outside of his church community.

"I love what I get to do and the team I get to work with," he said. "The Bible says don't be of this world, but be in this world. It's a great balance."

Bramlett said "Let It Be Christmas" is appropriate for adults and for children of almost any age.

"It depends on how well they can sit through a show. We have 6-year-olds in the show," he said.

The live band's drums, guitars and four-piece horn section don't hold back.

"It's loud rock 'n' roll. It's a fast-moving show," he said. "It's all music."