Video: YouTube Sensation Sam Tsui Performs 'Lost in the Wilderness' From Children of Eden

Rejoice! Following its celebrated 2022 staged reading, the Chicagoland Theatre Fund, in partnership with Michelson Theatrical, will host a one-weekend-only streaming of the 2022 concert of Children of Eden. The musical, featuring music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin) and book by John Caird (Les Misérables, Nicholas Nickleby), reimagines the biblical stories of Adam, Eve, Noah, and their descendants. Visit ChildrenofEdenTheMusical.com. 

Get a first look at the concert with an exclusive clip of YouTube sensation Sam Tsui performing "Lost in the Wilderness" above.

The performance will be available to view starting at 6 PM CT April 23 through 11:59 pm CT April 26. Once a ticket is redeemed during that window, viewers will have 48 hours to stream the concert.

The star-studded cast features Destiny Child’s (and current Death Becomes Her star) Michelle Williams as Eve/Mama, Broadway Les Misérables vet Randal Keith as Father, The Voice finalist Koryn Hawthorne as Yonah, gospel music artist David Phelps as Adam/Noah, and YouTube creator and music artist Sam Tsui as Cain/Japheth, alongside Chris Graham as Abel/Ham, Donica Lynn as Aphra, Darian Goulding as Seth/Shem, and Rhealee Fernandez as Aysha. Derek Van Barham directed.

The ensemble features: Adia Bell, Ariana Burks, Luke Cloherty, Wesly Anthony Clerge Clergé, Caitlin Dobbins, Luke Halpern, Shea Hopkins, Emily Holland, Haley Gustafson, Kevin Kuska, Ivory Leonard, Abbey Loria, Marina Magnelli, Luke Nowakowski, Dana Norris, Dominic Rescigno, Nick Schrier, DeAndre Simmons, Natalie Stahl, Rachel Thomas, and Natalie Welch. The concert also included a 100-plus-member children’s choir featuring young artists from elite Chicago-area programs including Bennett Academy, Waubonsie Valley High School, and the Naperville Road Show Choir.

The production features direction and music direction by Derek Van Barham and Heidi Joosten, choreography by Nicholas Ranauro, music supervision by Sarah Schulte, lighting design by Brandon Lewis, sound design by Andrew Stratton, projection design by Cinevative, costumes by Jeremy Swanton, props by Matt Casey, make-up design by Sydney Genco, makeup department head was Karen Lynn Accattato, key makeup by Melissa Musseau, hair department head was Lillian Dion, hair and wig supervision by Keith Ryan. Ian Connor was production stage manager, Emma Belew as assistant stage management, Taylor Benoit was the youth coordinator, and Jonathan Horn was youth music coordinator.

The orchestra, under the baton of Joosten, features Mary Halm, Caley Koch, Nick Kabat, Kenny Thompson, Robert Campbell, Momo Seko, Michael Oldham, Dustin Struhall, Emily Barrett, Lain Skow, Steve Schnall, Eric Goluszcka, Matt Guschl, and Kyle Madsen.

The concert was produced by Chicagoland Theatre Fund and Onesti Entertainment, with Kyle Reid Hass serving as artistic producer. HMS Media provided cinematography, Grant Bernstein did the animation, Aaron Gott was lead post production audio, and Peyton Kaye was post production audio support.

Based on the book of Genesis and a concept by Charles Lisanby, Children of Eden had its world premiere in London's West End in 1991, later playing in a revised form at New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse in 1997. Though the musical has not yet made it to Broadway, it has become a favorite at regional theatres, schools, and churches. The score includes songs such as "The Spark of Creation," "Lost in the Wilderness," "Stranger to the Rain," and "In Whatever Time We Have." This concert features an expanded orchestration, by Bruce Coughlin and Martin Erksine.