BEDFORD-STUYVESANT — Jesus, Mary and Joseph are coming to Brooklyn.
A dancer and playwright is bringing the nativity story to Brooklyn with a little twist, asking the question “What if Jesus was born today in New York City?”
“Unto Us a Child is Born,” or U2U, interprets the events leading up to the birth of Jesus Christ through a modern-day lens, with the 15-year-old Virgin Mary living in Bed-Stuy and dealing with her faith and societal backlash following her pregnancy.
“People believe they know the nativity story, but we allowed the story to grow and get another perspective,” said Serina Young, U2U’s playwright and director. “What did Mary’s mom and dad think? What about her and Joseph’s friends?”
Aimed at helping younger audiences understand the classic biblical account, the musical follows Mary and “Joe” through New York and tackles familiar situations: tweets and posts about the pregnancy, the couple’s lack of insurance at a city hospital and even gun violence.
“Not only is it about the birth of Christ, it’s a story about love, humility, faith and humanity,” said Sapphira Martin, publicity and marketing director for U2U.
Mary faces pressure from her religious mother, disbelief from her high school friends and criticism from outsiders, while Joe is confronted by Mary's enraged father. The couple roam the streets after being kicked out of their homes, walking through 34th Street and Times Square being told there is no room for them at a nearby hotel.
Overall, the narrative still involves a historical perspective, Young added. Since the musical’s first showing in 1999, she has added characters based on years of religious research, including studies into Mary’s mother and father, Anna and Joachim.
December’s performance marks U2U’s 15th year in production. The show has served as a launching pad for aspiring artists, according to Young, with one cast member joining Las Vegas’ stage-adaptation of the Lion King and another going on to become a back-up dancer for musician Pharrell Williams.
Many company members have stayed with the project, attributing their growth as dancers and actors to Young, who heads Bed-Stuy’s Synergism Dance Company.
Nia Hooks, who stars as Mary, joined U2U as a dancer when she was just 2 years old. She returned each year, rising through the ranks from ensemble dancer to the show’s leading lady.
“Nowadays, teens don’t really connect at church because it’s older people talking about something they can’t relate to,” Hooks, now 16, said. “I feel like this play is so unique and it’s put on by the youth, for the youth.
“We created something different. We don’t do this for ourselves, we don’t do it for a show, we do it because we have lives to touch and people to save.”
“Unto Us a Child is Born” will take place at Mount Pisgah Baptist Church at 212 Tompkins Ave. on Dec. 19, 20, and 21. For tickets, visit U2U’s website.
