Geoff Davin's THE FIRST CHURCH OF MARY... Premieres Today

Inspiration for an original musical can be found just about anywhere, if you are to believe the history of musical theater: Show Boat came from an Edna Ferber novel, Oklahoma from a play called Green Grow the Lilacs, Kinky Boots from a rather obscure British film, and Wicked was inspired bya book that was inspired by The Wizard of Oz, thus proving that the genesis for a new show may be found just about anywhere. It can even be found in ways more personal and certainly more intimate, like Geoff Davin's inspiration for his new musical with the enviable title of The First Church of Mary, The Repentant Prostitute's FIFTH ANNUAL Benefit Concert, Revival, and Pot Luck Dinner

Subtitled "a play about Faith, Narcissism, & Red Velvet Cake," The First Church of Mary (which is how we will refer to it hereafter) allows Davin to don a wig and heels - "yet again," according to the show's press release - to play his newest creation Adamenses Huckster, the protagonist of his "new play (with music)."

"A few years ago I had a bit of a bad church experience," Davin says. "So this is very loosely based on that experience. I thought it would be therapeutic to write about it. But I didn't want to write something super heavy. And I think laughing is a very healing thing. So that was my spark of inspiration.

"With that said...this piece is in no way anti-church or anti-religion. It's not 'anti' anything. What it is is 'pro-you.' It's all about learning to think for yourself. Trusting yourself. Finding faith in yourself. That is what I hope the take away will be."

Directed by nine-time First Night Award winner Martha Wilkinson, The First Church of Mary stars an impressive cast of Nashville favorites, including Megan Murphy Chambers, Jennifer Whitcomb-Oliva, Brooke Leigh Davis and Rosemary Fossee, in addition to the versatile and imaginative Davin (whose previous onstage forays, if one needs further proof of his range, include the critically acclaimed role of Dr. Frank N Furter in Boiler Room Theatre's The Rocky Horror Show and Nashville Rep's productions of Death of a Salesman and A Christmas Story).

Working with Wilkinson and that starry ensemble has allowed Geoff Davin, writer, to gain a different perspective on his creation. "As the writer...you live so long with these words and voices in your head. You hear them a certain way. But I love it when the actors discover aspects of the character that you (the writer) didn't even know were there."

Davin's newest character study - Adamenses Huckster - is described as an over-the-top, gregarious, completely unfiltered, and generally inappropriate preacher for the "First Church of Mary, the Repentant Prostitute."

The show takes place on the evening of First Church's fifth annual benefit concert, revival and pot luck dinner. Audiences can expect a concert of 11 exciting soul/gospel infused songs written and/or arranged by Davin with additional contributions from local songwriters Nicole Boggs, KelleyAnn Hocter, and David Mescon.

"Audiences can expect plenty of laughs, some highly irreverent preaching (not for the faint of heart), some great music backed by a fantastic seven-piece band, and some good food from Drifters BBQ. Plus there will be cake! So really...how can you not come to this?" Davin exclaims.

Davin's irreverent reverend will offer up some preaching that's not intended for the faint of heart, accompanied by a dinner of barbecue from Drifter's that includes both meat and vegetarian options (hey, the show's being performed in East Nashville, so what else could you expect?).

Performances take place at BLDG Nashville, located in the Five Points area of East Nashville, with performances set for May 29-31.

All tickets are $38. The ticket price includes a full barbecue dinner (vegetarian options available as well) catered by Drifters Nashville. The dinner includes pulled pork or barebecued chicken, macaroni and cheese, and slaw. The vegetarian option substitutes fried tofu for the pork or chicken. And like every good church potluck in the South, there's plenty of iced tea to be had, and you can even sneak in a bottle of your favorite libation, without fear of any church roofs collapsing on your drunken head.

For further details or to purchase tickets, go to www.repentantprostitute.com!

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