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| From Hong Kong '08 |
Our flight was oversold, so I was thrilled to just get a seat. Since I only took this one shot from an emergency door I decided to repost the note and photo below from the last trip here in January 2007...
No window seat this time
Our flight was oversold, so I was thrilled to just get a seat. Since I only took this one shot from an emergency door I decided to repost the note and photo below from the last trip here in January 2007...
En route to Asia
I'm starting this note on the bus to Newark Airport where I'll take off for four to seven nations over the next 36 days.
MasterWorks was tremendous! You can see reports from our amazing month at http://RichDrama.com/NewsBlog (Archives for June and July).
The short time in between has been a blur as I've been catching up from a month away, settling into our miraculous new abode (http://RichDrama.com/MP) prepping for this trip and working on an important writing assignment.
So here we go!
We're bringing the story of Eric Liddell, the first person born in China to win an Olympic gold medal, to the people of Asia before, during and after the Beijing Olympics.
Most of the itinerary is at http://RichDrama.com/Itinerary, and the three unknown nations are Taiwan, Japan and Singapore. We're still waiting to hear back.
Among the highlights are seeing the documentary that I helped write and for which I set up a number of interviews. We're still hoping for more funding to come in before we begin filming the dramatizations in which I'll play Eric Liddell. Find out more at http://RichDrama.com/Olympics. Then I'll perform the play between the closing ceremony of a sports camp and before the opening ceremonies of the Olympics at 08/08/08, 8:08:08. The next night Jim Hudson Taylor will tell of his remembrances of Eric Liddell when they were interned together during World War II.Some of our performances are in nations where it's unrealistic for venues to even cover expenses, so if you'd like to help us invest in the people of Asia with a tax-deductible gift visit http://RichDrama.com/Olympics.
I'm finishing this note while I wait for my flight which has been delayed four hours. That puts me into the Hong Kong Airport after 11:00pm. I wasn't expecting that when I agreed to speak and perform at a luncheon the next day at noon (midnight my time) and again that night at 6pm (6am my time). We're Hoping for Stamina! The good news is that they just gave me my seat assignment. They were oversold, so knowing I actually have a seat is a relief!Thanks so much for Hoping with us!
Rich & Joyce Swingle
http://RichDrama.com
Performing in Hong Kong
I'll be performing in Hong Kong next week. Here's the flyer...
Rich
Come celebrate the spirit of the Olympics with former 1924 Olympic gold medal champion, Eric Liddell. Come and see what life in China was like after the Olympics for Eric Liddell. Come join us and our special out of town guest for an evening of entertainment. Don't miss this magnificent off-broadway performance. It is dinner theatre at ECC! Bring a friend, your family.
When: Saturday, August 9th, 2008
Where: 3/F South Tower, YMCA, 41 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Time: dinner buffet @ 6:30pm
Cost: Adult $200 / Children (ages 5-12) $100.
Tickets are on sale now!
Note: simulated gun shot will be fired during performance
________________________________________________________________________
There are a few spaces left for the dinner event, please contact Jennifer Lui at 2723-4777 or Jennifer@ecchk.org to reserve tickets.
As for Sunday, there are two services held at 9:30am and 11:30am at the 4/F assembly hall of the YMCA, the same building as the Friday and Saturday events.
Running the Race in China
A couple of articles have come out in the British press about China's interest in Eric Liddell right now on the eve of the Beijing Olympics. They are focusing on the newest biography to be written and translated to Chinese, Running the Race. There's one from The Glasgow Herald that isn't online yet, but the Telegraph reports, "Eric Liddell's story to set Chinese hearts racing."
Our new night light
If you've missed how miraculous this view is, click "June 2008" under "Archives" in the right column. Scroll down to June 1.
JBH on youtube
I just received the following note from the producers of Judah Ben Hur. I played about five minor roles in the Singapore production, including Pontius Pilate and Simonides.
Now they're hoping to bring it to Broadway.
It has such a phenomenal message!
Please help us increase our hit rate on YouTube...
Rich
Begin forwarded message:
From: Art & Ellen SanbornDate: July 28, 2008 3:11:22 PM EDTDear All,
Our musical, Judah Ben-Hur is definitely on the move. We had a preview a few days ago in Manhattan and are very encouraged. It was the first time our corporate team (Lawyer, Marketing, GM, Press, Producers, etc.) were all together in one place as well as possible investors. We will have more news soon. For now we wanted to follow up on a suggestion from our Press consultant. We have clips of Judah Ben-Hur on Youtube .There is the 3-minute version...There are also two music videos (both are love songs from the show). Those are....."I believe in Love" -
"I Remember You"By going and viewing these videos, you are helping us out a ton. We can then show possible investors the number of hits we've had to our videos to prove that the public is interested in this. Also, if you'd like to forward this on to everyone else you know (or think would be interested in it), that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!
Art, Ellen & David
Rich Swingle
@ The Helen Hayes Theatre
240 W 44th St Ste 7
New York, NY 10036
That's just like the Lord
Two great conductors
It epitomized the theme I've seen this year as artists have shared the spotlight. John Kirby was willing to let me direct our play before he got there. We double cast the women's roles, and they helped each other develop the characters.
I don't know if the other departments were sharing so unselfishly, but if Andrew and David's prayer is any indication, I'd say the theme was broader than theatre.
#1 version
Renewed
Honors
Brandon is in the post-college division. Lydia and Kaelen, pictured below, are in high school and college, respectively.
He Quiets Wild Hearts
Shining Lights
Lydia Sewell performed the role of Emily in a monologue from Our Town.
Superman saves the day!
Happy Fourth of July
John Keddie's biography on Eric Liddell, Running the Race has been translated to Chinese and is now available in China.
Here's an article that's been translated into English by Google: Running life - dedication, born in China: China's Olympic champion
Have fun!
Greetings from John & Nathan
New members
Pulled away from the gate
Late flights at LGA
They're down to a single working runway at LaGuardia Airport, so I'm landing in Denver minutes before my flight for Ontario, CA, is due to take off. And I thought I wouldn't get a workout in today!
I'm heading west for the Christians in Theatre Arts National Conf ( http:CITA.ORG )
Last time I sprinted through a mile-high terminal I was coughing up a storm. I only have to cover 14 gates this time, which is much better.
If I don't post again before 1:33 Pacific Time I made it.
A miraculous view!
Yes, that's the Empire State Building we can see from our window. We move in soon.
August 18, 2013
We've LOVED being in this miraculous apartment. This morning, during Joyce's sermon she told the story of how God opened things up for us to get into this amazing space.
For the whole sermon click here.
Here are some shots from a lightning storm...
We found a great translation
We've found a wonderful translation of Tartuffe by Donald M. Frame for the MasterWorks Festival.
Another drafts folder
This one was from our planning session for MasterWorks, which starts in three weeks! I understand Winona Lake, IN, is now looking much more like the summer haven we all love!
The Year of Living Biblically
Joyce enjoyed, and I'm still enjoying, The Year of Living Biblically by AJ Jacobs.
So I was glad to see a condensed version in Relevant Magazine: My Biblical Year.
So I was glad to see a condensed version in Relevant Magazine: My Biblical Year.
The Miraculous Surgery
On May 17 my wife, Joyce, was a part of a prayer team praying for her sister, Amy, who was going to have a brain tumor removed on May 20. The doctors had told her that part of the tumor was wrapped around nerves that control swallowing, so they were going to leave that part of the tumor and treat it with radiation. Joyce felt led to pray that the tumor would cluster so that the tumor could be completely removed. Before the operation the surgeon reconfirmed the need to follow up with radiation. I was there when the surgeon came out, and he told us that the tumor had somehow clumstered together and they were able to remove it completely. No radiation will be needed, and he won’t need to see her again for another year.
The next morning Amy’s husband, Wallie said to the surgeon, “So, I understand there’s a chance that you won’t need to do radiation?” The surgeon replied, “There’s no chance we’ll do radiation. We got it all.” Wallie pressed, “Will you have to do another MRI to make sure it’s all gone?” The surgeon said, “I was in there. There’s nothing left.”
On May 24 Amy was released. Her kids, who were quite excited to have their mom home again.
The next morning Amy’s husband, Wallie said to the surgeon, “So, I understand there’s a chance that you won’t need to do radiation?” The surgeon replied, “There’s no chance we’ll do radiation. We got it all.” Wallie pressed, “Will you have to do another MRI to make sure it’s all gone?” The surgeon said, “I was in there. There’s nothing left.”
On May 24 Amy was released. Her kids, who were quite excited to have their mom home again.
Holy fire
This statue is near Mt. Shasta in northern California. I took it on the way to perform at the church that was pastored by Mike Yakonelli before his untimely death. His son, Mark, set up the performance, and Mike's widow still attends, as do many of the folks mentioned in Mike's books.
Allow God to Love You
Mark Yaconelli, who ran against me in high school cross country and track we realized, is closing strong. He's sending us forth not as artists and speakers, but as spiritual leaders. His greatest assignment to us is to wait upon the Lord. He said, "Cancer is our Sabbath." So many look forward to getting sick because we don't set aside time to rest. When someone gets cancer they spend time contemplating life as they rest. As spiritual leaders we must spend that kind of intense contemplation on Life even when we're healthy.
He encourages us to keep things small, to follow the thread. The Artist sees the big picture, but He wants us to contemplate on the present moment.
Rain of Grace
They're doing it again!
Dad's TBM
From last year...
We were just at the Evergreen museum that hosts Howard Hughes' Spruce Goose (though he preferred to call it the Flying Boat). It's in McMinnville, Oregon, home of the News-Register, the paper for which I was a correspondent and photographer while I was in college.
One of the planes in the museum was this TBM my dad flew before I was born. He writes:
On August 3, 1966 I
flew TBM N5260V (the plane pictured here) from El Mirage California to Chico. The total flight time was 4 hours including the flight test after installing a different engine. It caught on fire when we first started it, so we had to repair some cowling fasteners and wireing. Most of the side glass was gone and it was full of sand, so I needed goggles to see. Aero Union bought 3 TBMs and 1 PV-2 from a defunct company, probably Riverside Aircraft. Of the 3 TBMs I was the only one that made it non-stop. The others had to land for repairs.Dad
CITA National
There was just a dance that blew me away. Most near me were sobbing by the end of it. Not a word spoken, but it was a profound exploration of marriage and death. The choreographer, Colin Harbinson spoke on the death of a dream.
He said that many artists have been wounded in some way: don't live in your woundedness. As artists we should be leading people out of a place of death into Life.
He had a project in China that died, but 15 years later he was invited back to produce The Messiah. The paper ran an article titled, "The Messiah touches people."
A powerful reminder
Released!
Joyce's sister was cleared for release from the hospital tomorrow morning! Thanks for all the prayers and notes of encouragement! I'll pass them along.
Rich
Rich
Looks good
We just visited Amy in the recovery room. She was smiling and in good spirits. Thanks again for your prayers!
Rich
Rich
Completely successful!
The surgeon just came out to tell us that it went better than expected! They were concerned because the brain tumor had wound around the nerves that control swallowing. They were going to remove them and then treat it with radiation, but when they got inside it was all in one lump, as we had prayed. They won't do radiation at all unless something returns, but we're praying that it won't. Thanks for joining with us in prayer!
Rich
Rich
It's out!
The brain tumor was removed successfully! They expect another hour or so to finish up. Thanks for your continuing prayers.
Rich
Rich
Please pray for Joyce's sister
Joyce's younger sister is undergoing an operation to remove a benign brain tumor.
At this point, the initial incisions have been made; the doctors told her husband that it is going well, but will probably be a four hour surgery.
Please continue to pray for
perfect removal of the tumor,
that the tumor itself be contained in one easily removed lump,
against any brain damage itself;
that the neural networks regrow and reform as God intended them;
that the effects of the surgery and anesthesia be easily overcome and healed from;
that salvation and peace would come to the entire household as a result of God's faithfulness today;
in praise to the Living God whose love is too great to express in human words and whose joy abounds in the hearts of His beloved.
Thank you so much.
With love,
Pastor Joyce
Prince Caspian soundtrack
I'm loving the Prince Caspian soundtrack! I've been playing it over and over again. I'm bummed that I couldn't get there opening weekend because I was at the GI Film Festival with Ken Wales. We're hoping it will do even better the second weekend than it did the first. That would be a miracle, but we know those are possible. If you haven't seen it yet, don't let this week go by. It's so important for films like this one to do well in order to make room for others.
Here are some reviews:
'Prince Caspian' pushes 'Iron Man' off throne
‘Prince Caspian’ Rules at the Box Office
Out of the Wardrobe, Into a War Zone
Israel
Here are some that we're planning (subject to change):
"Elijah" on the top of Mt. Carmel
"Peter's Trip to Caesaria by the Sea" at Ceasaria by the Sea's amphitheatre
"Gideon" at Gideon's Spring
"The Last Supper" near the Garden Tomb
"Peter Walks on Water" on the Sea of Gallilee
You're welcome to join us!
For a brochure and to sign up, call 914.287.7620.
Prince Caspian is on it's way!
I just came across a good interview with director, Andrew Adamson. Among other things, he reveals that Michael Apted, who directed Amazing Grace, will helm Voyage of the Dawn Treader, due in 2010. Also, it points out that The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe was in the top 30 films of all time around the globe.
30,000 youth
I'm married to a 15 year-old
Happy Re-Birthday, Joyce!
Love,
Rich
Bev Holloway is looking forward to MasterWorks
As we're getting closer to the start of MasterWorks I was working through details with our faculty. I wanted to share the following note from Bev Holloway. A more complete bio of her work as a casting director in Hollywood is now online at http://MasterWorksFestival.org.
We still have a few more openings in the program, so be sure to get your application in soon and/or send your friends to http://RichDrama.com/MWF.
in Christ alone,
Rich
Begin forwarded message:
Thanks for the opportunity to watch and talk with your actors. I am really
looking forward to it!
Best,
Bev
What a great day!
Then we went to the University of Pennsylvania and filmed the plaque that declares the school motto: "In the dust of defeat as well as in the laurels of victory there is glory to be found." Liddell ran at the Penn Relays there and quoted that motto when he spoke. We also met a fellow named Dan who was kind enough to run against me as Eric Liddell.
Interview with Ben Stein
Here's a recent interview with Ben Stein about his film, which opened this weekend, about how scientists and teachers who believe in Intelligent Design are being censored: Ben Stein is Expelled!
Good films
Joyce and I just watched August Rush. We were both quite moved, and I was a complete mess. It's got some profound stuff in there about how God creates great beauty out of bad choices and orchestrates (pun intended) divine appointments.
We're also going to try to catch Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, in which Ben Stein
For a trailer and theatre locator visit ExpelledtheMovie.com. Encourage Hollywood to make more of this kind of film by seeing it opening weekend.
We're also going to try to catch Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, in which Ben Stein
...realizes that he has been “Expelled,” and that educators and scientists are being ridiculed, denied tenure and even fired – for the “crime” of merely believing that there might be evidence of “design” in nature, and that perhaps life is not just the result of accidental, random chance.
For a trailer and theatre locator visit ExpelledtheMovie.com. Encourage Hollywood to make more of this kind of film by seeing it opening weekend.
Amazing Grace - Just the Black Notes
John Newton was a slave trader before he became a Christian and wrote Amazing Grace. Ken Wales' film Amazing Grace tells part of Newton's story. I watched it again the other night and was moved deeply all over again. This clip shows how the tune that Newton used for Amazing Grace most likely came from a Negro spiritual. It's eight minutes long, but you can get the essence of this profound connection in the first half. The rest is a beautiful rendition of the song.
When I was in Guatemala with Compassion we visited a Compassion site that provided pure drinking water for local residents. This clip shows another group that's working to provide drinking water around the world. Jennifer Connelly's character shows the profound reality of how blessed we are in developed nations.
Theology dramatized
One of my students at MasterWorks told me before joining us that he wanted to focus on being a theologian rather than an actor. I told him the program would enhance his abilities to express theology. I'm glad to see Sadler Mahan is proving that out with the help of another MasterWorks alum, his brother, Cody.
Eric Liddell's story told during the Olympics
Things are shaping up to take Beyond the Chariots to Asia during the Olympic Games this summer.
The play tells the rest of the Chariots of Fire story: How, after breaking the world record in the 1924 Olympics, Eric Liddell spent the rest of his life as a missionary in China.
The play has been translated into Spanish, Chinese and translators are working on Portuguese, French and Korean.
I'm also working on a docudrama about Eric Liddell with a group in Hong Kong. I've written a rough draft of the screen play, and now I'm working to incorporate our newest interviews. I'll get to play Eric Liddell in the dramatizations.
Because the Hong Kong Dollar is linked to the US dollar, the money they've raised for the project is not going as far as they hoped. Also, many funds have been rediverted to help earthquake victims in that region. I've decided to raise some funds to cover my expenses to make their budget go further and therefore raise the quality of the film.
If you'd like to make a donation for either of these endeavors, make checks payable to Westchester Chapel. If you want the money to go toward performances during the Olympics write "Emmaus Arts--Olympics" in the memo line. If you want it to go toward the docudrama, write "Emmaus Arts--Docudrama" in the memo line. Send to:
Westchester Chapel
214 Central Ave.
White Plains, NY 10606
USA
Thanks!
To keep up to date on developments, sign up at RichDrama.com/Updates.
Filled with Hope,
Rich & Joyce
The following is an excerpt from the Off-Broadway performance.
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