Just in time for the Year of Saint Paul comes "Paul The Musical."

Written by Divine Word Father Michael Manning and produced by his San Bernardino-based media ministry Wordnet Productions, the musical about the sometimes misunderstood "Apostle to the Gentiles" debuts Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Church in Hollywood.

The original musical, with lyrics by Alicia "Lee" Rowe and music by composer Sally Wolf, was written, according to Father Manning, as a way to humanize Paul and make him "not so frightening," especially to those put off by allegations that the saint comes off as chauvinistic in some of his New Testament writings.

"Paul doesn't touch us as he should," said Father Manning, who holds a graduate degree in playwrighting from Catholic University of America. He hopes audiences viewing the musical will come to know the real-life Paul, a Jewish Roman citizen who endured plenty of dangerous encounters and theological complications after his dramatic conversion on the road to Damascus and subsequent ministry to spread Christ's message of love and salvation.

As a fictionally enhanced biography, the musical has a large cast of characters which includes "Leah," a woman in love with Paul who tries to dissuade him from joining the mob stoning Stephen, the first Christian martyr. "I created a woman who loves him very much," said Father Manning, who notes that Paul's first European convert was Lydia, the purple seller.

"I hope people will become open to Paul," said the priest, who spent six months writing the script back in 1996. Though people expressed interest in producing the musical through the years, the timing, talent and finances never came together. Father Manning, busy with his other media projects, including producing and appearing in a weekly half-hour Wednesday morning show, "The Word in the World" aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, shelved the script indefinitely.

After hearing two exceptional singers perform last fall at a funeral service, however, he approached them about taking a look at the musical's score. Acclaimed American tenor Gabriel Silva and Christian recording artist and composer Sue Ann Pinner, a former music and liturgical director for the Santa Barbara Region, were both intrigued with the idea of launching an original musical about Paul, especially during the Saint's Jubilee Year marking the 2000th anniversary of his birth.

Pinner, who directs the musical and also plays the part of "Leah" to Silva's "Paul," says the musical stylings represented in the 20 songs remind her of the music of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, the composer of "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "The Phantom of the Opera."

"It's an interesting mix of music genres, including classical, semi-classical, musical theater and rock and roll. Paul even has a country song that he sings in the desert scene," said Pinner.

Since the musical will have premier performances at four different Catholic parishes this spring in honor of the four decades of Father Manning's priesthood, Pinner held open auditions at each of the host venues.

Parishioners from all four parishes are represented in the 10 principal solo parts, and each parish's music director will play the part of Gamaliel, Paul's first Jewish teacher, at their parish venue. Choir members from each parish will also participate, bringing the total number of premier production participants to 160.

Besides being an inter-parish collaboration, the musical is also ecumenical since some of the singers are members of non-Catholic Christian churches. "This musical belongs to all Christians," said Pinner.

Cast member Tim Judy, who plays Paul's friend Barnabas, says the musical has made him more aware of the Saint's humanness. "He obviously had faults, but his impact to this day on western society and on the world is pretty incredible," said Judy.

After rehearsing the part of Paul these past several months, Silva has come to appreciate the saint's faith, courage and drive. "I believe that, like Paul, all Christians have the opportunity to reach deep into their beliefs through constant rediscovery of God's message of faith and love," said Silva. "We all have the potential for spiritual transformation like Paul."

Joe Manahan, who plays the judge who condemns Paul to his death, says the musical about the life of the author of 13 New Testament epistles is very illuminating. "I think people will have a clear understanding of the life of St. Paul," said Manahan. "Seeing it live on stage, I think audiences will realize the faith he had from his conversion and [how] he carries that on and [how] that conversion still lives on in us."

"Paul The Musical" will be performed Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. at Christ the King Church, Hollywood; Mar. 15, 2:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, Santa Barbara; Apr. 26, 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church, Chino Hills; and May 17, 7:30 p.m. at St. Bonaventure Church, Huntington Beach. Suggested freewill offering is $15. For more information, call (909) 383-4333.