David Rambo's God's Man in Texas finds itself in Texas, making its southwestern premiere at Houston's Stages Repertory Theatre June 9-July 2. Stages Repertory artistic director Rob Bundy directs.

In God's Man in Texas, young preacher Jerry comes up against the veteran man of God, Dr. Gottschall, who is unwilling to give up his mega church and coveted Sunday morning TV broadcast to the upstart.

The play was a standout in the 1999 Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, KY. It is inspired by the true story of a preacher who ascended to the pulpit of the First Baptist Church of Dallas and then quit 22 months later.

James Huston and Paul Menzel star as Dr. Jeremiah (Jerry) Mears and Dr. Philip Gottschall, respectively. Rick Burford is featured in God's Man in Texas as Hugh Taney, a reformed drug abuser who runs interference between the two preachers. Rambo has likened the three characters to the Christian concept of the Trinity.

The design team for God's Man includes Jerry Hooker (sets), Kirk Markley (lighting), Brooks Ashley (costumes), Stefan Stout (sound) and Jodi Bobrovsky (props). Debs Ramser is the stage manager. Single tickets are $42-$19. Stages Repertory Theatre is located at 3201 Allen Parkway at Waugh. For reservations, call (713) 52-STAGES.

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God's Man in Texas is proving popular fare across the country. Following post-Humana productions at Florida Stage and Chicago's Northlight Theatre, the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego will stage the play in the late summer, with a New York City production expected in the fall.

-- By Christine Ehren
and Kenneth Jones