VALDOSTA — The story of how playwright/composer Chris Smith created the musical “Amazing Grace” is almost as epic as the life of the man who composed the beloved hymn.

Almost.

The nationally touring production is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 30, to play Valdosta, as part of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts Presenter Series. The latest stop in the show’s odyssey of being the brainchild of a police officer to Broadway lights and now a national tour.

“Amazing Grace” is based on the real-life story of John Newton (1725-1807).

Newton was a bad man. A slave trader who was heir to one of the largest slave-trade companies in the world. Yet, his life would be changed. The slave trader became a slave when his crew left him with a slave dealer in Africa.

Newton’s father sent a sea captain to search for him. The captain rescued the younger Newton. On the trip back to England, the ship ran into a storm and began taking on water. Newton reportedly prayed for salvation. Prayer was a stranger to him. When the ship’s cargo shifted, the holes were plugged and the ship was saved.

Newton was slowly transformed as Saul to Paul. In his later years, the one-time slaver became an anti-slavery advocate, a whistleblower on the atrocities of the slave trade. He also penned the beloved hymn “Amazing Grace.”

Chris Smith was a full-time police officer when he first ran across the story of John Newton and “Amazing Grace.”

In a telephone interview this week, Smith said he loves epic musicals such as “Les Miserables.” He imagined a full Broadway musical of Newton’s life.

Smith entered an 18-year struggle to make his imagined musical a reality on Broadway and now a national tour.

Smith is the rare, possibly unique, combination of having written the text and lyrics and composed the music for a Broadway show.

“I didn’t know you weren’t supposed to do all of it by yourself,” Smith said. “I just made it up as I went along.”

He doesn’t read music. As a cop, he didn’t know anyone on Broadway. Other than some plays in high school, he had no theatre connections. His wife and three children believed in him as he supported them as a police officer creating a musical.

He said he felt Newton’s story was powerful. He created the show. As a youth minister, he tried out various songs and concepts on his congregation.

The full show was first performed at a Pennsylvania church.

Smith found investors who believed in his show. Nine years into the creative process, investors convinced Smith to quit his police job, saying the job put him at risk which in turn risked their investment.

The show went on a national tour. Several dates would be scheduled for a major city with the hope of attracting interest in Broadway. With no word from Broadway producers, another city would be scheduled until Broadway called.

While Smith is now seeing the show travel nationwide, and he often visits performances such as the one in Muncie, Ind., at the time of this interview, he said he remains committed to theatre, youths and his faith through the Lights on Broadway ministry.

Smith said the show is about the power of redemption, the power of forgiveness.

At the end of each performance, the cast sings “Amazing Grace.” Without prompting from the first show at the Pennsylvania church to Broadway and now on the road, audiences sing along.

“At the end of the show when the lights come up, people in the audience are hugging and crying,” Smith said. “There’s always some older men who you know have been dragged to the show by their wives and they’re crying at the end of the show.

“It’s a story of forgiveness. If this man who was a slave trader, who did all of these horrible things can find forgiveness, then we can, too. That’s a powerful message.”

 

SHOWTIME

Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts Presenter Series presents the nationally touring musical “Amazing Grace.”

When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Where: Mathis City Auditorium, 2300 N. Ashley St.

An optional pre-show dinner is available in the multi-purpose room at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Tickets, more information: Call the arts center, (229) 247-2787; or visit www.turnercenter.org, or 527 N. Patterson St.