After coming to Broadway with 2012's Scandalous: The Life and Times of Amy Semple McPherson, Kathie Lee Gifford is returning to musical storytelling with a new album that tells the Biblical story of David and Goliath. The album is co-writtten by Scandalous composer and frequent collaborator David Pomeranz.
The recording will feature Regis Philbin playing the role of Jesse, with Broadway performers Gregg Edelman (City of Angels, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as King Saul/Goliath and Aidan Gemme (Finding Neverland, Mary Poppins) as David. Gifford herself will voice the role of Sheeba, described in press notes as a "ewe with tons of personality."
The Little Giant releases digitally and on CD September 29. It is currently available for pre-order through Amazon and iTunes. Digital pre-orders include an immediate download of the track "Here I Am, Lord."
The project was inspired by a trip to Israel Gifford took with her husband Frank before he passed away in 2015. According to press notes, the Giffords had a life-changing experience while standing in the valley where David defeated Goliath. "We all had been taught that the miracle was that a young boy took down a giant," shares Gifford. "But in reality, in those days, any shepherd was experienced in killing big animals that threatened the flock. Just as the Lord had prepared David for that one moment, we realized that God has already given each of us a stone to use. That’s the real miracle. The question then becomes ‘What is our stone and how will we use it?'"
Gifford also is dedicating the album to her husband. "It’s no coincidence that he had a special place in his heart for giants since he played for the New York Giants for 12 years. But more than that, when Frank and I left Israel, we each took a small stone with us and committed to use them however the Lord would lead. This project is the fulfillment of that promise."
The Little Giant is being released through New Haven Kids, a division of New Haven Records, which distributes to faith-based retail stores through Provident Music Distribution and to the mainstream market through Sony Music Distribution.
Take a look at the track listing below:
1. Intro / What is Your Stone?
2. Here I Am, Lord
3. We're Just Sheep
4. Jesse and His Sons
5. The Anointing / A Yarn / King Saul's Court
6. Jehovah Elohim
7. Hangin' with the Ladies
8. Here I Am, Lord (Reprise)
9. Goliath!! Goliath!!
10. Give Me Your Best Man (Part One)
11. When I Was Just a Seed / The Battle
12. Give Me Your Best Man (Part Two)
13. What is Your Stone?
Watch highlights from Gifford's Scandalous, starring Carolee Carmello, below:
