Tuesday, February 24, 2009

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.

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Daily Inspiration

The Blind Side

Read about the real life mom from "The Blind Side."

Lifeway: http://www.lifeway.com/article/?id=169816

Guideposts: http://www.guideposts.com/story/sandra-bullock-blind-side-football?page=0,1

Read Matt Mungle's review of the movie at http://www.buddyhollywood.com/.

Lauren Yarger, Bio

Lauren Yarger has written, directed and produced numerous shows and special events for both secular and Christian audiences. She co-wrote a Christian musical version of “A Christmas Carol” which played to sold-out audiences of over 3,000 in Vermont and was awarded the 2000 Vermont Bessie (theater and film awards) for “People’s Choice for Theatre.” She also has written two other dinner theaters, sketches for church services and devotions for Christian artists.

Yarger trained for three years in the Broadway League’s Producer Development Program, completed the Commercial Theater Institute's Producing Three-Day Training and produced a one-woman musical about Mary Magdalene that toured nationally and closed with an off-Broadway run.

In 2008 she was a Fellow at the National Critics Institute at the O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. She writes reviews of Broadway and off-Broadway theater with a Christian perspective for Reflections in the Light (http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com/) and is editor of The Connecticut Arts Connection. She also is a contributing editor for BroadwayWorld.com

She also reviews books for Publisher's Weekly and is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. She formerly was Connecticut theater editor for CurtainUp, a national theater web site bsed in New York and a reviewer for American Theater Web.

She also served as Executive Director of Masterwork Productions, Inc. and worked in arts management for the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford and the Hartford Symphony Orchestra.

She is a freelance writer and member of the Drama Desk, The Outer Critics Circle, The American Theater Critics Association, The League of Professional Theatre Women and The CT Critics Circle.

A former newspaper editor and graduate of the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, Yarger lives with her husband in West Granby, CT and has two adult children.

Copyright Notice

All contents copyright © Lauren Yarger 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013. All rights reserved. For reprint permission, contact masterworkproductions@yahoo.com.

Scripture from THE MESSAGE Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

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