The Ignition of FireOffBroadway

Brad L. Smith, the playwright of The Man from Aldersgate, has agreed to write a press release for our Off-Broadway run.

To give him some background I've written up the story of how this all got started, and I'll post it under comments below in case you're interested.

I'm also going to post quotes about Beyond the Chariots. Since the play has only been seen by eight audiences to date I would love to gather a few more comments. If you've seen Beyond the Chariots and would like a chance to be quoted (hopefully in some major periodicals) feel free to leave a quote by clicking on "comment" below.

Thanks so much!

End of the Spear and Beyond the Gates of Splendor

We're on our way back from The End of the Spear. Incredible. Twenty-four from our church experienced this powerful film. Everyone I spoke with was glad to have seen it. Cast your vote to expand to more markets by seeing it this weekend.

1/13
Eric Liddell's middle daughter, Heather, just called to let me know she wants to come down to see my play about her dad: FireOffBroadway.com.

Speaking of missionaries who died in action, tonight our church is going to screen Beyond the Gates of Splendor, a documentary about the five missionaries who were killed fifty years ago this month in Ecuador by the Waodani, the most violent society ever studied by anthropologists. Joyce and I have already experienced this powerful work. The Waorani were asked permission to do the documentary and The End of the Spear, the feature length film about the same story. They first refused, but when the son of Nate Saint (one of the missionaries who was killed) told them that telling the story would help our society live peacefully, they put everything behind the telling of the story that they could.

Nate Saint, coincidentally, was the pilot of the group, and he inspired my dad (who's still flying) with one of his acrobatic techniques.

Next weekend The End of the Spear opens in theatres across the nation. On Friday, January 20, our church is going as a group to see it. Details to follow.

Wherever you are, I hope you can encourage this kind of faith and grace-filled film by turning out in large groups on their opening weekend, on which every show's future distribution and marketing is based.

Going Deeper

There's now an article online which highlights how the Spirit moved last summer during the Territorial School of Music and Gospel Arts near Toronto. Click here to download the PDF.

For my postings on the event go to my archives for August and September.

Hotels in the area

I put this list of hotels together in spring of 2006, as we were gearing up for our Off-Broadway run that year. Price listed are from that year and distances are in relation to our venue at the time, Theatre 315 on W 47th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues:

across the street
Econo Lodge
starting at $152.99 (Call 212-246-1991 and ask if there's a better spring rate.)

.2 mi from Theatre 315
Doubletree Guest Suites
starting at $319

.2 mi from Theatre 315
Marriott Marquis
Starts at $259

1 block away from Theatre 315
The Edison
Starts at $170

about 300 yards from Theatre 315
Milford Plaza
Starts at $169

.75 mi from Theatre 315
Comfort Inn
Call 212.947.0200 Mon-Fri between 8a-4p (EST), ask for Michele or Tony, and please mention “Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC)” to receive a 10% discount off current rates. You can get the same rate just reserving through their website.
Starts at $152.10 with the discount.

1.5 mi from Theatre 315
Hephzibah House (for people involved directly in ministry)
starting at $45/person

Park Central Hotel
John Tesh and his sons stayed there recently and liked it a lot.
starting at $149

A Candle in the Window
Stay for a gift

The Markle Residence
For women only (long term)

Feel free to make your own recommendations by posting a comment below.

MasterWorks planning session

I just touched down in the South Bend, IN, airport, where the Studebaker National Museum has set up a display.

I'm en route to Winona Lake, where we'll be having our department head planning session, working performances and master classes for nine programs into five busy weeks (June 25-July 23)..

That should have posted on Saturday. Now I'm back in NYC, and the planning session went very well from my perspective: it only took six hours.

The best news is that the brochures are out, and they look fabulous! They're designed by Christi Mahan, who has stayed on as a year-round intern after being part of the theatre program last year.

If you or someone you know is interested in theatre or any of the MasterWorks programs call 888.836.2723 to request a brochure.

Happy New Year!

Joyce and I watched the ball drop from atop The Lamb's Church/ Theatre, where I was on staff and lived the first four years I was in NYC. The first year I actually went out on Times Square, packed with thousands of other sardines for hours in 20 degree temps. After all that I watched the count down on the building below the ball, thinking the ball would start to drop at zero. I was mortified to discover that the ball started to drop on 10, so I didn't see a bit of it's descent.

This year we played games until 11:55, then we went up to the roof, down went the ball, up went the fireworks, down came the confetti.

In 2005 I was blessed to bring about 180 performances or workshops to 17 states, Honduras, Israel, and Canada. Plus I got to just hang out in Nice, France. Thank you for all your prayers, and thank You, Lord, for all the planted seeds. May You water them and allow many to grow closer to You in 2006.