Tennessee Repertory Theatre will resurrect God’s Man in Texas by David Rambo with the same actors who played to sell-out crowds in its Off-Broadway Series in 2002.
Running December 3-20 in James K. Polk Theater at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center, the big hit about big religion stars David Alford as Dr. Jeremiah Mears; Warren Hammack as Dr. Phillip Gottschall; and Brian Webb Russell as sound engineer – and sounding board — Hugo Taney. Both Alford and Webb Russell are actors based in middle Tennessee with numerous credits on the stages of Nashville’s professional theatre.
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God’s Man in Texas is set at Houston’s Rock Baptist Church, the largest church in the nation. Its vast compound includes a worldwide television ministry, in addition to a bowling alley, two swimming pools, theaters, schools and programs for weight loss, singles, and daycare, among others. A search committee is formed to find a successor to the Rock’s legendary 81-year-old pastor, Dr. Phillip Gottschal. Dr. Jeremiah Mears is one of the pastors who is invited to “audition” for the pulpit. Guest preaching for a month of Sundays, the youthful minister gains popularity as Pastor Gottschall’s grip on the pulpit grows as firm as his faith. He doesn’t want to leave. The struggle between the two men — both sincere in their response to God’s will and call — comes to a head at the annual Christmas parade with a surprising resurrection, a sacrifice, and, finally, salvation.
“With gentle humor and great respect for religion, God’s Man in Texas tells a good, old-fashioned story about modern Christianity and the mega-church,” said David Grapes, the Rep’s Producing Artistic Director. “It has tremendous appeal to Christians in the audience, at the same time it examines issues common to any corporate or religious environment — power struggles, different styles of leadership, and reluctance to retire. While God’s Man in Texas is very funny, it takes faith seriously and treats religion with respect. This intelligent blend of comedy and drama, with broad appeal to people of every denomination, is a rare combination in modern American theatre.”
The production is directed by Robert Hupp, Producing Artistic Director of Arkansas Repertory Theatre, which will stage the play in Little Rock with the same cast, following the local run.
It’s no miracle that the play quickly found a following in Nashville when it was presented in the Rep’s Off-Broadway Series in 2002. The city has the most churches per capita in the United States — over 700 congregations in Davidson County alone. Home to numerous seminaries, colleges, and schools with religious affiliations, Nashville is also the largest center of religious publishing in the nation and is home base for Christian Activities Publications and ChristianActivities.com.
Gary C. Hoff’s Scenic design for God’s Man in Texas creates the splendor of Rock Baptist Church. Hoff is the Rep’s resident scenic designer and head of design, working in collaboration with costume designer Olivia Koach; lighting designer Phillip Franck, and sound designer Darin Karnes. The stage manager is Julie Stemmler.
Performance times are: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday (the first Wednesday performance on December 3 is a preview); 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 2:30 p.m. Sunday December 7th and 14th and 2:30 p.m. Saturday December 13th.
Ticket prices range from $17-45, depending on performance date and seat location. Student tickets for ages 18 and under are half price. $10 student rush tickets are available one hour before show time at the Downtown Box Office with valid I.D., subject to availability. To purchase tickets, visit the TPAC Box Office (Downtown or at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Green Hills), the website at www.tnrep.org, or any Ticketmaster outlet. Tickets may also be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at
615/255-ARTS (2787). For information on group discounts for 15 or more, call TPAC Group Sales at 615/782-4060.
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God’s Man in Texas is presented by the Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund and sponsored in part by the Nashville Scene, WKRN-News 2, Neill-Sandler Automotive, American Airlines, The Tennessee Arts Commission and the Metro Nashville Arts Commission, the Shubert Foundation, and the Frist Foundation.
Tennessee Repertory Theatre is the largest professional theatre in the state, presenting work that is designed, built and rehearsed in Nashville by a company of highly skilled actors, designers, directors and technicians. A non-profit organization, the Rep produces a blend of comedy, drama and musicals each year, from world classics to prize-winning contemporary plays, in Polk and Johnson Theaters at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.
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God’s Man in Texas Comes to Nashville (review)
Win tickets to the Rep’s God’s Man in Texas!
Click here to win tickets to see God’s Man in Texas!
