In April of 1997, the communities of Grand Forks and East Grand Forks were devastated by the worst flood in their history. In the wake of disaster, displacement, and devastation, the non-profit theatre company Summer Performing Arts (SPA), in collaboration with Grand Forks Public Schools, produced the full-length musical Keep the Faith, a musical documentary based on this extraordinary production performed by the youth of the flood-ravaged communities.

Keep the Faith, produced by Prairie Public Television, is centered around the final encore performance of the musical capturing the spectacle of the performance and the emotion of the Grand Forks audience. The musical features original songs, drama, news footage and vintage photographs that chronicle the 500-year flood and subsequent recovery. "More importantly, it tells the story of how 60,000 people came together to rebuild our community, our homes and lives," says SPA director and co-creator of Keep the Faith Brad Sherwood. "This is the most important thing we've ever done, or ever will do...because of what it's done for the community. It demonstrates that healing power of the arts."

Carrie Pierce, producer of the documentary Keep the Faith, says it is that healing power she tried to reflect in the television special. The documentary uses the power of the arts to tell a story of collective community triumph over one of the largest disasters in American history. 250 Grand Forks area kids, most of whom appeared in the stage premiere of Keep the Faith, will appear in the television programs recreating the magic of this phenomenal show that played to over 20,000 people in its ten sold-out performances.