Performances and workshops in almost 40 nations, about 30 films... Invite the Swingles to inspire your audience! Mobile users, our index is on the line below...
Tonight and tomorrow are the last New York City performances of Oh Gosnell: A Show About the Truth. Joyce and I saw it last night, and it was incredibly powerful. I wrote about it for www.HeadlinePrayer.org: "A Triumph for Life in the NYC Theatre World!" It covers the trial of Kermit Gosnell, who regularly induced labor and snipped the spinal columns of the babies at his abortion clinic. Every word in the play is taken from court transcripts and the grand jury report.
Here's my interview with the show's creator, Phelim McAleer:
After seeing the show we interviewed David Atkinson, the director, and captured some of my reactions:
If you only have three minutes, here are clips from both interviews and some of my reactions to the play:
Tracy Robinson was on Pray with Others Live today talking about her film, The Matter of Life. We’re reposting my article about Robinson’s film because exactly two weeks after the draft majority opinion of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade was leaked to Politico, the film will be in theaters, helping people make sense of what abortion is. During Robinson’s November 30, 2021, appearance, on the eve of the Supreme Court opening statements for the Dobbs case, on Pray with Others Live Judy McDonough said, “We have a great God who’s going to time it perfectly.” He certainly did!
I worked on this three years ago, in Alberta, Canada, as a performer and as acting coach. It was released today on International Women's Day.
If your church is interested in showing it, there's no charge for that. I've created a link so you can download it for Sanctity of Life Sunday, January 22, 2023: Download "Mine." That link will work through January 23.
I'm so pleased with how it turned out, and not only was it worth the wait, but it's coming out when more people are talking about the sanctity of life in the womb than ever before.
Praying this little film will help any who are struggling with past choices.
Their website, with resources for those regretting abortion, is www.ThisIsMyChild.com. I'm particularly blessed by this page because it tells the story of God's love for us through the lens of the film.
Joyce on the steps of the Supreme Court with Greg Hood and Dutch Sheets. This connection with Dutch was a specific answer to prayer.
Joyce and I typically are on Pray with Others Live on the second and fifth Tuesdays of the month, but last week, Joyce was traveling to Washington DC to be an onsite intercessor during the Supreme Court hearings on Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health, which could overturn Roe v. Wade, and I was working on the sitcom by Janet Porter, architect of the Heartbeat Bill (www.RichDrama.com/WhatsAGirlToDo).
Judy McDonough, who hosts the program, read from a prayer Joyce submitted by our pastors, Jim and Dr. Linda Warren.
You can watch the program by clicking the image below:
Here's the interview I did with Tracy Robinson:
Joyce also wrote an article based on interviews she did with the two men who drafted the amicus brief filed with the Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health. It's on the second page of the December issue of The Connector.
While in DC, Joyce attended an event where intercessors prayerfully listened to the opening oral arguments in the Supreme Court. If you haven't heard them yet, you can listen here. The arguments begin at 32m 13s.
On this day in 1942 my grandfather came back from the dead!
Grandma told that story on October 29 every year, but she went to be with the Lord in 1988, and I haven't heard or told the story intentionally on this day of the year since. The tradition is being rekindled in a big way on www.HeadlinePrayer.org.
This morning Joyce and I will be leading prayers on an Intercessors for America call at 12:15 pm Eastern. Call 712-775-7430. No code needed.
I’ll be praying as inspired by this video featuring Joni Eareckson Tada:
I’m just thrilled, because she’s been a hero of mine since I was a boy, and I’ve been blessed to perform at two of her Joni and Friends camps: www.RichDrama.com/Joni.
Then Joyce will pray over this article: Life Wins in Louisiana.
It reports that, "Louisiana voters passed an amendment to the state constitution Tuesday evening establishing that there is no constitutional right to an abortion."
I got to perform and serve as acting coach on two projects outside Calgary, Canada, over the past two weeks.
The first project was a film competition. On June 30 we were given three elements which had to be included in the film: a key verse (I Samuel 12:14), a prop (a book), and an action (a broken leg). We had a week to write, produce and edit a film. We finished with seven minutes to spare!
I can't wait to share the final product with you, but I must. They'll announce the finalists in August, and if we make the cut we won't be able to share it with the world until after the Way of the Storytellers Conference, January 19, 2020.
I can at least share that we titled it "The Ledger," and I got to play the lead and do a bit of actor coaching. We're all really pleased with how it turned out, and we did a screening for the team and close friends and family, and they seemed to love it, too. There were a number of miracles along the way, which seems to always be the case with Christian filmmaking.
After finishing that project, we moved on to a scripted project, "Mine." I played a key role, and served as acting coach. My character comforts a woman who is struggling with the guilt and loss of having gone through an abortion. My character offers support and hope. It's really a beautiful little piece, and I hope it brings hope to many!
Our team for both of these projects was just phenomenal! I'd love to work with any and all again on future projects!
We finished filming a day early, so we went to Banff. It was my second trip, but I truly hope it's not my last! It's just stunning!
Some of us went on to Lake Louise to watch the sunset, and that was even better! Click here for more photos.
I happened to be working on a couple of films in Canada when Unplannedwas released in theatres there. Several cast and crew went to see it, and the only seats we could find together were on the front row! The day before it had sold out.
It was number one on Amazon before it was released because of all the presales!
Joyce and I saw Unplanned on Times Square in AMC Empire 25, where we saw Providence. In that film, released in only seven theaters, Stacey Bradshaw played the teen love interest of my character, who I played as an adult. So Stacey and I were never in a scene together, but we were able to connect on set, one of seven we've been on together. So as we were leaving the theatre seeing her fine performance in Unplanned it brought back fond memories of that opening weekend of Providence.
The difference is that Unplanned is on more than 1,000 screens, and their Friday take puts them at #4 at the box office. The Hollywood Reporter estimates that it will make back its $6M production budget by the end of the weekend!
Joyce and I were so glad we saw it! It's probably the first Rated-R film we've seen (without VidAngel filters in place) since The Passion of the Christ. Its rating seems to have been an attempt to dissuade the folks who typically go out to see PureFlix films, but, aside from a few d--n, h-ll and pi-s words there was nothing in it to give it over a PG rating, and those words may not even have garnered a PG these days. They say it's from bloody graphic images, but if abortion is really just the removal of unwanted tissue, then you can see much worse during network prime time. It seems those on this MPAA panel who gave it the R rating know somewhere in their hearts that abortion is violent to someone other than the mother. You can find more details at www.Dove.org.
I went into that theater, thinking there was NOTHING that could go onto that screen that would make me question myself and I was wrong. What I saw DID make me question myself and my beliefs and I believe that EVERYONE should go and test themselves as I did.
The film is top shelf in its writing, acting and production values. When I was taking a homiletics course we were taught to ride the twin horses of intellect and emotion, and this film does that as evenhandedly as any film I've seen. Some of the lines will stay with me a very long time.
The lead role of Abby is played passionately by Ashley Bratcher, who I performed with in Princess Cut, so I was delighted to see this marvelous interview with her about the project on Fox and Friends:
Knowing Ashley's story makes her performance that much more profound. There's a moment when she's speaking to the children who her character aborted that has much greater depth, knowing her connection to that moment was so personal.
We gathered a group outside the theatre to pray. By that point I knew that it was #4 on opening day at the box office, and some of the others were shocked to hear that! "You wouldn't have guessed it by this turnout." Praise the Lord there are people in other states that care about the pre-born! We also prayed for healing in those who have had abortions, for the repeal of Roe v. Wade, for the nation's mind to change about when life begins, and for coast to coast REVIVAL!!!
The author, Jason Scott Jones, points out how Uncle Tom's Cabin became the book that turned people against slavery in America.
I wrote a sketch in college that linked abortion to slavery. It focused on the fact that our forebears could rationalize owning slaves by calling them property, as people rationalize abortion by calling preborn babies fetuses and tissue. The sketch was never performed because it was too controversial, even at a Christian college in the early 1990s. It had two parallel scenes: A slave with his master, and a mother and her preborn child. I had the slave cry out when being whipped, and the preborn child cry out when she was being aborted. I guess my sketch got an R-rating, like Unplanned. Of course a preborn baby gets oxygen from her mother, so she couldn't really scream, but it's the silent scream of the aborted child that changes the mind of Abby, at that time the youngest director in Planned Parenthood's history. After overseeing the death of about 22,000 preborn babies, Johnson is now a pro-life activist. I'm praying Unplanned changes millions of minds.
I was thrilled to discover it was Ethan and Ashley Ledden, who created the image that changed Abby's mind. They've worked on five films I was a part of.
I went on to write a one-man play on an abolitionist who helped spearhead the largest movement against slavery at that time... 1758, 103 years before the Civil War: I Dreamed I Was Free. Toward the end of the play the abolitionist, John Woolman, says, "God has reminded us that they are mothers and sons, fathers and daughters, sisters and brothers. They are fellow human beings, and is that not reason enough to live without owning them. You all know somewhere in your hearts that slavery is wrong. Can't you feel the lash on your hearts? Can't you feel the chains on your souls? We are the ones in bondage because we will not release our slaves!"
I do a hot seat after the play, staying in character to answer questions. After a performance last week, abortion came up, and John Woolman pointed out that slavery was rationalized by not recognizing slaves as human and then observed, "My generation left a mark upon yours. Do what you can to save the lives of the unborn. Do not leave a mark upon those of future generations."
Em Green of Variety said:
I've heard alllll the arguments, and I've had allllll the logical rebuttals, but to actually SEE it? It just made it indefensible, and it cut the legs out from under me. ... As a woman, I cannot ever again claim to be pro-woman and stand in favor of abortion. I'm out.
Variety has the kind of audience that can help push this film toward becoming the Uncle Tom's Cabin of our day, and hopefully there will be more reviews like that, but Jones points out:
Historians credit Uncle Tom’s Cabin with spurring the anti-slavery movement to victory. But that credit extends beyond its author. It also goes to those who published, promoted, and simply bought and read the book.
Don't let the MPAA keep you from supporting this film and doing your part to make it the Uncle Tom's Cabin of our generation!
Ken Ham of The Creation Museum and The Ark Encounter recommends Unplanned for children as young as 15.
There are a lot of great lines in Where Hope Lives, written by Marco Santiago (actor in "Colonel Papa Cubano"). My very favorite came after the show by Pastor Carter Conlin, who gave one of the best summations of Christmas I've heard: "Unapproachable Light (1 Timothy 6:16) wrapped Himself in the most fragile form of humanity." Marco and Courtney Menking (Henry Box Brown, Celebrity Confessions) play the parents of an adopted daughter and birth son, who invite two foster kids to live with them.
Patricia ("Colonel Papa Cubano" and Courageous Love) plays Florence, the pre-believing social worker who sets up the foster relationship is astonished at what the help of Jesus achieves.
Mark Steele (Celebrity Confessions) plays the stern principal, who sets up one of the most touching scenes.
Adrienne Breland (helped with the production of Fire Off-Broadway) had a poignant scene in which she plays an admitting counselor at an abortion clinic with a girl played by her granddaughter! The way they resolve the scene is electrifying!
Ronalda (Off West Broadway productions), played the birth mother in a heart-wrenching scene.
Pastor David Ham (who used to perform at The Lamb's Theatre) introduced the production and had a hand in directing it, alongside Marco and Patricia. They've done a great job, especially with the younger actors. The gal who played the protagonist of the story, the foster daughter, had a major character arc and carried it off with brilliant nuances.
Justin Hullinger (who got his start at The Lamb's Church) did a great job with the lighting.
You can watch it online through Sunday at www.TSC.NYC. Click on the image for the 10 AM or 3 PM services.
I had a great experience playing the role of Charles, who--throughout the film--interviews the main character about his life, which is very much worth living.
I'm just so glad to be a part of a film like this! The message of hope is so clear and strong! Daniel Jeffries, who played the lead, did a fantastic job of showing the arc from hopeless to hope-giver! Antonio Mireles did a great job of playing the fellow who gave Daniel's character hope.
Though they were only on screen for seconds, I was so blessed by the work of Gary Bosek and Tori Koglin. Gary plays a goofy flower delivery guy, and Tori plays a young woman at an abortion clinic. Their work took their scenes to a whole other emotional plain.
My character interviewed the character of Daniel Jeffries (left) about how he was transformed from drug addict to a positive influencer. The character played by Antonio Mireles introduced Daniel’s to the Lord.
I was able to attend the premiere in Pontiac, Michegan, and it was a PROFOUND evening! During the Q/A that followed, cast and crew shared their personal connections to loved ones who struggled or continue to struggle with addiction. It was held at Grace Gospel Fellowship, which has a sister ministry, Grace Centers of Hope, across the street and through 52 homes where they help addicts get off drugs and back into lives worth living.
Several from their programs were in attendance, and some came to the mic after the film for questions and observations. One was the mother of an addict who thanked Nancy Lynette Parker, who played Daniel’s character’s mom. Pastor Kent W. Clark said the woman was two weeks old in the Lord, and she erupted in joy, declaring the work the Lord was already doing in her life! It was SO beautiful.
The pastor said, “God has come to save sinners, and if you are one, you qualify!” Here’s more about that: www.RichDrama.com/MyPassion.
The release of the film is on November 10th and will be available at the following places by then:
I was able to hear Peter Kreeft speak at The King's College at the Empire State Building. He's a theologian, philosopher, novelist, a professor here and at Boston College, but I attended because he's also a playwright. You'll see below that he clarified that.
These are my notes from his interview with Marvin Olasky, Provost of The King's College, as a part of their Distinguished Visitor's series.
Kreeft said the Bible is more novel than theology. The thelogy is plugged into the narrative, not the the other way around.
He talked about sex: it was the first command. "When God said be fruitful and multiply, He didn't mean grow apples and work your multiplication tables." The loss of the sense of the sacred has lead to abortion, sexual immorality and loss of gender roles (unisex feminism as opposed to justice feminism).
He's written *I Surf, Therfore I Am*. When the 73-year old was asked if he's looking forward to surfing this summer he said, "Does the Pope look forward to writing encyclicals?" Part of the book is dedicated to the theology of the rip tide.
He thinks when we get to heaven and see our lives through God's eyes, we'll see lots of angels.
He was asked if Socrates were in the Senate what might he say? He said the philosopher would discombobulate everyone, and they'd feed him hemlock. Then he improvised a very clever dialogue between Socrotes and President Obama.
In Hitler's concentration camps the most educated officers were the most cruel. The universities will decide the future of society, but with education comes the ability to deceive ourselves more cleverly. He thinks we make democracy a god. We're more polytheistic than Hinduism because we have as many gods as people, which is more than the named gods of Hinduism.
He quotes GK Chesterton in the 20s who said there would be a great attack on our sexuality. The relationships between men and women have changed. Women don't expect to be respected but to be used. Men must become knights of honor and take a stand, showing they can love women for themelves and not just what they can get out of them. They'll start a quiet revolution.
He was asked for dating advice. He said our minds are like ponds. The bottom is filled with silt and trash. As you get closer to the surface there's more purity and light. He said while dating think with the top part of your brain.
We expect our artists to be immoral and even insane. But in ancient Athens the greatest artists were given free rent for life. They saw life as art and the moral hero as the most beautiful work of art.
A culture follows its love. Love has gravity. A society follows heroes because they emulate virtues they love. Look at our heroes to see where we're headed. Create solid heroes with real virtues to change the course of history.
He was asked about his book *Making Sense out of Suffering*. He quoted JRR Tolkein, who, when writing about suffering said the Gospel is the world's greatest fairy story but it's true. Freud said Christianity is so good it can't be true. It has to be man made because the glove fits the hand so well. Kreeft said, what if the hand was built to fit the glove.
I asked him if he has in mind to write any more plays. He said he'd never written any! I told him I'd seen a production of Between Heaven and Hell. He said Tom Key, who's represented by my agent, produced it as a play, and he said many of his dialogue books could work that way, perhaps the best of which would be *Socrotes and Jesus*. In that story Socrates wakes up at Harvard and discovers Christ despite the fact that He's not well represented there. One of my seminary profs gave his life to the Lord at Harvard, so it is possible.
A Vampire is the anti-Christ: he takes your blood instead of giving you his. Kreeft isn't surprised that Anne Rice became a Christian. Rice posted on Facbook on 07/28/10: "My faith in Christ is central to my life. My conversion from a pessimistic atheist lost in a world I didn't understand, to an optimistic believer in a universe created and sustained by a loving God is crucial to me. But following Christ does not mean following His followers. Christ is infinitely more important than Christianity and always will be, no matter what Christianity is, has been, or might become."
When asked why he gets up at 4:30 once a week to come down from Boston to teach here for most of the last ten years he said, "Though I hate the Yankees I love New York, and I love you guys." When pressed he quoted Flannery O'Conner who said Sir Thomas Aquinas loved God so much that she couldn't help but love him. He said King's College students are little Thomas Aquinases.
The podcast of this interview is available by clicking here.
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