Cotton Patch Gospel

The St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Drama Dreamers theater program will be putting on a production of “Cotton Patch Gospel,” written by Tom Key and Russell Treyz. Directed by Heights High School sophomore Megan Hockey and Beaumont School junior Grace Gamble, the show opens on Friday, March 9th at 7:30 p.m., with additional shows on Saturday, March 10th at 2 p.m. and Sunday, March 11th at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

In a unique twist on the traditional story of Jesus, the musical production is set in modern-day Georgia and features a variety of bluegrass and country songs performed by a talented bluegrass band. Based on the book The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John by Clarence Jordan with music by Harry Chapin, the show is being produced by special arrangement with Dramatic Publishing.

The production costars Heights High School junior Tori Payne and University School freshman Peter Simon as Jesus, with Heights High sophomore Dylan Forrest shining as Matthew. A talented supporting cast and crew of students from area schools including Hawken, Shaker, Hathaway Brown, Orange and more make the production one to remember.

The Drama Dreamers program was founded in 1998 by Kate and Greg Gillooly. The program uses drama as a tool to provide opportunities for youth of all backgrounds to develop personally and spiritually through the preparation and presentation of religious dramatic material. Drama Dreamers is unique in that it is entirely student-run; youth in 6th-12th grade comprise not only the cast, band and tech crew, but also serve as the director, set designer, stage manager and choreographer. Now in its 15th year, the program produces an annual spring musical as well as an Advent dessert theater, featuring short plays, monologues and student-written works.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 2747 Fairmount Boulevard, on the corner of Fairmount and Coventry Road in Cleveland Heights. Free parking is available in the St. Paul’s parking lot on the corner of North St. James Parkway and Fairmount Boulevard.

Tickets are $7 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Tickets are available at the door or by calling 216-932-5815. Preorders are encouraged as seats are limited. All ticket profits go to support Reading Camp Cleveland.