I'll Take You In

Here's the latest music video in the runup to the limited nationwide release of Providence through AMC Independent...

I play one of the leads, though it's my character's teen self that's featured in this one.

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The Staying Kind

I played Mr. Cole, a banker in this Civil War era short film, written and starring Rachel Hendrix from October Baby.

This marks my tenth film with Rebekah Cook.

Find out more at www.TheStayingKindFilm.com.

Have the Power of the Son Here on Earth: Forgive

Joyce prayed for the persecuted church after Adrienne C. talks about what Christians are facing around the world. Pastor Randy Solomon preaches on Luke 6:27-36, drawing from his experience as an engineer with illustrations of how we get our power for lights and hair dryers, always searching for ways to have the power of the sun here on earth.

He mentions The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. The film can now be purchased with Return to the Hiding Place, starring Mimi Sagadin as Corrie ten Boom. I've taught with Mimi at the Christian Worldview Film Festival Guild performed with her in Princess Cut and Lifestone Velocity. I also got to teach with Jeanette Clift George who played Corrie in The Hiding Place.

Opening by Pastor Jim Warren. Offering and prayer by Joyce.



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/Salvation.

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For a Moment

Here's the first music video in the runup to the limited nationwide release of Providence through AMC Independent...

I play one of the leads, though it's my character's teen self that's featured in this one.

Sign Up to get the announcement when registration opens for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Also, we're now taking sign-ups for Rio Ready.

The John Woolman Memorial Centennial

The outdoor performance was steps
away from what used to be
John Woolman's orchard.

I got to perform A Clear Leading, my one-man play about John Woolman at the John Woolman Memorial for their centennial celebration!

Woolman spoke against slavery a century before America's Civil War, and after the play they had me stay in character so Woolman could receive two birthday gifts which showed the fruit of his labors: a copy of "The Emancipation Proclamation" and Letters from a Birmingham Jail. Woolman would be 295 today, but his words have certainly lived on. His journal has never been out of print!

I put those gifts in my prop box, alongside Joyce's letter to me when she house managed my 1997 Off-Broadway production of the play. It was that production that was attended by board members of the John Woolman Memorial. They brought me down to perform near the Memorial on October 4, 1997. I remember the date because I proposed to Joyce that night. You can read the pulse pounding details by clicking here.

So this performance was quite special on many different levels, and there's an embargo on news of another project that made this location special. I hope to post news of that soon: www.RichDrama.com/Updates.

With Jack and Carol Walz, who oversee the John Woolman Memorial,
which is behind us.

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Stand for Truth

Joyce teaches on John 15:18-16:15. Melanie S. opens with prayer. Rev. Dr. Linda Warren shares announcements and prays for the message.



Joyce mentions the bracelets with the nun, the Arabic letter for Nazarene, the word they use to describe Christians. These videos explain how that letter is being used to mark Christians in Iraq for persecution:





Find out more and order your own wristband at www.I-Am-N.com.

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

Photo courtesy of NicolettiPhoto.com.

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Sean Gaffney launched my career

Happy 50th Birthday to Sean Gaffney!

Sean and I in Colorado, July 1995.

Sean launched a 20 year career in the performing arts for me. I’m sure that’s not what he had in mind when he invited me to drive out to Seattle from NYC to take the position of managing director at Taproot Theatre, but when I said yes to the trip I quit my day job forever. He and I pulled together some of our own sketches, including Sean’s “Lazarus," which I still perform all over the world in a one-man version. We drove together six days and performed together just about every night. Somewhere out there between jumping over a 15’ cyclone fence and running through a cemetery in a Nebraska downpour only to discover the folks we were supposed to perform for in a park on the other side of that cemetery decided to go camping instead, to long chats about good and bad plays, to the Lamb’s Theatre where we met, Sean encouraged me not to go back to my day job. Miraculously I never have, and Sean was a very big part of that.

We both happened to be in London early this July, 20 years to the month after we started that trek. I was tremendously disappointed that our schedules didn’t quite coincide, but the Lord connected us in a very cool way. I was in London to perform with John Rhys-Davies (The Lord of the Rings, Beyond the Mask) and Helen George (Call the Midwife) for an audio movie on Alfred the Great (www.RichDrama.com/TheDragonAndTheRaven). Toward the end of one day a colleague approached me: “Is your last name Swingle?” I confirmed it, and he said, “I’m about to have tea with your friends Sean and Cath Gaffney.” I was tremendously disappointed that I couldn’t join them, but I sensed the Lord celebrating two decades of artistic service in that Divine appointment.

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The World Premiere of The Messenger's Box

We were bummed we weren't able to make it to Detroit to watch the world premiere of The Messenger's Box, but I was delighted to hear from a gentleman who watched us filming that day:

I WAS IMPRESSED ! ! !  You were shown right at the start on the spiral stone steps giving the box  to Simon.  You looked just perfect; terrific face shot with those special features and eyes that you have.  I remember also the excellently appropriate voice you have---just perfect for the part.  I wish now that I would have watched the filming of the crucifixion that day after talking with you while the "bloody" makeup was being done.   I thought the script, acting, editing, and musical score were very well done.  The entire creation was very well done and far exceeded my expectations. 
-- Ralph Dixon
Macomb, MI

I was also glad that Tricia Ouellette snapped these shots from the film and credits, and that I got permission to share them here!

Playing Jesus with Joseph Ouellette.

A photo posted by Tricia (@ouellette6) on Oct 10, 2015 at 7:41pm PDT

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Under Drake's Flag

With John Fornof, director of
Under Drake's Flag, in the same studio
when we recorded The Dragon and
the Raven.

While on a tour of the Pacific Northwest (Instagram and Facebook: #NWTour15) I recorded myself reviewing Under Drake's Flag, an audio movie which preceded The Dragon and the Raven in which I got to play four roles and numerous Danish and Saxon warriors. 



I was going to record myself reciting the prayer of Sir Francis Drake, but producer Bill Heid's grandson doing is just too charming:





Here's Heirloom Audio's vision for using the G.A. Henty Books:

Ever wonder why we chose G.A. Henty's novels to adapt into our audio adventures? Watch this video and find out! #UnderDrakesFlag #GAHenty #BehindTheScenes #Audies2015
Posted by The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty on Monday, April 6, 2015

Hear my review of another Heirloom Audio: www.RichDrama.com/InFreedomsCause.

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Also, we're now taking sign-ups for Rio Ready.

In Freedom's Cause

In The Dragon and the Raven 
I got to perform with Stuart Pendred,
who plays William Wallace in
In Freedom's Cause.

While on a tour of the Pacific Northwest (Instagram and Facebook: #NWTour15) I recorded myself reviewing In Freedom's Cause, the audio movie which preceded The Dragon and the Raven in which I got to play four roles and numerous Danish and Saxon warriors. 



In Freedom's Cause was just nominated for six Voice Arts Awards. 

Hear my review of another Heirloom Audio: www.RichDrama.com/UnderDrakesFlag.

---

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The Unseen Battle

Joyce and I opened this morning's service at Westchester Chapel. You can hear me talk about the ways I've tangibly seen the Lord at work through the daily discipline of praying on the Armor of God, which is asking Jesus Christ to cover every area of our lives.

Below you can watch Pastor Jim Warren preach on Ephesians 6:10-17 using a full suit of Roman armor, with a demonstration by Anna S.



This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.

Sign Up to get the announcement when registration opens for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Also, we're now taking sign-ups for Rio Ready.