Keith and Kristyn Getty occupy a unique space in the world of music today as preeminent modern hymn writers. In re-inventing the traditional hymn form, they have created a catalogue of songs teaching Christian doctrine and crossing the genres of traditional, classical, folk and contemporary composition which are sung the world over.

“In Christ Alone” (penned by Keith and long-time writing partner, Stuart Townend) holds the #1 position of most-frequently-sung in UK churches for the past 9 consecutive years. It was voted the #2 best-loved hymn of all time in the UK according to a BBC Songs of Praise national survey and among the top 5 hymns of all time by the UK Hymns Society. According to CCLI, it is estimated that 40 to 50 million people sing “In Christ Alone” in church services each year— which does not include the unique reach the catalog has into traditional and classical contexts, as well as the popularity of the song throughout Asia.

The Gettys' hymns are used increasingly both in contemporary and traditional circles, being included in most modern hymnbooks (with a number of these now listing “Getty” as the most-featured composers), while in the more contemporary church, more than 60 of their songs are featured on top 2,000 CCLI charts between the UK and USA.

Chris Cragin-Day, who wrote “Martin Luther on Trial” with Max McLean, has written plays and musicals that have been performed in New York and around the country.

Her work impressed McLean when he saw a performance of her play about Emily Dickinson, “Emily,” so he approached her about writing a play about Luther for the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation in 2017.

After doing some research, she agreed. During the writing process, she would send McLean her drafts, and he would edit them. The result of their collaboration, “Martin Luther on Trial,” features a strong female character, Katie Von Bora, Luther’s wife.

The play held its world premiere in Washington last year before being staged off-Broadway. It will go on a national tour this fall.

Cragin-Day’s recent New York productions include: “A Woman,” 59E59th; “The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph’s Baby,” NYC Fringe, co-writer Don Chaffer; and “Son of a Gun” co-writers Don and Lori Chaffer. Cragin-Day and her husband, Steve Day, are founding members of Firebone Theatre, which produces plays that examine the space "where human meets divine."

Cragin-Day is an alumna of The Public Theater’s Emerging Writers’ Group (“The River Nun,” presented in the 2009 Spotlight Series) and the O’Neill National Music Theater Conference. Her recent regional productions include “Foster Mom,” which won the New Play Festival Award at Premiere Stages in Union, New Jersey; and “The Unusual Tale of Mary and Joseph’s Baby” at River and Rail Theater in Knoxville.

Cragin-Day is an assistant professor of English and Theater at The King's College in New York City. She holds a master’s degree in theater from Baylor University and a bachelor’s from Oklahoma Baptist University.

by Eric Metaxas - Oct. 30, 2017 - Martin Luther wanted to coax theologians into a debate on indulgences—not reset Christianity. Martin Luther’s “95 Theses,” first published in 1517, now stored in the Deutsches Historisches Museum, Berlin. ...