photo courtesy gabrielwilson. com huge live theatre productions. Tell us about that transition?
[ Gabriel ] Man, it was kind of random! I received an email through my website that basically said“ Hi … we are a Christian play company in Pennsylvania, and we are wondering if you’ d be interested in composing a musical for us.” I gotta be honest … I had never heard of them, and Christian musical theater brought back some memories of bad church dramas and mimes at Christian summer camp! But when I looked at what they were actually doing, I was blown away. Their productions are incredible, multi-million dollar shows that sell out 11 times a week, 2,200 tickets per show. The set designs and special effects are Cirque de Soleil / Disney on Broadway level, and the music is a full cinematic score.
On the first call with them in 2018, my heart was leaping in my chest. They wondered if I might be interested in working on their next show as a music producer. I said,“ The show is David, isn’ t it?” And they said,“ Yes, how did you know?” And I said,“ Because I can feel it in my spirit, and I’ m in! I wanna do it.” They said“ Wait … we haven’ t even discussed budget, timeline, terms etc …” And I said,“ I’ ll do it for whatever you can do it for … I just know I’ m supposed to do it, and I’ m in!”
I’ m a terrible negotiator sometimes.( laughing)
But seriously, I have worked with them on three shows so far— David( 2022) as Lead Composer & Music Producer, Daniel( 2024) as Co-Music Producer, and now Joshua( 2026) as Lead Composer & Music Producer. I highly recommend seeing their shows in person, but if you can’ t get to one of their theaters in Lancaster, PA or Branson, MO, then check out the Sight & Sound TV app. Pull up the David play and enjoy!
[ WM ] We ran a feature story on the audio, video and lighting technology there at Sight Sound a few years ago – truly amazing.
When I saw you were involved with this new John Mark McMillan record, I knew it was time to catch up. Tell us about your relationship with
JMM and what roles you played on this record?
[ Gabriel ] John Mark and I have been friends since 2010 or so … He’ s one of the songwriters in the Christian Music space that I’ m most inspired by. I never thought I’ d end up working with him but always wanted to. I thought the records Elijah Mosely did for him were amazing, and I figured John Mark and Elijah would probably be like Eno and U2. But around 2015, John Mark reached out to see if we could try working together on just a single. That single became the song“ Wilderlove”, and it was such a blast to record. He loved the song so much that he hired me to do his whole album, which became Mercury & Lightning. It became his most celebrated record and his first # 1 Billboard album. I’ m proud of him, and I’ m thankful to have taken the journey with him on it.
Fast forward to 2023 or so … John Mark reached out to see if I would be interested in producing his new record, which he described as“ a return to worship.” He said something to the effect of,“ I want to make a worship album, and it needs to be weird. I think you’ re the only
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