1971–1973
Doug Stewart and Lex de Azevedo begin collaborating in Southern California. A workshop production is associated with 1973, including work connected to a Utah arts contest and Theatre 131 in Salt Lake City.
Spring 1974 — Brigham Young University
The Department of Theatre and Cinematic Arts presents the musical (book and lyrics by Doug Stewart; music by Lex de Azevedo). Contemporary accounts place the original BYU run in late March and early April 1974, directed by Harold R. Oaks, with an extended run after demand exceeded expectations.
1974 onward — California and the West
A Chatsworth Stake production in Southern California and a professional-style run in Pasadena follow the BYU staging. Touring and stake productions spread through the western United States and, over time, to other countries. Sequels by Stewart appeared later (Star Child, The White Star).
1989 — Videotaped version
Bob Williams produces a video version staged as theater rather than a naturalistic film. For many households this recording—not a live house—became “the show.”
2000s
The 1989 version circulates on later home-video formats. Stage licensing continues through theatrical publishers serving LDS and community groups.
2016 — Feature film
A new filmed adaptation opens in April 2016, directed by Michael Buster, with a screenplay associated with Heather Ravarino and involvement from de Azevedo and Stewart. It is a separate copyrighted work from the stage musical and the 1989 video.
Today
Live productions remain licensed works. If you want to put the musical on a stage, contact the current licensing agent—not this archive.
Sources commonly cited for these dates include contemporaneous production records at BYU, later interviews in the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune around the 2016 film, and the licensing notes published by Zion Theatricals / Leicester Bay Theatricals. This unofficial page may contain errors.