Morton Smith the Musical

Yes! The long awaited Morton Smith musical, "I Hate You, Morton Smith!" has finally arrived. The production, based on his 1958 discovery of a passage from a lost gospel from St Mark and his radical interpretation of the material, is currently being shopped to various theatrical agents. Here is an overview of the songs from the musical:

1. Intro (I Hate You Morton Smith!): Rousing opening to the production. Contemporary musical style. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. Hidden Scars: Introduces audiences to Robert Morton Smith's childhood. His grandfather was a major stained glass window artist, his larges contract being the New Church of Bryn Athyn, PA associated with 18th century mystic Emanuel Swedenborg. Famous families associated with the church included the Pitcairns, the Gyllenhaals (Jake and Maggie) and many others.
   
   
   
3. Emanuel: Song highlighting Emanuel Swedenborg's (proposed) early influence on Morton Smith.
   
   
   
4. The Light in My Eyes: Romantic duo between Morton Smith and his Jewish girlfriend (Leah Cohen) while he was stuck in Jerusalem at the Hebrew University during WWII. Contemporary (Disney) musical style.

   

   
   

   
   
5. Timothy's Song: A critical moment in Morton Smith's life. After his Jewish girlfriend Leah Cohen steadfast refusal to convert to Christianity, his landlord, the future Patriarch of Jerusalem, consoles the young scholar, telling him to devote himself to a life of following Christ.

   

   
   

   
   
6. A Bachelor's Life So Gay: Upbeat number showing an invigorated young priest taking on his life in Christ with passion and commitment. Musical style: 1950s big band music.

   

   
   
7. Who Am I? Heart wrenching number where Morton Smith questions his very existence after problems arise in his priestly life. Musical style: 1950s saloon song.

   

   
   
8. Naked Man with Naked Man: Song recreating Morton Smith's 1958 discovery of a new gospel at the Mar Saba monastery. Music style: modern contemporary. 

   

   
   

   
   
9. Hidden Heart: Morton Smith, in another relationship with a Jewish woman at the time of his discovery of the Mar Saba manuscript is increasingly aware of his sexuality. The song is an imaginary dream sequence where his various exes "tell him" to come out.

   

   
   
10. 1973: Song highlights Morton Smith at his zenith of scholarly influence. Music style: 1970s rock pop. 

    

    
    

    
    
11. Shame: Fast paced song has a "dance off" between Morton Smith and his scholarly adversary Quentin Quesnell. Music style: hot 1970s jazz funk.

    

    
    
12. What is Truth? Morton Smith's personal "coming out" to himself in the early 1980s New York. Music Style: 1980s synth pop.

    

    
    

    
    
13. I am Dead: In 1983 Morton Smith returns to the Mar Saba monastery with a massive television production crew for the series Jesus the Evidence. His rejection by the monks and the movement of the manuscript to the Jerusalem Patriarchate prompts this song. Music style: 1980s power ballad. 

    

    
    

    
    
14. Morton's Apologia: On Morton Smith's deathbed in 1991. He dies alone but in this dream sequence he is revisited by the Jewish girlfriend from Jerusalem Leah Cohen who sings an acoustic version of "I am Dead." Music style: Late 1990s acoustic. 

    

    
    

    
    
15. I Hate You Morton Smith! (Finale): After Morton Smith's death the empty room fills up with his critics who destroy the manuscript in his grasp.

    

    
    
16. Added song: Discovery in the Library. It might be necessary to punch up the inevitably monotonous retelling of Smith going through various printed books in the Mar Saba monastery library with some dramatic music: 

    
    
17. Added song: Keep It Coming. I thought it might be useful to extend the "triumphant period" of Morton Smith's career with an upbeat song.