Experience the soul-stirring A Great Gospel Musical by Joel P.E. King, live at The Grandel Theatre on September 27.
For over two decades, Joel P.E. King has been a driving force in American theater, blending art, music, and storytelling with a spiritual foundation rooted in his East St. Louis upbringing. An actor, writer, playwright specialist, director, musician, entrepreneur, and performer, King has dedicated his career to creating works that not only entertain but uplift, heal, and inspire. This September, he returns to St. Louis with one of his most powerful productions yet—A Great Gospel Musical.
From East St. Louis to the National Stage
Born and raised in East St. Louis, King grew up in a household where faith, discipline, and artistry flourished. His parents raised him and his siblings in the church, instilling values that continue to shape his work. “My family created that type of artistic vibration outside of East St. Louis,” King reflects. “Having the opportunity to see art unfold in front of me—especially with that spiritual index behind it—helped propel me to how I see music and art. It goes beyond just saying words. It must come with a feeling.”
After attending Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), where he studied Art & Design as well as Theatre & Music, King crossed the river to St. Louis and began building his artistic career. Today, he resides in Atlanta, where he founded Newworks Theatre, a sister company to his JPEK CreativeWorks company. Both companies reflect his mission to fuse creativity with community.
A Gospel Experience Like No Other
On Saturday, September 27th at 3:00 p.m., A Great Gospel Musical will take the stage at The Grandel Theatre in St. Louis for an exclusive, one-time encore performance presented by JPEK CreativeWorks Theatre in collaboration with DPS Promotions.
Written and arranged by King, the production promises to be an unforgettable afternoon of spirit, storytelling, and song. The show is musically directed by Keith Fowler, Jr. and conducted by Amos Isaac of These Are They, ensuring a soundscape that masterfully blends gospel traditions with theatrical excellence.
The cast features some of St. Louis’s most dynamic performers, including gospel-jazz sensation Olivia Neal, powerhouse vocalist Tish Period, rising star Dabriel Moore, and the electrifying Afriky Lolo West African Dance Troupe. Together, they deliver a soul-stirring journey that celebrates gospel’s sacred roots while highlighting its cultural vibrancy through movement, song, and story.
“This encore is more than a performance—it’s a celebration of gospel, theatre, and community,” says King. “It’s a hallelujah good time, and we can’t wait to share it before the show moves on to its next city.”
The Journey and the Growth
For King, the road to this moment has been filled with challenges, lessons, and faith. When asked about his greatest obstacle, he candidly admits it was learning to live outside of his own expectations.
“In my head, by the age of 25 I was supposed to be a superstar across the world,” he explains. “But God had a slow push with me. There were necessary nuggets I needed to receive. I had to learn to live in total surrender—even the things I saw as adversaries. God had to create awareness in me. I can honestly say I’m not the actor, writer, or director I was 20 years ago.”
Yet with challenge came clarity. King says his greatest accomplishment is realizing that he has, in fact, already arrived. “Although there are a lot of things I’m proud of, my greatest accomplishment is realizing I made it—even outside of the reality I thought I was living.”
A Legacy Built in Community
For King, legacy is not measured by awards or accolades, but by impact. “Legacy is in community,” he says. “If I don’t have community buying into the product, buying into the purpose, then what are we doing? I had community help to build my legacy.”
With A Great Gospel Musical, Joel P.E. King brings that legacy full circle, returning to his roots while presenting a show that embodies his vision of art as a vehicle for faith, joy, and cultural connection.
📅 Event Details
What: A Great Gospel Musical
When: Saturday, September 27th at 3:00 p.m.
Where: The Grandel Theatre, St. Louis, MO
Tickets: Available now at jpek.org
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