1980 – Jeremiah Ginsberg wrote the book, music and lyrics of “Rabboni” in Lubbock, TX, and then drove to Los Angeles where he began to hold auditions.
1981 – Jeremiah Ginsberg produced “Rabboni” in major churches in the Los Angeles area, including the United Community Church of Glendale (Pastor William Steuart McBurnie). The production was seen by thousands, including representatives from The Southern California Motion Picture Council.
October 1981 – Jeremiah Ginsberg won a Bronze Halo Award from The Southern California Motion Picture Council “For Producing, composing and writing the great dramatic musical, ‘Rabboni.’”
1982-1983 – Jeremiah Ginsberg met and married the talented writer/actress, Wendy Ross. Together, they re-wrote the script, left Los Angeles with their infant son, and moved to New York, the theatre capital of the world.
June 1985 – After a year and a half of raising money, Jeremiah & Wendy Ginsberg finally completed the financing, and “Rabboni” opened off-Broadway at The Perry Street Theatre to rave reviews. It was a feature story on The 700 Club.
August 1985 – After 88 outstanding performances at The Perry Street Theatre, Jeremiah & Wendy Ginsberg closed “Rabboni” to produce it on Broadway. They rented The Minskoff Theatre and re-cast the show with Broadway talent, including Paige O’Hara, the voice of “Belle” in Disney’s “Beauty and The Beast,” and Davis Gaines, who starred on Broadway in “Phantom of The Opera.”
November 1985 – “Rabboni” rehearsals begin at The Michael Bennett Studios for a Broadway opening on December 21, 1985.
December 1985 – Rehearsals were suspended and the cast released when one of the major investors did not entirely fulfill his financing commitment.
1994 – Jeremiah & Wendy Ginsberg produced a limited engagement of “Rabboni” at The Colony Theatre on Lincoln Road in Miami Beach.
2000 – Jeremiah & Wendy Ginsberg produced several concert version performances of “Rabboni” featuring Connie Kunkle as “Miriam of Magdala,” who starred as Fantine in “Les Miserables” on Broadway.
2000 to 2016 -Various concert versions from Florida to New Jersey.
2022: Renamed from “Rabboni” to “Messiah The Musical.” Jeremiah & Wendy produced “Messiah The Musical In Concert” at The Lisner Auditorium on the George Washington University Campus to outstanding reviews and multiple standing ovations! See the rave review in DC Theater Arts at https://dctheaterarts.org/2022/06/22/splendid-messiah-the-musical-has-a-hope-and-a-prayer-for-broadway/
Rave Review from DC Theater Arts!
2023: Renamed “Mendel’s Messiah.” The Ginsbergs intend to film a live performance of their award-winning Messianic Gospel for world-wide distribution! The filming is scheduled to begin in 2024! The Ginsbergs welcome support from all who love the Gospel!
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