GREGORY PAXTON
MUSIC - BOOK - LYRICS
ABOUT THE MUSICAL
Mocked as “Round John Virgin” when he was younger, a now self-identified Jon Virgin steals a plastic baby from a local nativity scene. Attacked by varsity football players from a nearby Christian school, Jon's odyssey begins when the Angel Soji intervenes and takes Jon to another realm.
Created as an allegory for our time, the story of Jon's quest to reconcile a troubled past becomes intertwined with the fantastical retelling of the virgin birth. Just as Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar took on social issues of their day, Jon Virgin's spirited music and story - steeped in an ethos of magical realism - dares to reimagine the Advent narrative in the face of political and religious dogma.
Jon Virgin is a contemporary musical for anyone who believes that such stories belongs to everyone.
After six years of work, Jon Virgin is nearing completion!
A table read will be held in late August, in Berkeley, California. A developmental workshop is scheduled for December 7-12, in New York City.
GREGORY PAXTON
I began writing and directing original musicals while in high school. During the 1980s and 1990s, in my work for churches, I staged about a dozen musicals, as well as composed literally hundreds of pieces of music for worship services and concerts.
I would eventually leave that career to pursue a BA in Latin American Studies, and an MA in Sociology of Religion. In the late 1990s, I moved to California with my husband, Matthew. For nearly twenty years, I had the privilege of teaching middle school history and English.
Jon Virgin is a return to my first love of musical theatre. Collaborating with others on its development during the past two years has been an unexpected gift. As a legally blind composer and writer, bringing Jon Virgin to stage is both a challenge and thrill each day.
I can't wait to share this project with everyone. For more information about my work and life, be sure to visit gregpaxton.com
