Branson's massive Sight & Sound theater has a new show for 2018: 'Samson'

A 3,000-year-old story goes onstage in Branson in March as Sight & Sound Theatre begins rolling out "Samson," a musical based on the Bible story told in just four chapters of the Book of Judges.

The Old Testament portrays a man with extraordinary physical strength and a specific destiny: to free Israel from its mortal enemies, the Philistines.

Before Samson was born, an angel told his mother that her son would be "dedicated to the special service of God," according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. 

That special service required several vows, the encyclopedia reports: No strong drink. Never break Israelite dietary laws. And especially, no haircuts and shaves.

"He will belong to God from the day he is born," says the Contemporary English Version of the Book of Judges.

But this divinely inspired leader doesn't always act like one.

"Samson is kind of a train wreck," conceded Sight & Sound's CEO, Matt Neff.

Along with a very misguided haircut toward the end of the musical, Samson breaks bad in a number of titillating ways.

The Bible depicts him throwing a seven-day bachelor party, killing people with the jawbone of a donkey and hooking up with a prostitute — scenes that bring to mind Mark Twain's comment that an "unexpurgated Bible" maybe shouldn't be shelved among children's books.

"It doesn't have the happiest ending on the surface," Neff said. "But this is really a story about grace, about redemption."

Indeed, the Bible repeatedly states that "the Lord’s Spirit took control" of Samson as he performs feats of strength and bravery.

Neff said Sight & Sound gets really "intense" about balancing redemption with bad choices in "Samson." They put a lot of work into making the musical authentic to history and Christian teaching. 

In plenty of instances, Neff said Sight & Sound's in-house team relies on staff with extensive Bible study. They also run scripts past outside scholars and historians.

"We like to say that it's a creative portrayal of a true story," Neff said. "We do take some dramatic license."

Everything the 44 actors do onstage must also be kid-appropriate because "more and more kids" are coming to the shows, Neff said.

Part of the all-ages appeal comes from the participation of live animals in the show: "Samson" has 34 animals, among them pigs, horses and a water buffalo.

His name is Ferdinand and he weighs 2,000 pounds, Neff said.

"He's definitely eye candy," Neff added. "He acts like a dog with his trainers."

Since "Samson" premiered at the theater's sister facility in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 2016, it has attracted 800,000 people.

For its March 3 Branson premiere, Neff said the company installed new technology in its 10-year-old theater: automated set movement.

"It allows for localized GPS," Neff said. "We program sets to drive around the stage in a certain pattern that's controlled by software."

It's the kind of thing that comes in handy for "an uplifting story that will literally bring the house down," in the words of a news release Sight & Sound sent out this week.

Long hair, but noman bun: See 'Samson'

"Samson" premieres March 3 at Sight & Sound's 2,000-seat theater in Branson, which has hosted 3.5 million guests in its first decade of "Christian Broadway" performances. ("I think it started in the early 2000s," the company's CEO told the News-Leader. "We had folks in Branson contacting us asking 'when will you bring a show out there.'") 

Tickets are $49 for adults; $23 for children 12 and younger. The theater recommends bringing children age 3 and up for the 2.5-hour show, which has a 15-minute intermission. Visit sight-sound.com or call 800-377-1277 for ticket reservations.