In June of 2000, members of the Hempfield United Methodist Church Youth Choir took a trip to Naked Creek Overlook on Skyline Drive in Virginia. Now, 25 years later, one of the participants has created a musical production inspired by a true story from the trip, and she's enlisted one of the youngest travelers from the group to play her character in the show.

"Audience of One" will be performed at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, June 27 and 28, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 29, at The Junction Center, 1875 Junction Road, Manheim. With the book, music and lyrics by Alisa Bair, the show reflects a pivotal moment in the group's journey.

"A church youth choir opts out of its summer choir tour in favor of a concert, just for God, on a mountaintop," Bair said, describing the musical's plot. "While convinced that their trip is a holy invitation, a shoplifting incident and inclement weather threaten to derail their plans and challenge their faith."

Bair, a graduate of Hempfield High School, was serving as the minister of music and worship as well as the youth choir director at Hempfield United Methodist Church when, in early January 2000, she felt called by God to switch out the big choir tour the group held every other summer in favor of something smaller in scope but potentially larger in impact.

She had recently experienced a personal loss and recalled that the world had just recovered from the anxiety of Y2K when she asked her choir members to pray to God for direction and what to do for the trip.

"Two mornings later, I heard a strong, non-audible voice in my spirit that stopped me at the top of the stairs and bent me in half in tears," she remembered, noting that the voice asked, "Will you and the choir give a concert just for Me?"

When she shared her experience at the next choir rehearsal, one of the members, a quiet 12-year-old student, approached her privately about her own similar dream.

"She spilled out her dream confirming what I had heard in my spirit, of a concert just for God on a mountaintop," Bair said. "She described the sun setting, a babbling brook and Jesus standing there smiling, saying, 'Everyone who comes will be richly blessed.'"

The trip proved to be meaningful and spiritual for the group, and it not only inspired Bair to write her musical, but it also reconnected her with the young choir member, Andrea Heller.

Heller will play Kendra, the youth choir director modeled after Bair, in the production, but that wasn't the original plan.

"I hadn't been in touch or even seen her since the original trip," Bair said. "But when the professional actress who was singing the part in the staged reading and on the recording had to bow out, we went on a search. A scam message on Facebook Messenger accidentally connected us. In reconnecting, she sent me videos of her leading worship at her church. I was stunned at how well she sang and offered her the part in the show."

Heller had a family vacation scheduled for opening night but, with her family's support, delayed her arrival to join the musical. Her family will watch the dress rehearsal before departing, and she'll meet them after the shows at their vacation spot, just 30 minutes from Naked Creek Overlook.

"She plans to go back there, this time 25 years older with a whole different perspective," Bair said.

Bair, who has a master's degree in musical theater writing from New York University, has served as composer and co-book writer/lyricist for another full-length musical that premiered in 2010 with Opera Lancaster.

Creating "Audience of One" alone was challenging, but Bair knew only she could tell her personal story. She credits Jennifer Felty - former choir tour mentor, now a professional actress and voice teacher - for providing vital support.

Bair noted that the idea for the musical bubbled up in September of 2020, but she didn't begin writing, not even sure where it would lead, until March of 2022.

She said she's worked on the production almost nonstop for the past three years, moving from a sing-through to a staged reading, a cast album and now a full production.

At the rehearsal on Wednesday, June 18, Bair plans to take five minutes to mark the exact moment of the concert, which took place on that date in 2000.

Now living in Maryland, Bair hopes people will be inspired to see "Audience of One" to discover how a concert left a lasting impression on the choir members. The show will feature a cast of 13 adults and 14 youths, performing with a five-piece pit band. It will be directed by Bonnie Bosso, with vocal direction by Felty. Additional staff support includes music director J.P. Meyer, set designer Anne Flinchbaugh, choreographer Marian West and stage manager Elsa Rogers. 

"(Audiences) can expect top-notch local/regional talent bringing to life a story that will touch their hearts, inspire their spirits and have them singing the tunes on their way out!" Bair said.

Tickets for "Audience of One" may be purchased in advance at http://www.thejunctioncenter.com/events or will be available at the door.