A few years back I played keyboards on singer/songwriter McKinley’s CD “Gracie and the Atom.” These songs were from a musical she was writing. interesting stuff. Cue to present day, I’m glad to be the musical director/keyboardist for the initial run at Artists Rep. Theater here in Portland. The show is a nice blend of physics, faith and religion. Great band too. Should be fun. Come and check it out if you live in the Portland area. It runs through the end of May.

****** JUST THE FACTS – GRACIE AND THE ATOM
Gracie and the Atom by McKinley. Directed by Allen Nause.

Performance Dates: April 27 through May 30, Wednesday through Sunday at 7:30pm, Sunday at 2:00pm, plus one Tuesday Preview on April 27 at 7:30pm and one Wednesday matinee at 11:00am on May 19.

Location: Artists Repertory Theatre’s Alder Stage (1516 SW Alder St.)

Tickets: Advance tickets $25-$47; Students $20. Rush Tickets $20. 503-241-1278 or www.artistsrep.org

Description: Artists Rep presents the world premiere of a new musical by McKinley, the popular local singer-songwriter and member of Dirty Martini. When Gracie loses her father, she is sent off to an all-girls Catholic boarding school where Sister Lidwina preaches physics and Sister Francis dissects the Gospels. As she searches for the mother she never knew, her classmates help her with the details of purgatory, Ouija boards and superhero saints. But nothing in this new territory of protons and prayer can fully prepare Gracie for the new life ahead of her.