While the conflict of science vs. religion is as old as the concepts themselves, it isn't often such a discord is put to music, set in a Catholic boarding school and brought to the surface through physics.

That is unless it is an original musical written by popular local singer-songwriter and mechanical engineer Christine McKinley. Known simply as McKinley to Portland music lovers, the solo artist and member of the local band Dirty Martini will see her first musical, Gracie and the Atom, brought to life on Artists Rep's Alder Stage.

When did you write Gracie?
I've been writing the songs and the story for 3 ½ years now. I'm still making changes, as the cast rehearses...I originally envisioned it as a concept album, or perhaps a one-person show. After I had several friends say to me 'what you're actually writing is a musical', and then coming to the conclusion that there are people who do this for a living – act and sing that is – I went for it.

Did you approach it differently than you would your usual song writing?
Definitely. I was writing songs from the perspectives of seven different characters. It was fun to get into a character's head and out of my own. Also, I could write for voices that are stronger and have greater range than my own. I consciously decided not to be limited by my own voice.

Is the music different than music for Dirty Martini or your own solo endeavors?
I suppose it's a little more energetic than the music I usually write. Five of the characters are high school sophomores and it was important to unleash that adolescent energy at various points in the story.

What is unique about the music for Gracie vs. other musicals?
I tried really hard to make each song its own lovable pop music moment rather than the kind of music that can only be understood within the show. I wanted it to feel like a soundtrack to a movie.

What do you envision for the future of Gracie?
Ideally, after this great start at Artist Rep, Gracie and the Atom will be produced in more theaters. I want every 15-year-old girl in America to see it. Despite what we see on TV and in the movies, teenage girls are deep. They are figuring out who they can trust, what they believe and how to survive.

McKinley is a writer, musician and mechanical engineer.  She is a member of the local band, Dirty Martini and is the host of the Discovery Channel show, "Under New York".  Gracie and the Atom is her first musical.

Read The Oregonian's article about "Under New York."