Book Review: Role of a Lifetime—Lucinda Secrest McDowell

Finding Out How to Play Your Part

By Lauren Yarger
God’s is directing the script he’s written for our lives, but how do we audition for the role we are to play, learn our lines and develop our character?

These are some of the clever questions addressed by Lucinda Secrest McDowell in her latest book “Role of a Lifetime: Your Part in God’s Story.” (B&H Publishing 2008).

“Role” is an absorbing read, not only because of the practical and wise counsel McDowell offers, but because of the performance art theme linking all of the teaching. McDowell expertly weaves her own experiences, lessons from her walk with the Lord and biblical stories with examples from books, film and theater productions to create a perfect mesh of practical application.

The idea of approaching God’s part in our lives from a theatrical angle appeals to anyone involved in the arts, but McDowell’s insightful treatment of each of the elements, followed by some thought-provoking questions, make for one of the best personal growth studies available on the market, whether you relate to the arts or not.

McDowell takes readers through the process of playing the role in which they have been cast including:
• Auditioning for the part
• Studying the script
• Determining whether or not you’re the hero
• Acting against a villain
• Knowing your backstory
• Staying sharp when the plot thickens

“Role” is an inspiring and helpful script for how to embrace our role and have a dramatic impact while playing it. You can purchase the book here. For more information about the author and her Encouraging Words ministry, click here.

Book Review: 'Through the Storm' – Lynne Spears

Mothering Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears Through Fame and the Tabloids

By Lauren Yarger
What’s it like to be the mother of pop’s biggest singing star? Lynne Spears, mother of Britney and Jamie Lynn Spears, says it’s very much like the life any mother has – and very different.

In “Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World” (Thomas Nelson 2008), co-written with Lorilee Craker, Spears shares memories, personal experiences, photos and poetry to recount background and perspective on the “windstorm” of fame that blew through her and her family’s life.

Most of the first part of the book deals with Spears' own upbringing and the influence of her father, a farmer, and her mother, a war bride from London trying to adjust to life in rural Louisiana. She marries young and tries for years to make that marriage work before it finally succumbs to the stresses of her husband’s alcohol and abuse.

Fame is the last thing the family expects when Britney starts competing in local talent and beauty pageants, a world of backstabbing stage mothers and little children trained in the talent of intimidation. Many criticized Spears for encouraging her daughter in this type of environment, but from the mother’s perspective, all she was doing was helping her child pursue a dream, like any other mother attends sporting events, for example, she says. That was just the first time people thought badly of her as a mother, confides Spears, who later was dragged through the tabloids along with her daughters.

After Britney lands a role on the “Mickey Mouse Club,” she suddenly finds herself in the spotlight and the subsequent, almost overnight fame when her first album “Baby One More Time” hit the charts at number one, is too blinding. She and first love Justin Timberlake split, she annuls a marriage, apparently after the couple sobers up, and then three months later marries Kevin Federline, with whom she quickly has two children. When they split, there are custody disputes following Britney’s apparent mental lapses (the shaving of her head) and substance abuse. Her mother suffers through estrangement from her daughter while watching her turn to a jet-set lifestyle full of parties to numb her pain and watches her daughter’s faith shatter.

Meanwhile, the littlest Spears, Jamie Lynn, also finds fame on television shows “All That” and “Zoey 101.” The teenager ends up pregnant just at the height of Britney’s collapse. Despite Spears’ constant claims that she didn’t realize something would happen or that someone’s intentions weren’t pure, the reader has to ask, “Is anyone really this naïve?” A photographer asking to shoot the young Britney in her bedroom, alone, didn’t raise red flags?

We can’t fail, however, to feel her pain as she describes being torn between trying to be in two places at once to help both of her daughters, both in practically life-or-death situations. Really riveting is the description of Spears attempts to free Britney from the control of her manager, Sam Lufti, who isolates the star and has her committed to a mental institution, and against whom, Britney receives a restraining order with Spears’ help.

Contending with the tabloids, who trash the family’s reputation and make up stories when they can’t get Spears to divulged gossip to journalists posing as friends or by digging through her trash, Spears hangs on to the support of several close friends and her faith in the Lord, which seems genuine and deeply rooted.

Her hope in writing the book is that mothers might be able to learn from her experiences and use what she has learned to better raise their kids. And there’s plenty of good advice throughout, because the love a mother feel for her child is universal, whether or not the child becomes famous.

You can purchase “Through the Storm” here.

Magis' George Drance leads Monologue Workshop

Threads Theater Company presents its March Monologue Workshop, featuring special guest artist instructor George Drance 7 to 10 pm Monday, March 2 at Roy Arias Studios, Studio: 401B/ 4th Floor, 300 West 43rd St. at 8th Avenue (A,C,E train to 42nd Street.

Drance is artistic director of Magis Theatre Company and artist-in-residence at Fordham University Lincoln Center. An Equity actor and professional director who brings an ensemble-oriented and physical approach to acting, Drance's performances have been featured Off-Broadway in The Great Divorce and at La Mama.

The Monologue Workshop is a safe and friendly place to try out new audition material, brush and fix old material, and network with fellow artists. A $20 entrance fee is charged.

Here's a quick preview of the evening's schedule:
7pm: Drance will a 20-minute physical warm-up, so come dressed in loose fitting clothing ready to move.

7:30 to 10 pm: All participants will have the chance to perform one to two monologues of their choice for constructive feedback from the entire group.

Space is limited to 20 participates so RSVP Threads at mitchfjm@yahoo.com (subject line: Monologue Workshop) as soon as possible. In your RSVP e-mail state whether you plan to work on one or two monologues.

For more information on Threads, click here http://www.threadstheatercompany.org/. For more information on Magis Theater Company, click here.

Remembering Gielgud-Burton Hamlet

In 1964, Broadway was treated to a momentous production of Shakespeare's Hamlet, directed by legendary actor Sir John Gielgud and starring Richard Burton. For this historical production, actor Richard Sterne, who was also in the play, secretly tape-recorded much of the rehearsal process. He would later use these recordings to pen his critically applauded book "John Gielgud Directs Richard Burton in Hamlet."

Relive the memories when Sterne is interviewed by Episcopal Actors' Guild Vice President Peter Von Berg 7 pm Tuesday, Feb. 24 at Guild Hall, 1 E. 29th St.

Refreshments will be served. A $10 donation is suggested. All profits from EAG events go directly to the guild's Emergency Aid & Relief Program which provides assistance to actors who find themselves out of work.

For more information about the EAG click here.

Findley Cast in Lucas Film 'Red Tails'

Edwina Findley, founder and CEO of Abundant Life, an organization that provides a wide range of inspirational workshops for young people and their families, has been cast in the upcoming George Lucas film "Red Tails," written by John Ridley and directed by Anthony Hemingway.

The film, which will be shot in Prague and Croatia this Spring, tells the story of the Red Tails, the first group of black airmen to serve as pilot escorts for American bombers in World War II.

FIndley, who appeared for two seasons on HBO's "The Wire" and who recently received rave reviews for her performance as Sadie in Gee's Bend in Philadelphia, also can be seen in an upcoming episode of "Law and Order" as detectve Jasmine Burton. For more information on Edwina and Abundant Life, click here.

Lillenas Cancels Conference

Lillenas Publishing has announced that it will not hold Music or Drama Conferences this year. Many folks citing an inability to travel due to the economic climate sparked the decision.
Lillenas hopes to reschedule the conferences, which offer some of the best instruction in Christian arts, in the near future.

Check Out Gideon Media Arts Conference, Film Festival

The Gideon Media Arts Conference and Film Festival is shaping up to be a great time of learning and networking from May 31- June 4 at the LifeWay Conference Center in Ridgecrest, NC.

Gideon gives Christian actors, screenwriters, producers, graphic novelists, graphic artists, directors, singers, songwriters, radio hosts, publishers, filmmakers, writers and novelists among others a place to encourage their talents and an opportunity to develop working and personal relationships that extend long after the event.

Among the faculty are Masterworks' own Torry Martin, comedian, author of numerous books of sketches, writer for Focus on the Family's "Adventures in Odyssey" and winner of the best actor award in Nashville's 24 hour film project the past two years. Now, I'd tell you that just having a chance to hang out with Torry would make this conference worthwhile, but I'd be prejudiced. The rest of the keynote faculty, highlighted below, are proof that this conference offers some great instruction and mentoring possibilities. For more information, click here.

Nancy Stafford has been a regular on five TV series, including five years as Andy Griffith's law partner on "Matlock", and three years on the Emmy- winning "St Elsewhere". She's had recent appearances on "The Mentalist", "Judging Amy", and "ER", starred in several TV movies, including "Moment of Truth: A Child Too Many" and "Deadly Invasion", and co-stars with Randy Travis in the feature film "The Wager".

Paul McCusker, Peabody Award-winning writer and director of the audio drama "Bonhoeffer: The Cost of Freedom" along with the multiple award-winning audio dramatizations of The Chronicles of Narnia, A Christmas Carol, and his original series The Luke Reports (honored as Best Audio Drama by the prestigious Audie Awards). He also created The Father Gilbert Mysteries, which will soon be released as a series of novels for Howard Books.

Art Ayris' first film "The Touch" won several film fests and then was picked up for distribution by Imageworks Entertainment. He heads Kingstone Media Group, a central Florida based publishing and media company. The screenplay version of the company's first graphic novel won Best TV Movie in Hollywood's Next Success contest and was requested by Warner Bros. and Intermedia. His novel on Sudanese slavery, which was optioned for a major motion picture, is due out early 2009.

Cindy Kenney is an award-winning author, editor, international speaker and seminar leader. She has worked in publishing for over twenty years, serving as publishing director and senior managing editor and writer for two entertainment companies - Big Idea Productions (VeggieTales) and Exclaim Entertainment.
Cindy has published over 60 books.

Bonnie Johnson has had been in more than 50 feature films/TV movies and commercials and has worked with such stars as Denzel Washington, Tommy Lee Jones and Robin Williams. You might remember her as the bank teller who got robbed by Ewan McGregor and Steve Buscemi in Tim Burton's film "Big Fish" or as Roy Scheider's wife in "The Punisher." Her favorite co-star is her husband, Ted. They recently played Andie MacDowell's parents in "The 5th Quarter."

Kyle Saylors is co-founder of Saylors Brothers Entertainment. He has produced content or freelanced for NBC Sports, FOX, PAX, MTV, BET, Super Bowl Pre-Game Special, and more. wiHe produced or directed music videos with Sony, Epic Records, Master P, Grammynners, and others. His projects have also been featured on "MTV's Most Expensive Music Videos", Forbes, Time Magazine, and Newsweek. Current projects include, "Facing the Fat", (documentary following the world’s longest food fast), "Hollywood on Fire" (Jane Russell and Eric Close) and "Inspired Ambition" (prime-time syndicated reality series airing on FamilyNet).

News in Christian Arts; The Haven; WorshipInstitute; Tangle; Mac McConnell

The Haven, a fellowships for artists in New York City, offers two programs:
Of Life and Death 7 to 9 pm today, free at Calvary Episcopal Church, 61 Gramercy Park North at Park Avenue.

The Haven community welcomes curator John Knauss and music by Zach Williams. It's a new season of fellowship, accountability, worship, prayer, and creative collaboration. Click here for more details.

Concert 7:30pm Feb. 24, 2009. Charge at the door, Le Poisson Rouge, 158 Bleecker Street at Thompson. Harpist Bridget Kibbey and cellist Emily Hope Price share an evening of folk and contemporary music.


WorshipInstitute Offers Two Institutes
Northeast Worship Institute April 23-25 Philadelphia area
Pastors David Farina Sr and David Farina Jr will host joined by Steve Fry, Bob Sorge, Morris Chapman, Jose Dugand and the WorshipInstitute leadership team.

For more information on this event, click here.

Unveiled Worship Institute July 8–10, Dallas

Pastor Lawrence Kennedy and Worship Pastor Brian Ming will convene the institute at North Church in Dallas. Fry will be co-hosting the institute with Ming, Bob Sorge, Jason Upton, Rita Springer, Lindell Cooley and David Baroni.

God Tube, the Christian alternative to YouTube has changed its name. Check it out at http://www.tangle.com/

Bible Actor Mac McConnell will present his Christian drama, "Forever Changed" followed by a book signing of his historical novel by the same name 1:30pm March 6 at Covenant Village, 9211 W. Broward Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL. Find out more about Mac's ministry by scrolling down on the right of this page and clicking on the OneWay link.

LifeWay's Worship Leader Conference

Early registration for LifeWay's Worship Leadership Conference ends March 1. The event will be held at two locations:

June 29 - July 3
Ridgecrest, NC
Ridgecrest Conference Center

July 27 - 31
Glorieta, NM
Glorieta Conference Center

For information and to register, click here.

In addition, LifeWay's Worship Project launched its new digital product SongMap™, a web-based application that allows users to create custom arrangements of songs and produce corresponding audio files and sheet music.

For information, click here.

Comedian Torry Martin Presents Benefit Performance in Nashville

Torry Martin. Todd Hibbs photo

Lessons in Laughter
"Lessons in Laughter" featuring Torry Martin's stories about life in Alaska will be presented at 7 pm Friday at First Baptist Church, 108 7th Avenue South, Nashville. The performance will benefit The Lost Boys Foundation. The foundation aids refugees from the Sudan who have settled in the Nashville area.For tickets and more information, call 615-227-6443 or visit http://www.blogger.com/www.thelostboysfoundation.org.

The award-winning author of sketches for church services, writer for Focus on the Family's Adventures in Odyssey and award winning actor enjoys being able to use his gifts to help churches and organizations.

"Times are tough," Torry said, "but that doesn't mean people don't still need to hear about God's love. I'm happy to help wherever I can."

Hearing that many churches are struggling to reach out to their communities with fewer available funds due to a decrease in giving because of the economic crisis, Torry has worked with Masterwork Productions to offer a special "Flat Rate Tour." "The rates might be flat, but the jokes won't be," he quipped.

Book Torry at a Discounted Rate

During 2009, Torry will accept requests from churches unable to to afford the full fee of his performance plus all of the extra expenses for travel and hotel. The flat rate tour will allow churches to book Torry for the flat rate of $1,500 that includes the fee and all travel expenses. Masterwork Productions will book the flight and hotel so you don't have to. Only a limited number of performances will be accepted as Torry's writing and travel schedule permits, so don't delay.

Compare this rate with other possibilities and act right away to be part of the tour. Contact us at http://www.blogger.com/masterworkproductions@yahoo.com.

Torry's humor is great for an outreach event, a men's retreat or part of the Sunday service. Combine a performance with workshops for your creative teams on

-- Sketch Writing Part 1

-- Sketch Writing Part 2

-- Finding Your Calling/Discovering Your Gifts

-- The Art of Collaborative Writing

-- The Secrets to Free Publicity

-- Story Telling/Monologues

-- Comedy as Outreach

I'm in the Mood for Love

It's that time of year again, when minds turn to Valentine's Day and love. While feelings expressed through the giving of flowers or of a card smothered in hearts are nice, they don't define what love is. Relationships are hard and we don't always have an accurate picture of what love is in the face of dry spells, difficulties or even pleasure, for that matter (how many young girls still hear, "But if you loved me you would"?)

Many also can be confused by the concept that God loves them. If your earthly father was unkind or abusive, for instance, it might be difficult for you to imagine what a father's love should be like. If you've suffered the breakup of a marriage or betrayal at the hands of someone you love, it might be difficult for you to imagine that you can trust anyone's love, even God's.

When it's hard to know what love is, and you're doubting whether it exists or can be part of your life, look to its creator and see it reflected in the face of His Son. Jesus came, lived, died and lives again because He loves you and because God the Father loved you so much that we was willing to sacrifice His own child so that you could live and have a relationship with Him.

When you turn to the creator's own definition of love, as written in 1Corinthians 13, you see a way to put love into action:
Love is patient
Who's the person in your life you're sure will never change or love you the way they should? Don't give up. God hasn't given up on them either.
Love is kind
Abuse and betrayal aren't kind, so they are not acts of love.
It does not envy
Don't waste love by worrying about what you don't have or what others have. Embrace what you do have.
It does not boast
You don't deserve God's love and probably don't fully understand it. Be quiet and accept it.
It is not proud
You aren't perfect. You always can learn more about how to love.
It is not rude
You're not the only one who received God's love. Share it with others. God loves them just as much as He loves you.
It is not self-seeking
Think about what you can do for someone instead of what they can do for you.
It is not easily angered
It's easier not to get angry if your thoughts are on others instead of on yourself
It keeps no record of wrongs
So many churches would be happier, more productive places if their people would just forgive each other instead of letting disagreements fester.
Love does not delight in evil
God is love and evil has no part in God, so if you embrace evil, you're holding on to the enemy.
But rejoices with the truth
The truth will set you free and enable love to flow.
It always protects
We try to keep those we love from being hurt. When you love someone, their pain is yours So it is with God who feels your pain while counting your every tear and seeking to comfort you with His words.
Always trusts
He is unfailing. If you can't trust a particular person, you still can love him or her and trust God.
Always hopes
If you know Jesus, there is never a situation that can arise or a place in life where you can be that hope is not there also.
Always perseveres
Hard times are a given, but love it the way through them. He never will leave us.

Happy Valentine's Day from the creator. (1 Corinthians 13 NIV)

Review: Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession by Anne Rice

An Atheist Loses Faith and Returns to God
By Lauren Yarger
She grew up Catholic, wanting to be a nun, then turned away from the church and God to live as an atheist for 38 years until she found her faith again.

“Called Out of Darkness: A Spiritual Confession,” (Knopf 2008) is an honest, vulnerable account of Anne Rice’s spiritual journey, which, the author tells us, is cloaked in the plots and themes of her wildly popular Vampire Chronicles series featuring Lestat, among others. (Lestat was featured in a short-lived musical on Broadway with music by Elton John and in a film starring Tom Cruise).

Rice recounts her sheltered childhood, attending mass every day in New Orleans with dreams of joining the sisterhood and becoming a saint. Virtually isolated from the outside world through high school, Rice never quite fits in with children her own age, yet doesn’t belong in the world of the adults around her. It’s only after she copes with her mother’s alcohol-related death and goes off to college that Rice realizes there is a whole world of information and experience which she has yet to explore.

She begins to question what she feels are “anti-art, anti-mind” teachings of the church, especially when she meets people she likes who are good people, making their own decisions and not governed by the Catholic Church, or any church for that matter. A priest tells her she’ll never find anything but misery outside of the Catholic Church and that’s a defining moment for Rice. She departs “no longer a Catholic.”

Once she leaves the church, she leaves God too, because for her, the two are inseparable. She stops talking to God and looking to him for help. “Interview With the Vampire,” written following the death of her young daughter, is a lament to her lost faith, Rice says. Some 21 other books follow during her atheist years, all with characters who struggle to find meaning and good and evil in the atheistic world in which they live as outcasts. Researching those characters and studying ancient history lays the foundation for her return to faith, though she clings to her atheism with “a martyr’s determination” because she believes it to be true. When she finally loses her faith in the non-existence of God, she returns to the Catholic Church, different since the pre-Vatican II days of her youth, and finds God in a personal way.

The autobiography is revealing, if tedious at times. The first 120 or so pages deal with her childhood in minute detail, and while this might be of great interest to the fans who have come to love Rice after years of reading her novels, it proves superfluous for someone wanting the bottom line of what turned her off and then back onto God. A tendency to lead the reader to the edge of expectation and then say, “but wait, let me go back first” proves a little wearying as well, but overall, the blessing of Rice’s experience is worth the read. She feels that her writing now is for God and she’s written about the life of Jesus in her “Christ the Lord novels, “Out of Egypt” and “The Road to Cana.” “Angel Time,” the first in a series of metaphysical thrillers in a new “Songs of the Seraphim” series, is due out in October.

To buy “Called Out of Darkness,” click here.

For more information on Anne Rice go to http://www.annerice.com.

Haven Resumes Activities in NYC

The Haven, a community of Christian artsts in New York City, returns for a new season of fellowship, accountability, worship, prayer, and creative collaboration.

Upcoming events:
Zach Williams in concert 8 pm Feb. 6 at the Canal Room, 285 West Broadway at Canal Street. Rock out with Haven’s own Zach Williams, Sarah Fullen and the Stanleys, and the Gregory Brothers.

International Arts Movement Feb. 26-28 all day at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 200 Chambers St. at Greenwich Street. This year’s IAM conference focuses on art in action. Discounted tickets are available through The Haven.

For more information, contact info@havennyc.com

Transforming Culture: A Model for Faith and Film in Hollywood

I just spoke with Christine Gunn-Danforth. We were connected by Ken Wales, who thinks very highly of her. She spoke so passionately about how performing arts and media can effect the culture that I just had to order her book.

Audition Your Monologue

Threads Theater Company, a New York based company that exists to tell stories that start inclusive conversations about faith, invites actors to try out new audition material, brush and fix old material, and network with fellow artists in a safe and friendly environment.

The February Monologue Workshop will be offered Monday, Feb. 9 from 7 to 9 pm at Roy Arias Studios, 300 W. 43rd St. 4fl (Studio 401B)on the south west corner of 43rd and 8th.

All participants will have the chance to perform one to two monologues of their choice for written and oral constructive feedback.

Professional actor and Threads Company member Frank Mihelich (Magis Theatre Company member, and Columbia University MFA Acting alum '04) will lead a 30-minute physical warm-up, so wear loose fitting clothing.

Space is limited to 20 participates. There is a $15 fee for the workshop. RSVP to: mitchfjm@yahoo.com (subject line: Monologue Workshop) as soon as possible and state whether you will present one or two monologues.

For more information about Threads, go to http://www.threadstheatercompany.org/index.htm

Review: Christian Writers’ Market Guide 2009

The “Other Bible” is Out

By Lauren Yarger
Sally Stuart’s newest Christian Writers’ Market Guide has arrived for 2009. Affectionately known by writers as the “Christian Writer’s Bible,” the guide is a comprehensive reference for Christian writing markets with listings of book and magazine publishers, specialty markets and other helps and resources for writers.

This year’s guide also includes a CD with contacts for 1,000 markets. With its contact information and guidelines for submission, this reference book is a must-have for any writer in the Christian market. Publishers are listed by topic and alphabetically. You also can find information about writer’s conferences (Sally is a popular speaker at many of them), agents and editorial services.

Sally keeps you updated with changes to information in the guide on her friendly blog at http://stuartmarket.blogspot.com.

To order the book, click here or visit Sally at http://www.stuartmarket.com.