Take Lighthearted Look at Religion

The House of Blues has some gospel competition this Sunday. "Praise," billed as an "irreverently reverent gospel experience," will be presented at 2 p.m. at South Point.

The 90-minute musical is a "fun and lighthearted spin" on the world's major religions, according to Las Vegas resident Larry Hart, its writer, director and star.

"We're here to get our God on," Hart said.

No brunch will be served.

"Praise" also stars former Shirelles member Mary Williams; Hart's sister, Linda; and six female backup singers.

The music -- written by, you guessed it, Larry Hart -- includes a country number titled "Big Hair Gets You Closer to God," a Hindu dance number set to the tune of "Lady Marmalade" and a gospel number entitled "Gonna Stomp My Prada For Jesus."

"That one's kind of my homage to couture and fashion," Hart said. (He explains the tie-in: "God was the designer of the universe.")

Hart, a gospel singer who won a Grammy in 1979, is best known as the force behind "Sisterella," a "Cinderella" satire that debuted in 1996 at the Pasadena Playhouse in California before touring the world. He said he would like to see "Praise" run in Las Vegas on a regular basis.

"It's very glitzy and contemporary," Hart said.

Hart noted that the show's costumes -- a mix of vintage Prada, Chanel, Dior "and lots of Ross Dress For Less" -- inspired an observer of one of the rehearsals to remark, "It's like Pussycat Dolls for Jesus."

Hart grew up in Detroit in an interracial Southern Baptist church pastored by his parents.

"It was a very fundamentalist background," he said.

He conceived of "Praise" three years ago, after being introduced to the writings of Joseph Campbell, the American mythologist whose writings inspired "Star Wars."

"His discovery was that all major religions had strikingly similar stories to them," Hart said. "The village was in trouble, a savior was born, and there was death, resurrection and redemption."

And now, there's Prada.

Contact reporter Corey Levitan at clevitan@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0456.