John Anderson: Cast is strong for upcoming show

Anyone who has served on a search committee will be able to relate instantly to the plot line of “God’s Man in Texas,” which is the January 2013 feature of Waxhaw’s Storefront Theatre.

The play will be performed on Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m., and on Jan. 20 at 2:30 p.m. at the Museum of the Waxhaws. Tickets are $10. Call 704-243-7283 or go to mail@thestorefront theatre.org for reservations.

Reservations are strongly recommended.

“I’m really excited about ‘God’s Man in Texas’…. it has one of the strongest casts we’ve had,” said Storefront Theatre Director, Judy Simpson Cook. “The play itself is terrific, exploring all those dark issues of jealousy, ambition, greed, etc., in the setting of a mega-church in Houston.

“A search committee has been formed to find the successor to Dr. Philip Gottschall (Melvin Faris), the legendary pastor whose business savvy and pastoral charisma have turned the Rock Baptist Church into what someone in the play refers to as ‘the Baptist Super Bowl.’ A younger pastor, Dr. Jeremiah Mears (Dennis Delamar), is invited to preach a month’s worth of Sunday evening sermons, an audition of sorts.

“At first, Gottschall backs Mears, but when Mears develops a relationship with Hugo Taney (Michael Ruff) – Gottschall’s sound man and sounding board – he then feels threatened by their alliance, and the struggle for power begins.”

“God’s Man in Texas” has been performed around the country; Cook gave me a sampling of the reviews:

• “… the pick of the litter of all the works at the Humana Festival. …” The Providence Journal, 1999.

• “…a wealth of both drama and comedy in the struggle for power. ….” The Los Angeles Times.

Cook said “there’ll be theatrical fireworks,” based on the strength of the cast.

“I love these actors, and what I know they’ll bring to their performances individually and as an ensemble. I’ve known Michael Ruff since he was a teenager, when we appeared in a play together. Dennis Delamar is a prize, always in demand as a professional director and actor. I am very fortunate the stars aligned so he could return to Storefront. He and Michael were in Laddy Sartin’s ‘Catfish Moon’ in our second season. And Melvin, of course – very familiar to Storefront audiences – always brings a great performance.”

At the library

The Friends of the Union County Public Library are offering a free opportunity to interact with mystery writer Keith Donnelly on Jan. 13 at 3 p.m. in the Griffin Room at the Monroe Library.

Donnelly is the creator of the Donald Youngblood series, which includes: “Three Deuces Down,” “Three Days Dead,” “Three Devils Dancing,” and “Three Deadly Drops.”

This is a return engagement for Donnelly, who was the featured writer at the 2012 Winter Authors dinner.

I spent some time with him when he was here last February; I left impressed with his writing and his process. Donnelly shared that when he begins a Youngblood Story, he’s never really sure where it is headed. For more information, go to www.union.lib.nc.us.