Jesus Take the Wheel: Duck Dynasty Is Now a Las Vegas Musical

Go ahead and book those tickets to Las Vegas because that desert capital of SIN and VICE is now home to a musical about the rise of the Duck Dynasty clan. I understand it’s easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle if he’s covered in sequins.

Yes, this latest extension of the Robertson brand premiered Wednesday, according to the AP. Sounds like a real party, too:

Skeptical observers who envisioned a high-kicking dance number complete with hunting rifles and flashy sequin camouflage costumes when they heard of the musical won’t be disappointed. Producers, in on the joke, included one such traditional Broadway-style number. The rest is populated with earnest songs with lyrics such as “there’s no time for rest, this is my quest,” and “be yourself in camouflage” and on the other end, comic relief courtesy of the family’s Uncle Si offering fart jokes and “that’s what she said” replies. Scenes are set against a high-tech stage set of moving screens including appearances by the real-life Robertson family.

Interestingly, Out magazine recently did an interview with the musical’s openly gay director, Jeff Calhoun. He signed up before the GQ interview with Phil Robertson dropped, and afterward he insisted on meeting with his son, Willie.

Willie said, “I’m interested in the majority of the country that I believe are open-minded enough that when they see my family working with your friends, that we’re going to build bridges.”

That was my quote in the New York Times, about building bridges. I didn’t know if he had stolen that, or if he believed it. But I looked him in the eyes, and I have two god-given talents: tap dancing and I’m a great judge of character — which helps in casting. I took him at his word. We had such common ground. It was about meeting each other halfway. It could become more than just an entertainment but an opportunity to enlighten people. As corny as that sounds, it’s already been happening.

He also stressed that Willie has taken pains to say his father doesn’t necessarily speak for the whole family, and added that, “We’re not working for Phil. If Phil had tried to hire me, I would have declined. If Phil was in any way part of the creative process, I would have declined and I would have left.”

But here’s the AP’s description of how the musical actually handles the matter of Phil’s remarks:

Theatre-goers expecting an apology from the actor playing Phil Robertson won’t get one. Instead, they get a glimpse into his long-ago descent into drunken irresponsibility before he finds God and atones in pathos that arrives near the end. The explanation for the comments? Phil was just being Phil. And Phil, like the rest of the family, loves everyone, they sing.

Oh, well, if they sing it, then what choice do I have but to believe it?

For a glimpse at the musical itself, please enjoy this report from the Christian Broadcasting Network!