Bring Us Home · The Musical
Every voice carries a piece of the story. Here is who they are, how they sound, and who sings what.
The Cast & Their Voices
AVIVA (lead) Aviva personifies the second generation of exiles who were born in Babylon, struggling to ache for a home they have never seen while grappling with the only life they have ever known. Warm youthful female alto-mezzo-soprano, expressive and emotive, theatrical musical-theater delivery, clear belt, searching and tender.
MIRYAM (Aviva’s mother) Miryam serves as the vessel for this memory, actively passing down the identity and heritage of Jerusalem to her daughter through their shared lullaby. Tender mature female mezzo-soprano, warm and maternal, gentle natural vibrato, close-mic intimate, soft sustained tone.
SABA ELAN (grandfather) Representing the steadfast refusal to let the culture die. Male baritone, weathered and gravelly, dignified, deep and resonant, spoken-sung at the edges.
DANIEL (elder statesman) Warm male tenor, wise and steady, clear and resonant, grounded and reflective.
KING BELSHAZZAR (the king) Charismatic male baritone-bass, smooth and commanding, a seductive crooner, glamorous and persuasive.
NABU (young composer) A product of the Babylonian court. Bright young male tenor, warm and earnest, light and sincere.
THE EXILES / COMPANY (ensemble) Full mixed studio choir, layered call-and-response, warm communal blend.
MALE EXILES (elders’ lament) Low male voices in close harmony, deep and somber.
THE COURT (Babylon ensemble) Decadent mixed chorus, lush layered backing vocals, glamorous oohs.
The Heart of the Story
Miryam: The Anchor of Memory
Miryam represents the first generation, those who actually remember the glory of Jerusalem before the conquest. As a mother and a musician, she bears the devastating weight of exile but refuses to let the identity of her people die.
- The Silent Protest: Along the riverbanks of Babylon, when the overseers demand that the captives perform their sacred music for entertainment, Miryam and the elders defiantly hang their harps in the willow branches. This powerful act of silent resistance (inspired by Psalm 137) establishes the harp as a symbol of sacred identity that cannot be bought or sold.
- The Gift of the Lullaby: Realizing that she may never see home again, Miryam channels all of her hope, grief, and faith into teaching her baby daughter, Aviva, a specific song: “Hush Now (The River Lullaby)”. This song becomes the “Lullaby Engine” of the musical, a musical blueprint of a homeland Aviva has never seen.
Aviva: The Lost Legacy
Aviva represents the second generation, those born in captivity who have no personal memory of Jerusalem.
- The Allure of Babylon: As Aviva grows up, her talent catches the attention of the Babylonian court. Lured by the safety, luxury, and artistic sophistication of the palace, she begins to assimilate. She steps away from the dusty refugee settlements and the “old songs” of her parents to embrace the rigid, grandiose, geometric music of Babylon.
- The Musical Disconnection: In the palace, Aviva’s music becomes technically flawless but emotionally hollow. She has effectively forgotten the end of her mother’s lullaby, symbolizing her disconnection from her roots and her family’s legacy.
The Generational Handoff & The Climax
The musical arc of the musicians reaches its peak through a powerful structural payoff:
- The Awakening: When Miryam passes away, Aviva is forced to confront what she has lost. In a moment of deep grief, the fragmented memories of her childhood return. She finally remembers the missing pieces of her mother’s song, finishing the lullaby and realizing that her true purpose isn’t to entertain captors, but to keep her people’s hope alive.
- Taking Down the Harps: In Act Two, the metaphor of the hidden harps comes full circle. Aviva reclaims her family’s instrument, taking the harp down from the willows to lead the next generation in a soaring anthem of return (“We Are Home”).
Who Sings What
| # | Song | Voice(s) |
| 1 | Bring Us Home | Saba Elan (baritone, V1) + Miryam (mezzo) + Daniel (tenor) + full choir |
| 1b | Pour Out Your Heart | Miryam solo |
| 2 | Hush Now (Lullaby) | Miryam solo |
| 3 | By the Willows | Saba Elan + Male Exiles + Aviva above |
| 4 | Why Must I Weep | Aviva solo |
| 5 | Gold of Babylon | Belshazzar lead + Aviva answering + Court |
| 6 | Two Rivers | Aviva + Nabu duet |
| 6a | Delay No Longer / The Shaking Throne (duet) | Daniel (tenor) + Belshazzar (baritone) |
| 7 | The Writing on the Wall | Aviva lead + Company |
| 7b | The Brick and the River (incl. Rend the Heavens) | The Stayers vs Aviva & The Remnant |
| 8 | Hush Now (Reprise) | Miryam + Aviva |
| 8b | Can These Dry Bones Live? | Saba Elan & Elders, then Daniel & Aviva, then Company |
| 9 | We Are Home | Aviva lead + Company |