At the Edge of
Impossible

Christopher G. Smith did not set out to work in the highest stakes arena in entertainment . When he began, Christopher had no professional experience, no training, no contacts in the industry, and no money to make it happen. What followed was not a breakthrough moment, but an 18 year pursuit marked by setbacks, uncertainty, and long stretches where nothing seemed to be working.

Before this, Christopher was a police officer, approaching the second half of life, living a steady, predictable existence with his church, family, and friends, when he was confronted with a life-challenge so vast it felt impossible. A chance discovery led him to one of history’s great unknown influencers, John Newton, a slave-trader who would become one of the world’s first outspoken abolitionists. Newton’s spiritual and moral change was so profound that he would also go on to write one of the most loved songs of all time; Amazing Grace. Christopher realized that this could be much more than an inspiring story, it was a calling, and the entertainment business opportunity of a lifetime. Someone was going to have to write the show, raise the money, and shepherd this new brand in the most competitive theatrical city in the world, New York.

Along the way, only one constant remained: Alana. He had been her prom date, she would become the love of his life and his bride. It had been Alana that first believed that Christopher could take this impossible dream all the way to Broadway. Through every turn, she stood with him as the dream became a reality. Then, just as the work was finally reaching the stage, their personal story took an unexpected turn. Alana was diagnosed with breast cancer while six months pregnant with their daughter.

What had been a creative challenge became something far more personal. In the middle of opening nights, growing momentum, and national attention, Christopher found himself navigating fear, pressure, and uncertainty in a way no plan could have prepared him for. It was in that season that the faith that had quietly underpinned his work became real in a different way.

Now, for Christopher, the message was no longer something he was writing. It was something he was living. Grace was not just a concept. It became a lifeline in the middle of circumstances no one could control.

Christopher and Alana fought together, beat the cancer, gave birth to Alexandra Hope, and against what almost all insiders agreed were impossible odds, Amazing Grace reached Broadway and went on to play 117 performances there, earning a 96 percent audience approval before touring the nation for more than a year.

But what stayed with Christopher was not just the achievement. It was what the journey revealed, about decision making under pressure, perseverance when outcomes are uncertain, and how people move forward when life does not go according to plan.

Today, Christopher brings those hard fought lessons to audiences and teams facing pressure, change, and uncertainty. His work resonates because it speaks to something primal, the desire to be bold and courageous even when failure is staring you in the face.