MARS — The biblical parable of the prodigal son gets a modern update and another son in the musical “The Prodigal Sons” being performed this weekend at Mars Alliance Church, 997 Route 228.

Jeannie Allen of Valencia wrote the music and book for the production that deals with two brothers who live on a dairy farm in Oregon in the 1980s.

The younger son demands his inheritance and loses everything through wild living in Reno.

Broken, he then returns to his father. The father forgives him, throwing an extravagant welcome-home party.

His older brother is angry and jealous and refuses to forgive.

“The older brother who always was good, he stayed home. He worked hard,” said Allen. “He was so self-righteous. When the younger brother came home, he was so jealous and hateful.”

“He has distanced himself from his father by not celebrating his brother’s return,” said Allen.

“So now he is on the outside like his younger brother was before,” Allen said.

“It follows parable of Luke 15:11, it follows it in an entertaining modern-day context that people can relate to today,” said Allen. “This is something that can be understood by everyone. Sometimes with these Bible stories, people don’t get it, and they are boring.”

“I think it is an important story and that people can relate to it,” she said. “I’ve been through it, and I wanted to make it real palatable, and it has a message.”

She said “The Prodigal Sons” runs about two hours long with an intermission, contains 16 songs and has 20 cast members.

It will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday.

“The church has a big basketball program and they have huge gym and it has a stage on it, and we are doing it on the stage in the gymnasium,” Allen said.

The Rev. Jim Toomey, the lead pastor at the 700-member Mars Alliance Church, said, “I had seen it at Glade Run (United Presbyterian Church in May). I think obviously the Lord gave her the play and said bring it to the church.”

Allen, who also wrote “Esther the Musical” that has been performed in area churches and at Butler County Community College for seven years, said, “This story is dear to my heart. Many of us have made bad choices in our life and have experienced God’s mercy, myself included.”

“I have a son, David Allen. He was a prodigal when he was 17. I had just become a single mom, I have six children, trying to support them as a musician,” she said.

“David was in a catastrophic car accident. The doctors sad he had brain hemorrhaging,” Allen said.

After three months, she said, he came home in a wheelchair and spent a year doing outpatient rehabilitation.

“He can walk, but one side of him shakes and the other side he doesn’t have much feeling,” she said. “But he felt God spared his life. He wanted to give his life to God and became a minister.”

Allen said David Allen recorded an album of his songs, one of which, “Don’t Get Detoured,” appears in the show.

So does David Allen.

“He plays the part of a reverend that tries to tell the prodigal son, and tries to warn him,” she said.

In fact, “The Prodigal Sons” is an Allen family reunion.

In addition to David Allen, Jeannie Allen plays the piano for the show and two of her daughters, Mary Phillips and Kat Rickenback, play denizens of the Helicopter Bar in Reno.

Mary Phillips’ husband, Scott, is the stage manager for this production. The Phillipses are members of Mars Alliance Church.

The choreography is by Mary Phillips and Josie Crooks. Sally Olsen is the costumer, while Margie Linville assisted Jeannie Allen.

Brian Louttit of Valencia plays the younger brother and Sam Bartley, also of Valencia, the older brother.

Another Mars Alliance Church member, Tim Waldenville, plays the father of the prodigal brothers.

The brothers’ example is reflected in her own life, Allen said.

“I had a strong desire to return to the church. I knew God and I was away from him and he was calling back,” said Allen, who has an extensive musical career both in performing and recording.

“I wrote a song, ‘Bringing Me Back,’ and we close with that song,” Allen said.

Toomey said the play’s production during the run up to Thanksgiving “is a coincidence, although it is a good time to thank God himself and for families to draw close again.”

“I think it will be a challenging spiritual evening for those who come,” said Toomey. “They will enjoy the music and the story of the modern-day prodigal son.”