BeBe Winans talks up world premiere musical

When "Born for This: The BeBe Winans Story" receives its world premiere at the Alliance Theatre next January, it will have been in the works for nearly a decade. But the gospel star, whose rise to fame with sister CeCe Winans from his late teens through late 20s is captured in the musical that features mainly new songs by him, said delayed gratification is sweet.

“Especially when you’re younger, you feel it has to be now and this can’t wait,” Winans told the AJC. “But you learn with time and patience that there’s a season for everything. So I’m so glad that it’s happening now, at the Alliance and Arena Stage and those that will follow.”

Announced last week as part of the Alliance’s 2015-16 season, “Born for This,” a coproduction with Washington’s Arena Stage, will star siblings Deborah Joy Winans and Juan Winans as their famous uncle and aunt. BeBe discussed the show, which includes roles for Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, on whose “The PTL Club” they became stars …

On sharing his memories: "So much of it is a coming-of-age story, where we left home (in Detroit) and all the things we knew, which was pretty much a black-oriented education and church. And we were thrust into the South, where there were 4,000 (PTL Ministry) employees and four of them were African-American.

“It was a life-changing experience. We dealt with being away from home, we dealt with racism, we dealt with little things that were so different. Sports to me was basketball. And I found myself rock-climbing. I didn’t know that was a sport.”

On collaborating with "Motown the Musical" director Charles Randolph-Wright: "He's very very talented, and he knows my story, so it was easy to trust him. I never will forget, he brought (a scene) to me, and it talked about threats on me and my sister. And I said, 'I don't remember no threats, Charles.'

"Then I was having dinner with Jim Bakker, who is still an incredible friend and father figure to me, love him with all my heart. And I gave him some of the script and told him that I had allowed Charles to take some leeway and that he had put in that we had had some threats. And Jim looked at me said, 'Oh, there were a lot of threats.'

“He had protected us from them.”

On his Broadway hopes for the musical: "That's the Alliance's goal, that's our goal, that's the Arena Stage's goal. Oh yes, it is Broadway bound!"

More with Winans, Alliance season details: artsculture.blog.ajc.com.

VISUAL ART

Marietta’s arts stroll returns

Spring's arrival ushers in the return of the Marietta Square Art Walk, held the first Friday of every month from April to November.

In addition to exhibits inside many of the historic square’s galleries, museums, restaurants and other businesses, visitors will find artists exhibiting or performing outside the entrances of a number of participating venues from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday.

DK Gallery will use the occasion to open the abstract art exhibit "Breaking the Rules." 25 W. Park Square. 770-427-5377, www.dkgallery.us.

More on the art walk: www.artwalkmarietta.com.

THEATER

Onstage and behind the scenes at Actor’s Express

Actor's Express opens Tarell Alvin McCraney's "Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet," a coming-of-age tale of a young African-American man discovering his sexual identity in the Louisiana bayou, March 28. And there's more going on with the Westside troupe:

  • It will present three free play readings by local writers as part of its spring "In the Works" series. Plays include "The Stroke" by Edith Freni (7 p.m. March 30); "Coyote Hour" by Margaret Baldwin (3 p.m. April 25); and "In Remembrance of the Legendary Ta-Quilla Mockingbird" by Michael Winn (7 p.m. May 18). Advance reservation suggested.
  • Actor's Express also has announced that it will present the rock musical "Rent," from July 10 to Aug. 9.

“Rent was the soundtrack to my 20s,” said artistic director Freddie Ashley, who will direct. “It is nearing 20 years old, and, even though it was written about a very specific time in history, it has never lost its relevance or edge. … I’m excited to re-explore.”

  • The troupe also has been selected as one of 38 nonprofits to participate in Westside Momentum, a three-year initiative of the Westside Neighborhood Prosperity Fund of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation.

Launched this year by the Blank Foundation in partnership with the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, Westside Momentum is designed to increase the impact and sustainability of organizations based in Atlanta’s historic Castleberry Hill, English Avenue and Vine City neighborhoods. The 39 groups will have access to hands-on training, networking and year-long programs focused on nonprofit management, leadership and governance training.

“Participating in this initiative will give us access to an even wider group of community members to engage with and may even present opportunities for us to take our artists or interns out of the theater and present work in unique and interesting places,” Express managing director Alexander Scollon said. “We are very excited to uncover everything this partnership will lead to.”

Tickets for "Marcus" (through April 26) and "Rent": $26-$45. 887 W. Marietta St., Suite J-107, Atlanta. 404-607-7469, actors-express.com.