Johnston Teens Perform in Original Christmas Musical Friday, Saturday

"The Boyz Are Back In Town" gives a modern spin on the Christmas story when it takes the stage this weekend at First Federated Church in Des Moines.

The free, original musical, written by worship pastor David Bush, includes actors and musicians from throughout the metro, including Johnston.

"I think that people will like it, it's not your normal, traditional Christmas Musical," said Cole Balmer, a sophomore at Johnston High School.

Bush said the production is a contemporary, out-of-the-box different approach to telling the Christmas from a different kind of story line.

“Boyz” features music performances by Iowa country star Jason Brown, contemporary Christian artist and songwriter Scott Krippayne and Bush.

The production is subtitled “A True-To-Life Pop/Rock/Country Christmas Story.” It follows their career paths after they left the fictional “Boyz” band and ultimately intersects the Christmas story and an eventual Christmas reunion concert at the close of the drama.

There's a lot of consumer messages at this time of year, Bush said.

"This is certainly a time to unplug from that," he said. "It's a way to celebrate Christmas, it's not going to be choirs and robes, very contemporary," Bush said.

"Boyz" features a cast of 30 actors, dancers and musicians, including Balmer on the rhythm guitar.

"I'm playing on about every song except two," he said. "It's going to be a really good performance."

Cole's brother, Jesse, is also in the performance as a shepherd, while Ben Poss of Johnston performs as a break dancer.

"The Boyz Are Back In Town" debuts at 7 p.m. Friday, with another performance on Saturday. Both showings are at the church's main auditorium at 4801 Franklin Ave. in Des Moines.