Here is the demo to "God's Arms Are Always Open," recorded sometime between 2000 and 2008 by Michael Lanning. Written for the musical "Bonnie & Clyde," Frank Wildhorn supplied the music, while Don Black supplied the lyrics.
Though beginning life as a part of the ill-fated "Romantics" project for Atlantic Records, "Bonnie & Clyde" was almost instantly picked out by Wildhorn and Black for further development.
The two soon began working with screenwriter David Newman (who had co-written the screenplay to the acclaimed 1967 film "Bonnie & Clyde") and director Michael Greif to further develop the work into a full musical. Upon Newman's death in 2003, the project was shelved.
Years later, while looking for a show to do together, Wildhorn gave director Jeff Calhoun the original demo to "The Romantics" song-cycle, who immediately jumped on-board to direct, enlisting writer Ivan Menchell to write the book.