Grammy Winner Marcus Hummon Partners with Belmont to Tell Story of Historic WWI Christmas Truce
"No Man's Land," a new musical about the remarkable 1914 Christmas truce during World War I, will make its broadcast premiere on Nashville PBS this Christmas Day. The production, created by Grammy Award-winning composer Marcus Hummon, showcases Belmont University's musical theatre students in a powerful story of peace amid conflict.
"This piece is not just about commemorating the remarkable events of the 1914 Christmas Truce that occurred on the Western front, but to show the human costs of war and to view the horror of 'no man's land' through the prism of love,” said Hummon.
The musical depicts the extraordinary true events of December 1914, when British, French and German soldiers along the Western Front spontaneously laid down their weapons to celebrate Christmas together, sharing carols and food in a remarkable display of shared humanity.
The broadcast features a recording of the show's world premiere production at Belmont this fall, following its initial development in Wales earlier this year. In June, twenty Belmont musical theatre students traveled to the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to workshop the piece with Hummon, marking the first steps in bringing this historical story to life.
“This project has been such a blessing, from the writing room to the magical Maymester in Cardiff, Wales, to working closely with Belmont faculty, the amazing designers, lighting and sound directors, choreographers –– and especially the talented and passionate students in the cast and crew of 'No Man's Land,'" Hummon added.
The production was directed by Belmont faculty member Erica Aubrey, with musical direction by adjunct instructor Nate Strasser. The student cast brings a vibrant energy to this story’s message of how music and shared humanity transcended the divisions of war, making it especially poignant for holiday viewing.
"This broadcast gives viewers a chance to experience a remarkable moment in history through the lens of music and theatre," said Aubrey. "Airing this story on Christmas Day, when families are gathered together, feels particularly meaningful given the theme of peace and unity that lies at the heart of both the historical event and our musical."
Immediately following an airing of the 2021 “Christmas at Belmont" at 5:30 p.m., a back-to-back airing of “No Man's Land" will begin on Nashville PBS, Dec. 25, 2024, at 6:27 p.m. through the WNPT2 World Channel. That channel can be found at 8.2 over the air, 241 on Comcast/Xfinity and 176 Charter. Additional broadcasts are planned on other public television affiliates across the country.
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