‘Paul: A Musical Journey’ quite a trip
for West Akron creator
By Kathleen Folkerth
DOWNTOWN AKRON — When Charles Myricks Jr. was a child, his brother was a big fan of “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
“I knew all the lyrics and music,” Myricks recalls.
Even then, it struck him that musical theater was a way to reach a new audience.
“What stood out to me was, what a cool way to communicate,” he said.
That idea has stuck with him through the years, culminating in the production of “Paul: A Musical Journey.” The performance recounts the life of the apostle Paul as told through a soundtrack that blends gospel, rhythm and blues and jazz.
The musical made its debut to rave reviews in January 2005 at Greystone Hall in Akron and has since played to audiences in Cleveland and Columbus.
In January, West Akron resident Myricks and cast traveled to New York for the national conference of the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, where staff from theaters around the country congregated to sample the variety of shows available for booking. The trip was a success, resulting in a schedule of shows that will take the production to Michigan, West Virginia and Florida into 2007. The showcase also caught the attention of Dan Dahl and Cynthia Hollis, of the Akron Civic Theatre.
“The folks in the room were mesmerized,” said Hollis, who is the managing director of E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, the Civic and Lock 3 Live!. “People were talking about it for the rest of the conference.”
The result was that “Paul” will be performed at the Civic Theatre April 14, Good Friday, at 8 p.m.
Myricks’ journey to create “Paul” has been a long one.
The Southeast Akron native has been a musician since high school, learning to play piano as a teen. He graduated from Garfield High School and headed to college at Anderson University in Indiana, where he majored in business management and marketing. He took a job with IBM upon graduation but satisfied his musical yearnings by forming Divine Hope, an Akron-based gospel group. The group achieved success when it won the 1992 National New Artist Search.
Getting involved in the gospel music business opened the doors for Myricks at Word Records in Nashville, where he accepted a job as vice president and general manager. “That was an opportunity to join together my love for music with my training and skill in business,” Myricks said. “I did that for five years, and then I felt a call for the ministry, so I came home and went to seminary school at Ashland University.”
Meanwhile, Divine Hope traveled the world performing, giving Myricks the chance to see how his music could open eyes. He recalls a mission trip to France.
“The Parisians just loved our music, but they had real reservations about going into churches,” he said. “They will come to music, but they won’t come to church. So that got me to thinking, why not take the Word and present it musically?”
The decision to focus on Paul came easily to Myricks.
“The apostle Paul has always
been one of my heroes, and he’s always been misunderstood,”
Myricks said. “Here is a man who has experienced
transformation, a guy who was 100 percent against Christianity
who was converted, but then he still had to be transformed.
He had to learn how to let love become the defining
feature of his character. It was in that process that
he could go from murderer to martyr. That’s what
I thought would fascinate people.
It’s an ‘everybody can win’ story.”
The piece came together slowly
while Myricks continued in his day job as minister of
finance and development at Arlington Church of God.
He and wife Sheri are the parents of Charles III, 5;
Kristen, 7; and Kathryn, 12.
“I read everything,”
he said. “When this came together, it was a good
five years of writing. There was considerable stewing.”
The cast is mostly local residents.
“We have some of the best
singers and musicians in Northeast Ohio,” Myricks
said. “People are amazed at the talent. They’re
people you walk by at Acme.”
Portraying Jesus is Dr. Akida
Green, an Akron physician. Paul is performed
by Erik Townsend, of Chicago.
Music is provided by an ensemble
of local musicians playing piano, drums, horn and bass
guitar. The show features 24 songs ranging from ballads
to pop tunes, all composed by Myricks.
The composer is no stranger to
Akron audiences. Myricks was instrumental in the creation
of the Gospel Meets Symphony concerts with the Akron
Symphony Orchestra, and in 2004 he collaborated with
the Ohio Ballet on “Transformation!”
The 46-year-old said he’s
been humbled by the response to the show.
“The impact has been extraordinary,”
he said. “A lady called from Pittsburgh who had
seen the show in Columbus.
As she was talking to me she just burst into tears.
It’s neat to see people thinking differently and
being moved at a deep level.”
He added the show has been appreciated
by diverse audiences.
“We’ve had people
from a variety of religious backgrounds come to the
show,” he said. “It’s a human story.”
Tickets for “Paul: A Musical
Journey” are $23.50 in advance or $25 the day
of the show. Tickets can be purchased at the Akron Civic
Theatre Box Office or by calling (330) 253-2488. Tickets
also are available at TicketMaster outlets, by calling
(330) 945-9400 or at www.ticketmaster.com.
Group rates are available by calling (330) 650-1340.
 
Charles Myricks Jr., of West Akron, runs through one of the songs from his musical “Paul: A Musical Journey” during a recent practice at Arlington Church of God.
Photo: Kathleen Folkerth
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