The 1981 off Broadway musical has been produced at the Coronado theater four times over the past 35 years
Local musical theater fans who prefer a Passion Play of the darker, edgier rock opera variety were treated to a rare local production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre in May. Now comes “Cotton Patch Gospel,” a bluegrass and comedy-tinged treatment of Jesus’ life and death story at Lamb’s Players Theatre.
“Cotton Patch Gospel” is a 1981 Off Broadway musical based on Bible scholar and farmer Clarence Jordan’s down-home translations of the New Testament, scripted by Tom Key and Russell Treyz, with music and lyrics by the late Harry Chapin.
When Georgia’s corrupt governor Herod realizes the young but charismatic Jesus may grow up to be his rival, Herod plots to kill Jesus, so the family escapes to Mexico to hide out. Eventually, they return and settle in Atlanta, where Jesus is baptized in the Chatahoochie River, gathers and trains his apostles, lands a cover story in Rolling Stone and then, after a Last Supper of Moon Pies and grape Nehi soda, he is betrayed, arrested, killed and rises again.
Three actors perform all of the roles. Bryan Barbarin is warm, charismatic, gentle and compassionate as Jesus. The funny and talented actor-singer Michael Louis Cusimano nimbly plays a wide variety of characters, including Mary, Herod, John the Baptist, Pontius Pilate and more. And tender-voiced Ernesto Sauceda plays Jesus’ stepdad Joe, Satan, the betrayer Jud and also plays violin and serves as the show’s assistant choreographer.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Review | The best pop music of 2023 so farReview: Lana Del Rey, Ice Spice, Paramore, Kelela and others make our critic’s evolving list of 2023’s best pop recordings
Read more »
Exquisite Efforts: Perfect Single-Game Offensive Performances Turned In By Ohio State Football PlayersThe concept of a 'perfect game' might be reserved for baseball but if we translate it to OSU football, here's a few individual offensive performances worthy of the designation.
Read more »
Giants’ J.D. Davis critical of Mets’ instability: A lot of players were ‘in survival mode’If you didn’t know better, you might think Steve Cohen called Mets castoff J.D. Davis for advice on everything not to do when a team underachieves.
Read more »
Former Eagle says specially designed helmet will protect young football players from concussionsFormer Philadelphia Eagle and Philly native Carlos Bradley started a company aimed at protecting young players from concussions with specially designed helmets. NBC10’s Johnny Archer has the details.
Read more »
‘A Story of Bones’ Review: St. Helena’s Buried Truths on PBSReview: PBS's 'A Story of Bones' contrasts the casual disposition of 19th-century Africans’ remains in St. Helena with the veneration of another deceased resident, Napoleon, and tracks an activist's fight to secure an ethical solution to their interment
Read more »
Predators are winners, and players seeking long contracts are among the losers in NHL free agencyBarry Trotz was tired after a busy week of putting his stamp on the Nashville Predators by remaking the roster through some important comings and goings.
Read more »