Cotton Patch Gospel
Book by Tom Key and Russell Treyz. Music and lyrics by Harry Chapin.
Product Code: C05000
Musical
Drama
Cast size: large and variable with male and female roles to suit your group, or by doubling with as few as 5.
Limited Streaming Rights Available
Rights and availability
This title can be licensed and sold throughout the World.
* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.
Synopsis
This "Greatest Story Ever Retold" is based on the book The Cotton Patch Version of Matthew and John by Clarence Jordan in which the Gospel is presented in a setting of rural Georgia with a classic American roots music score, the final and perhaps best work of Harry Chapin. As this Gospel begins, they sing that "Somethin's Brewin' in Gainesville." Herod is governor of Georgia when Jesus is born of the Virgin Mary from Gainesville. Jesus grows, and so do his followers, preaching a radical message of love. He is ultimately lynched by the Ku Klux Klan in collusion with then Governor Pilate and the Believe in the Bible Society, only to rise from the dead. From a mountaintop in Alabama, Jesus empowers his followers on to, "Go out and welcome all people into my Father's family." Newly revised in 2022!
Notes
Limited Streaming Rights Available
Details
- Status In stock
- Type of Show Musical
- Product Code C05000
- Minimum Cast Size 5
- Pages of Dialogue 86
- Min. Royalty Rate $110.00/perf
- Approx. Run Time 105 min
- Staging One ext. set.
Categories
- Target Audience Middle School | High School | College and Adult | Family (all ages) | Senior Adults | Praise Groups
- Performing Group High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | Senior Theatre | Praise Group
- Genre Drama
- ISBN(13) 9780871292445
Customer Reviews
This is my fourth time to direct it. I always enjoy watching a cast come together and be touched by this show. Always well received, and a blessing to the audiences.
The actors, musicians and audience had a wonderful time with Cotton Patch Gospel. We used an ensemble of 12, plus one actor for the role of Jesus, and a bluegrass band of 6. The audiences were very responsive and affirmative.
This musical has it all. It's fun, it's touching, and it's powerful. It's full of those "special" moments, both in word and music. Just pure delight!
A play that resonates what every audience joyously celebratesÑthe truth of the Gospel.
Cotton Patch Gospel was fun to work on and inspiring to watch. It's the kind of production that continues to stir creative ideas in everyone involved, throughout the rehearsal process. By the time the lighting designers added their piece, the actors picked up on it like it was a new vision and the results were amazing. This production on the life of Christ set in 20th century Georgia is captivating, humorous and stirring. The only complaint is that the two-hour show went by too fast.
This show was a perfect match for our needsÑa small, flexible cast, one bare-bones set and terrific music and dialog. Our kids really enjoyed doing this show and the audience loved it!
I love it. This is the second run of the show I've been involved in, and the humour and poignancy of the show never ceases to amaze me.
Cotton Patch Gospel was the best play I have ever directed. For our Christian school and an all boys' school, it was perfect! The kids had a great time rehearsing the play and loved performing it. So much flexibility with characters makes it a perfect school play for any size school!
Cotton Patch Gospel is wonderfully entertaining. With high energy and loads of laughs, the gospel message is presented in a way that is irresistible. It truly is "the good story."
Outstanding show! We've never had a better response -- from audience or cast!!! Easy to stage, entertaining for all ages.
Cotton Patch Gospel is just what the typical American community theatre is looking forÑexciting music, flexible casting, minimal settings and broad audience appeal. Performers and audience share in the fun!
Simply delightful foot stompin' experience with a message. A great tool for expressing the "good news" to any audience.
... After laughing and crying through 90 minutes of hysterical humor, I was stunned to realize that I had just experienced a deeply moving, boldly conceived, professionally executed performance that had both my brain cells and emotions running in high gear. In addition to being a funny parody of the Southern personality, Cotton Patch Gospel is a profoundly moving religious experience.
Cotton Patch Gospel met all our requirements for our theatre group at our church: Christian message; music was beautiful -- you cannot pick a favorite Harry Chapin song; and funny. We had way too much fun working on this for three months!
Cotton Patch Gospel is the perfect musical for Midwestern audiences. People loved it.
Cotton Patch Gospel is a delightful retelling of the story of Christ mixing humor and poignancy. The script is well written and fast paced and, mixed with the country music motif, it is spiritually enlightening.
A light hearted, yet poignant journey through the Gospel of Matthew set in the contemporary south (Georgia). Harry Chapin's score adds to the "jubilation" of the Gospels as well as the "flip-side" moments -- the times of loss and loneliness Jesus came to save us from.
Highly entertaining and moving -- the gospel of Christ made relevant.
Hints, Tips, and Tricks
If you cannot have a full band, at least try to have a bass player, in addition to the keyboard player. We used keyboard, guitar and bass, and the bass really brought it all together.
Read the real Gospel, too.
The only difficulty we had was adapting the music for female voices. (We had four guys and five girls.) You need to be very careful in the way you go about this.
The show calls for a table, a boat and a pulpit (if possible). We designed a set piece that is all three of these in one. Upright it looks like a basic table (strong enough for Jesus and/or Matthew to stand on). On its side it becomes a boat with a bench/seat inside for Rock and Andy to go fishing in and can conceal Rock's attempt to walk on water. Up on one end it becomes a pulpit for the TV evangelist to pound on effortlessly. If you would like the plans I could make them available. Pastor Bob Wang (262) 859-2540.
Less is more. We did it with four platforms, period.
Media Reviews
“A hurricane that sweeps you along on wings of song. … A buoyant, exultant musical.”—The Hollywood Reporter
“Some of the best songs Harry Chapin ever wrote." —Dave Marsh, Rolling Stone
"A musical drama with homespun dignity.” —Christianity Today
“Full of charm that oozes from every movement and utterance.” —Chicago Critic
“This is [an] uplifting family show with loads of heart.” —Chicago Critic
"A dream come true. A breath of fresh air. Something good is happening. A reverential retelling of the book of Matthew. It takes the Bible's passionate intensity and directness for contemporary meaning into the popular vein without diluting it." —Contemporary Christian Music
"Entertaining and inspiring, it will lift your spirits and renew your hope." —The Long Island Catholic
"Powerful drama and a joyous celebration. This musical succeeds mightily." —The Episcopalian
"Rollicking, foot-stomping, hand-clapping … musical." —The Messenger
"The show offers a vivid witness. This is the Gospel." —The American Baptist Magazine
Production Map
| Location | City | State | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First United Methodist Church | Lexington | KY | 05/11/2025 | 05/11/2025 |
| Savannah River Playhouse | Lavonia | GA | 05/02/2025 | 05/11/2025 |
Downloads
| File Description | File Format | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Poster | Download |
Poster Suggestions
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- You can print the poster in its original format and hand write your information.
- Your local copy shop should be able to create prints from a file saved to disk. They might even be able to increase the size of the poster for you (although some loss of resolution will occur).
Gallery
Cotton Patch Gospel - Totem Pole Playhouse, Fayetteville, PA
Cotton Patch Gospel - Espresso Theatre Company, Lethridge, Alberta
Also By These Authors
Henry M. Haskell, South Carolina Repertory Company, Hilton Head Island, S.C.