The Evangelism Team of Pendleton United Methodist Church invites everyone to see The Book of Daniel come alive on January 29, 2012 at 6:00 pm. Special Guest, Pastor Courtney Krueger, will perform this one-person dramatic presentation which has its roots in Courtney’s doctoral work at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. His “field education” assignment was to engage in some form of ministry or activity that was beyond their normal ministerial duties. Courtney had written a number of short sermon-length one-person dramas and had desired to do a much longer one for some time. He contacted Doug Cummins, the chair of the Theater Department at Furman University to ask him if he would serve as a field education supervisor. Dr. Cummins readily agreed and the seminary approved the plan. Dr. Cummins assigned several books on writing one person plays and several commentaries on the Book of Daniel for Courtney to read.
The first line Courtney wrote actually occurs in the middle of the show. Daniel is looking out a window and calling out a prayer to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego as they are led off to the fiery furnace.
After several months of writing and re-writing, the script was ready. In the play, Courtney portrays six different characters from the book and changes characters 14 times. He hired a Furman theater student to design and create the costumes that needed to be simple, but dramatic.
The show went into rehearsal in early 2002 with Dr. Cummins driving to Pendleton four days a week for eight weeks. Dr. Cummins did all the blocking and choreography for the show. The show premiered at First Baptist Church on March 17, 2002. Courtney has since done this show dozens of times in several states. He used the show as the centerpiece in a curriculum he wrote for a three day summer children’s camp.
Reverend Krueger finds the show important because it introduces a wide range of people to the story of Daniel. The program usually contains a suggestion that people find ways to make applications of the choices Daniel made – sometimes accommodating to culture, sometimes resisting culture – in their own lives and in our own culture.
Jane Herstine of the Evangelism Team at Pendleton United Methodist Church says that this performance is suitable for ages 4 years to senior citizens. Pendleton United Methodist Church is located at the corner of Broad Street and Cherry Street in Pendleton.
For more information, call the church office at 864-646-3355.
