Rome makes a song and dance about John Paul II
A musical based on the story of John Paul II is to open in Rome next week, with song and dance sequences that depict key events in his life.
The unlikely spectacular will cover the pontiff's early years under Nazi occupation in his native Poland, his struggle against communism and his election to pope in 1978.
It will also depict the assassination attempt in 1981, when a Turkish gunman, Mehmet Ali Agca, shot him in the stomach, hand and arm as the pontiff rode in his open-topped Popemobile through St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
An actor singing Dio e Morto - God Is Dead - will play the part of Agca, who in January was released after nearly 30 years in prison. "It's a famous Italian song from the 1960s and it fits the situation perfectly," said the director, Gianluca Ferrato.
"We've been told there will be cardinals and monsignori in the audience and we're hoping that Pope Benedict XVI will come and see it too.
"We're a bit nervous about how they might react.
"It's an unusual concept, we admit, but through music and dance we can tell the story of this great man." The premiere will be in Rome on Friday, with the musical touring Italy during the summer and then returning to the capital for a month-long run in October.
The young Karol Wojtyla's love of football and his secret studies to become a priest will also feature in the show, which has a cast of 30.
It is called Non Abbiate Paura - Italian for Don't Be Afraid.
"It became one of the emblematic phrases of his papacy," said Fr Giuseppe Spedicato, the priest who wrote the script.
"This is a man who changed the history of the Church, and of the world."
Pope John Paul will be played by Simone Sibillano, who has starred in a range of other musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar.
The unlikely spectacular will cover the pontiff's early years under Nazi occupation in his native Poland, his struggle against communism and his election to pope in 1978.
It will also depict the assassination attempt in 1981, when a Turkish gunman, Mehmet Ali Agca, shot him in the stomach, hand and arm as the pontiff rode in his open-topped Popemobile through St Peter's Square in the Vatican.
An actor singing Dio e Morto - God Is Dead - will play the part of Agca, who in January was released after nearly 30 years in prison. "It's a famous Italian song from the 1960s and it fits the situation perfectly," said the director, Gianluca Ferrato.
"We've been told there will be cardinals and monsignori in the audience and we're hoping that Pope Benedict XVI will come and see it too.
"We're a bit nervous about how they might react.
"It's an unusual concept, we admit, but through music and dance we can tell the story of this great man." The premiere will be in Rome on Friday, with the musical touring Italy during the summer and then returning to the capital for a month-long run in October.
The young Karol Wojtyla's love of football and his secret studies to become a priest will also feature in the show, which has a cast of 30.
It is called Non Abbiate Paura - Italian for Don't Be Afraid.
"It became one of the emblematic phrases of his papacy," said Fr Giuseppe Spedicato, the priest who wrote the script.
"This is a man who changed the history of the Church, and of the world."
Pope John Paul will be played by Simone Sibillano, who has starred in a range of other musicals including Jesus Christ Superstar.