"Cotton

Patch Gospel" was first produced in Atlanta in 1982 at the Alliance

Theater Company. It was last produced by Theatrical Outfit in its inaugural

season downtown, where it set all-time revenue and attendance records

for the company, extending its initial four-week run to a total of seven

weeks. This year's production of "Gospel" previews Tuesday,

July 16, with opening night Wednesday, July 17, and running through Sunday,

Aug. 4. Key will be joined on stage by Bernardine Mitchell and Eric Moore

singing the gospel numbers and a four-person band.

Key first began

performing the work as a one-man show in 1980. Over time, he wanted to

do something more with the script, so he enlisted Russell Treyz, as director

and co-author. They in turn, attracted the attention of producer Philip

Getter, who decided to stage the show in New York. Getter invited Harry

Chapin to see the show and the songwriter was inspired to write music

for it.

The new musical

opened in Boston before going