It's New Year! Make Some Christian Arts Connections

Here are some great ways to connect with what is happening in the Christian Arts World:

• 
  2013 Christians in Theatre Arts Secondary School Theatre FestivalWest Coast Festival Registration DEADLINE: February 11, 2013
  
  Midwest Festival (info coming soon) Spring Arbor, MI

These events will include - competitions in various categories; interaction with hundreds of other Christian theatre artists; auditions and interviews with college theatre representatives; and workshops with renowned actors, dancers, composers, producers, and more! Register Now! Click Here.

• Family Friendly Theater in New York

New Victory Family Workshops
Looking for an engaging activity for the whole family? New Victory Family Workshops at the New 42nd Street Studios (where Broadway shows rehearse!) create opportunities where kids and adults explore the arts in an unforgettable way. Inspired by shows at The New Victory Theater, families learn exciting new skills, share lasting memories and play in unique, hands-on discovery sessions – no experience necessary!

Puppet Making - Saturday, February 23 at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Create your own puppet friend using craft materials and a variety of found objects. Inspired by Grug, “Puppet Making” is best for ages 3-6.

Shakespeare - Saturday, March 9 at 10:30 am and 4:30 pm
Discover the wit within the writings of William Shakespeare through theater games and dramatic play in an introduction of techniques performed onstage. Inspired by The Acting Company’s As You Like It, “Shakespeare” is best for ages 10 and up.

Clowning - Saturday, March 23 at 12 pm and 4:30 pm
Invent your own unique clown persona and create an original comedy routine. Inspired by Bello Mania, “Clowning” is best for ages 6 and up.

Sound Effects and Foley Design - Saturday, April 6 at 12 pm
Use sound and music to define the mood and enrich the story of your own imaginary world. Inspired by Intergalactic Nemesis, “Sound Effects and Foley Design” is best for ages 8 and up.

Families are welcome to come before or after the show or on a separate day. Taught by a professional ensemble of New Victory Teaching Artists, New Victory Family Workshops are at the New 42nd Street Studios (229 West 42nd Street) and cost $12 for members and $17 non-members. About these and other family workshops: http://www.newvictory.org/Workshops.aspx. For more information, contact Arielle Katz at akatz@new42.org or (646) 223-3065.

• Keep up with prayer needs in the nation's film capitol with The Hollywood Prayer Newtork http://www.hollywoodprayernetwork.org/. Sign up for prayer newslettters, workshops and more.

• The Episcopal Actors’ Guild and The Lambs Club Present: Music from the Lambs
  The Lambs Club, America’s oldest professional theater club, brings their tradition of song and merriment to Guild Hall for a concert benefitting the Emergency Aid and Relief Program of The Episcopal Actors’ Guild.

Founded in Delmonico’s Restaurant in 1874, The Lambs Club remains active, meeting every Friday night for their popular “Low Jinks” concert series, held in their historic space at 3 West 51st St.  For this event, Lambs Club cabaret veterans will perform their favorite hits from the American songbook, with all proceeds going to help local actors in need. This concert also offers the unique opportunity to hear this wonderful music inside EAG’s intimate, historic theatre space atop the landmark Little Church on 29th Street. 

Set to perform are Marc Baron, Gini Dustin, Linda Fields, Rita Hammer, James Martinelli, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Frank Torren. Paul Chamlin will sing and serve as the accompanist. The night’s MC is Scott Glascock. This event will be followed by a wine and cheese reception.

When: Thursday, February 07, 2013 at 7 pm

Where: Guild Hall - 1 E. 29thSt. - New York City, NY 10016 (b/w Fifth Ave. & Madison Ave.)

Trains: R/N @ 28th St.; 6 @ 28thSt.

Tickets: Suggested Donation of $10 for EAG members and $15 for non-members

Reservations: (212) 685-2927 or matt@actorsguild.org.

Merry Christmas!

We are on vacation until Jan. 8. Wishing all of our readers a blessed Christmas, the joys of the holiday season and a very happy New Year!

Dance Ministry Brings Nativity Story to Manhattan

Nativity: Birth of a King features music, dance and spectacle will bring themessage of Christmas to the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College at the northern tip of  Broadway.

Meditating profoundly on the birth of Christ, the joyous drama moves audiences with an original portrayal of the central event of Christian history. Produced by New Rochelle-based Dance Ministry Institute (DMI) and featuring original choreography by DMI founding director Robert Evans, Nativity pays tribute to the miracle of the incarnation, the universal power of faith and the explosive talent of an inspired local dance ministry.

“Since 2001 the primary mission of DMI has been to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and assist in reclaiming the arts back to the Kingdom of God,” Evans. said “Bringing our Christmas show to the heart of the Theater District is a blessing and the culmination of a dream.”

 

Evans’s choreographic works have ministered to people throughout the U.S. and the Caribbean over the last two decades, including the Bahamas Faith Ministries (Nassau, Bahamas); Christian Cultural Center (Brooklyn, New York); World Changers Church International (College Park, GA); and The Potter’s House (Dallas, Texas). A native of St. Louis, his dance ministry roots began with the Harlem Tabernacle Dance Ministry (Harlem, NY) where he served as the assistant director from 1991-2001.

 

Information: Lynch Theater at John Jay College, 524 West 59th St. (between 10th and 11th avenues), NYC. Performances will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 4 and 8 pm and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 4 pm. Tickets for this limited engagement start at $40 and can be purchased online at www.thedmiexperience.com.

Book Note: The Sower, by Franklin Graham

Releasing today.
The Sower: Follow in His Steps
By Franklin Graham

From the publisher:
Throughout history, Jesus' parable of the sower has served as a beautiful word picture of the Christian life. And in modern times, no one has communicated this message more fervently than Billy Graham. His son Franklin is now carrying the torch of this vital message and has created a poignant, 31-day devotional to remind Christians what our purpose is in this life.  This book gives readers step-by-step instruction and daily inspiration for following in Jesus' footsteps.

For more information and to purchase the book, click here.

Book Notes: Whatever by Allia Zobel Nolan

Whatever
By Allia Zobel Nolan

'Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.'
—Philippians 4:8

Zobel Nolan takes inspiration for "Whatever: A 90-Day Devotional for Livin' the True, Noble, and Totally Excellent life" (Zondervan, 2012) from Paul's words in Philippians. The casual tone of the title will appeal to tweens, but there is some very focused advice within.

The author uses each of the scriptural "whatevers" to head a section of devotionals in the book. Each devotional draws the reader in with relevant language and thoughts, then offers a new way of thinking about things important to tweens.

Thinking about what to wear? Consider whether the outfit makes you a boy magnet or simply looks attractive. Tempted to gossip at school? Consider Carrie, who lost all of her friends by badmouthing someone who beats her out for a part in the drama club. Having trouble sticking to your values in the face of peer pressure? Look at a specific example of how Jesus dealt with it.

The devotional could be read in chronological order for quiet time, or for group study. It also conveniently can be a handy reference by topic for quick help when situations arise -- and it seems that almost anything that might make a tween pause and wonder what God might have to say about it is covered in this collection of wisdom.

Further, each devotion is preceded by a scripture verse, then followed by subsections:
-- Food for Thought, a two-sentence wrap-up
-- Second Thoughts, a quick piece of advice
-- Divine Thoughts, a prayer

Readers will come away with sound, scripturally grounded direction that will help them grow closer to God, change their lives in a positive way and get a better understanding of their purpose in life.

Zobel Nolan will be signing the book here:

When: October 13, 2012

Time: from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

Where: Fairfield U. Book Store

1499 Post Road, Fairfield, CT

Phone 203-255-7756

When: October 20, 2012

Time: from 10:30 to 3:30 (Reading at 11:00)

Where: Morningstar Books, 72 Newtown Road

Danbury, CT 06810

Phone: (203) 791-1515

Refreshments and "Whatever bracelets" will be distributed while they last. For more information about Zobel Nolan and her many other books, visit www.AlliaWrites.com.

-- Lauren Yarger

(Note: Allia is a friend who lives her i n Connecticut. A free copy of her book was provided by the publisher.)

The Gift of Dance

A DANCE DEVOTION OF SORTS...
By Cheryl Cutlip

Founder, Project Dance

 

Many of us work to achieve a high level of discipline in a certain area. Let’s take dance for example. Some dance daily to put to work the specific technical skills and design of dance. And, we’ve done this for years and years and years.  
 
Though we understand the work it takes to dance well we treat spirituality as some sort of hall pass based solely on feelings.

If I applied this to dance it would mean that if I feel that I am a dancer, I am a dancer. If I watch dance, I am a dancer. If I read about dance, I am a dancer. We know that’s untrue. And yet we apply this concept to God and things of the Spirit. If I feel spiritual, I am spiritual. If I watch spiritual people, I am spiritual. If I read about spirituality, I am spiritual.

Why?

 My guess is that because we are all under common GRACE we recognize that God is free and his love towards us is also free. We could say that dance is free. However, as I approach the barre, focus on plie, get to center floor, and then eventually move across the room…I become a “learner” of dance. It is free, but I get to experience dance as I put myself into the form of dance.

The same is true with the Spirit of God. When I approach His Word, love my brothers/sisters, do what His Word instructs, and eventually dwell in His very presence, I become a “learner” of God. Spiritual life is free, but I get to experience it as I put myself into the form of His likeness.

 The best things in life really are free. However, let’s not take the ultimate free gift for granted. Let’s experience this free gift and offer it to others through our lives. Let’s dance.