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September 2001 Table of Contents
Drama
Major Easter Production Ideas for the Mid-Sized Church
By Keith McClung
As Ministers of Music we’ve all been through the rigmarole of trying to find that extra spark for our Annual Easter Outreach efforts. We often have to “check ourselves” to make sure we are keeping the cantata, play, or drama outreach fresh to those who attend year after year. I am privileged to the Minister of Music & Fine Arts at the very church where I was baptized. The year 2002 will mark our 11th Annual Easter Production. Our cast, choir, and crew number over 300 people during the 10 performances and we are truly blessed! I look back at the video from the first few years and I ask myself, “Why didn’t someone stop us!?!” That first production was presented for one evening. Just this past month, while cleaning out a storage area of the Music Department I chuckled after I found our first Guard Helmets: construction helmets painted gold and turned backwards. Needless to say, those helmets are no longer part of our drama inventory!
When it comes to major Drama Productions mid-sized churches, such as ours, (300 to 700 members/attendees) can do many things to enhance a production effort. My prayers are that the following tips will be helpful as you plan your Life of Christ Easter Pageant for 2002; it’s not too late to implement these ideas! For additional information, please see my postings on the J&J Music Website, www.jjonline.com.
Who Said to Re-create the Wheel?
God uses many people in many different ways. What I may envision for a particular drama scene or song selection may not be your style of ministry. I always keep my eyes and ears open to other church productions. One of the best resources that I have found is the Ft. Lauderdale Christmas pageant. This Emmy-Award Winning performance is chock full of ideas. Who ever said that every production idea has to be an original concept? If it works for your production, and you are allowed to duplicate the idea, with proper permission, do it! It is has been those great ideas that have made the most memorable impressions on our guests each Easter. I’ve often heard a new song, or viewed a new scene that has spoken volumes to my heart through duplicating what others have done.
The Production Team
The success of your production will be a direct result of your formation of a Production Leaders Team. My 20 Production Leaders are responsible for the planning of all ten performances. The Leaders represent areas including; Costuming, Props, Childcare, Choir, Technical, Lighting, Sound, Special Effects, Livestock, Tickets, Video, Ushers, Greeters, Food Service, Make-Up, and many other areas. The only way for your production to grow is for you to take 3 steps backwards and let others share the load. Trust me, everything will not be done to your liking; that’s part of discipleship. Share your vision and if you are clear and concise with your Leaders you will see amazing things happen. I am pleased to say that I have no idea when costumes are being distributed or the time of Judas’ make-up appointment session...let others help you! The more people involved in the outreach, the more successful it will be in winning souls to the Lord Jesus Christ!
Our planning efforts take place after the last Easter performance, but I bring the Production Team into the entire project no later than 4 months before the first performance. Take your Leaders out to dinner; forget the church Fellowship Hall. Your Home makes the best place to entertain and inform your Production Leaders. Simple deli trays or a lavish dinner will say, “Thanks For Helping Us This Easter!” If at all possible have advertising concepts ready to share including posters, flyers, and a detailed outline of the upcoming performance. Have those in attendance go around the room and share their hopes and goals for the production. Most importantly, have each Leader go back into the congregation and find an “Assistant Leader” for their area. This forms multi-level discipleship and protects you, as the Director, from the unexpected absence of a Leader before, during, or after the production.
Most importantly, keep your Production Team informed. Hold monthly meetings and encourage them often. A simple card to say, “thanks” is a tremendous way to let your leaders know that you are always available to answer their questions and to give them some guidance when they start to feel lost in their role. From one Director with experience to another...once you turn an area over to your Production Leaders, give breathing room! Always be a visible presence and even ask them, “How is everything coming along?” If they feel that you are constantly watching over their shoulder I guarantee you that you will be sewing costumes, painting the set, and feeding the goats yourself next year!
Funding Your Easter Production
I remember, vividly, the first year that I presented a budget for our “first-ever” Easter Drama. The cost was $700.00. Some people thought this was an enormous expense. Ten years later, the cost had increased to $19,000.00, but there are ways that you can raise funds for your production if your church budget does not allow for full underwriting of the production. Some churches opt to use a paid ticket scenario, while others choose to accept a love offering. We have found that the love offering pattern works for our production very well, in fact, covering 50% of our production expenses.
Another way to fund your production is through a project we call, the “Drama Contributor Program.” Soon after the Holiday Season we send a personalized letter to all of our members and attendees announcing the dates of the upcoming performance. In addition, we ask for both involvement in the drama and for those receiving the mailing to be part of the program. A $30.00, or more, donation is requested by each person to fund the production. In turn, those contributing receive a listing in the program such as “In Honor of” or “In Memory of” and as a special thank you to those contributing they also receive a complimentary video copy of the performance. Those who donate $50.00 or more are invited as Special Guests to a Post-Production Dinner Concert.
Whatever the cost of your production, remember that we must be good stewards of God’s money. There are many areas that can decrease your budget simply by asking your congregation members and attendees to donate (material, props, etc.). Remember that complimentary tickets put a "value" to your production and also allow you and your congregation to use those tickets as a witnessing tool!
Props & Costuming
This happens to be one of my favorite preparation areas of the annual Easter Production. Let me break down for you some prop ideas for your production. The Marketplace Scene of your drama can incorporate wicker baskets of artificial fruit, stick cages with artificial doves, tambourines, baskets of scarves, large urns, and even shellacked breads! Think outside the box when dealing with props. Pull yourself back to the biblical times when the bartering of live sacrifices or the purchasing of food and goods were an everyday part of life.
Our Last Supper Scene incorporates handheld candles for the disciples as they enter the scene, prayer shawls for each, bowls of bread and fruit, and get this...spray painted plastic goblets! We simply took fluorescent summertime goblets and sprayed them with an antique gold finish. Ok, I’m going to give a BIG hint away. We are often asked where we obtained our over 100 urns used on stage and in our live marketplace scene. In addition, countless people ask, “where in the world did you find those columns, pillars, and unique props?” Your best source for props such as 3’ and 4’ urns, pillars and columns, and truly unique props is your local Department Store! Many Display Departments are willing to sell off display props as they become outdated or damaged. Having worked in advertising for a major department store chain my office was next to the Visual Merchandising Department. I could not believe the amount of money that was being spent, and thrown away, on display props. Our local JCPenney holds a Prop Sale every two years and luckily, I’m in contact with that Supervisor and often get a “first pick” at the props as they are being sold. The online trading community, E-Bay, is another great source for props, artificial fruit and vegetables and so much more.
When it comes to your costuming, try to move past the bathrobe appearance. Many sewing companies provide biblical patterns. We have simplified this process by simply folding large pieces of material in half and then cutting out an angel shape, cut the neck hole, and surge the costume together; no patterns! We then take the extra material scraps from the costumes and braid belts, headbands, and other costume adornments. Of course, if you present a full Life of Christ pageant, your King’s Robes and Specialty Costumes deserve more attention. After many years we decided to purchase professional guard costumes, helmets, angel wings, and other costume pieces. Collect old jewelry pieces to create King’s Crowns and here’s a little hint...all of our King’s Headpieces are built using a baseball hat as the frame. Simply cut the bill off of the hat, plug in the hot glue gun and go at it! Don’t let members of your congregation throw away those old graduation gowns! You can purchase RIT Dye in a variety of colors and create many costumes at one time! Simply add sashes, belts, and headpieces!
The costume does not end with the material. The physical appearance of those wearing the costumes is as important as the garment itself. In our particular production, only solid materials are used for undergarments and only stripes or coordinating fabrics are used as cloaks sashes, and headpieces. (No florals, plaids, or printed fabrics) In addition we have had great success on having our production participants refrain from wearing eyeglasses, jewelry and bright nail polish on stage.
The Biblical Marketplace
One of the greatest compliments that we receive each year is the recreation of an authentic Biblical Marketplace on our property as guests enter the Worship Center. Over 200 feet of walking space is bordered with a tight, cramped Biblical marketplace. What can you use in creating this effect? Here’s some ideas...hide speakers through your display area and play Jewish praise music, create marketplace carts out of lumber and then distress them or use faux finish paints (don’t forget to add a striped canopy on the carts-upholstery works best!), have your live animals as part of the marketplace, rug weavers, pot painters, an artisan actually manning a potter’s wheel, shellacked breads, biblical characters bartering back and forth but not breaking character.
Other ideas for your marketplace include using A LOT of natural raffia as filler, sew large burlap bags together after they have been stuffed with Styrofoam packing peanuts. Contact your local supermarkets and ask for their produce crates. We have received over 200 crates that would have simply been thrown away; they will love to give them to you just to relieve them from “taking out the trash!” Ask your church members and attendees to donate old plastic fruits and vegetables that can be displayed in crates and baskets. We actually use over 6,000 individual pieces of fruits and vegetables! In fact, this past year we purchased over 1,500 clusters of artificial grapes for pennies on the dollar! The more you have on display, the more impressive! Your Biblical Marketplace will usher your guests into a wonderful setting while preparing their hearts for the dramatic presentation.
So, now where do we begin? By utilizing some of these ideas you will be sure to make a memorable experience to those attending your Easter pageant or production. But let us not forget that our efforts and endeavors are all based on one true fact.... Jesus Christ Still Saves! As long as you keep your production a ministry, and not just a production, God will continue to bless your efforts as you reach the masses through music, drama, and the arts. Feel free to e-mail me your questions and drama ideas! kmcclung@wirefire.com
Until we "read again"....
Break A Leg!
Keith
Keith McClung
Minister of Music & Fine Arts
19th Street Church of God
505 19th Street
Parkersburg, WV 26101
1-304-428-5625
Fax: 1-304-428-0353
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