‘The Cotton Patch Gospel’

PRINCETON — The Off-Broadway musical “The Cotton Patch Gospel” is going way off-Broadway to the First United Methodist Church, 316 S. Church Street, in Princeton.

The purpose is to raise money for local, national and international programs that help fight hunger. This show will be presented at 4 p.m. Feb. 26. Tickets are $10 and a freewill offering will be accepted. One-hundred percent of the funds raised go directly to fight hunger. Tickets can be purchased at the door, at Citizens or Central Bank in Princeton, or by calling 815-872-2821.

“The Cotton Patch Gospel” is a musical, written by Tom Key and Russel Trez, featuring the music of singer/songwriter Harry Chapin. The story, inspired by Koinonia farms founder Clarence Jordan’s translations of the Gospels, imagines what it would be like if Jesus were born in Gainesville, Ga., in the 20th century. Those old Bible stories take on a new twist as Mary Hagler and Joe Davidson raise a most miraculous human.

What makes this “The Cotton Patch Gospel” truly unique, is the “one man” performance by native Illinoisan Phillip Kaufmann. With permission from the Chapin family, and through the use of audio and video technology, Phillip portrays more than 20 characters, plays 11 musical instruments and sings his own backup vocals. His performance, combined with an excellent script makes this a performance that you don’t want to miss.

Fifty percent of the proceed will stay right here and supports the Our Table hunger relief effort in Princeton; 25 percent will go to WHY Hunger (an organization founded by Harry Chapin and New York radio host and Catholic philanthropist Bill Ayers) and 25 percent will go to Mennonite Central Committee food program.