Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Amazing Grace Musical Will Get Developmental Run in Connecticut

Christopher Smith
The musical Amazing Grace based on the life of John Newton, the former slave trader who wrote the world's most recognized hymn, will get a developmental run at Goodspeed Musical's Norma Terris Theatre in Connecticut this spring.

Composer Christopher Smith also wrote the lyrics and co-wrote the book with Arthur Giron. Gabriel Barre is attached to direct. Kimberly Grigsby served as music director for a recent reading in new York. Rehearsals are scheduled to begin in April, according to a casting notice. Details for the run through June 10 on the developmental Norma Terris Stage, 33 North Main St. in Chester, CT have not been released officially yet. Check back here for information when it becomes available.

Amazing Grace tells the love story based on the life and trials of Newton, told from the point of view of his childhood friend Mary Catlett. She  never loses faith in him and her love, courage and unshakable conviction help to transform his life. Their journey to find the meaning of their own existence will lead them to love, heartbreak and an epic quest to end the scourge of slavery.

Produced by veteran Broadway producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Smoke on the Mountain, Children's Letters to God) Amazing Grace encompasses everything from triumphant anthems to heart rending ballads all set within a love story which transcends time and distance. Copeland was the founding artistic producing director of the former Lamb’s Theatre Company in Times Square.

To listen to the music, visit http://agmusical.com/concept_recordings.html. For more information about the musical, visit http://agmusical.com/index.html.

Monday, January 9, 2012

News Briefs Jan 9-15, 2012

Happy New Year. Here is what is happening in the world of Christian arts:

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Singing Hills a Great Place for Retreats, Events


Masterwork Productions highly recommends Singing Hills Christian Conference Center in Plainfield, NH for your retreat and special event plans in 2012. I have had some wonderfully blessed retreats at the facility in the beautiful, quiet hills of New Hampshire. We are planning some writers events in New England, and hope Singing Hills will be one of the locations.

Singing Hills promotes Jesus Christ through camping, conferences, and retreats. Their friendly staff hosts groups and individuals year-round.

Excellent conference facilities, traditional outdoor camping, and 135 secluded acres to enjoy, Singing Hills is located in the woodlands of Western New Hampshire.
The facility can accommodate a total of 250+ guests overnight, as well as provide them with meals, meeting areas, audio visual equipment,and numerous recreational options (renovations currently are taking place as well). The needs of several groups can be met at one time. Each guest group is provided with their own housing and meeting area, while sharing dining and recreational facilities.

Each of the two main buildings have a comfortable lounge area for relaxing times or small group meetings, as well as large stone fireplaces that serve as key fellowship areas, especially during the winter season. Meeting areas include two large, air conditioned chapels which are equipped with sound systems and pianos.
For information about booking your event or retreat at Sunging Hills, contact Ruth at retreats@singinghills.net.

--Lauren Yarger

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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