Robert Townsend, the actor/director/producer known for films such as “Hollywood Shuffle” and “The Five Heartbeats,” recently created a set of mini-plays in Atlanta based on particular gospel songs called “Musical Theater of Hope,” which you can see at 8 p.m. Sunday on the Gospel Music Channel.
“I grew up in theater as a kid,” he said in an interview last week while at Gospel Music Channel headquarters near Hartsfield airport. “I love gospel music. When I listen to it, I see pictures and imagery. When I did a sketch show called ‘Townsend Television,’ even though it was variety, I threw in a few dramatic sketches.”
