On her official website, Gifford says that the musical, which features music by David Pomeranz and additional music by Gifford and David Friedman, will play 10 performances at the White Plains theatre beginning Oct. 14. "This will be the culmination of a 30-year fascination with Aimee Semple McPherson and 6 years of struggling to write and rewrite her story," writes Gifford. "We have an absolutely brilliant cast — all Broadway veterans — and we’re all eager to get Aimee up before an audience." Hurricane Aimee concerns the colorful life of twentieth-century evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. A reading in May 2004, directed by Eric Schaeffer, featured Carolee Carmello as McPherson, who was internationally famous for her sermons and healings in the early twentieth century.

The piece has been developing quietly in private readings for a few years (Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole was involved in 2003). McPherson (1890-1944) famously disappeared for a time, claiming she was kidnapped. The musical uses her trial (on charges of corruption of morals, conspiracy to manufacture evidence and obstruction of justice) as a frame to tell her life story, from child bride to superstar religious figure.

The White Plains Performing Arts Center is located at 11 City Place in White Plains, NY. Visit www.wppac.com for more information.