Everyone has a story to tell.

In the inspirational musical stage play “Lord Why Can’t I Do Right,” writer and producer Richard Torrence pens a story about faith, family, love, and sacrifice. Torrence’s debut follows two brothers – Kenny and DeAundre – who partner together to start a church, but both have their own agenda.

Drawn to women, money, and drugs, Kenny turns his life around after a near death experience. He discovers his true purpose and is led to preach the gospel, and share his testimony with others.

DeAundre, however, is a hustler who will manipulate any situation for his own selfish gain. Building a church with his brother is no different. He sees the church as a vehicle to expand his phony empire, preying on Kenny’s gift in the ministry.

The story that ensues may have you on the edge of your seat.

Richard Torrence, writer and producer of “Lord Why Can’t I Do Right”.

With original music and a talented cast of singers and actors, the play is what Torrence calls a “new generation Cain and Abel story.”

The 12 characters in the play “all have their own story but they all revolve around each other,” he said. “You see a change in each character, they grow in maturity, in their belief in God, in how we need one another to be successful.”

“It’s a very strong message that we need to share, because we can’t do it by ourselves,” said Torrence, who has a background in the entertainment business.

Having grown up in Little Rock, Arkansas and in the church, the writer/producer said he always knew he wanted to write a stage play.

“Lord Why Can’t I Do Right” is not just another church story, but has a message about redemption and “real issues that we deal with on a daily basis, and they need to be resolved,” said Torrence.

Directed by Michael Lange, the play opened in San Francisco at the Brava Theatre and will show in Las Vegas before coming to Oakland’s Kaiser Lakeside Theatre Jan. 30 and 31. Lange and Torrence connected through one of the writer’s friends from his hometown of Arkansas, Arif Khatib.

“I have a testimony, everybody has a testimony,” said Torrence.

The play will be showing Jan. 30 at 7 p.m., and Jan. 31, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., at the Kaiser Lakeside Theatre, 300 Lakeside Drive in Oakland. For tickets and more information, visit www.makeyoufamousentertainment.com.

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