A Story of Grace and Mercy: Alumni Dr. Christine Jones and Kenady Humphrey Produce The Scarlet Letter Musical

What started as a passion for songwriting and composing is now a production that has been brought to life on stages in Dallas Fort-Worth, New York City, and soon, Georgia. Dallas Baptist University alumni, Dr. Christine Hand Jones '05, '08 and Kenady Sean Humphrey '18, composed and produced The Scarlet Letter Musical, based on Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, The Scarlet Letter.

Dr. Jones was raised in Fort Worth, TX, and continued to strengthen her faith after accepting Christ at an early age. While attending DBU, Dr. Jones was involved in university choral groups, English Honors Society meetings, the Paideia Society, performed original music, and took part in the musical, Fiddler on the Roof.

After graduating with her B.A. in Music Business, Dr. Jones returned to DBU to earn her M.L.A. in Literature and later received her Ph.D. in literary studies from The University of Texas at Dallas. Throughout her career, Dr. Jones has served at DBU as an adjunct professor of English and songwriting and Assistant Professor of English, received recognition from several theatre and songwriting festivals, and currently teaches at Southern Methodist University while serving as Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter for The Scarlet Letter Musical.

Kenady gave her life to Christ at four years old, but recalls truly making her faith her own in high school. During her time as a student at DBU, Kenady served as a student worker in the math lab, was part of the Grand Chorus, Chorale, and various musicals, was a member of Sigma Chi Eta, and served as the Grammy U Ambassador for DBU's Music Business Program.

When Kenady was a junior, she produced an EP album in a DBU recording studio and later graduated with her B.S. in Music Business and M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship. In 2019, Kenady self-produced her first musical, Beyond Production, after winning the Texas Business Hall of Fame scholarship. After Beyond Perfection made its off-Broadway debut in the Broadway Bound Theatre Festival, Kenady continued to develop and produce musicals, including her most recent production, The Scarlet Letter Musical, where she served as Composer, Lyricist, and Bookwriter.

The Scarlet Letter Musical first formed when Kenady, a DBU student at the time, brought the idea of collaborating to her professor, Dr. Jones, because of her love for Nathaniel Hawthorne's original work, The Scarlet Letter. The two were drawn to the ideas of Hester, the main protagonist, and her daughter, Pearl, acting as agents of light within their community, and Dimmesdale, a Puritan minister and Pearl's father, finding redemption through God's grace.

"We both saw a lot of hope in the story that gets overlooked in many retellings and interpretations," Dr. Jones shares. The show became built around the theme of mercy and grace that was found within these characters.

Progressing with the show's script and songs, Dr. Jones and Kenady worked to expand each woman's story, which was limited in Hawthorne's novel, and combined their individual ideas and lyrics into one, unified musical.

Casting was done by The Scarlet Letter Musical's Director, Rebecca Lowery, who brought in actors who then were given creative liberty to add their own personal touches to their character.

Dr. Jones and Kenady shared how these eight years of bringing the show to life have been rewarding, especially in seeing how everyone—the cast, crew, and audience—has become invested in the story and shown support and enthusiasm for the musical.

While it has been rewarding, the two have recently faced the challenge of trusting the process. After the production was accepted into the Spark Theatre Festival in NYC, Dr. Jones and Kenady were faced with a tight deadline of only months to prepare the cast and sell tickets. During this time, they learned to trust in God's timing and that everything comes together at the right time.

After taking the stage in DFW and NYC, The Scarlet Letter Musical continues to expand its reach with its September 2026 performance in Georgia.

Grateful the musical's journey is not finished, Dr. Jones and Kenady hope that throughout the performance—and with the opening line of Proverbs 28:13—that people will walk away feeling loved and empowered. As Kenady says, "the show shares the Gospel, and I hope people leave feeling the warmth of walking in the light."