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• I believe that theater, for a community, whether large or small, can lead, can set trends, and can influence great artistic achievement.
• I believe that our Creator wants to release extraordinary creativity and innovation, at levels never seen before, into those people He has placed in the arts.
• I believe that the art of theater can and should be a joyful and life enriching experience for those that produce it, the artists that make it, and all that see it. I believe God is saying “come up higher.”
• I believe that theatre artists of faith want to be a part of redemptive stories, and stories with spiritual dimension, done with such excellence and vibrance, that even the current mainstream model of professional theatre is “wowed”.
• I believe there is still room to do plays new and old, ones we have seen over and over, and ones we have yet to discover, with more excellence and depth than they have ever been done before.
• I want to be a part of what God is doing in the earth in this amazing hour of history.
• I want to innovate and create excellent and divinely inspired theater.
• I want to “go up higher”.
• I want to love theatre artists and theatre producers, owners and directors because God loves them and they are His people. They are also my people. My Assignment.
• I want to have ears that “hear” God’s voice, walk in His wisdom and speak His words.

I got a wonderful book from a dear friend for my birthday last week and I want to quote the author, Cindy Trimm, in the first chapter of her book Commanding Your Morning: Unleash the Power of God in Your Life.

     “One of the fastest-growing art forms today is called the “spoken word”. Throngs of people gather in clubs, schools, cafes, church auditoriums, stadiums, and theaters just to hear the poetic, pulsating rhyme spoken by artists who by virtue of their creativity and talent move their audiences to emotional highs and lows merely by what comes out of their mouths. Like painters creating moving masterpieces in vibrant colors, these artists “paint” on the canvas of the human soul”.

I consider that a great and glorious responsibility. We can impact our art form and we must because our art form has great capacity to impact our world.

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During final rehearsals for “A Christmas Carol” (based on the novella by Charles Dickens), a speech of Jacob Marley’s was highlighted to me. In case you have not seen the show or need a refresher, Jacob Marley was Ebenezer Scrooge’s former partner and died seven years ago on Christmas Eve. He comes (as a ghost) to visit Ebenezer in the night on this particular Christmas Eve as the story unfolds.

Marley is speaking of his regrets in life in the hope of convincing Scrooge to look again at his chosen path. Scrooge remarks to Marley, “But you were always a good man of business, Jacob,” to which Marley responds:

“Business! Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were all my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!”

Marley, now aware of the true purpose of his life, had discovered that his true and authentic self was more than the one his life displayed. He had realized that he was created to be charitable, merciful, and generous. In life, he was positioned for it, he was resourced for it, yet in the actual living, he missed it. He desperately tried to reach his friend and partner with this realized truth.

In taking a closer look at Ebenezer Scrooge himself, we can see in the story that he started out better, was on a good path, but something happened. His true and intended identity was twisted and/or somehow diverted, as he began to believe things about himself that were not true. His name, Ebenezer, is a Hebrew name that means “stone of help”. Yet, he was not living out his true identity.

Of course, in the end, Scrooge, had his eyes “opened” to “see” his true and intended self, and he chose to turn himself around. He recaptures joy. The novella speaks of him finding his ability to laugh again: “For a man who had been out of practice for so many years, it was a splendid laugh, a most illustrious laugh. The father of a long, long line of brilliant laughs!”

It is so refreshing to see Scrooge’s ending. And although he himself is a work of fiction, he could be you or I when it comes to choices in life that may be based in a fiction of our own making, or, perhaps one that was wrongly spoken over us. What “fiction” do we believe about ourselves that is less than that for which we were created? Are we willing to let our own “eyes” be opened to the “good report” for which the price has already been paid?

Marley and Scrooge are still speaking this lesson with their story all these many years later. You (and I) are beautifully and wonderfully made, His masterpieces. The value of each individual life, brimming with purpose and hope, is His reason for “The Season”.

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I want to meet you, storytellers of the stage. Yes, you unique people who have a passion to make a way for the creative likes of actors, lighting/sound/costume/set designers and playwrights and other theatre artists. You are fearless creators, warriors of a sort, who wield all these artistic elements to craft the framework of a word story into a living, breathing beauty. I see you! 

There are some “chinks” in your armor — scars of battles, criticisms, and rejection, but the terrain is rough, and you knew that coming in. You choose it anyway. 

You direct the focus on everyone else, because you know it’s best for the art. The art you love. And you are happy. You shine and your brilliance is remarkable.

You answered that “call” or “longing”, or was it a “tug” for you, to cast aside more “sensible” choices, and travel the course that brought you joy even with possible disapproval? Yay… you did it, courageous one.

You are “a superhero” and a “rock star”. You are first a dreamer, but your heart tattoo says “dream maker”.

You bring stories to people in such a way that they laugh… or cry… and everything in between. If they forget to say “thank you,” let me say it for them… THANK YOU!

I know that with your work comes the incessant casting, blocking, planning, creating, thinking, and prop scouting, while you are eating, driving and instead of sleeping or while you are sleeping. Rewards are coming.

Your stories matter. They awaken hearts. They provoke empathy. They change atmospheres. They are powerful. 

We love what you do. Take a bow.

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Here is the first of several sessions spent with actors appearing in On Golden Pond by Ernest Thompson at Theatre Rocks.

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There is the quiet snicker, the sudden and unexpected “bursting forth” laugh, as well as that prolonged cackle with the snort at each gasp. We love to laugh, and we all have our own unique style. Sometimes watching other people laugh, makes us laugh. It’s contagious. 

We have our favorite theatre ”laughers”… I won’t call names, but you know who you are. You are unashamed, uninhibited, and ready to “let her rip” at even the slightest “funny”. Yay for you. We always want you in our audience. Others may hold back, but they are waiting for you to give them permission, and you are always delighted to oblige. 

Truvy in Steel Magnolias has that famous line:  “Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion”. I do agree. Whether tears of sorrow or unspeakable joy, laughter exposes a heart that says “yes”. It releases hope to a world clouded with “no”.

We are naturally drawn to  smiles, laughter, joy and all of it’s companions. I think it’s because we were created for it.  Psalm 16:11 says: “In Thy presence is fullness of joy”. Wonder what “FULNESS OF JOY” is like? 

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Most actors and theatre creatives have high hopes of being recognized for the good work that they do. To be successful literally puts them “in the spotlight” (or their costumes or set designs). Whether that kind of recognition is a “tolerated” sidelight or a “hoped for” result, depends on the personality of the actor/designer.  Regardless of the level of notoriety or fame, each performer or designer has hopes of having opportunities to do that work they love and the accolades and applause become icing on the cake.

There are hopes too, frequently unspoken, of being at the top of their profession, working consistently, doing important work in film or on stage, winning awards, and maybe even being a celebrity. It could happen. It’s fun to hope. It keeps us going.

There are a lot of things along the way, though, that can dash those hopes, bring discouragement, rejection, and even cause some to abandon their once hopeful dreams. Romans 13:13 is a great reminder that the “Source” of hope has great plans for you:

Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with super-abundance until you radiate with hope! (Romans 15:13 TPT)

I love how this reminds us that those hopes we have came “installed”. And what actor/actress could not benefit greatly from “uncontainable joy and perfect peace”?

I will say that I have seen my hopes shift over the years as I have matured and sought more alignment with God’s will and purposes. But I have never felt like I gave up anything. Quite the opposite. If anything, it has been more like: “really God? That is a lot bigger than I think I can do…” or, “God, I think you must have the wrong person”. A couple of years ago I “heard” something that rocked me so much I said “God that is CRAZY”. My eyes fill with tears as I type this. I will tell you about it someday, because He said it and He will do it. I trust Him.

So here’s the thing. Actors and other creatives, often have super-high hopes… and it’s fun to watch some of them achieve their dreams. But what if we put our trust in the Source of hope, look to Him, who, after all, planted it within us, there is a power available that goes way, way beyond any “boot strap” power that you or I could muster. There is a dose of hope available to us, in a divine fountain, with possibility beyond imagination. It’s got your name on it.

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