Drama, Sigana and Fashion in Liberia

Stay tuned for a report on what I'm doing in Liberia for the next 2-3 weeks!  Amani ya Juu (a ministry to refugee women and those who are hurting and in need) is launching in Liberia, and I was asked to help fashion an African drama narrative around their big fashion show launch.  The Liberian Project Runway designer is doing the designs, Helen Mtawali of Afrizo will be doing the music, and Alan Oyugi is doing choreography.  I'm putting the music, narrative and dance together in a sigana-type drama.  We just arrived and are looking forward to getting to work!

HIStory Easter drama in Kenya

Easter Sunday - a prime day for dramas, pageants, and other creative events in churches around the world.  It was no exception today in Nairobi, as Mamlaka Hill Chapel put on a narrative, storytelling, musical, dramatic worship service.  "HIStory," available through DramaShare, took the place of the regular Easter morning services.  

The Samaritan woman tells about Jesus

The Last Supper

A team of near 40 (actors, musicians and technicians) sang and acted their way through a beautiful ministry event which included contemporary retellings of the disciples, the Samaritan woman, and African versions of da Vinci's famous painting of "The Last Supper"  and the crucifixion and resurrection.

The challenge for the production was mainly working with the technical aspects - turning the parking lot sanctuary into a theatre space.  It took days of draping with fabric and plastic, hanging backdrops and curtains, and working with an LED lighting system that had no manuals (except those in Chinese) and no one who fully knows how to operate a very complex controller.  But we managed!   People appreciated the doctrine of the story and how it told Jesus' story in a relate-able way.