Robert Townsend, the actor/director/producer known for films such as “Hollywood Shuffle” and “The Five Heartbeats,” recently created a set of mini-plays in Atlanta based on particular gospel songs called “Musical Theater of Hope” which you can see at 8 p.m. Sunday on the Gospel Music Channel.
“I grew up in theater as a kid,” he said in an interview last week while at Gospel Music Channel headquarters near Hartsfield airport. “I love gospel music. When I listen to it, I see pictures and imagery. When I did a sketch show called ‘Townsend Television,’ even though it was variety, I threw in a few dramatic sketches.”
He has written close to 30 vignettes based on songs. In the episode airing Sunday, one sketch involves a man who announces he’s going to soon die of cancer but is ready to go. Another is forgiveness among sisters who were estranged until their mom’s death. And a third focuses on a woman who is about to be sentenced for killing a man molesting her daughter.
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Article courtesy of: Access Atlanta
