Stage Profile: Solo act collage a story of Paul
Multimedia presentation is blend of family skills
Jonathon Roberts, 28, doesn't think of himself as an evangelist. He just wanted to share his love of the Bible in a way that was both meaningful and entertaining.
Jonathon Roberts performs in "Project Paul" at Playhouse on the Square.
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His one-man performance piece, "Project Paul," running this weekend as the final installment of Playhouse on the Square's Solo Works series, is a multimedia "collage" about the life of the Apostle Paul, who once persecuted Christians before his famous conversion on the road to Damascus.
Roberts, a native of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., toured "Project Paul" across the country for nearly two years after writing the show in 2005. He now lives in Brooklyn and has a rather unusual job as a composer.
Q: Of all the Biblical characters, why Paul?
A: I grew up a Lutheran, and was always drawn to Paul's writings. He was the worst of the worst, killing people for what he believed was right. Christ appeared to him and he changed. He spent the rest of his life trying to communicate his message. I felt like he was someone people could relate to. He represents things that we regret, things we don't want to admit.
Q: You don't tell his story in a traditional way.
A: I have a brother who does video art and a sister who writes poetry. I had all of these Biblical texts set to music, so I wanted to blend our skills. I think of the show as a "collage." There's a through-line that follows Paul's life, but you're getting a sense of his mission that you can't get from just reading it. It's more expressionistic.
Q: You have bachelor's degrees in music composition and theater. Which had more influence in "Project Paul"?
A: I created the whole show in audio form first. There was a soundtrack before there was a staging.
Q: How does your faith play into your art?
A: Reading the Bible has always given me constant support. I like the idea of using the words of the Bible to change hearts and improve communities. But I'm not an abrasive evangelical-type person. It's just something I love. I write a lot of songs and vocal pieces with Biblical text.
Q: How does that pan out in New York City?
A: (Laughs.) Actually, I kind of enjoy being a kind of "outsider Christian" in New York, singing art songs with Biblical texts in bars. It makes me much more of a weird artist type than if I were, say, in the Midwest where more people go to church.
Q: How do you pay the rent?
A: I write music for slot machines. Yes, it's weird. I'm in a theater company that does experimental music. The bandleader works for a slot machine company. We write the background music; a Caribbean-themed machine will have calypso music, and so forth. Surprisingly, it's a very stable job.
Jonathon Roberts in "Project Paul"
8 tonight and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at TheatreWorks, 2085 Monroe. Tickets are $20. Call 726-4656.
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