The Spirit of Sharing: A Very Broadway Christmas Concert

A reporter, an Irishman and a priest walk into a pub… What sounds like the beginnings of a joke was actually the beginnings of a heartwarming story centered around the spirit of Christmas and community. 

In 2021, Father Peter Smutelovic of St. John the Baptist Church in Hillsdale was searching for ways to start re-engaging with the community following the Covid-19 pandemic. During this time, Father Peter attended a funeral where he witnessed Ciarán Sheehan sing at both the service and the grave site. Father Peter commented on how unusual this was, as the grave site was quite far away and most singers do not attend both. This act endeared Father Peter to Sheehan, and he asked Sheehan to collaborate with him in his hopes of creating an event to bring people together. Sheehan, whose Irish charm and lack of pretense give him away as a wholly caring man, was in. Later that year, the first ever A Very Broadway Christmas was held at St. Johns.

For the last three years of performances, Sheehan has been the headliner of the concert, alongside his co-conspirators Sue Anderson, Eamonn O’Rourke, Craig Schulman and Kaley Ann Voorhees. If the names alone don’t impress, their credits surely will. 

Sheehan has played the titular role of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and in Toronto over 1,000 times, and has appeared on Broadway as Babet/Marius in Les Misérables as well as Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera for over two years. These credits just scratch the surface of his work in the theatre and film industry. Next on deck is Sue Anderson, who was one of the first female conductors to conduct a Broadway show when she conducted Pirates of Penzance and is a “phenomenally accomplished pianist”, shared Father Peter, his eyes bright with memories of Anderson’s skill. Eamonn O’Rourke, a “fellow Paddy” jokedSheehan, will be sharing his talents as “the Van Halen of the fiddle…when he pulls off some of those licks, you’re like, ‘how did that even happen?’” said Sheehan. Craig Schulman, another star performing in the concert, holds the record as the only performer in the world to have performed the title roles of Jekyll and Hyde, The Phantom of the Opera, and has performed nearly 2,000 times as Jean Valjean in Les Misérables both on Broadway and around the world. Rounding out the stacked list of performers is Kaley Ann Voorhees, who is one of 37 women to have graced the Broadway stage as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera since the show opened in 1988. Voorhees has performed internationally, currently tours with The Four Phantoms in Concert, and made her opera debut at the New York City Opera last winter. 

It is a rare occasion to have such talent all gathered under one roof. With the church able to hold 1,200 people, however, it makes the event accessible to more of the community. According to Father Peter, the event has only grown every year, and he foresees this trend continuing. “[The people] are coming because they feel that they will be nourished”, stated Father Peter. He continued, sharing how the concert “prepares us into the spirit of Christmas; once we are done with the shopping and cooking and preparing…there is the gift of love and joy, peace and redemption that we celebrate [during] Christmas, and it’s just so apparent”. 

This gift of love and joy, peace and redemption is one that lasts far longer than the latest gizmo or gadget. Sheehan highlighted the importance of an experience called “sympathetic joy”. This phrase names the warm fuzzies that are experienced when witnessing acts of joy and generosity coming from a place of love, such as a live performance. “As an actor… if you’re honest and open, I think that’s what’s beautiful about live music or live theater is that the audience, even if they’re not aware of it, they’re connecting with you on a heart level. And so whatever you’re experiencing as a performer, hopefully they’re experiencing it too” said Sheehan.

This line of thinking is not coming just from Sheehan – he has science to back him up. Professor Ryota Nomura at Waseda University in Japan has been conducting research studying how organisms react to a shared stimulus such as a play or live music. His research found that audience member’s hearts synchronize when experiencing the stimulus of music. “Music-induced synchronization of heart rate may be the mechanism underlying the coherent behavior of a large audience in a theater,” said Professor Nomura in an interview with earth.com. When audience members sit down on December 15th, it is fitting that their hearts shall beat as one in anticipation of the holiday season. 

The holidays can bring up emotions big and small. Sheehan and Father Peter shared their own stories of emotional reactions they have experienced or witnessed over the years at St. Johns. Sheehan chuckled as he shared a humorous quote he had received from another Priest in the area, recalling how the Father had stated “The Irish have bladders behind their eyes”. This emotional openness of not only Sheehan but of every performer allows for an open, emotional exchange. “… In giving we also receive. It’s one of the most important human and spiritual dynamics”, said Father Peter. 

“It reminds me of Christmas concerts back home”, shared the owner of the Hearth and Tap Kelly Robinson when she came to check in on the reporter, the Irishman and the priest. Robinson, who hails originally from Ireland, recalled St. John’s 2023 performance of O Holy Night and the quiet brilliance of dimmed lights and flickering candles. 

Tickets for the show of the season are quickly being plucked up by members of the community who need a little Christmas. For $40, any Grinch is sure to have their heart grow at least three sizes over the course of this touching concert on December 15th at 4:00 p.m. Money from the concert will go towards the parish’s mission of doing good in the community. Those looking to learn more can go to christmasconcert.stjohnhillsdale.org, email sjbchristmasconcert@gmail.com, or call 201-664-3131 with any questions.