Allentown, Pa. (Oct. 13, 2023) — “The world is a quilt and each story a thread,” writes playwright Marcus Gardley in the introduction to his play “…And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi.” “Sometimes the threads overlap.”

This image resonated with Christopher Burris, who’s directing Gardley’s play this semester for Muhlenberg’s Theatre & Dance Department. It struck him as an apt metaphor for the play — but also evoked a beloved chapter in his own story. The show runs Oct. 26-29 in the college’s Studio Theatre.

“My great-grandmother was a quilter,” says Burris, a guest artist with the department. “I used to thread her needles. When my great-grandmother died, her quilts felt like pieces of her. The play is a way to give her a bit of applause through my work.”

That quilt motif drives the storytelling of the play — and also inspires design elements of the production, such as You-Shin Chen’s scenic design, with its patchwork aesthetic, and the music selected for the play by musical consultant Amanda Davis, a tapestry of Black spirituals, hymns and gospel songs.

“A quilt is something we make from the scraps,” Burris says. “I think that speaks to a lot of the things we’ve had to do to become our best selves culturally as Black Americans.”

“…And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi” is a poetic retelling of the myth of Demeter and Persephone set during the Civil War and narrated by the Mississippi River. After running away from a plantation, a father searching for his daughter is lynched and resurrected in the fertile, war-torn landscape of Louisiana. The lyrical play combines traditional storytelling and music with a wicked sense of humor to create a rich, imaginative world that allows trees to preach, rivers to waltz, and Jesus to moonwalk.

“My first impression of the play was ‘Wow!’” Burris says. “The beauty of the language and the strength of the visuals really excited me.”

The play was written in 2004 by Obie Award-winning playwright Marcus Gardley. Gardley is currently rising to prominence as the screenwriter for the forthcoming movie musical “The Color Purple,” produced by Oprah Winfrey. He calls “…And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi” his “signature play.”

“It is based upon a story my great-grandmother used to tell,” Gardley says, “about her father who fled the bonds of slavery and traveled the country in search of his family.”

Burris says the play stitches together a powerful story of spirituality and Blackness: “I think this is the right time for this story. It can spark so many conversations we are having right now — about who we want to be as a country.”

Assistant director Devyn Jarvis ’24 says that in rehearsal, these conversations have often focused on the ways that Blackness, gender and spirituality interact with one another.

“The play shows how intersectionality between gender, race and sex interact in a real way,” Jarvis says. “You can’t acknowledge one with acknowledging the other, or else you’re missing something. The play does a good job of capturing the totality of Blackness.”

In addition to the nine principal characters, an ensemble of Union and Confederate soldiers serves as a sort of Greek chorus. Music also plays a significant role in the play.

“There are times in the play where it feels like it’s the music holding and sustaining the stories we’re telling,” Burris says. “The music is important not only to the story, but also to the experience of Black America.” Artist and sound engineer Amanda Davis works as a musical consultant for the show, with Samuel Antonio Reyes serving as choreographer.

“My hope and desire is to create a piece that is meaningful, not just fun and entertaining,” Burris says. “We want to make an impact beyond the run of the show.”

Performances of “…And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi” are Oct. 26-29, 2023: Thursday and Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m & 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Performances are in the Studio Theatre, in the Trexler Pavilion for Theatre & Dance, Muhlenberg College. Public tickets are $15. Tickets for LVAIC students, faculty and staff are $8. Tickets and information are available at muhlenberg.edu/seeashow or 484-664-3333.

Content Advisory: “…And Jesus Moonwalks the Mississippi” is a thought-provoking theatrical production that explores themes of race, religion, and social justice through a blend of poetic language and vivid storytelling. The play addresses sensitive and mature subject matter that may not be suitable for all audiences. A complete content advisory is available on the website.