Featuring local musicians, a core ensemble of singers, and actors, Gospel Messiah tells the refugee story against the backdrop of Handel’s music, reimagined through a dynamic gospel interpretation. The result is a powerful and riveting theatrical and musical experience.

The stunning poetry of Sudanese poet Moon Machar brings additional emotional resonance to the work, while the story of a family leaving their beloved homeland gives a deeply human face to the experience of displacement and to the growing number of refugees seeking safety around the world. The production also engages directly with the current political and humanitarian realities surrounding immigration and the treatment of refugees in the United States.

The series was first produced at The Hill Arts last year with generous support from the Maine Humanities Council, The Onion Foundation, and the Nichols Fund. This year’s production has been expanded with new material and is supported by a Maine Arts Commission Creative Communities Grant. It is also a 2026 Coffee By Design Rebel Blend Honoree.