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Jason, and anybody else who was in the Dordt production or is familiar with the play, I have a question. Having recently moved back into a pocket of Christian Reformed candyland, I have been thinking about this play steadily for several weeks. I want to do it. I loved the production at Dordt. It seemed to be genuinely Christian theater without being overly cheesey, though in Wisconsin, cheesey has a definite place.
I think the response here would be very positive. Heck, I know it would. And the more I think about it, the more I think “the bigger the better”. I’d like to rent out a larger theater. Get a big old, multi-church choir involved and really go all out. Ask churches for support and everything.
I recently spoke to my high school English teacher and Drama guru Art Dejong and he sounded very interested in helping me. Could anybody give me some feedback on what they thought of the show, and what the potential of it may be in a larger arena than Dordt/Sioux Center?
Right now I just want to put out some feelers, both here and elsewhere. Thanks in advance for your help guys.

Great idea, Norb! I do remember seeing the play and being very impressed. I haven’t looked at it closely. What exactly did you want to do with the play in a CRC community, bring everyone together, struggle over certain issues? Have a smashing time putting on a good show? In other words, why do you think that play would be good for that community?

The Sheboygan area has a large Protestant population. It is just developing as a more artistic community. It seems to be that it would be a prime time and location for a play such as this.
The more I think about it, the more I am thinking “the bigger the better”. A big show, despite obvious complications, could bring several churches and denominations into an artistic endeavor with a fantastic message.
I suppose Simon posts once in a while. I think I’ll give him a call one of these days. Were you in the production Grant? I can’t remember.

I was not in that production, but I think it’s a wonderful idea. This is the kind of suggestion that the network section of our site will be full of once it’s up and operational. But there’s no need to wait. This is a perfect thing to make happen with the use of *cino right now.

If you get funding from the local churches for it, you could “hire” Erik Van Wyk from Dordt to do the set and ask Joel Zuidhof (who is in theatre sound design at Purdue) and see if Jason (who will be back shortly from Canada) wants to direct or act in it or something. And we can think about making it a *cino promotion and/or fund-raising thing, since this kind of connectingness is what *cino is all about. Such an event will help people experience the connectedness that we’re trying to provide with *cino.

Good thoughts Grant. Thanks.
Remember how after graduation we were all going to start a theatre in Chicago with James Van Dyk and Lopez and those guys. Man. Ideology. Isn’t it wonderful?
Stay tuned. I’ll get more to you when I think more actively about it.
In the meantime, any other thoughts are very welcome. Right now this is a premature brain baby. It’ll take lots of thought and work to really make it go.

A word on that—

I thought the play was great as well (though I didn’t act in it or anything) and more power to you in putting it up.

I did talk to a few people who had a problem with the rather large painting of Jesus that was used for the final scene. Second commandment interpretation and all.

Just thought you might like to know . . .

Norb,

Rock and roll! I’ve got a script. Should I send you a copy? Actually, I think it would be nearly perfect for the audience and situation you described. The show need not be as “big” as it was at Dordt. Actually, there are only eight cast members plus some extras if you want. Do it, man!

And who says the DC alum theatre thing will never happen? I’m planning on it.