Revival Is Going Global!

We're so blessed every time we hear how revival continues to spark around the world! Our prayers are being answered! Let's continue to press in! 

Here are a few examples:

Revival Goes Nationwide, Hits Theaters After 'Jesus Revolution' Film as Well as ORU, Portland, Ohio State

The move of God that began as the Asbury Awakening is becoming increasingly decentralized as it spreads across the country. It's popping up in all types of spots, from secular colleges to theaters to youth events to special church services, with passionate responses to God's outpouring of His Holy Spirit. Reports are surfacing of people choosing to give their lives to Christ after seeing the Jesus Revolution movie. Here's an amazing clip of prayer and revival breaking out in one theater in Miami, Florida....

[See the clip and read the whole article by clicking here...]

Jeannine Brabon sent this video of her interpreting a pastor's wife telling how challenging but rewarding it was for her and her husband to get from Chile to the Asbury Outpouring. We now know people traveled from Canada, South Africa, the UK, Nigeria, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, South Korea, Russia, Norway, Haiti, Myanmar, Israel, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand, now Joyce's country of birth, Chile, and all 50 states! 

John Fornof (founder of Circle Creative Media), who's won awards for his writing, described his experience at Asbury University: 

Last day at Asbury Revival. Long lines of people. Overflow rooms.

They were only allowing 16-25 year olds into the Hughes Auditorium, where this all started. By a miracle, I got in. And I literally got a front row seat (front and center!) on the revival. My daughter Melissa was with me, which made it extra special.

We stood in a hundred-year-old building filled to the balconies with young people enthusiastically praising Jesus and hungering for the very heart of God. You could feel the hunger, the expectancy, like dry kindling ready to catch fire.

We sang the worship chorus “You are Good.” And then they hit the phrase “You’re never gonna let, never gonna let me down.” The reality of that phrase sunk in. The young people all around me were singing from their hearts...loudly testifying, enthusiastically proclaiming the truth of that phrase.

Modern worship choruses flowed into great old hymns, like “How Great Thou Art.” And the fervor continued.

Here’s what it wasn’t: It wasn’t spectacular. No celebrity, no names, no words on the screen. * No fancy lights or fog machines. A girl on a guitar, a guy on the piano, and another guy on the cajon drum. No agenda. No set schedule.

Here’s what it was: It was all focused on Jesus. It was repentance at the altar. Salvations, healings, restoration. It was worship. It was the word. It was worship songs. Some brief housekeeping notes. Young people lined up with their favorite “life verse” from the Bible. More worship songs. Brief testimony or two. More worship. A brief sermon talk. And more worship. Lots of worship. Amazing, beautiful worship.

*Despite denominational differences, by the third verse of the hymns, we were all singing in tongues.

It wasn’t spectacular. It was profound. I looked around, watching hundreds and hundreds of young people praising Jesus. And I savored the fire. Time now to bring it home.

P.S. Will this revival fire last? Yes! Here's how I know. Earlier that day, I ran into Allen Mather, a tall, lanky guy in his mid to late seventies, with a twinkle in his eyes. I heard him tell a group of Africans, "I was here!"

He was here in 1970 when the earlier Asbury Revival hit. He had been pursuing God and his degree from an intellectual point of view. Then the revival came. "I caught the fire," he said. "And I'm still on fire!" And he explained what it is: "It's the fire of God's love.

Here are John's photos: 

Click here or on the image to see them all.

Pray revival continues to break out around the world! 
 

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I released “Pentecost: Beyond the Imagination,” a scene from my one-man play, The Acts, at www.RichDrama.com/Pentecost.

Jonathan Park: The One True God

I played two roles in Jonathan Park Series 18, The One True God:

Jacob Ben Dod on Disk 2, Track 2, starting at 5:15

and

Bapary Babu on Disk 4, Track 2, starting at 12:00

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I released “Pentecost: Beyond the Imagination,” a scene from my one-man play, The Acts, at www.RichDrama.com/Pentecost.

The Unlikely Wise Man

Also, this year our church will be performing it as a readers theatre piece on Christmas Eve at 7 p.m.: 

Westchester Chapel Church of the Nazarene
at The Sonesta Hotel
 66 Hale Ave
White Plains, NY 10601
(A $9 cab ride from the White Plains Metro North Station)

Here's how I first got involved with this delightful production...

One of the students from the Lamplighter Guild, Angelina SantaLucia (to the right of me, with Rachel Marley), wrote to me several weeks ago letting me know that she got a role in a radio show for a studio audience being produced by Lamplighter Theatre. I was thrilled for her!

I put it on my calendar and looked forward to hearing it. I also said a prayer that someday I'd get to perform in one of Lamplighter's live productions.

A few days later I was asked to audition for the same project! Woo hoo!

I was cast as a Scrooge-like character in this new radio show, adapted by Molly Mayo and Lamplighter president, Mark Hamby, from Bells Across the Snow by Fannie Eden. 

I play Robert Redfern, who is successful in business, but when it comes to family he says, "Love leads to loss and loneliness, and unless you’re strong enough to overcome it, it will ruin you...bankrupt you!" He develops this philosophy when his wife dies, and he blames God. He refuses invitations from his brother (played by David Sanborn, pictured here). He pushes his daughter away because she wants to marry someone who is "unable to give you the life that money can buy!"

But the Lord reaches Robert through a little girl, a lamb, a clever butler and some letters.

For the radio show, we performed it the way they did back in the '30s. We were dressed in period costumes and had minimal blocking around four mics. Foley artists created the sounds before the audience's eyes!

One of the foley artists, Oscar Corral (pictured here, adjusting the mic for his bride of three months in the booth where they met on Escape from the Eagle's Nest), also played a couple of roles, so when he "entered the house," I ran over to the foley corner and created his footsteps! It was SO MUCH FUN!!!

As we got closer to doing the radio show as a live production, the decision was made to record it as an audio drama in the sound booth to go out to radio stations around the world! This meant we skipped a rehearsal for the live version and spent time in the booth to get a studio quality sound. It was a very tight turn-around for sound designer Allen Hurley (Adventures in Audio and other Lamplighter Theatre projects) and composer John Campbell (Adventures in Audio and other Lamplighter Theatre projects). 

They finished Monday, and more than 400 radio stations have signed up to air it so far! 

Here's a preview featuring the voice of John Fornof, who has 
directed me in a number of audio dramas.

See the highlights of our year, which was actually quite full, at www.RichDrama.com/Christmas2020.

Jonathan Park: The Defining Moment

I had a blast playing two cab drivers, Bobby and Alfred in Jonathan Park, Series 15.  The heros, including one played by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp alumna, Rachel Marley, jumped in Bobby's cab. They realized they were being pursued, so they jumped out and into Alfred's cab! So much fun! Bobby had a Cockney accent, and Alfred had a posh Received Pronunciation British accent. 

We're really blessed by how Rachel carries this story as the lead. 

I'm particularly fond of this project because it explores the virtual reality world Meta (formerly known as Facebook) is creating, but uses it to expose the story of Charles Darwin and the shaky foundation of evolution. When I started college, it was as a biology major. I wanted to be a science teacher and undermine evolution in a public school. The Lord changed my course, but I've always had a passion for telling these kinds of stories. 

This was the fifth time John Fornof directed me in an audio drama, and that made it even more delightful!

It's now available!

Here's an encouraging review on Audio Theatre Central: ATC144: Review of Jonathan Park #15: The Defining Moment.

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I released “Pentecost: Beyond the Imagination,” a scene from my one-man play, The Acts, at www.RichDrama.com/Pentecost.

The Adventum, Volume 3

I was overjoyed to be work on The Adventum, Volume 3, under the direction of my friend and colleague John Fornof. I had a blast working on The Adventum 1 in San Diego, but they had planned to record this one remotely before the COVID-19 lockdown.

It's now available.

Here are the voices I performed:

Elder #1 and Camsis in "Return"
Elder #1, Hebrew Slave, Pomegranate Vendor, Baker and Camsis in  "Engage"
Camsis in "Distinction"
Camsis and Pomegranate Vendor in "Breaking Point"
Official #1 and Camsis in "Resolve"
Prisoner and Camsis in "Departure"
Official #1, Chariot Driver and Camsis in "Persuit

My main character, Camsis, was the husband of a character played by Melissa Disney, the voice of Ginger in As Told by Ginger on Nickelodeon. What a joy to work with her!

Here's an encouraging review on Audio Theatre Central: ATC148: Review of The Adventum Vol. 3 from Wise King Media.

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See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

The Story of Christ's Passion

We put together a dramatic reading of the story of Christ's Passion taken from all four Gospels. It is illustrated with works of classic artists over a music bed by John Fornof. This was conceived and performed live for the Good Friday service at Westchester Chapel Church of the Nazarene, April 10, 2020.

Click the arrow below, or if you're reading this in an email you can click this link, to play the service:

We're revising it and will repost it later.

Artwork used by permission of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Open Access.

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Rich will teach voice acting for The Lamplighter Guild for Creative Disciplines this summer: www.LamplighterGuild.com.

Story Weaver

When I was performing in Escape from the Eagle's Nest and The Giant Killer for Lamplighter Theatre, I did an interview with Becky Bailey. She recently shared the interview with her Theatre Catalyst Group at Regent University.

Click the image below of either the short clip or the unedited interview, or if you're receiving this through an email visit www.Blog.RichDrama.com.

Here's the short clip she shared:


And here's the whole, unedited interview:


Here are more links to topics I mentioned:
Olympics
Bezaleel
Lamplighter Guild
Patrick Powell
John Fornof

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See the rest of Olympic champion Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story in Beyond the Chariots. Watch it online and book a live performance.

The Adventum, Volume 1

I got to perform in San Diego in a new audio drama that brings Scripture to life with a focus on God's plan of redemption. It's from the makers of the Jonathan Park Audio Adventures!

It's so well conceived and written! I was thrilled to be a part of it, and I was performing with some seriously great actors! The sound design by Luke Guenot is extraordinary, too. It's just a fantastic project all the way around.

And, it's available now: TheAdventum.com.

Here are the roles I played:

Ham and Jebuluah in "New World"
Three workers in "High Hopes"
Puth and Captain in "White Lies"
Eliezer, Kedorlaomer and Lot's herdsman in "Decisions, Decisions"
Israelite Officer in "I've Been Thinking"
Eliezer in "Three Visitors"
Businessman, Angel 1, and Hamus in "Fire and Brimstone"
Eliezer in "Heir Apparent" and "Sacrifice"
Eliezer and Isaac in "Bride for Isaac"
Isaac in "Passages"
Isaac and Older Isaac in "Playing Favorites"
Older Isaac in "Cleaning House"

It was really fun for me to play Eliezer and Isaac, especially when they were in the same scene! But probably my favorite scene was when I got to pull together the moment when language is confused at the Tower of Babel! I came up with phrases in languages I've studied over the years that express confusion in some way and distributed them among us actors. It was such fun!

Kimba Henderson came by
the studio to talk about her
script in an interview.

Kimba Henderson came by the studio one day to talk about her script in an interview. She has developed an outstanding script that brilliantly fills in the gaps for readers unfamiliar with the cultures to which Scripture was written. She added something to the Noah story I really love: She heightens the urgency for Noah and his family to tell their neighbors of the impending judgement. She also does a masterful job of making the stories feel as if they're happening in the context of today's mixed up world. Prior to finalizing the script, The Adventum was thoroughly reviewed, edited and vetted by trusted, highly qualified, Biblically-based, evangelical pastors and Christian leaders.

John Fornof at the helm.

John Fornof directed us in this "movie for the ears," and it's always a joy to work on his projects. He knows just how to bring a scene to life! There were so many times that he helped us add things that enhanced the great script. He also directed me in The Dragon and the Raven in London and The Giant Killer through Lamplighter Theatre. Later in the summer he directed a short film at the Lamplighter Guild, and he pulled me in as casting director. One night on The Adventum he said that one of his rules is to have fun, and we were certainly obedient!

My friend Garry Nation is in the cast. We had a blast playing Abram/Abraham and Isaac together! Friends David Sanborn, who I've been working with since 2001 in Singapore, and Nato Jacobson, who shares six credits with me, performed their roles remotely. I was bummed to discover they wouldn't be in the booth, but their contributions are top notch!

I was thrilled to reconnect with Nicole Franco, who performed a chilling reenactment of Lot's wife turning to salt, and that was just in the studio! When completed with sound effects it's just outstanding! We ran in the same circles in NYC 20 years ago.

I also got to reconnect with Stephanie Mielke, when she arrived with her brother Bryce who played Teen Isaac, one of my character's younger self. Bryce did a fantastic job! Stephanie was a student of mine at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp. Bryce knew about the auditions for this project because I send casting calls out to my students.

Mark Rache conceived and produced this wonderful project. He's on the right, and here's a better shot of our director, John Fornof:

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Sign up to get the announcement for the 2019 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

Lamplighter Guild for Creative Disciplines

I've been praying for years that I could teach there, and recently that prayer was answered, and it was much more fulfilling than I'd imagined! Isn't that always the way with the Lord?

I guided almost forty students as they created four separate sketches through sociodrama.

After our final rehearsal I suggested that two or three of them should close us in prayer. Over an hour later they reluctantly went to bed. One of our students realized her headache was gone. We prayed and laughed and wept in the joy of the Lord. Revival! Sweet revival! Friday morning they announced that lunch would be delayed 15 minutes, so Mark Hamby, the director of the Guild invited students up to testify. Within seconds a student behind me said, "Your prayer was answered!" The night before I'd prayed that our students would get the chance to share! On the shuttle to the bus station Peter Fecteau, his son and I counted up 24 distinct miracles we'd observed this week. Moments later He made it an even 25! I was able to get the earlier bus, and the gentleman waived the change fee!

I just got a note from one of the students saying he and some others are going to collaborate on an audio drama! Praise the Lord!

Here's the film our students created:

I helped with casting and wrangling extras.

It was so great to work alongside longtime friends David Sanborn and John Fornof, and to get to know the rest of the wonderful faculty!

Here are some of the photos I took that week.

Visit www.LamplighterGuild.com for more photos and info.

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I'm happy to do workshops anywhere in the world: www.RichDrama.com/Workshops.

Lamplighter Theatre

Crystal Van Artsdalen, Rebekah Stought,
Rachel Marley and Morgan Fairbanks
have been my students at MasterWorks
 and The Rocky Mountain Christian
Filmmakers Camp.

I played several roles and served as Afghan accent coach in the audio dramas Escape from the Eagle's Nest and The Giant Killer for Lamplighter Theatre, part of Lamplighter Ministries (www.Lamplighter.net).

Both shows were broadcast on over 1600 radio stations in 30 nations.

The Giant Killer is now available, and on that page you can hear my voice in the Behind the Scenes Recordings at 19 seconds and 1:23.

Escape from the Eagle's Nest is also available. You can see and hear my contributions in the video below...

Both stories are based on books by A.L.O.E., which stands for A Lady of England. It was the pseudonym she used to get those and many other books published in the 1800s.

In the booth with Israel Oyelumade,
Rachel Marley and David Sanborn.

After I was cast as a cook (to perform the role, not to actually prepare food), I was asked to recommend someone who could play an Afghan who grows from a little girl into a married woman. I recommended some of my students, and they chose Rachel Marley. Besides being my student numerous times she was on our performing arts team in Sochi during the 2014 Olympics. What a delight to work with her and have several scenes together.

A few weeks after they cast Rachel, producer John Fornof told me there were visa issues. They used to record in London, so that's where all their contacts are. John’s US contacts are union actors. He asked if I could get the word out to my nonunion contacts in case the visas did not come through since just about everyone besides Rachel and I were coming from the UK. This was the first time they invited people to watch the process, so dozens of observers were signed up, coming to Mt. Morris, NY, from as far as North Dakota.

Nathan "Nato" Jacobson and I have
been a part of four films together.

I sent out about 350 emails to students and colleagues who turned in 189 auditions. John and executive producer Mark Hamby said they had perfect peace about the situation and were sure the visas would come through but if not, God would provide. When the final word came that the visas were denied John and team went through all the auditions in two days, normally a two-week process! The casts were announced on Friday and Saturday and we began recording on Monday!

Garry Nation and I (who share three
film credits) got to play giant brothers:
He was Sloth, and I was Selfishness.

The only one from the UK was Israel Oyelumade, who volunteered his time to bypass the need for a visa! Before I performed Beyond the Chariots for the community he shared how the Lord had led him to play Jesus in a massive Passion play. It was done outdoors with 300 actors.

I was delighted that Lamplighter Theatre cast four of my students, and that I got to perform with colleagues from numerous films. My friend David Sanborn was cast in twelve of the 17 roles for which he auditioned, and then he picked up others along the way.

Working with so many great friends in and of itself made it one of my favorite weeks, but the highlight came through a new friend, Akmal. Patrick Powell the director of Escape from the Eagle's Nest found him on an internet search. Akmal lived his first twelve years in Southern Afghanistan, where the story takes place! He translated passages from The Sermon on the Mount, Revelation and Isaiah into Pashto, and then he came up with a tune inspired by music from his homeland and recorded himself singing the Scripture while he played keyboards underneath it.

John Fornof and I in London where
he directed me in The Dragon and
the Raven.

Our director for Escape from
the Eagle's Nest, Patrick Powell,

is one of a very small number

of actors who have performed

St. John in Exile by Dean Jones.

David Sanborn sang the Scriptures with our friend's tune, then he led the rest of the cast humming the tune. We were portraying the Afghanis who began by shouting down the foreigner. Then, as they were hearing words of life in their heart language, sung with a familiar tune they quieted down, and slowly started to join, humming the tune. I got to direct small groups who joined as the Scripture moved along. Once all of them had joined in, something extraordinary occurred. As had happened when he was singing the Pashto translation, David became overwhelmed with what was happening. We were all touched at a very deep level, so much so that everyone observing, including the director, were weeping. Executive Producer Mark Hamby compared it to the tongues of fire that fell on the disciples at Pentecost (Acts 2)!

I'm so thrilled with how it turned out!

Throughout production there were Lamplighter Live students observing the process and jumping into the group scenes!

Here's the story of how it all came together:

Below you can hear my voice at :02, 1:03, where I'm performing with two former students, and see my "sword fight" at 1:05.


Below you can hear me at :25.

Essence: Exploring the Human-Horse Relationship

We got to connect with Ivy Schexnayder and her mom, Barbara Novak Schexnayder, when they came to NYC recently to screen Ivy's short film Essence: Exploring the Horse-Human Relationship at the Equus Film Festival.

The film is narrated by Rebekah Stought, who was a student at the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp a couple of summers ago. She was coached for voice over by John Fornof, who directed me in The Dragon and the Raven in London for The Extraordinary Adventures of G.A. Henty. Rebekah also performs in the film, as does Sarah Olmstead of the short film One Day, in which I performed and served as acting coach.

You can watch Essence for free right now. Check it out below or here, and rejoice that it was playing at a NYC film festival: 

I play a lead in Providence, which you can bring to your area.

Introduction to Beyond the Chariots at The Christian Worldview Film Festival

I was thrilled to present the awards for Best Animated film at The Christian Worldview Film Festival, with another animated friend, John Fornof, who introduced my performance of Beyond the Chariots the night before:

John directed me in The Dragon and the Raven and taught with me at The Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.

You can see photos of my performance of Beyond the Chariots by clicking here.

Photo by Evergreen Media Productions 
Video by Stacey Bradshaw.

I play a lead in Providence, which could be heading to a city near you. Sign up at www.RichDrama.com/Updates to get the announcement.

Registration is now open for the 2016 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.