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BY MELISSA LAUBER
UMCONNECTION STAFF

Michael McCorkle never expected an outspoken, elderly African-American widow to take up residence in his mind. But he wasn?t that surprised either.

As a playwright, McCorkle has grown familiar with characters inhabiting his thoughts. This most recent lead player, Mother Pearl, is the star of 'A Change is Coming,' an original production debuting at the Atlas Theatre March 30 and 31.

The play was commissioned by McKendree-Simms-Brookland UMC in Washington, D.C., where McCorkle is a member.

The play, he said, tells the story of a family. It mirrors many lives today. The mother is focused on her important responsibilities as a hospital administrator. The father works as an accountant and wants some of the finer things in life for his family. The daughter is dating a man 16 years her senior, and the son has found the acceptance he longs for in 'The Mission Boys,' a neighborhood gang.

This family is disconnected, but they don?t realize it, McCorkle said. 'Enter Mother Pearl.' She was recently widowed, and during a visit to her daughter realizes the threat the family is facing.

A woman of faith, Pearl looks to the church as the answer to bringing the family back together.

'It used to be that church was the one thing families always did together. Once a week they would all go to church,' McCorkle said. But today, television evangelists, hobbies, work, just feeling the need to relax and a hundred other things have robbed families of this special time. 'It?s not a ritual anymore and that loss of ritual, of gathering together, has led to feelings of being disconnected.'

McCorkle knows about this family churchgoing ritual firsthand. Though he is 36, many of McKendree?s members still know him as 'Little Michael,' or 'Lucy and Abner?s son.' That?s something he cherishes. Church, for him, is a place of belonging.

While the idea that McCorkle could write a play to benefit the church was the brainchild of the Rev. Michael Armstrong, the reality of families unraveling is one close to McCorkle?s heart.

A former teacher in the Prince George?s County school system, McCorkle sometimes knew more about the lives of his students than their own parents did. It saddened him, he said, to watch people lose their way, not knowing that the church held answers.

He worked on the two-act play throughout the night for two weeks. Working alone, as the night settled around him, McCorkle created back stories, fleshing out the lives of each of his characters.

The plot soon began to fall into place. 'For the first few scenes, I was creating the voices of my characters,' he said. 'By the four or sixth scene the dialogue was writing itself. I could hear them saying things.'

During the night, McCorkle also found himself becoming less inhibited. God felt especially close when he wrote lines for the Rev. Davis, one of the characters.

I was writing the words of the preacher, and they came to me naturally,' he said. 'It was like I felt the anointing myself.'

During this production, the Rev. Davis and several other characters sing original music, written for the play by composer Richard Flanagan. McCorkle?s longtime friend also worked in Prince George?s County schools.

It is not just a musical, McCorkle stresses. Rather, the music undergirds the message and moods of the play, with the characters revealing things about themselves in song.

'It was important that this be about real people. We wanted to do the story justice,' he said. 'We didn?t want it to sound fake, as some Gospel productions can. This is a true Christian production that represents real people.'

McCorkle and Flanagan are excited about using theater as a vehicle to tell the church?s story. McKendree-Simms-Brookland UMC is a church that cares deeply about the community. Theater draws in people that might not be drawn to conventional church programs or venues.

The Atlas Theatre, on H Street in Northeast D.C., is a community-based performing arts center that some people call 'the people?s Kennedy Center.'

McCorkle has staged plays there before. While putting on a production in a church hall is not bad, there is something about a professional sound system, lighting and stage set that adds to a production, he said. 'It?s what this show deserves.'

However, those churches that don?t have access to professional settings, directors or performers should still consider theater as a vital way of spreading the Gospel message,' McCorkle said.

'People receive information differently,' he said. We all learn differently. 'When I was teaching, I changed my game up. The church is the same way. A fire and brimstone sermon may work for one audience, but another might respond to a dramatic scene that tells a story.'

For those interested in developing a drama ministry, McCorkle recommends starting small and then building. 'Don?t be discouraged,' he said. 'And focus on being real. Start small and create a scene that captures the essence of what it means to be a human being. You can build on that.'

SIDEBAR:

'A Change is Coming'
An original two-act play produced by McKendree-Simms-Brookland UMC
March 30, 8 p.m.
March 31, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
The Atlas Theater
1333 H Street, NE
Washington, D.C.
Tickets are $15, call (202) 399-7993
www.myspace.com/achangeiscomingstageplay