Everything you wanted to know...
Jeffrey Scott Leavitt
Born and raised in a south suburb of Chicago, I have always been interested in music, particularly songwriting. At age 17, I taught himself how to play the guitar, learning a couple of chords and using only the top four strings. From there I took guitar lessons off and on, written a wide variety of songs, entered songwriting competitions, met with publishers, briefly played in a band, served on worship teams, and led worship.
My background in quality taught me the importance of continuous improvement, and that experience has carried over into songwriting. I have attended conferences and classes to hone my skills as a composer and lyricist, and have worked with industry professionals on librettist skills. The journey continues!
The Story
LOGLINE
A poor Jewish boy grows up with a gradually disintegrating moral compass, causing his demise, but a final encounter of mercy, grace, and forgiveness from a compassionate man thwarts the evil that has followed him all his life. Despite this unexpected outcome, he must face one more challenge from two skeptical angels.
SUMMARY
The story of the repentant thief in the Bible focuses primarily on the crucifixion at Calvary. His name is Gadias, although the Biblical accounts do not name either of the criminals. The Man on the Middle Cross - The Musical, includes BUT goes beyond that event alone, exploring the life of the repentant thief and how he ended up crucified with Jesus and the other criminal. It is a story line that weaves Biblical events with imagination, i.e., what might have happened leading to that gruesome day. However, the story does not end there! The repentant thief finds himself at the gates of heaven, just as Jesus said, but the angels will not permit entry without a coherent explanation from him.
The Vision
Grace, mercy, and compassion are universal desires. The Man on the Middle Cross - The Musical explores how one man who feels there is no hope because of his horrendous acts, can experience each one of those. Although the basis for the story is taken from the Bible, it will appeal to a wide range of audiences. There is despair, humor, drama, and finally a sense of relief presented in both the dialog and through the use of a variety of musical genres. There is something for everyone in The Man on the Middle Cross - The Musical, believers and non-believers alike. The musical is appropriate for performance in community theaters, high schools, colleges, churches, or even on or off Broadway.
History
Early 2023
Inspired by a very specific two-minute portion of the sermon entitled, "The Power and Message of the Cross" by Alistair Begg. "The Man on the Middle Cross" first draft written.
April 2023
The song received lukewarm feedback from a professional critique service, but they all agreed that "...it would be PERFECT for a theatre production a la Jesus Christ Superstar." Rewrite started.
June 2023
Nashville Music Factory order for full demo.
First draft (Rev 0) of script submitted to U.S. Copyright Office.
August 2023
First new song for the musical is written.
October 2023
Demo song "The Man on the Middle Cross" is submitted to SongDoor Contest.
November 2023
Critique process for each song in the musical begins.
January 2024
"The Man on the Middle Cross" wins SongDoor Contest for Christian Category (approximately 8,000 entries).
February 2024 - Present
- All songs in the musical critiqued at least once.
- Home Reading - September 14, 2024.
- Third draft (Rev 2) of script completed.
- Planning Staged Reading.