Today's musical guest sang of Old Testament heroes called to impossible challenges set to the tune of Johnny B. Goode.
Jonah Be Good
Today's musical guest sang of Old Testament heroes called to impossible challenges set to the tune of Johnny B. Goode.
The World's First Bicycle Rickshaw Theatre
My friend, Hunter Barnes, is creating the world's first bicycle rickshaw theatre, and he's invited me to perform on it once it's completed. Check it out and contribute if you can.
West Coast Premiere
En route to Oregon
Leaving DC
The Amazing Month of MasterWorks!
We had an amazing month at the MasterWorks Festival! In this photo we're praying for international and Off-Broadway producer, John Forbes, who shared his life-transforming testimony as a part of his master class.
 |
| Bev Holloway with student, Irene Kao, and instructor, Patricia Mauceri. |
Bev Holloway, casting director for Like Dandelion Dust, Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius, The Ultimate Gift and about 30 others, took time away from directing Beauty and the Beast in LA to do a casting session with our students, having them read from some of her recent projects.
Larry Poland came out to preach one of our sermons and teach a master class. Larry founded Mastermedia International, which ministers to executives in the media. They produce a prayer calendar of the top 365 media leaders and cultural influencers.
Patricia Mauceri (One Life to Live) and Susie Somerville Brown (CATS on Broadway) returned as faculty, bringing even sharper insights to our students from their decades of experience in professional theatre, television and film.
Our main play this year was The Miracle Worker, which tells the story of Annie Sullivan's struggle to help the blind and deaf Helen Keller understand that everything has a word. I got to preach a sermon on the fourth Sunday of MasterWorks, and I drew upon the strong images in the play. When I got back home I preached a similar sermon, Finding Our Identity in the Upper Room, which is available on our church's website, WestchesterChapel.org. After both services we offered a foot washing, and in both settings many came forward to wash and receive.
The play itself was quite well-received. There were less than 20 seats available during all four performances, and for our closing show about 20 people sat on the floor or stood.
A month before MasterWorks began several from the theatre program were involved in the upcoming film For the Glory. To find out more about their involvement click here.
Hannah Cushingham, who was a theatre student last year, drove up for a day to be baptized by my bride, Joyce, an ordained minister who served the MasterWorks community as lead counselor, and myself. Hannah led the way, and by the end of the month we had baptized seven, most at or in Winona Lake, the site of our festival. Many of their parents read scripture and prayed over them. Joyce baptized them officially, and then I got to dunk them. Now Hannah is doing an internship at the International House of Prayer.
To audition for MasterWorks 2011 visit MasterWorksFestival.org.
To see last year's report and the many comments accompanying it click here.
To see what students have said about the program over the years click here.
Photo credits from the top: Kevin Hanse (MasterWorks photographer), courtesy of Irene Kao, Rich Swingle, Paula Bernhardt, Rich Swingle, courtesy of Hannah Cushingham.
For more photos visit the album MWF 2010 at Facebook.com/RichDrama
Premieres Friday
Here's a great article on Jim Stovall: Tulsa-made movie premieres Friday.
Stovall is one of the producers of A Christmas Snow--the film premiering Friday in which I play the role of Claud--and the writer of the novel The Ultimate Gift, which became the movie that is still the number one best-selling family drama film at Amazon and Walmart. The casting director, Bev Holloway, has been a master class instructor at MasterWorks three times.
Stovall is one of the producers of A Christmas Snow--the film premiering Friday in which I play the role of Claud--and the writer of the novel The Ultimate Gift, which became the movie that is still the number one best-selling family drama film at Amazon and Walmart. The casting director, Bev Holloway, has been a master class instructor at MasterWorks three times.
Skype Works
Professor Martin brought Rich in for a video lecture using Skype.
Thank you again so much for today! I had many students come up to me afterward thanking me for bringing you to the class. I think for a lot of seniors, as they approach graduation, it can feel overwhelming trying to figure out the next steps. So to have heard from you, someone living and working successfully in NYC, proved to be incredibly valuable to them.
--Christopher Martin, M.F.A.
Assistant Professor, Theatre
Oral Roberts University
A new review
I just stumbled across this new review on Amazon for Memoirs of a Hollywood Adventure by Mac Nelson, who was a master class instructor at MasterWorks last year...Yes, there are the requisite references to his personal experiences with the famous and the infamous--Was Jerry Lewis a "nice guy" or not, what was Roy Rogers really like, are Hollywood producers just like the movies portray them, and just who was that blood soaked young man Mac enountered running down the street the night a famous Hollywood murder took place? This book is fun to read as a true and fascinating tale of one young man's journey from backwater Missisippi to Tinseltown, What makes it special is that its more than just an account of what its like to land broke and alone on Hollywood Blvd and trying to make it BIG in the movies. It's also an insightful, heartwarming coming of age story--a journey of insight discovered and maturity found that results in the acheivement of a kind of spiritual Oscar--for "best human being". If you like stories about Hollywood, if you ever wondered what it would have been like if you had sought your big break in the movies, and especially if you are a young person planning a career in film you will want (strike that...you NEED) to read this book.
David Bloodgood
Orlando, FL
Skyping with ORU
I just got off a Skype call with students at Oral Roberts University. I could see them in their classroom and they could see me in my office at The Helen Hayes Theatre, the smallest Broadway theatre. It was wonderful. What a bright bunch. When we were done I took them on a tour of the offices where Tony, Emmy and Oscar nominatees and winners work. They said it was very David Letterman.
Turns out that 15 of the students performed in A Christmas Snow, and 11 of those were actually in the Italian restaurant scene where I played Claud, the French chef. How cool is that!
I wish I could be at the premiere of that but I'll be performing in my fourth film that very day.
Turns out that 15 of the students performed in A Christmas Snow, and 11 of those were actually in the Italian restaurant scene where I played Claud, the French chef. How cool is that!
I wish I could be at the premiere of that but I'll be performing in my fourth film that very day.
Like Dandelion Dust spreads out
Like Dandelion Dust is amazing! So powerful. Mira Sorvino deserves another Oscar and Barry Pepper should get one, too!
It's opening in more theatres this Friday. Vote with your tickets for more films like it.
Bev Holloway, who has been a master class instructor for the past three years at MasterWorks, was the casting director. Chad Gunderson, who was a producer on A Christmas Snow, in which I play Claud, a French chef in an Italian restaurant, was a producer on Like Dandelion Dust, and he also plays a police officer.
7 Emmys for Autism
I watched Temple Grandin, the story of a remarkable woman who not only overcame her autism but used it to literally change the world. The film was introduced by a gentleman who has lived with Asperger's Syndrome (the highest form of autism). After the amazing film was over the gentleman fielded questions about Asperger's and autism and how it was portrayed in the film. Temple's autism allowed her to see strong pictures and recall them at will. The gentleman who spoke to us was, from the time he was a child, able to listen to a piece of music once and play it perfectly on the piano.
The film, Temple Grandin, won 7 Emmy Awards, and I think it deserved every one of them. Temple Grandin, herself, was also honored by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 people who most affect our world.
My hat goes off to all who take the challenges of this fallen world and turn them into assets.
An ad from Korea
This video was prepared for my performance and workshop in Korea earlier this month. We now have Korean translation slides available for Big Fish Little Worm as well as Beyond the Chariots, which was translated for performances in China during the Beijing Olympics.
TAM is 10!
Jordan and Israel
We returned to the Holy Land, and helped lead a team of a Christians in Theatre Arts to perform and teach throughout Jordan and Israel May, 2011.
We posted stories and some photos here and more photos to CITAToTheNationsJordanAndIsrael.shutterfly.com.
Click here to see photos from our previous trips.
Connecting with the Cornetts
I got to perform at Bethel Baptist Temple in Cincinnati on Sunday. The church is pastored by the father of Danny Cornett and the father of Audrey Cornett, two actors who have been a part of the MasterWorks program for years. I got this shot with Audrey, where she works at a Christian bookstore.
I kept waiting to take a photo with both of them at once, but Danny had to take off before we could do it. Here's a shot with the rest of the Cornetts:
I kept waiting to take a photo with both of them at once, but Danny had to take off before we could do it. Here's a shot with the rest of the Cornetts:
John Forbes' master class
I just came across this photo of our prayer for John Forbes after he shared his amazing testimony during one of his master classes at The MasterWorks Festival. He is an international and Off-Broadway producer, and he's performed on and Off-Broadway and around the world.
Photo by Kevin Hanse, staff photographer, The MasterWorks Festival.
Emmy's prayer for sight
The little girl in this photo can only see what's right in front of her. Once her parents raise enough money they'll be able to afford a procedure which could give their daughter normal sight. If you're moved by this, as I was, I hope you'll visit their website to see how you can help bring sight in answer to Emmy's prayer: http://EmmysPrayerForSight.com
The Feast of Tabernacles
The rough edit is finished
We just got word that the rough edit is finished on For the Glory, the film in which I play soccer coach Sean Ryan: http://RichDrama.com/ForTheGlory.
En route to a surprise performance
MasterWorks students Danny Cornett, Audrey Cornett and her sister Ashley are along for the ride. Danny's father is driving us to the church his son Jeffery is pastoring.
John Forbes and his nephew return from South Africa
Our friend, John Forbes' nephew Isaiah asked if he could go to Africa with him. John told him he was too young. He asked how old he'd need to be and John said 13. That was years ago. Isaiah is now 13. And so, John took him to Africa.
Here are John and Isaiahs' Blogs:
John:
http://www.john-forbes.blogspot.com/
Isaiah:
http://wwwisaiahforbes.blogspot.com/ (no dot after www)
Hosanna
The dance team at Faith Community Baptist Church danced to this amazing song when I performed Beyond the Chariots in their TOUCH Theatre and Singapore Expo services. Follow the link at http://blog.richdrama.com (Sept 5, 2010) to see their breathtaking performance.
Best Picture
A Christmas Snow, in which I played Claud, a French chef in an Italian resaurant in Tulsa, OK, was awarded best featured film at the XP Media International Film Festival: A Christmas Snow wins Best Feature Film.
A Christmas Snow will be available in stores on online October 8.
A Christmas Snow will be available in stores on online October 8.
A very long day
We actually landed a full half-hour before we left.
What a way to go away
After the Bible study I performed excerpts from Big Fish/Little Worm at their chapel. I was followed by a congressman. He shared that at the time Korea was divided there was only one Christian in congress. Now about 30% are Christian.
FEBC has started a new radio station in an area that has kept them out for 25 years. Whenever they put in a new station Christianity grows, so they're quite excited about this breakthrough.
Crosses over Seoul
Broadcast throughout Asia
This morning I was interviewed on the Far East Broadcasting Company, and the interview will go out to the regions indicated on this map.
After the interview I got to perform Big Fish/Little Worm for Billy Kim and his staff at Far East Broadcasting Company. Dr. Kim is the grandfather of my former theatre student, Aaron Kim, and has worked with Billy Graham, Jimmy Carter, Rick Warren, and many others.
For more photos from FEBC and our current tour of Asia, visit the Asia 2010 photo albums at Facebook.com/RichDrama.
Beyond the Chariots for beyond 5,000
A rooster crowed
Earlier on this trip we performed Beyond the Chariots with Korean translations at Wonchon Baptist Church, here in Suwon.
These performances along with performances and workshops at local high schools and a university were set up by Rev. Joseph Kim, who is the headmaster of Central Christian Academy, and the father of Aaron Kim, who was a theatre student of mine.
For stories from our Korean travels, including our trip to the DMZ, visit RichDrama.com/Korea, and for more photos visit Facebook.com/RichDrama and the photo albums Asia 2010 Part 3 and Asia 2010 Part 4.
Farmers dance
Standing in North Korea
This table marks the border between North and South Korea. Standing in North Korea we prayed for their nation and for the two to be restored. All of the South Koreans that we've spoken to seem to want this. Many families have been separated by the division. The only way to visit them is to cross the bridge of no return. We posted a photo of that earlier.
Praying Korea back together
Joyce and I are in the Demilitarized Zone between North and South Korea. One half of this sphere is missing North Korea. The other half is missing South Korea. This sculpture is a sort of enacted prayer for the reunification of Korea.
You can see photos of the inside of each half of the sphere under the photo album Asia 2010 Part 3 at Facebook.com/RichDrama.
Up from the depths
We just surfaced after walking down into one of four tunnels that the North Koreans created in a plan to launch a surprise attack South Korea in the 70's. This one was revealed by a gentleman who defected to South Korea.
We were unable to take photos in the tunnel itself, but the walls were painted black because when it was discovered the North Koreans said it was a coal mine. There's no coal in the area.
We slept through a typhoon!
Freedom House
Hopeful building
The photo line
Propaganda Village
Bridge of No Return
The most dangerous golf course on earth
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
