ANNA GIBSON | TEXAS SPUR The curtain is rising one last time on a role that has defined a man and a ministry. Glenn Polk has worn many hats over the years as performer, minister, director, builder, and, to many who know him best, a storyteller whose message has gone beyond the footlights of the Ragtown Gospel Theater.
But this summer, Polk takes his final bow in the Apostle Peter role, which has not only shaped audiences but transformed Polk himself. “It’s the most fulfilling role I’ve ever done in my life,” Polk said.
“I’ve been a performer since I was nine,” Polk said, crediting his fourthgrade teacher, Mary Rayfield, for lighting that first spark. “And that fire’s never gone out.”
Polk’s journey to Ragtown wasn’t a straight line. A self-described “troublemaker with straight A’s,” Polk left Post with more questions than direction. A calling that was placed on his heart at the age of 25 stayed with him.
That fire burned brighter when Polk saw Dean Jones perform “St. John in Exile,” a solo dramatization of Apostle John’s reflections. The experience struck him like a thunderclap. “Fifteen minutes in, I looked at my wife and said, ‘This is what I’m supposed to do.’” At age 50, he entered full-time ministry, along with his wife, Twila. They traveled to seven states and over 300 churches, performing one-man presentations rooted in scripture.
That calling brought him back to his roots with a creative partnership with his brother, Chip Polk, who writes powerful biblical dramas. One is “Peter the Rock,” a raw, vulnerable portrayal emphasizing the apostle’s humanity, doubt and ultimate redemption.
“When I first read the script for ‘Peter the Rock,’ I couldn’t finish it,” Polk said. “It just grabbed me by the heart. I told Chip, ‘If I can get half of what’s on the stage that you put on the page, it will be a success.’ And it was, because God blessed it.”
Ragtown Gospel Theater opened its doors in 2007 after years of prayer, building and more than a few financial miracles, and has since drawn audiences from across the region and as far away as Kansas.
Polk is quick to give credit where it’s due, to the volunteers who gave their time, to the cast members who returned season after season, and to Twila, assistant director, who has stood beside him every step of the way. “I’m the one on stage, but she’s the reason I’ve been able to stay there,” he said.
“We’ve been married for 58 years,” Twila told The Dispatch. “It’s been quite a ride, but it’s been a joy,” she said. “A joy to be in ministry, not just a production. Glenn is loyal, fun and entertaining. He’s a good man with a good heart, and I’m so thankful to have done this with him.”
For Polk, acting has never been about applause; it’s been about ministry. Polk turns 80 this year and will remain passionate about the work, but a motorcycle accident 50 years ago has now made performing physically difficult, so he says it’s time to step down. “I could keep reciting lines,” he said. “But when the audience stops hearing the message and starts worrying about the actor, it’s time.”
Still, Polk’s role at Ragtown isn’t over. He’ll continue to direct and mentor a new generation of performers. His advice? Take direction, embrace transformation, and understand the difference between reciting lines and telling the truth.
“Glenn Polk is an amazing actor, director, mentor and father figure,” said cast member Michael Gonzales. “I’m honored have shared the stage with him. I’m equally honored to call him my friend. I’m sad that his stage career is ending, but I’m so thankful I got to witness it firsthand for so many years. ‘Aww, there it is.’ I wish I could say more, but for that, I’d need a whole page.”
Bill Woodward, who joined the Ragtown family in “Saint John the Televangelist,” said Polk is the reason he’s never acted anywhere else since they opened. “We have an unmatched chemistry on the stage,” said Woodward. “We understand each other’s timing and temper, and we see eye-to-eye on a personal level. Glenn, Twila, and the whole Polk family are blessings in my life.”
“Biblical characters weren’t icons. They were real people. They doubted, failed, and had heartache. That’s what makes the message matter,” Polk said. “If I do it right, it changes me too. Not just the audience. Me.”
And that, perhaps more than anything, is Glenn Polk’s legacy: a life lived in service of a truth bigger than himself, and a stage that continues to echo with the gospel he so faithfully sought to share more than any line delivered or curtain call received. His greatest role is that of a man whose life has pointed others to something far beyond the stage.
To order tickets, visit ragtown.com.
