Two weeks to remember

The pace was almost too much, but we made it. It started November 29th when I flew to Chicago to spend 4 days (Thursday through Sunday) with a youth group in the Chicago area. Monday, I flew to St. Louis and started rehearsals with The Sanctuary (A church in the St. Louis area) for Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station. Did Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station three nights in a row (Thursday through Saturday) with a dinner and banquet. Then I did Close Friends on Sunday afternoon, then flew home lat Sunday night. SPent two days at home. Flew out at 6:00AM on Wednesday to Virginia to perform two back to back banquets in Norfolk and New Port News for Wednesday evening and Thursday evening. Friday morning I flew back to the St. Louis area and rehearsed some dowel rod songs with a church in the Belleville area on Friday and Saturday....then did Close Friends again on Sunday morning and ministered with drama ministry in the evening service. On Monday morning I rented a car and drove to Poplar Bluff for rehearsals to do Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station with the Cornerstone Church. On Wednesday night I drove to Doniphan, MO and performed John In Exile...(An hour and 20 minute monologue about John on the Island of Patmos). Returned back to Poplar Bluff for more rehearsals of Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station. Did Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station on Sunday morning and did Close Friends on Sunday evening with a banquet. Monday (Christmas Eve) , I finally flew home to be with family. I was never more ready to get home. Now I can relax...because the only thing I have to prepare for is my daughter's wedding which happens next year...JANUARY 5th....so much for relaxing. Please...when does it stop?

Belleville, Ill "Close Friends"

This had to be one of the best audiences ever for Close Friends. What a great response. The audience was vibrant and it added such a wonderful element to an already exciting and fun play. If you want something that has an incredible ability to reach everyone in the audience, then "Close Friends" is the script that does it every time. You may have someone in your church that can do it or we'd love to come and perform it for your church or organization. I have a new video coming out of Close Friends that was performed at The Sanctuary in St. Louis. It will be available soon. Watch for it on our website at howitiller.com/dramas.htm

Blessings this Holiday time!

Norfolk and New Port News, Virginia Banquets

Had a fun two days in Norfolk and New Port News, Virginia. Did two Christmas Banquets back to back in these twin cities. Just did a mix of some new stand up material with, Just Wing It and Are You My Son Father?. I have to tell you...the song Strange Way to Save the World is so perfect that you'd think they were written to go together. If you're still needing something quick for Christmas...this is the perfect light hearted, yet stirring monologue. It ends with a very warm and uplifting feeling. Visit our site at www.howitiller.com/monologues.htm.

Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station

Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station in St. Louis went well. I wish I had had a chance to come in little earlier for more blocking rehearsals, but over all it went well. The church used the play in coordination with a Dinner Drama. They entertained 300 people in three nights. The food was fantastic, the hospitality was great. I can only see this event growing each year. The church wants to create an annual dinner drama for the community.
They served the meal in a multipurpose room and then the people retired to the sanctuary for Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station. I have to say the set was one of the best I've been able to work with. The technicians were really on top of it.
I introduced the tech crew to a microphone that I use when I'm on tour. It's called a boundary mic. A boundary mic is a phantom powered condensor mic. It's flat and sits on the floor. I wouldn't trade it for anything. You should try one the next time you're doing a play. Call me if you have any questions about that.
Anyway, they did professionally video tape their performance with $33,000.00 cameras. Very high quality videoing. I'm making the video available soon on our website at www.howitiller.com.
Sunday afternoon I stayed around and did "Close Friends". It was a great audience. They laughed and cried at everything. That was a special day for everyone.
I hope you all are enjoying your Holidays with family.

Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station

Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station

2 nights down and one to go. Here are a few shots of the set for CEaMCTS in St. Louis.

Three nights of dinner and a comedy. You can order the video soon at howitiller.com/christmas.htm

This 35-40 minute play is fun and easy to do. Your sets can be as elaborate as you want. You can see here that The Sanctuary in St. Louis went all out.

Many churches performed the script across the US this year. I'm anxious to hear how it went for them. If your church did the play, I'd love to hear from you. Send pictures if you have some.

I'll also be helping with the play in Poplarbluff, MO the weekend before Christmas.

Next up...home for two days

Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station

Well, tonight I start the rehearsals with a church here in St. Louis, MO. They've been reheasing already...I just come to put all the last minute touches to it. Friday and Saturday night are Dinner Drama nights. We're using the play, Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station as the entertainment. It will be a fully plated sit down event and retreat to the sanctuary. If you haven't read about, Christmas Eve at Mountain Creek Train Station, it's a very user friendly script that can involve many children without stressing over the details and yet has a wonderful story line along with comedy, scripture and even a dowel rod song performed with ski-poles. Visit our site at howitiller.com to learn more.

I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time enjoy your family as much as you can during this busy, busy Holiday.

Chicago Metro

Well, I had quite a weekend with a wonderful group young people in the Chicago area. The group is a more advanced sign and interpretive movement team. They minister in service almost everyweek. I first became aware of the group called H.A.V.O.C. (Highly Anointed Voices of Christ)??? at one of our CODEs in Indiana. They do I Want It All Back and Let the Veil Down like nobody's business. Their enthusiasm is off the charts and would be considered by most churches as on the edge....But they do it with the ability to not look like they want people to look at them...but Christ. Anyway, I came in and taught some dowel rod songs that they could add to their repertoire. I ministered on SUnday morning and evening and mixed in what they already knew. WHat a great weekend. It was inspiring to see dedicated teens spend all Sunday afternoon creating something for a youth event coming up. I wish every church had teens with such dedication to the ministry of drama.
Their director now wants to sponsor a CODE for the Chicago metro. So watch for a possible CODE Chicago for the summer of 2008.