Cotton Patch Gospel (2013)

Book by Tom Key and Russell Treyz
Music and lyrics by Harry Chapin
Adapted from the books by Clarence Jordan
Directed by Chase Kniffen
Musical Direction by Drew Perkins

A gem of musical theater, this reverent adaption of “The Greatest Story Ever Told” transplants the story of Jesus into the mid-20th-century American South and considers what might have happened had Jesus been born in Georgia — with Gainesville standing in for Bethlehem, Valdosta for Nazareth and Atlanta as the fateful Jerusalem. A cast of exuberant actors/singers/musicians takes the audience on a fun, foot-stomping and inspiring journey with plenty of places to laugh and cry. Presented with zest and uninhibited joy, Cotton Patch Gospel is sure to be a season favorite, especially if you enjoyed the Smoke on the Mountain trilogy.