Crosses The Musical is a story of tragedy, courage, and hope. It is the autobiographical story of Cory’s life (with the names and settings changed). In creating the musical, Cory and Randy hope to inspire courage to deal with the trials that are inevitably part of life. If the musical does that, then it will have fulfilled its purpose. If you find meaning or inspiration in Crosses, please let us know about it at our website – crossesmusical.com. On the website, you can also learn more about the background of the musical, read more about Cory and Randy, read and print the lyrics and narrations, and read inspirational stories of courage. If you know of others who may benefit from the messages in the musical, please send them to our website where they can learn more, hear and buy the music, read stories of others who have courageously responded to difficult trials, or even submit their own story for others to read. We hope that crosses.org can be a source of respite and hope for those who are struggling under immense burdens. I have collaborated with my friend and music producer, Randy Kartchner (with whom I also collaborated on 1856 The Musical). You be the judge but I think you’ll find the music and orchestration to be beautiful. For our main performers we also went top shelf. Our male lead is Mike Eldred, who, among many credits, played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables on Broadway. Our female lead is Elizabeth Wolfe, who is enjoying a very successful Broadway career. As you may know, Amy and I have six children – four boys and two girls. Three of our boys have Muscular Dystrophy. Our oldest, Ethan, passed away from the effects of MD in 2009. Our twins are 12 years old, are in wheelchairs and will live shortened lives. Our ‘healthy’ son, Ben, passed away in a train accident in Argentina in 2005 while serving a mission for the LDS Church. Of my two daughters, one is a carrier of MD. While all of us– even our sick boys – have lived happy, fulfilled, busy lives, it has not been without its share of tears and difficulties. While we are very far from ideal parents, we have at least learned some painful but valuable lessons as we have hung in there. It is my belief in the power and value in the lessons learned, depicted in this musical, that have allowed me to put this very personal work into the public domain. Crosses exists to strengthen and inspire people who care for disabled or terminally ill family members, who lose a child, or who shoulder particularly heavy burdens of any kind, to educate and inform everyone about the complexities and difficulties of living with handicaps or serious illness or of having a loved one die, and to promote faith and courage. Feedback on the musical has been overwhelmingly positive. Because I am convinced this work can positively affect lives, I do have one request of you. If you know of family or friends who have struggled with the loss, sickness, or death of loved ones who may benefit from this work, please let them know about it. You can share the music, or better yet, send them to crossesmusical.com, where they can hear or buy the music, read and print the lyrics, read stories of others who have courageously dealt with loss, and even submit their own story.