Saved! is a 2004 American teen comedy-drama film involving elements of religious satire. It was directed by Brian Dannelly and written by Dannelly and Michael Urban. It stars Jena Malone, Mandy Moore, Macaulay Culkin (in his second theatrically released film since 1994's Richie Rich), Patrick Fugit, Eva Amurri, Martin Donovan, and Mary-Louise Parker. The film touches on the issues of religion, ostracism, homophobia, teen pregnancy, divorce, and disabilities.
Teenager Mary Cummings (Jena Malone), who has "been born again her whole life," is about to enter her senior year at American Eagle Christian High School near Baltimore. She and her two best friends, Hilary Faye (Mandy Moore) and Veronica (Elizabeth Thai), have formed a girl group called the Christian Jewels. Mary’s "perfect Christian boyfriend" Dean Withers (Chad Faust) tells her, as they’re swimming underwater, that he thinks he's gay. In her shock, Mary hits her head in the pool and has a vision in which Jesus tells her that she must do everything she can to help Dean. Hoping for a sign, Mary goes to a shooting range with Hilary Faye, who has a "spiritual solution for everything" and tells Mary (not knowing about the situation with Dean) that if all else fails, Jesus could still restore their "spiritual and emotional virginity." Believing that Jesus will restore her purity, Mary sacrifices her virginity to have sex with Dean in an attempt to restore his heterosexuality.
Saved is a musical with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman and the book by John Dempsey and Rinne Groff. It is based on the 2004 film Saved!. It premiered Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2008.
Saved premiered at Playwrights Horizons on June 3, 2008 and closed on June 22, 2008. Directed by Gary Griffin, the cast featured Celia Keenan-Bolger (Mary), John Dossett (Pastor Skip), and Julia Murney (Lillian). The choreography was by Sergio Trujillo, costumes by Jess Goldstein, lighting by Donald Holder, and sets by Scott Pask.
The New York Time Out magazine article noted that Saved "runs on teen power—its cast features 13 young characters rocking out against two adult authority figures."
The musical will be produced by Kansas City Repertory, Kansas City, Missouri, in September and October 2010, and directed by Griffin. "The show’s original creative team believed the show needed another opportunity to further its development. According to Griffin, ' 'Saved' is like many other successful musicals that do not reach their full potential in their first production. I believe we were only able to get a good first draft in New York, and it would be a shame to stop when we were just discovering the musical’s strengths.' " The cast features Felicia Finley, Graham Rowat and Nick Spangler. The writers have continued to develop the musical, according to Playbill.
Save or Saved may refer to:
A choice is made
A life is saved
And no one really noticed
The chance he had
But never used
'cause he did not focus
Is this what you want now
Is this what I get now
I just wanted you
To know my name
The words she said
My mind is fed
A feeling of relief
The choice she made
The gift she trade
But will she ever breathe
The time has come
To scream out loud
And read between the lines
I never thought
This feeling would