I have been pretty lucky to know great artists, especially during the early ’90s in Portland, where you get to know people in both the Portland theater and music communities. Sometimes they overlap, and now two legends I’ve known for 30 years have collaborated on a new musical with a message more relevant now than ever before.
The Synopsis:
This new stage musical asks the question, “Why do you believe what you believe?” Just because it is written in a book—a book that has been translated from one language to another over the years—does that make it true? Is it the stories in the book that lead so many to believe, or is it simply a story that feels like it should be believed? Using over 56 different books as reference points, Donnie has written a musical that begins with Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, telling the audience, “If we would have written this all down, there wouldn’t be such a fuss about whether it’s true or not!” This exciting new musical follows an old man, who is dying, on a journey of questioning with an angel who doesn’t have all the answers. So, let us ask you: “Why do you believe what you believe?” This unique and fascinating work offers a fresh perspective on the basic ideals of our spiritual lives. As Mary sings, “If you do this, it will change everything.” And, yes, indeed, it changed everything.
Michael Allen Harrison has worked as an actor and a composer on five shows (including Prometheus and Soul Harmony), but he is more widely known as a contemporary pianist. When asked about his new work, JC, Harrison responded:
“We’re so excited too. This is a really inspiring project and one of the least labor-intensive because it’s been flowing so nicely together. You know, with a first version, you always make a lot of changes. And, of course, we’re making quite a few of those. But this particular one, this is my fifth or sixth musical. It’s the first one where I haven’t needed to cut a song or rewrite a song. It just feels like everything fits in a, for lack of a better term, a divine way. Sometimes, invisible magic happens, and for some reason, it just works. It’s been so easy and joyful. I’ve had other projects where I’ve labored over a song for six months before I was ready to say, ‘Yeah, this works.’ But on this project, I haven’t had that experience.”
Donnie Horn is a Pacific Northwest legend as an author, producer, director, and the founder of Triangle Productions, currently celebrating their 35th season.
On their collaboration, Harrison said, “Donnie and I have done some things together over the years. We’ve known each other for a long time. We’ve both been part of this community for many years. We’ve talked about this project for about 20 years, but we finally looked at each other and said, ‘OK, we’re doing it this year.’ And here we are.”
Horn added, “But what I want to tell you is that this is the first time we’ve ever worked together as a collaborative team, just the two of us.”
If you’re expecting a Jesus Christ Superstar or Godspell-type show, this won’t be it. They promise this show will be more thought-provoking. Horn explained:
“Well, Michael actually handed me a book in 2008 and said, ‘Could you adapt this?’ And I said, ‘OK, I’ll attempt it.’ I had gone to Bible college. I was a Jesus person, you know, handing out tracts on the sidewalk and all that. So, I’ve been around the block with Jesus a couple of times. I was really surprised that Michael would bring this to me. I don’t even know why you brought it to me, Michael. Is there a reason why you didn’t?”
Harrison answered, “I don’t remember. I might have just read it freshly. This book is interesting—it was written by an Aramaic scholar. The language of Jesus was Aramaic, and this book talks about the history of the times and provides direct translations of the Lord’s Prayer (the Our Father) and the Beatitudes. After reading it, I can send you a copy of both of those translations. You’ll see where the King James Version doesn’t necessarily get it wrong, but it’s translated a little differently, and it’s edited and shorter. The direct translations from Aramaic are deeper and more poetic—it’s beautiful poetry and insight for humanity.”
Horn added, “Well, I want to say something. I adapted and wrote it. Michael and I met in 2009 and started working on it that year. So from 2009 to 2025, it’s been quite a journey. But I was also scared to present it, because some things in the script conflict with a lot of people’s beliefs. But I believe this is the time to do it. Michael, it’s up to you now.”
Harrison said, “I understand where Donnie was coming from with his fears. But the end result is that this story we’re telling isn’t a challenge to faith or fact. It’s a dialogue about historical facts and about how deeply people feel about Christ through faith. The show isn’t telling anyone how to feel or think; it’s a conversation about what’s happening with human beings around this subject. By the end of the show, we’re not saying, ‘This is the way it is.’ It’s just a dialogue that leaves you with something to think about. It’s an important subject, and a magical experience for people to have. I think the greatest gift is that we don’t know. If we knew the answer, how could we have hope or faith? How could we imagine or create? The unknown is what gives us that space.”
Horn said, “I’m very spiritual in many respects. I really feel like his hand is on the show. The reason I loved writing it is because I have some questions, and I put those in the script—like, we don’t talk about the dinosaurs, but they were a huge part of our world. We wouldn’t have oil or many other things without dinosaurs. Why is that never discussed? Also, how is it that Adam and Eve had a son who killed another son, but we still have a huge population? Things like that, which are never explained. I feel like it’s OK not to have explanations, but we need to bring up these questions.”
When I asked Horn what makes this show different, he responded, “It’s about a man dying and looking back at his life. We’re all going to be there, and it’s an honest approach to a question we all will face. Some of us will be scared, others won’t. Some will be ready to let go. I tried to approach it as if I were in that situation, doing a lot of research. I’ve read probably 100 books, and I’ve used five different Bibles in my research. I wanted to expand beyond just the Bible, to understand what else might make people want to see a show like this. One thing I keep hearing is, ‘Is this Jesus Christ Superstar?’ No, it’s not. I think it has to be an honest approach to life.”
Harrison said, “Yes, this is a lovely cast. You can feel the connection. Everyone has a kindred spirit about the project. I can’t wait for rehearsals. We’ve gone through the entire show, and I’m really seeing how it all flows. There wasn’t anything that made me ‘wince.’ There are a few things we need to tighten up, but the story and the music are coming together beautifully.”
I reminded Horn and Harrison of the backlash when Corpus Christi opened 25 years ago and asked how the current climate might react to this production’s subject matter. Horn responded, “This isn’t attacking anyone. It’s a loving look at someone’s life journey. I think that’s what’s different today—so much of what’s happening right now just makes me shake my head. If we could just love each other, that’s the message I want to convey.”
Harrison added, “I think the message is sincere—it’s about unity, not professing unity and then acting the opposite. This story is about unconditional love and radical acceptance, which is the thread that runs through it. We want to create a space where people can accept each other’s faith or lack thereof. It’s a universal story that asks us to keep an open mind and embrace each other’s personal truths.”
Horn and Harrison’s JC: Gospel According to an Angel opens and runs through February 7th to 22nd at Triangle Productions in Portland. Visit TrianglePro.org for tickets and information.
