Man! It’s hard to believe that I’ve been doing theatre for almost a quarter of a century. For those of you (like me) who don’t do math, that’s twenty-five years! That’s a long time, y’all! Not too long ago, my husband, Rick, and I were reminiscing about productions we’ve done over the years at churches and at schools and out in our community. He brought up some skits and plays that I’d completely forgotten about, and I brought up some that he’d forgotten, and we literally laughed out loud as the memories of certain people and special moments came flooding back into our minds.
I’d be lying if I said that every moment that we’ve spent in theatre has been joyous. It hasn’t. Like every other aspect of our lives (and yours), there have been ups and downs, but Rick and I both agree that we feel blessed to have had the opportunity to use the gifts that God has given us to minister in the ways that He’s provided. We’ve met some incredible people and seen God work in some amazing ways, and it has brought us a great sense of gratification and joy to have been a part of that. We truly believe the best is yet to come!
Over the years people have asked me, “How do you do what you do? What’s your approach to putting together a theatre production?” In the nearly twenty-five years that I’ve been doing the “drama thang,” my approach has never changed. Now, twenty five years ago, I wouldn’t have been able to articulate that approach because I didn’t understand it myself. I was just doing what seemed “natural,” not realizing I was being led by the Holy Spirit. Today, I understand it a bit better. Today I understand that in doing theatre, step one is build a family.
In the weeks, months, years that we work with people, they become more than just actors, more than just set designers or costume designers or stage managers, what have you. They become family. And while that might not be essential when it comes to just “doing theatre,” it is oh so important when it comes to doing ministry. Because, see, family is about commitment. Family is committed to one another with a common goal and a common love which enables them to conquer obstacles in order to fulfill a common purpose. That’s family.
The people we do theatre with end up being the same people we do life with. We rejoice with one another at birthday parties and at weddings and on days when we just want to hang out together; we cry with one another at funerals; we encourage one another during life’s difficulties, and we pray. Because we are family, we pray for one another . . . always. In short, we love each other on stage and off. And the power in approaching theatre this way is that it allows those of us who are believers to build relationships that help lead others to Christ, and at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. Period.
Step one: Build a family. In the nearly twenty-five years that I’ve been doing theatre, that’s one thing that has never changed, and I’m pretty sure never will.