Olney’s new musical ‘A.D. 16’ entertains immensely
“A.D. 16 opens in Nazareth with the newly arrived Mary Magdalene (Phoenix Best) and her father Jacob (Alan H. Green). Mary, after having upset the local Nazarene Girls clique—played by powerhouse vocalists Adelina Mitchell, Jade Jones, and Chani Wereley—also finds herself running afoul of the local morality-enforcing Sanhedrin Officers (Jared Loftin, Calvin McCullough, and Christian Montgomery). This draws the neighbor’s son, Jesus (Ben Fankhauser), to her defense. Mary is immediately smitten with the unusual young man and this sets off the chain of events that comprise the duration of the musical.
A.D. 16 is a promising new musical with broad appeal. It’s lighthearted and funny enough to charm skeptics and, with its fun R&B-inspired score, is sure to attract fans of traditional musicals and newcomers alike. You especially won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to see all of these talented performers in one production, supported by a top-tier creative team.”