tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542230780930067032024-03-19T15:09:43.957-07:00Christian Drama/Sign Language/ComedyThis blog shares what Howi Tiller is doing with "cutting edge" Christian Drama methods like dowel rods, sign language, song interpretation, ideas&tips, as well as full length and medium length plays and sketches.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-89023707616882203942010-08-18T17:01:00.000-07:002010-08-18T17:01:41.564-07:00Drama, The Visual Language Part 6Street Drama<br />
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My experience with street drama has been highly successful for many reasons. When performing street drama, pedestrians are not corralled by four walls and surrounded by people they don't know. In street drama everyone in the audience is a stranger to each other and everyone is on the same plateau. People stop because they want to and know that they can leave when they begin to feel uncomfortable, if they do at all. When you think about it, almost all of Jesus' ministry was done on the street or at least outside the temple. He spoke to the audience on the shore as he stood on the edge of a boat. Jesus wrote a message in the dirt in the middle of the street of Jerusalem. He spoke to a woman at a well outside of town. I believe that the ministry of the church is evolving into a more, "Jesus like", example. Taking the gospel message back to the streets is happening everywhere and drama is playing a great role. I encourage your drama team to develop <br />
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material that is street ready and try it on a street corner or town square where there might be a good amount of pedestrian traffic. Lillenas Drama Publishing in Kansas City, Missouri has many books of short sketches that you can do on the street.<br />
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Here are some things to think about when planning a street drama ministry:<br />
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1. Prepare drama material that is short and moving.<br />
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A. Song interpretation / Dowel rods or sticks<br />
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B. Mime<br />
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C. Parable like stories<br />
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You do not need to prepare a huge number of sketches or pieces because your audience is usually always changing. Many times you can recycle the same songs.<br />
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2. Secure permits<br />
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A. Park or sidewalk permits<br />
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B. Private business owners permit (You might be set-up in front of a private business and will need permission)<br />
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C. Amplified sound permit<br />
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3. Power source<br />
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A. Provided by city receptacles (Not the case usually)<br />
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B. Battery powered CD players<br />
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C. Rent a gas powered mobile generator<br />
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4. Sound system<br />
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A. Rent a self contained board<br />
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B. Invest in a self contained board that folds up and can be carried easily<br />
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5. Flyers or handbills<br />
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A. Small business size handbills (Usually the best because people put them in their pocket, rather than on the ground)<br />
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B. Large 8 1/2 x 11 handbill (Great for posters of stuffing into local newspapers)<br />
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*The handbills or any advertisement should be an invitation to a crusade or special event.<br />
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6. Where?<br />
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A. Amphitheater<br />
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B. Street corner - choose big enough area so you won't block pedestrian traffic<br />
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C. Park<br />
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D. Community events<br />
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E. Local Christian concerts<br />
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F. Malls<br />
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7. Who?<br />
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A. Small cast for sidewalk events because you will not be able to take up too <br />
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much room.<br />
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B. Larger cast for amphitheater or park<br />
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C. Youth usually have the energy, but by no means do you want to limit participation to an exclusive group. I don't usually go younger that 13 because of the attention span and the ability of younger kids to focus on an all day or multiple-day event. Street ministry can be very rewarding, but it is hard work. Street ministry is fun and can implement many people into the process. Not everyone involved with the street ministry will be in the drama. Some people prefer to hand out flyers. Others want to help in setting up the sound equipment. All of it is important. While ministering on the streets of San Francisco with our drama team, a few locals tried to get us frustrated by trying to steal the attention away from us. Without going into great detail, we were being made fun of. We just stayed focused and the intruder went on when they realized they weren't going to get upset. I share that story because even though street drama can very successful, it is vulnerable to whoever else is on the street, too. That's why it's always wise to have permits and fees paid so you can show you have the right to be where you are. My experience with doing drama in malls or even passing out flyers in malls has been…if you don't have permission, don't do it. There is nothing more embarrassing to you and your group than being asked to leave an area because you didn't get permission. That goes for every place you want to minister, not just malls. Malls can be a very good place for street drama, especially if you can reserve the food court area.<br />
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THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO IN STREET MINISTRY IS SMILE!Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-25259413241831500082010-06-03T21:34:00.000-07:002010-06-03T21:34:37.111-07:00Drama, the Visual Language Part 5Drama, What Does It Mean?<br />
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It is speculated that drama can be traced back to the Egyptian hieroglyphics. Explorers found drawings or paintings illustrating situations and events being acted out on the walls of the pyramids. So, you see, situations being acted out aren't new, but maybe that's going back too far for us. Drama was used a lot by most civilizations for entertainment. During the rule of Rome, drama and theater was used and abused to a large extent. The church disowned such entertainment because of the subject matter. Later, however, the Roman church adapted the medium to be used again. Priests became the actors and the script was the Bible. Such biblical reenactments were known to last as long as many hours to literally many days. One reference accounted a church play to last forty days. We won't be doing that, so take a deep breath and be glad you don't live during the Roman era. Let's bring the drama history lesson a little closer to home. <br />
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What does drama mean? The word "drama" in the Greek (dromenon) means,"to do". Ancient authors gave scripts to actors, but only told the actor what to do, not what to say. There wasn't any dialogue to speak, so actors relied on their expression and actions to convey the message of the play. Actors developed a character so well that they could convey the whole message and not even speak one word. This book is an effort to encourage actors to learn what it really means to develop a believable character. <br />
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The mime technique was one of the first methods of communicating through drama. The, "doing", or the action was the language that early actors used to tell the story. The book of James in the Bible tells us to be doers of the word, not hearers only. Drama truly is the visual language. You've heard the saying, "actions speak louder than words", and it really is true. As an actor you must discover the true language of drama…and that is, "doing". Traditional thinking leads you to believe that drama is a lot of speaking and not much of anything else. I hope to show you that there is much more to the drama process and developing a believable character than learning lines and speaking them when it's your turn. Popular thought among the inexperienced is that simply learning the lines makes you an actor. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth. You can't explore the character development process until you memorize the words. As a director I would commend you on your memorizing skills, but then thrust you into two weeks of blocking and note taking. I would give you assignments that would help you discover the character that I've asked you to make believable. Character development is hard work and takes more than just your ability to memorize. Memorizing is just the beginning of the character development process. Always keep in mind that drama is doing, action and movement. As we've learned more about the communication process through the years, we've added dialogue to help communicate the message in a more natural way. Adding the appropriate words to the appropriate actions makes for an enjoyable setting. One without the other is half finished. Many church plays I watch have a tendency to be half finished in their presentation. This is mainly due to the lack of experience in the acting (doing) element. Many church plays are under worked in the acting area and over the top on huge flats and props, and last way too long. I recently attended an Easter play that lasted over three hours. That's far too long for a single setting. <br />
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Let's get back to our subject in this session. As you proceed through the character development process, always keep in mind that drama is doing…action…movement.<br />
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The Dramatic Approach<br />
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We all know how music can draw people into the process of worship. Music is usually less offensive than preaching. Drama does the same thing. However, drama invites people into the process in a different way. Drama in the church offers an entirely different atmosphere. People will come to the play when they won't come to hear you preach. In drama, the audience enters into the arena of worship when they themselves feel comfortable with it and they decide it’s time. They laugh because they decide it’s funny. They cry because they decide to do it. Drama is usually the least offensive communication and often convinces the listener to relax. The visitors in your audience are more apt to attend your drama rather than your traditional church service because they feel they won't be preached at. Easter and Christmas is generally when we have the most visitors because they expect to come and see a play or musical in an inoffensive atmosphere. Since that is true maybe we need to do drama more times throughout the year. I know a few churches actually minister with drama every Sunday morning. It didn't happen over night, but slowly evolved into what it has become today. People expect to see a short sketch that either introduces the theme of the pastor's message or a concept that the leadership is trying to communicate to the whole church body. With the right organization and discipline, an on going drama ministry can greatly enhance the evangelistic efforts as well as bring variety to the church services.<br />
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Now churches are seeing the drama concept being an effective tool to take the gospel message on the street or into the community. The last five years I have had the opportunity to minister on busy street corners and parks of major cities. I was amazed at the response. Again, because the atmosphere is totally in the control of the pedestrian, people are okay with stopping and watching. They can leave when they want or stay if they want.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-65370898727581893322010-06-02T15:37:00.001-07:002010-06-02T15:38:35.579-07:00CODE This yearIf you are wanting more instruction on drama ministry...please visit our site at <a href="http://www.dramacode.com/">www.dramacode.com</a> for locations and dates.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-15073077060783077532010-06-02T15:32:00.000-07:002010-06-02T15:37:23.120-07:00Father's Day materialIf you are looking for Father's Day material...we have a really fun reader's theater called, "What a Man Really Wants...or whatever". The nice thing about reader's theater is you don't have memorize the piece. It is dramatically read in character with all the neat little nuances and expressions. So, the reader does need to be familiar with the story line, rise and fall of the expressions and ebb and flow of the story. <br />As a reader you have control of the unfolding of the story, but you don't move in the piece. Most of the time reader's sit on stools with their scripts on music stands or can be hand held depending on whether they are using lapel mics or not. <br />If you haven't performed a reader's theater piece, then try onew this year for Father's Day. You can download, "What a Man Really Wants...or whatever" at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/MothersFathersDay.htm">www.howitiller.com/MothersFathersDay.htm</a>.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-227173871734865482010-06-02T15:31:00.001-07:002010-06-02T15:31:50.151-07:00Drama, the Visual Language Part 4Slice of Life "Slice of Life", is a term that I use to describe a style of drama that addresses everyday life situations. When writing about life, I look for the universal humor, challenges and victories. Our days are full of interesting situations (slices) that make our day whole. From the moment you get up in the morning until the moment you lay down at night, there are little slices of life that make for great drama. Often times it's something humorous or laboring or rewarding. It's usually an event that every family or married couple has experienced. To be a successful actor, you must find that common denominator that makes your character a believable part of the whole.Here are some examples of what I'm talking about:Example #1A piece of mail came to our house. As I was thumbing through the stack, my wife asked if there was any mail for her. I said, "Yes. It was a dear occupant letter", and put it on the counter for her to read later. She said, "How do you know it's for me, then?" I innocently said, "because it had something to do with loosing weight and fat in-take." I'm still alive to tell you that we both saw the humor in it and it became a slice of life sketch that we use in almost every dinner drama we do. She later found another dear occupant letter. I asked who it was for and she said it was definitely for me. I asked how she could tell. She said, "Have you every heard of Rogaine, the product for balding men?" You see, both of the subjects touched life in a real way. We used it in a humorous way. Humor is a great way to touch on sensitive subjects, but don't use it to cut the other one down. Let the humor unfold in a natural way, but try not to let closure take place until the play or sketch can have a happy ending.Example #2I was standing in line at a photography store waiting for my slide film to be developed. As I was waiting, an elderly lady wanted to buy one roll of film. The man working at the counter wanted to sell her a multi-pack of film. She told the man she just wanted one roll for her granddaughter's wedding and that one roll would be enough. The man remarked that the multi-pack isn't that much more expensive and the film was good until 2004. The elderly woman looked at the man and said, "Son, I don't even know if I'm good for that long". I've used that situation in one of my old man routines because it sounds like something an elderly person would say. It was a real slice of life. As you go through your daily life listen to people and watch them. You will learn neat things about life that make great additions to your writing or acting skills.Example #3I included a line in a short sketch from something my youngest daughter said while we were eating at Wendy's. When she was 3 years old she said, "I like cheeseburgers with cheese on them". I thought that was cute and worked it into a scene of a short sketch I wrote for a four-year-old son and his father to do while they were eating at McDonald's.<br /><br />6.Listen to people while you are waiting in line at the grocery store. Listen to conversations in the mall or airport. You'll hear everyday life happening all around you. Everyday life makes great material for the Slices of Life. Not only listen, watch their actions very closely. Watch how people walk. Do they swing one arm more than the other? Do they shift their weight when they walk? Does their head bounce when they walk? Watching and listening to people is how I may go about deciding what things I may include when I create a character that I've been cast for.Character Development Exercise:This is an exercise that I will introduce to a new cast. Have your cast form a circle. Starting with the person on your left, have them walk to the center of the circle and say their name and then return back to their place in line. As they walk to the center, say their name and return, make sure the others in the circle take mental note of how that person walks, how they swing their arms. Answer some questions like…did they look down, did they focus on one person, did one arm swing more then the other. Did they walk fast or slow and did they lead with their shoulders? Were they shy, were they bold, were they embarrassed and so on? Now, everyone take everything that you observed by watching that one person and walk to the center of the circle as if you were that person. They will watch all of you as you do them. Then the next person will walk to the center of the circle, say their name, return back to their place in line and you will all do them. Then, the next person and so on. You can learn many things from watching people. You might see something in the way a certain person walks or swings their arms that you want to add to your character. Watch people in the mall or airport or even people you see everyday. If you've been asked to play a 5-year-old, then you need to spend time with 5 year olds. Listen to the way they talk. Listen to the purity of their words. Slang and euphemisms haven't dirtied their language. In fact some of the best communicators are children about the age of 2-3. They convince us with actions, facial expressions and movement because they haven't developed their language yet. Remember drama is doing. If you've been asked to portray an elderly person, then visit with some at the local retirement home. Visit with your grandparents. Watch how they walk. Do they shuffle their feet? Do their hands tremor? Watch how many extra considerations they have to go through just sit down and the process it takes for them to get up from sitting. BRING A PENCIL TO REHEARSALHowi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-46280535013429279992010-04-30T14:18:00.000-07:002010-04-30T14:19:27.693-07:00Drama, The Visual Labuage Part 3<strong>The Message and The Messenger Part 3 By Howi Tiller</strong><br /><br />The world we live in is driven by unbridled floods of media that appeal directly to the senses of the flesh. The successful advertising agencies not only have a message, but they know that the right messenger is what sells the product of the message. That's why they have Tiger Woods as the spokesman for credit card advertising and Michael Jordan as the spokesman for athletic shoes. They are messengers. Secular media has a message that is designed to tickle one or more of our senses. The message is dramatized to appeal to fleshly appetites. It is constantly selling something to the human element…eyes, flesh or the pride of life. The worldly message appeals to the fleshly appetites and usually becomes a detriment to the human spirit or a waste of money. The message in Christian drama appeals to the human spirit and keeps the flesh honest about itself and in check. Since this is true, the church must acknowledge that we may have to adjust our approach to the evangelistic effort. We cannot and do not want to make changes to the message, but we can make adjustments to our methods that communicate that message. No question, the gospel message is our most important subject, but how we communicate that message can be equally as important…not more important, but at times our method can be just as significant. How will the audience hear unless we are wise in our communication of it? Information is communicated in an entirely different way than twenty years. People see the whole world in a flash via satellite. I believe the Lord wants us to search for new ways of communicating the gospel. I know that the preaching methods have changed down through the years. Today's method isn't anything<br />4.like the way Jesus ministered. So, let's be careful criticizing changes in preaching methods, remember ours isn't anything close to Jesus' method or template. Today's method will hopefully evolve again into what God wants to use. We need to be open to what God wants to develop into being a viable and intricate element of today's evangelism. This may be hard to believe, but I think that as you read this book, you will come to the same conclusion. He who wins souls is wise. God has given us an opportunity to win souls through drama. We need to use it wisely. When you think about the way Jesus communicated, it made sense. His message was relative and the application was modern. I think that you should do what God calls you to do. If He asks you to stand on a soapbox and preach loudly on the city-street corner, then that's what you need to do. The problem with that is that today's mind-set doesn't respond to that way of preaching very well. They did in the 1930's and 40's, but not today. Maybe there will come a time again that the world could be brought to their knees and cry for bibles and repent like they did in America a hundred years ago. Having said all that, I think we need to seriously look at the opportunities that drama might afford to us as an end-time tool. The words, drama or theater might have the conservative church reeling from bad past experiences. There are also main stream religions that have opened their doors to drama but may have also opened the door to more than a pure evangelistic drama ministry. I think many churches have accepted a mix of secular entertainment and a so-called drama ministry which usually ends up be nothing more than secular theater performed in the church or fellowship-hall. That's a far cry from what this book is talking about. I'm talking about drama that genuinely draws people to Christ and causes people to really think about their soul and where they are going to spend eternity. Does that mean every play is nothing but scripture? No. Plays can be about how to live life…raise teenagers in today's world…love, hate, life and death. When my wife and I minister through dinner drama, we perform pieces or sketches that I call, "Slices of Life". Each sketch has a relative message that transcends religious background and family upbringing. The sketches are about finances, raising kids, relationships and everyday life. It wouldn't matter if your audience were Baptist, Methodist or Pentecostal, most could relate to the "Slices of Life". That's what Jesus did. His message was no respecter of persons. His message was about life situations that His audience understood. There are times that you might want to do drama for just your church family and that's fine. It could be a time for doing short sketches that included inner circle jokes or roasts. That certainly has its place. However, never invite guests to your drama or dinner drama where any or all humor is what we call inner circle humor. In other words don't do comedy that only your church members would understand. It leaves the guest out of the circle and they feel uncomfortable. The guest will most likely not come back. So, choose material and humor that's relative and transcending.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.howitiller.com/dramas.htm">www.howitiller.com/dramas.htm</a>Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-74121840131605187082010-04-30T14:15:00.000-07:002010-04-30T14:18:02.668-07:00Drama, The Visual Language Part 2<strong>Drama...To do it or not to do it...that is the question Part 2 By Howi Tiller </strong><br /><br />Nothing will ever replace Biblical preaching, praying and fasting in bringing revival to the church or new souls into the kingdom. This book wasn't written to encourage the church to substitute its evangelism with a drama or short sketch every Sunday morning. It was however, written to encourage the church to take a fresh look at drama as a viable contribution to the local church's outreach. Any ministry, whether it's the choir, Sunday School or a drama must stay under the umbrella of the leadership and authority of the church. So, before we go too far into this book, please let it be understood that it is not my desire to infer that drama is the answer to all the evangelistic questions. Again, however, drama is arguably a tool that the church can greatly use in the last days to preach the gospel. And if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. The question that should be asked is, "why aren't we already doing it?" This book will help to answer that question. I've been involved with drama for over twenty-five years and have seen the incredible opportunities that God has afforded to us when we used it wisely. I think there is a tendency to think that drama in the church is only making room for Hollywood. That possibility does have some merit, but if the driving force behind the drama ministry is about equipping the church and evangelizing the world then I think we must prayerfully investigate the viable possibilities. Sometimes, individuals can lose sight of the ministries' mission and lean towards a hollywood-ish expectation and approach. It's true that drama can be taken advantage of in the wrong way and one person's talent takes over the ministry and ruins the effectiveness that the drama ministry could have had. I address that when I teach drama conferences and instruct students to keep their motives pure and their talent under the umbrella of authority. The, "look at me", syndrome can ruin it for everyone involved in the drama ministry. In traveling to many churches over the years, I sometimes come across someone who doesn't want to be in drama if they can't be the, "star", or have a major role. I let them know right away, (in love) that this is not about them and to keep their priorities right. It's hard for some people to stay humble when they are getting all the attention. Hopefully, the pastor and drama director will recognize when things are getting out of sorts and will re-emphasize the correct priorities. With all that said, it is still worth while to create a healthy drama ministry that can be a genuine arm of evangelism in the local church. It takes time and effort to generate a solid foundation from which to build a launching pad for this vital end-time ministry. Some churches are experimenting with short sketches and song interpretations as a part of the Sunday morning service. Many are having great success and using the drama ministry wisely. An organized effort will help keep the ministry fresh and keep people from going through burnout. Many churches perform the large Easter or Christmas musicals and then don't have the energy to do drama any other time of the year. This is usually due to inexperience and taking on more responsibilities than they are qualified to do. I tend to lean toward what I call, "Less Is More", in my approach to the drama ministry as a whole. If you will adopt this theme, you will save yourself many headaches and heartaches. Don't purposely cut corners because you are too lazy to do the job right, but have a very good idea where to say, "I must have that prop", or "that prop makes the set too busy and it doesn't add to the overall effect. Let's save the money and use it in advertising". The<br />3.<br /> pastor will be happy if you come under budget, too. Money or the lack of it seems to be the main problem in initiating a drama ministry. You may have to convince the pastor that the drama ministry is not excess baggage that the church will have to carry. Be patient, walk softly and carry a big script. When it's your turn, set a precedent and make the church cheer for more (in a manner of speaking). Remind yourself and your drama team that you are messengers of truth and that the drama ministry belongs to the church for its benefits. You can preach through a drama or sketch. Some of your visitors won't come to the traditional church service, but they will come to a play. In reality an anointed drama ministry can have the five-fold ministry in operation. A drama can teach, preach, help pastor, evangelize and be used in prophetic ministry. The Bible is the message, but the five-fold ministry is the method that God uses to encourage and equip the church. I know that the five-fold ministry operating in the drama ministry is very much dependent on those involved and their sensitivity to the Lord. It is there to happen, but you must know that it's there before it can take place. If your play is Biblical and truthful shouldn't any thing be possible? Please don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying that the five fold ministry will be in operation during a dinner drama as you are performing a comedy sketch about marriage or finances, but more during an anointed monologue or song interpretation where the Holy Ghost is really working and moving. Again, it depends on the person involved and his or her calling. It's very important as to whom is involved in the drama ministry. The message is paramount, but so is the messenger at times.<br /><br />To order anointed scripts go to <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/">www.howitiller.com</a>Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-41558144986932021802010-04-30T14:12:00.000-07:002010-04-30T14:15:01.139-07:00Drama, The Visual Language Part 1<strong>Drama, The Visual Language Part 1 By Howi Tiller</strong><br /><br />The last twenty years for the church have been years of great change. The message has not and cannot change. However, there seems to be an awakening and openness in respect to changes in the method by which we communicate the message. As an evangelist/dramatist who travels extensively across the United States, I am witnessing an evolution in evangelistic efforts and our approach to winning souls. The prevailing question is asked, "how do we win this generation"? Pastors and church leaders are concerned that the church of today isn't reaching today's mind-set. In our efforts to find the missing ingredient we most often miss the simple method that Jesus gave to us by example. Jesus taught by painting a story with words. Not just stories, but stories or parables that were relative to his generation and specifically to whom he was speaking to at that given moment. He didn't have a pulpit, a choir, or notes, (this is not to say that we shouldn't have them) and yet he delivered the essence of Heaven to everyday common folk on earth. Maybe we should look at how Jesus really ministered. He was being dramatic when he knelt in the sand and wrote a message in the sand with His finger. He was being dramatic when He told the story of the, "Rich man and Lazarus", and when he described the law of the sewer when He said, "A man went out to sew seed. Some fell on rocky soil and some on fertile soil"... and so on. His stories appealed to the emotion and yet His words were also able to touch the intellect of mankind. It didn't matter if he was talking about finances, agriculture, marriage, birth or death, Jesus' stories were relative and timely. Jesus told the story, "A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and on his way he fell among thieves. He was beaten, robbed and left for dead". What is the significance of the story? The person He was telling the story to was a lawyer. Jesus knew the lawyer would understand the story of a crime. Jesus' communication was relative, timely and interesting. What He had to say was heavenly with human application. I think it would be wise if we took a closer look at the dramatic way in which Christ addressed life's issues through truth and principles. If we were to measure Christ's method of communicating with what we think today's standard is, Christ would be a failure. He didn't have a pulpit, a choir or a program. There isn't anything wrong with those items, but maybe we need to re-think the evangelism process. Christ spoke in parables, wrote in the sand, prayed in a garden, preached and then had a picnic out on the hillside. Dramatic, to say the least. Not that what He did was just drama, it wasn't…it was reality. My point is that we need to look closer at Christ's template and adjust accordingly.Drama truly is the visual language or method that can cause the audience to travel down the road of truth with you. We cannot match the passion that Christ exemplified on the cross. He is the only one that can do that. We can however, have great passion for souls and ministry. As you read this book, pray that the Lord will anoint you with a passion to reach souls, not just how to do drama better. A passion for souls will carry over into having a passion for drama as a ministry. Souls, truth and ministry are the driving forces behind every great end-time evangelistic effort.<br /><br />BRING A PENCIL TO REHEARSAL <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/">www.howitiller.com</a>Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-45140252705256406332010-02-09T18:59:00.000-08:002010-02-09T19:06:36.745-08:00One More Round - Barlow Girl Song<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgJPV8Y6PwFTYFuBao8lIeba3bVukj5lYN-moX7yxjnNo5TkFsaAOgbCqYZxrYoOQpL2IEvhiG9xBfZznxbW0rWuLh_nZ4mLoE-YTBubBukJuW1dKJXHskEoFY-IxN92AmaooN01VDryf/s1600-h/20090619223004_Capture.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436444748483711970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 180px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgJPV8Y6PwFTYFuBao8lIeba3bVukj5lYN-moX7yxjnNo5TkFsaAOgbCqYZxrYoOQpL2IEvhiG9xBfZznxbW0rWuLh_nZ4mLoE-YTBubBukJuW1dKJXHskEoFY-IxN92AmaooN01VDryf/s320/20090619223004_Capture.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here is a scene out of One More Round from the CODE West 2009 DVD.<br /><div>Many of you are looking for neat youth songs to act out to...well we have a really awesome song interpretation to the song by Barlow Girl called, One More Round. We turned it into a fight scene with a referee who is on the take. To order the DVD go to <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/misc.htm">www.howitiller.com/misc.htm</a> and scroll down until you see the order button for CODE West 2009. It was a lot of fun and works well for youth...especially for teenage girl's event. </div><div>CODE WEST dates are June 24-26, 2010 in Hanford, CA. It will be our 10th Anniversary and planning on having an incredible time.</div>Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-1103155626285347532010-02-06T10:26:00.000-08:002010-02-06T10:30:15.673-08:00New Youtube video clipsHey,<br />We've added many new video clips of the song, Unto the Lamb which is a great Easter song or can be used anytime of the year. Also, Crosses and Crowns for Easter or for anytime of the year as well. If you are looking for an awesome high energy song then watch the clip of Stand Out by Tye Tribett. We even have some new balck light puppets for sale. Visit us on youtube by searching howitiller.com or our site at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/instructional.htm">www.howitiller.com/instructional.htm</a> and have fun perusing through our site.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-11336530044373219922010-01-22T15:59:00.000-08:002010-01-22T16:04:34.508-08:00Spring Tour in CaliforniaWell, it's almost that time again, but we are planning our spring tour with the full length play called , "The Opening of the Hand" 4 actors play 16 characters as the script takes us from the sandy shore of the Sea of Galilee, to Calvary and the gate just outside the Temple in Jerusalem.<br /><br />If you want a small cast script for your Easter season...visit us at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/Easter.htm">www.howitiller.com/Easter.htm</a> and scroll down until you see the full length scripts.<br /><br />Dance of the Broken Bones<br />Mind and Heart<br />Spectacle<br />The Great White Pearl<br />The Opening of the Hand<br /><br />There are many snall cast Easter sketches as well that you can download for this year.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-35843416343757040722010-01-22T15:56:00.000-08:002010-01-22T15:59:47.449-08:00Sunday School Conference in OhioI'm not a children's evangelist, but I teach a lot of Sunday School Conferences to encourage SS teachers to come alive with their story telling, acting and illustrations. <br /><br />We'll be in the Columbus area in March to teach. So, you may want to think about having us come you way...either to your local church or SS Conference. Reach us at <a href="mailto:howitiller@aol.com">howitiller@aol.com</a> or at 918-760-3561.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-77513639791178256612010-01-22T15:50:00.000-08:002010-01-22T15:56:16.480-08:00Easter Play or Drama called The EncounterLooking for a moving yet, user friendly script with music and song interpretation?<br /><br />Then The Encounter might just be what you are looking for. It is a compilation of professionally written sketches that uniquely weave a wonderful story with 3 chosen songs.<br /><br />On My Cross By FFH<br />Crosses and Crowns By Natalie Grant<br />Unto the Lamb By the Hope Project<br /><br />All these can be downloaded from i-tunes.<br /><br />Visit our site at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/Easter.htm">www.howitiller.com/Easter.htm</a> for more information<br /><br />You are not out of time yet, but Easter is a week earlier this year so don't wait too long.<br />Hey! You want us to help. I have a couple weeks that are still open if you want help and an incredible drama weekend. You can email us at <a href="mailto:howitiller@aol.com">howitiller@aol.com</a> or call us at 918-760-3561.<br />We'll help to make Easter happen for you.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-32508627914406441572009-12-27T21:16:00.000-08:002009-12-27T21:21:19.083-08:00New Years SketchIf you are looking for a good script for the new year service...then visit <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/sketches.htm">www.howitiller.com/sketches.htm</a> and scroll down until you see the sketch called, "Listen." <br /><br /><em>New Day or Spiritual Growth</em><br /> <br /><strong>"Listen"</strong> Often times we think we are not making progress in our own life or ministry, when we really are. In “Listen”, two hikers stop to take a breather when one of them thinks they are going in circles. The older wiser hiker who has been on this path before knows they aren’t going in circles. When things start to look so familiar that you think your life has become one big circle, that’s when you need to stop and listen. The journey is more than just seeing the sights…it’s also hearing the sounds. “Listen” was written to be performed for an event that introduces something new like a New Years Eve service, new ministry or growing spiritually. It can also be a parent and son/daughter sketch or a sermon set-up as well.<br /><br />Let us know if we can help with your drama ministry.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-19230588001390457622009-12-08T18:47:00.000-08:002009-12-08T18:57:04.043-08:00The Bethlehem of My Heart - Monologue<a href="http://www.howitiller.com/Christmas.htm">The Bethlehem of My Heart</a><br />(Removing the Herods in Our Life)<br /><br />© Copyright Howi Tiller 2009<br /><br />This monologue is more than just the retelling of the traditional Christmas story. It goes further and invites the audience to listen, but to also sit up and re-listen. It makes the audience think. Yes, to appreciate the fact that God came, Emmanuel, God with us, is the essence of why we celebrate, but to also think about how he came despite what else was happening in the earth…despite who was sitting on any earthly throne. “The Bethlehem of My Heart”, opens the possibility for your audience to ask the question of themselves, “Who sits on the throne of my heart?” Everyone needs a Bethlehem of the heart.<br /><br />This is a moving and thought provoking moment for your audience. It can be a stand alone moment or a contribution to the evening of celebrating the birth of our Saviour.<br /><br />Cast: 1 M<br />Joseph<br /><br />Props: You could use a manger and a doll for the baby or the props can be mimed.<br /><br />Setting: Biblical, could be stable or even work shop of carpenter since we don’t know when Joseph is telling this story.<br /><br />Running time: About 7 minutes<br /><br />Feel free to add mood music to enhance the scene.<br /><br />As the scene opens, Joseph is speaking to the audience as if he is in the middle of telling his story.<br /><br />Joseph: From the beginning…from the first day that Mary came to me with her story about an angel named Gabriel, adversity began to surrounded the birth of this child. I remember when she stepped inside my shop that day. The look in her eyes told me something was…ah…that it was urgent and she had to talk to me. Her lips tried to smile, but her eyes told me something else. It was excitement and concern at the same time. I dropped what I was doing and without a word I followed her to the side room where I knew we could talk. Then for the next few days I was that adversity. She was so disappointed with me and it hurt me to know that I was hurting her. Her story was too hard for me to believe. However, what God was doing didn’t stop just because I didn’t understand it. His plan to be birthed as a human wasn’t deterred by my lack of faith to believe it. <br /><br />I wanted to put Mary away privately and wait until this all passed. I could not allow her to bear the ridicule of the public. I still loved her with all my heart and was willing to wait. But asking someone to not be seen by loved ones and friends in such a small community was not going to be an easy task. People were going to ask where Mary is and so well…I just…I just didn’t know what to do.<br /><br />That night I tried to rest my mind from all that had been unfolding in our lives. I was trying to create and answer…an answer that would be sufficient enough for people’s questions. Ironic isn’t it? As a carpenter I’m so used to making things fit…securing things in their proper place, but this…this was out of my hands…out of my control. And well, none of this seemed like the way anyone would do things. A stable…cattle… lowly shepherds…a manger for a king? In my little mind, nothing seemed to fit and yet when you see things as God sees them, it all fits perfectly. I see that now, but there was a time I thought I would go to my grave wondering how I fit in all this and now…it’s so clear. <br /><br />I must have finally fallen off to sleep, when the angel of the Lord appeared to me in a dream and said, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” This was done so that the ancient prophecy could be fulfilled, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Emmanuel. Isn’t it amazing that He came to save us even when we…even when I was his adversity? He came anyway. I guess that’s when I stopped being an adversity. Wouldn’t you? How much more do I need to hear? How much more does, “stubborn” need to see?<br /><br />I know that Mary carried the babe for nine months, but something was also being birthed in me…my heart…my mind…my soul.<br /><br />Before you think I am someone special…let me tell you otherwise. I can only attribute my involvement in Jesus’ birth to being that I was a descendent of King David. Can you believe that? (Almost not believing it himself.) I’m in the lineage of a king. For that I am grateful, but I am not a chosen vessel. Yet for Mary…it was different. She was chosen. She was highly favored. <br /><br />The overshadowing! In my mind is overwhelming, yet undeniable. <br /><br />“And of His kingdom there shall be no end”! Do you understand that? I can’t even begin to pretend that I understand any of that. I didn’t say that I don’t believe it. (Mimes that he is holding the baby Jesus in his arms.) It’s just hard to hold an inarticulate life in your hands and know that this is the one who spoke the world into existence…the stars into place. Just because the babe doesn’t have a language to express himself yet, doesn’t mean He doesn’t have something to say….the Word become flesh. <br /><br />To me He was saying, “I’m coming no matter what else is happening and adversity is not going to stop me.<br /> <br />“The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:”<br /><br />No wonder why Herod was troubled. People like Herod will always be at war with the birth of the child. Even while in it’s infancy, full grown selfishness schemes and plots to crush that birth of life and the life of the birth. The Christ child came while Herod was still King. Selfishness and jealousy will always be at odds with the birth of God in your life. Adversity sits in it’s own throne and threatens anyone or anything that dares to remove them from it.<br /><br />When I think about Mary, I think she is one of those that are born with an unlimited amount of faith. Yes, that’s Mary. But others of us in a way…need to be…reborn. Rebirthed. Our minds can’t contain the thought of an angel named Gabriel announcing the virgin birth of the Messiah…Emmanuel…God is with us…well, at least not until we can hold it in our hands. (Mimes that he is laying the babe in the manger.)<br /><br />“And of His kingdom there shall be no end.” <br /><br />Kingdoms? Eternal…endless? And the prophet Micah said, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.<br /><br />The infancy of eternity comes to replace the temporal king while he is still on the throne. The kings in this life (He refers to his heart.) are so stubborn and haughty.<br /><br />(He kneels before the child.) I need the full grown Herods of my life to be removed by the birth of the Christ in the Bethlehem of my heart.<br /><br />Lights fadeHowi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-38574520535464483882009-12-07T15:05:00.000-08:002009-12-07T15:13:25.304-08:00"Close Friends" 2010 tour"Close Friends" is our most popular full length performance. We've recently performed the comedy in Bloomington, IN, Raleigh, NC, Chicago, Houston, and twice in the Fresno (area)<br /><br />Close Friends is one of those scripts that has become our signature because it can be performed throughout the whole year, not just for Christmas.<br /><br />If you would like more informationa bout having us bring, Close Friends to your church, please visit our website at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/">www.howitiller.com</a>.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-18792507272070076272009-12-07T14:02:00.000-08:002009-12-07T15:05:09.124-08:00Christmas ComedyWell, the winner is a toss up between 2 of our Christmas comedies.<br /><br />Numb and Numb-er was a huge success last year and was again this year. But the new comedy, The Hillside Incident was also very popular. We'd love to hear how your banquets and Christmas programs went.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-91231511095854585432009-12-07T13:51:00.000-08:002009-12-07T14:02:07.733-08:00Christmas Rehearsals and stuffI know that Christmas plays and banquets are often times stressful. I've been helping churches from Michigan to California to Texas to Nebraska get ready for Christmas. It's like this every Christmas and I love it. It's my favorite time of the year. Two of the weekends for next year are already scheduled.<br /><br />I know that everyone is pretty much settled on what they want to do for Christmas in the midst of final rehearsals. Let me recommend a resource for the next time, whether it be Christmas, Easter or any dramatic event...it's called the Director's Notebook. You can receive it free from Terry Vik at <a href="http://www.christiandramaresources.com/">www.Christiandramaresources.com</a>. It's a down load that you will use for the rest of your drama ministry career. Terry offers it free so you can see how to build an effective drama ministry from foundation on up. You need to do yourself a favor and add it to your resource material.<br /><br />This year the package Back to You was our biggest seller. The instructions of the play were video taped and we hoped that the instructions were clear enough that any church could utilize the program and make it work for them. For the most part it has been a great success. However, we are striving to make the next time better and better. Our goal is to help thousands of churches nationwide be prepared for their guests. We are now resourcing over 2500 churches each year and that number is growing.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-25371581204452692222009-11-12T14:31:00.000-08:002009-11-12T14:45:48.352-08:00Christmas play updateIt's been a long time since I've posted. It's been a crazy summer and fall. We've tried a new concept with the CODE events. Easter and Christmas CODEs are a fun option from the regular CODEs. These other CODEs are a two day event that teaches a whole program...usually including all the blocking of any sketches that belong to the Easter of Christmas CODE and 6 to 7 songs. The songs are a great mix of sign, dowel rods, song interpretation.<br /><br />For Christmas we created a program called, Back to You. It's an hour in length. The story line is about a couple that is setting up the nativity scene and as the husband does, the characters come to life. Obviously, the situation rides a wave of comedy and drama that brings about the traditional story of Christmas ina new and creative way.<br /><br />Check it out at www.howitiller.com/Christmas/htmHowi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-2822132420061720032009-07-21T19:01:00.000-07:002009-07-21T19:08:00.510-07:00CODE IndianaCODE Indy went pretty well. The economy seems to have effected the attendence this year, but what hasn't been effected by it? But the groups that came, had a lot of fun. This year we changed it up a bit by creating more focused exercises to stretch the directors and actors. We assigned each group of actors with a director and a pre-arranged script for them to work from. We had some of the fundimental classes from the past for the first timers, but moved on to more challenging things for repeat registrants.<br /><br />There will be a DVD ready for CODE Odessa as of today and CODE Indiana will be ready by Thursday. Check <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/misc.htm">www.howitiller.com/misc.htm</a> for ordering.<br /><br />Next up....CODE East in Raleigh, NC. It's going to be a blast...it always is.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-71141732896885476732009-07-08T15:04:00.000-07:002009-07-08T15:09:57.433-07:00The CODE West 2009 DVDThe CODE West 2009 DVD is now available for anyone wanting to add some neat pieces to their repertoire. Songs like, "Right Place, Right Time" and "Stand Out"...two very high energy songs to open services with or to be done at youth events. Also, "One More Round" by Barlow Girl is a neat song interpretation for youth (girls). <br /><br />A very touching monologue called, "Just One Touch" is followed up by a worshipful sign song, "Something Happens". Visit our site at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/misc.htm">www.howitiller.com/misc.htm</a>Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-11982557988816026072009-06-27T12:57:00.000-07:002009-06-27T13:12:50.682-07:00CODE WestCODE West went really well. Attendence was down this year, but drama teams from as far away as Las Vegas came and performed. The new DVD is available with 8 drama pieces. A good mix of sign, song interpretation and this year something...Clowning with Terry Vik. The team from Vegas did Tye Tribetts, "Stand Out" and the local team did "Right Place, Right Time", by Kurt Carr. I blocked out a song interpretation to the song, "One More Round", by Barlow Girl. I think your young ladies are going to love acting out this song. Its fun and has a message to it.<br /><br />We originally were asked to help with the song for a young ladies conference called, Esther in Pensacola, Fl. Anyway, it evolved into what we did with it at CODE West. <br /><br />Gaylen Cantrell performed the moving monologue called Just One Touch. This is a monologue about a leper who recounts what it was like to not be touched by his family and wife. WHat it was like to walk into a market place and yell out, "Unclean". The monologue segues into the healing section of the monologue and then the sign team called, Signs and Wonders stepped in behind the monologue with the song, "Something Happens". Wow, what a great sequence to bring people to an altar experience. Ypu're going to want to put these two pieces together.<br /><br />If you're needing help to organize your drama ministry to the point where you can use it throughout the whole year...let us know. We can help to make that happen. Email me at <a href="mailto:howitiller@aol.com">howitiller@aol.com</a>. We are helping churches all over the US and Canada every week to move into an anointed drama ministry.<br /><br /><br />If you are a director or youth leader lookinf for new and exciting drama ministry material, please visit us at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/misc.htm">www.howitiller.com/misc.htm</a>.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-56299894696284951912009-06-17T16:50:00.000-07:002009-06-17T16:58:46.580-07:00Well...it's been a while. But a lot has happened since we last talked. We recently taught a music/drama conference in Columbia, MS. I just finished a drama weekend in Sacramento, CA (Shingle Springs) and now preparing for CODE West here in the valley. Hanford, CA has played host to CODE West for 7 years in a row. It proves to be another wonderful CODE with drama teams coming in from as far away as Las Vegas. Thursday evening will feature a mix of monologues, interpretive sign and song interpretations. The CODE West 2009 DVD will be available just as soon as possible. <br /><br />Next year will be our 10th anniversary here in CA and we will plan a very special week. Maybe even a master CODE...we'll see.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-2248948125656871362009-05-19T12:26:00.000-07:002009-05-19T12:32:32.689-07:00Pentecost Sunday is comingMany churches don't know what to do with this Sunday. Pentecost Sunday is a very hard event to make special for many of you. There is the full blown musical, The Fire Still Falls, which deals with the Azuza Street and the earth quakes at the turn of the century, but at this point this is not an option for you as it takes a month of rehearsal and live choir and actors...seeing it is already the middle of May. So what's the option? I would do a mix of interpretive sign, song interpretation and dowel rod songs that can help bring a very powerful atmosphere to you church. To see what I'm talking about visit our site at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/misc.htm">www.howitiller.com/misc.htm</a>. We've been doing these kinds of things for 11 years and Pastors love the options.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1854223078093006703.post-2932880008430540212009-05-19T12:22:00.000-07:002009-05-19T12:26:26.452-07:00Father's Day is comingNow that MOther's Day has come and gone.....by the way I hope your Mother's Day events went well for you. If we were any help, please let us know. We love to hear how our drama material is helping to make your job easier. Father's Day is coming up soon. Father's Day seems to be a little harder to make special...we have a few really good sketches that may help you acheive something special for your Father's Day this year. Please take time to visit our site at <a href="http://www.howitiller.com/sketches.htm">www.howitiller.com/sketches.htm</a> for a list and brief description of the sketches that may work for you. It is our pleasure to help in any way we can.Howi Tillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04790332315119565478noreply@blogger.com0