Tom key, scott ainslie, russell treyz, michael meece. A musical, cotton patch gospel 1982, written by atlantabased actor tom key and stage director russell treyz, was based on jordans version of the gospels of matthew and john. Cotton patch gospel the column online by john garcia. The cotton patch gospel presents familiar stories about jesus in a new setting rural georgia and using unexpected melodies from country. His nephew, hamilton jordan, served as white house chief of staff.
The cotton patch version of the new testament rockhay. Both a biblical scholar and a prophetic man of action, clarence jordan lived out the new testament in the soil of rural georgia. Tracklist with lyrics of the album cotton patch gospel 2011 from harry chapin. With tom key, scott ainslie, pete corum, jim lauderdale. A filmed stageplay recounting the story of jesus as set in. But we got the story of the crownin glory, believe it or not. Tom key with cotton patch gospel cast 0504 duration. Tom keys last season as artistic director of theatrical outfit. This beloved account has been paraphrased and relocated to georgia in the middle 20th century by clarence jordan in the cotton patch gospel. Somethins doin in gainesville, come on down and see. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. Bethlehem becomes gainesville, georgia, nazareth valdosta, and jerusalem atlanta. Cotton patch gospel, in which he starred and which he co.
Lewis on stage when he spotted a postcard advertising british actor, alec mcgowens presentation of saint marks gospel. The complete collection paperback september 8, 2014. It brings the far awayplaces of nazareth, jerusalem, and bethlehem closer to home atlanta and valdosta, georgia. Bear in mind that this resource is not a biblical translation, but a creative paraphrase. Clarence jordan died suddenly of a heart attack in 1969. Cotton patch gospel provision theater company thru nov 8, 2009. Tom key and harry chapin were so clever with their presentation that people seem to get drawn into the old, old story in a new way. Something brewing in gainesville i did itmama is here it isnt easy. But it is a witness to the integrity, enthusiasm, and wit of both clarence jordan and tom key. Silent sky, cotton patch gospel, the realization of emily linder, big fish, joyful noise, the trial of ebenezer scrooge in the isaac studio theatre. The cotton patch gospel is surely one of the most fun means to carry out this mission, said david meginniss. The beloved musical returns home just when we need its radical hope now more than ever. The road to emmaus a cotton patch gospel as read by.
Theatrical outfits 201920 season marks tom keys final year as. Cotton patch gospel is a musical production written by tom key and russell treyz in the early 1980s, based on clarence jordans 1970 book, the cotton patch version of matthew and john. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language of the mid20th century south. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing cotton patch gospel near you. Not your average musical theatre fare, cotton patch gospel is a refreshing change and a reminder of why the literature of the new testament has endured. Tom keys musical play based on the cotton patch gospel by clarence jordan is fun. Cotton patch gospel originator of cotton patch gospel recreates beginning as solo performance in 1979, tom key was wondering what he would do next after a successful national tour of his oneman play c. Cotton patch gospela jubilant retelling of what happens when, in 1936, jesus shows up in georgia. Bruce kuhn played the national tour, which indianapolis critics hailed as. The cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century south. Tom key is funny at one moment and so serious the next that you want to hold your breath so as not. I like the way clarence jordan ends a note on the cotton patch gospelmatthew and john. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century south.
Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin and produced by philip m. In downtown atlanta in 2020, cotton patch gospel promises to raise the roof with joy. Next spring, after key plays matthew in cotton patch gospel, a defining achievement of his career and the final show of the outfits 20192020. Somethins brewin in gainesville, wonder what it could be. Also sign me up for fanmail to get updates on all things movies. Augustines limelight theatre staged its final offering of 2016 with the opening of the musical cotton patch gospel on december 1 tom key and russell treyz. Tom key and the bluegrass backing band are great in this video recording of a 1985 performance. Tom key, artistic director of the theatrical outfit since 1995, will retire from the post at the end of the 20192020 season. Key is an energetic and versatile performer who plays the narrator matthew as well as. Cotton patch gospel does not preach fire and brimstone. Its gainesville where the wise men went turned a sinners stable to a revival tent, its a hell of a place to be heavensent, its gainesvillebound for me. The explorers club, best of enemies, jeeves intervenes, godspell, dracula, this christmas in the isaac studio theatre.
Tom key has served as artistic director of theatrical outfit since 1995 where his drive to tell stories that stir the soul in the heart of downtown atlanta has developed the company into one of our citys major performing arts institutions. This awardwinning musical drama is alegslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a storythe retells the gospels of matthew and john translatedinto present day southern vernacular. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the apostolic letters into the language and culture of the mid20th century south. Tom key is an actor, known for are you here 20, fast food 1989 and cotton patch gospel 1988. Tom keys last season as artistic director of theatrical. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the apostolic letters into the language and culture of the mid20th century south, bringing the new testament to life in the context of where people actually live today. Rights and availability this title can be licensed and sold throughout the world. Cotton patch gospel has been highly acclaimed by criticsand public alike. Cotton patch gospel emerges from american biblebelt culture.
Directed by jim poole april 28 june 5, 2005 due to its tremendous success, provision theater is remounting cotton patch gospel. The measure of a christian is not in the height of his grasp but in the depth of his love, faith is not belief in spite of evidence but a life in scorn of the consequences. The popular music songwriter harry chapin collaborated with key and treyz on the adaptation, which they completed in. The play is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan. The last few sentences he jesus may let us sit at his feet and wash them with our tears. Key is an energetic and versatile performer who plays the narrator matthew as well as many various roles. The musical is largely a solo performance by tom key, coauthor of the book with russell treyz, who also acts as director. A filmed stageplay recounting the story of jesus as set in modern day georgia with music and reverent humor added. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south. Tom key with cotton patch gospel cast 0504 youtube. Closing the season will be the beloved musical that launched tom key into the hearts of so many, cotton patch gospel by tom key and. Home news cotton patch gospel playing in chicago cotton patch gospel playing in chicago music and lyrics by harry chapin book by tom key and russell treyz. The gospel of matthew and john as it was written in the bible tells the true story.
Lewis on stage cotton patch gospel the revelation of john revelation project screwtape in person christmas memory. The book, by tom key and russell trevz, is heavy on cornpone man does not live by grits alone, but the show works anyway because of its potent use of lynching as an. With music composed by harry chapin, performer of the grammynominated cats in the cradle, and book adapted from clarence jordan by tom key and russell treyz, cotton patch gospel shifts the gospels of matthew and john to midtwentieth century georgia. Harry chapin cotton patch gospel album lyrics letssingit.
Tom key cowrote cotton patch gospel and will perform in it at theatrical outfit next spring. The minimalist setting allows tom and his country quartet to imagine a world where jesus did not come into the world 2000 years ago in israel, but lived his life in rural georgia in the middle part of the 20th century, with all of the civil unrest and injustices of the time. Here is our own tom key proclaiming it on video for. Cotton patch gospel continues until july 1 at huron country playhouse, grand bend. Gainesville, selma, birmingham, atlanta, washington, d. Clarence jordan quotes author of the cotton patch version. It ran offbroadway at the lambs theatre for 193 performances beginning in october 21, 1981. Clarence jordan july 29, 1912 october 29, 1969, a farmer and new testament greek scholar, was the founder of koinonia farm, a small but influential religious community in southwest georgia and the author of the cotton patch paraphrase of the new testament.
Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scipture closer to home. Cotton patch gospel offers downhome spin on story of. Neighbor news bethany arts series to feature harry chapins offbroadway smash hit cotton patch gospel. Cotton patch gospel is the full length, offbroadway musical hit that the new york times called, a toetapping country jamboree. This is one of those versatile scripts that lends itself to any number of creative decisions. A visionary during the struggle for the civil rights of all gods children, he founded an interracial community called koinonia. Inspired by clarence jordans provocative the cotton patch version of matthew and john and produced and cherished worldwide since its conception in 1981, this soulrouser with boundless heart sets the story of jesus in the american south. Cotton patch gospel matthew clarence jordan by clarence jordan, of koinonia ministries the cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south. Based on the book, the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordon. More than a decade later, these writings provided the inspiration for the cotton patch gospel, a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics by harry chapin, that is a mainstay in community theatres across the country.
Perhaps hell startle us with his parables and powerful sermons, and sting us with his honest rebukes. Jordan gave the gospels a downhome vernacular rhythm. Millard fuller, founder of habitat for humanity, thought of clarence jordan as a man of relevance. This entertaining musical features the reverential. He was also instrumental in the founding of habitat for humanity. Jordan wanted to transport jesus and firstcentury christians to where they were living where we live, talking as we talk, working, hurting, praying, bleeding.