A few years ago, Peter Emerson had a unique experience with his young daughter. They went to witness the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Emerson was truly amazed by the group's remarkable showmanship and the extensive production value. The lasers, pyrotechnics, and other high-tech elements added a magical touch, bringing the Christmastime story to life vividly. However, for Emerson, there was one aspect that was lacking - the essence of Christmas, which he firmly believes is the biblical story of Jesus. With about 18 years of experience in running high school music programs in Waco, Emerson decided to take matters into his own hands and create his own, more Bible-centered version.

Bringing the Show to Life

Emerson's new family-friendly Christmas rock opera, He Rules the World, is all set to grace the Waco Hippodrome Theatre from December 11th to 14th. This extraordinary show seamlessly combines rock music, narration by God's Not Dead actor Kevin Sorbo, and captivating animation. It presents an immersive retelling of the Biblical story of Jesus' birth, captivating audiences in a truly unique way.In 2019, Emerson wrote almost all the songs for the show in about six months. But then, the pandemic struck, putting the project on hold. Thankfully, in 2022, the couple felt it was the perfect time to bring the show to the stage. As Jennifer Emerson shared with The Dallas Morning News, "We just had such a sense that, man, people need something hopeful to grasp onto. They need something to go do with their families; they need this human interaction." Jennifer Emerson is also an executive producer for the show.Peter Emerson, Logan Lowery, and David Gaschen give a first look of "He Rules the World." (Courtesy of He Rules the World)The Emersons started connecting with key people who made the show possible, including Sorbo, who serves as the executive producer and narrator. The show also features vocalist David Gaschen. He runs a voice studio in Frisco, played the lead in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and is the artist-in-residence at Frisco's Stonebriar Community Church.The show will feature 17 rock songs, and its 17-track album was released on Spotify last year. Between the songs, audiences will be treated to narration from Sorbo and captivating animations that help tell the Nativity Story on the screen.One of the opera's songs offers a unique perspective - it is sung from Joseph's point of view. Joseph is the father of Jesus in the Bible. This song delves deep into Joseph's emotional journey. Imagine his thoughts when he learns that his wife is pregnant with a baby. "Can you imagine what would have gone through his mind, thinking, 'Hey, I'm getting married to this woman and she's pregnant by somebody else,'" Emerson said. This song truly explores the emotional transformation that Joseph undergoes from hearing the news to having a dream visit, to hearing the angel's message, and finally accepting and committing to raising this child as his own.Emerson had a significant impact on the music scene in Killeen ISD. He initially led the choir and then took on the jazz program at Harker Heights High School. He expanded what started as a student talent show into a huge and beloved production. "I didn't start it [the talent show], but I kind of pushed it along and always advocated for, well, this is not what the pros do. Let's do what the pros do," Emerson said. Students would audition with their own songs to be featured in the production, and former students have reached out to him over the years to share their fond memories. At its peak, the production featured about 42 songs.Jennifer Emerson hopes that this new show will reach both Christian and non-Christian families. "I think music really opens us up emotionally, and it can make us receptive to hearing things that we wouldn't otherwise hear," she said. "I think [the show] is – it's both for Christian families, as memories that they can make together, something that they can look forward to every year, that they can do together. But it's also a real outreach opportunity to reach people who don't know Jesus yet."DetailsPerformances run Dec. 11-14 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 2 p.m. at The Waco Hippodrome Theatre, 724 Austin Avenue, Waco. $15-$35. wacohippodrometheatre.thundertix.com.Adrian Ashford covers faith and religion in North Texas for The Dallas Morning News through a partnership with Report for America.