Afraid Technical
Details:
What We Need to Put on the Show:
First of all, don't worry! The show involves no sets or props, and the lighting is very simple. No church has ever had a problem! And people with no theatrical experience can easily execute the technical cues, after a run-through with Frank.
VOLUNTEERS FOR A QUICK REHEARSAL
A group of 3-6 volunteers should be recruited for one quick rehearsal. One or two adults overseeing a group of teenagers is fine.
Beyond the volunteers, almost everything necessary for putting on the show is already somewhere in your building--chairs, music stands, candles, etc. The following list summarizes the technical needs. Don't worry: we're flexible!
If you have any other questions or concerns, I will be happy to answer them. Call me at my personal phone numbers, listed below!
Looking forward to it--
Frank Runyeon
Office: (800) 984-8472
Cell phone: (914) 414-5362
LIGHTS:
A FOLLOW-SPOT
• THIS IS THE ONE ESSENTIAL. PLAN NOW: to either borrow one from a local school or theater; or to rent one from a theatrical lighting company listed in your yellow pages (usually no more than $40-70).
• BE SURE TO REQUEST A REPLACEMENT BULB, just in case.
• The color gels in the spot should be strong: red, blue, & orange.
• Ask if the fan in the follow-spot is noisy: one with a quieter fan is best.
If Frank is flying to your location, the following lights are also essential. Within driving distance of L.A., he can bring these. But if you could provide them, it would be appreciated!
FIVE 90-WATT WHITE HALOGEN HOUSEHOLD SPOTLIGHTS
• "Spotlights" are better than "floodlights": spotlights have a brighter center.
• If they don't have halogen, a regular 120-watt household spotlight is OK.
• You can pick these up at any hardware store for $5-8 or so.
• Avoid buying spotlights that are the "Outdoor Accent" brand: poor quality.
• Floodlights can be used if you must!
4 POWER STRIPS
• We'll use these to control the center stage, tomb, and side-aisle lights.
5 CLAMP LAMPS for mounting the lights ($5-9 at hardware stores)
A FLAGPOLE (or “boom” mike stand)
• The center stage light will go on top of a flagpole (or mike stand). You can simply "undress" one
of your flagpoles, and remount the flag after the performance. If you have no flagpole (or banner pole), we can use a microphone stand ("boom" mike stands with an arm are best).
IF YOU PLAN ON USING TRADITIONAL THEATRICAL LIGHTS:
• A traditional theatrical lighting pole and a theater-light with a dimmer board is of course also fine to provide center stage lighting, although it's not necessarily better. The biggest problem is the tripod. A circular weighted bottom is preferred.
• Traditional theater lights are OK for the other 4 lights, too, but 2-3 will be used at close range, so very high wattage should be avoided. These 2-3 will probably be used as "footlights," and ideally should be mounted on a board or floor mount.
• These 4 lights need to be controlled locally, not from a dimmer board, and will need their own power strips.
CANDLES AND CANDLE HOLDERS
• Whatever tall candles and candleholders you have will be placed around your sanctuary or hall in the side aisles (and back of the center aisle): tall standing candles, altar candles, candelabras... Frank will place only 4-8 around the church or hall to help set a primitive, "candlelight" mood as the audience enters. Avoid pew-attached candles on the center aisle (they block the follow spot).
• A variety of smaller white candles (for up front "on stage"):
12 candles of different heights (Old used candles are very good for these)
(Used altar candles, dinner candles, pillar candles, mounted simply.)
They go up front on the right and left side of the altar. They represent the assorted candles the Christians have brought down into the catacombs.
• And: 12 white votive candles to mark the steps in the darkness
(small candles in glass containers: short 1”-2” ones are better than tall ones)
AUDIO:
A WIRELESS LAPEL MICROPHONE
Although Frank sometimes performs the play without a mike, it is very helpful during the rehearsal, and, depending on your acoustics, he will probably also use it for the performance.
THE SET:
1 HIGH STOOL (TO SIT ON) AND 12 CHAIRS
• A stool for Frank to sit on--and stand on--center stage as the "storyteller." This can be a simple "kitchen counter"-type wooden high stool, or a metal artist's stool. Avoid stools that swivel or have a back on them. Frank will be standing on this stool for the crucifixion--make sure it is solid!
• Twelve adult audience members (not tech crew) are invited as they arrive that night to sit "on stage" in the chairs, six on either side, in diagonal rows of three each. Regular or folding chairs are fine. (These 12 audience members require no rehearsal; they simply watch the play like the rest of the audience, men and women. Ask Frank before assigning seats!)
4 SOLID-BACKED, BLACK MUSIC STANDS
• 2 music stands may be used to hold the side-aisle lights
• 2 stands will be used by the tech crew, to hold their lighting cue sheets.
TECH MISC:
250 FEET OF EXTENSION CORDS
You will need lots of extension cords, enough to plug in each of the lights.
Have at least 6-8 different cords, totaling 250 feet.
Ideally: two 50-foot, and six 25-foot cords. Grounded, 3-pronged extension cords are best. (Pick up 5 adaptor plugs if your outlets are not grounded!)
2 ROLLS OF DUCT TAPE
You will need lots of duct tape, to tape down the extension cords, so audience members don't trip over them going to their seats. (But don’t duct tape in advance; we’ll do it in rehearsal.)
A ROLL OF ALUMINUM FOIL
Frank will use the aluminum foil to focus the lights, cupping it around the clamp light shells, to narrow the light, and direct it more precisely. He will also use it to put color gels on the side aisle lights.
AUDIO-VIDEO RECORDINGS: AVAILABLE AFTER THE SHOW
Any recording of the performance is strictly forbidden by the professional theatrical unions. Video recordings will be on sale afterward. (Please have a table and a volunteer available to help with these videos.)
NON-TECHNICAL DETAILS
PROGRAMS: Be sure make copies of the program to hand out that night
• The program included in the P.R. kit can be used as your church's program by putting your church's name above or below the photo with the date of the performance under it.
• PLEASE INCLUDE THE CONTACT ADDRESS ON THE BACK OF THE PROGRAM. And be sure it came out on your copier! This is how we get many of our bookings--which allow this ministry to continue!
• The backside of the program has been left blank to provide a place to put thank you's to the technical crew, ushers, to those helping with the refreshments and child care, etc., and/or for church announcements.
• Some churches have expanded the program into a multi-page "Playbill" and sold advertising to local merchants (printing their business cards, etc.) or personal pages (like a yearbook) to raise funds. That's fine with us!
• If you have any questions about how to adapt the program, just call us! Feel free to alter it as you wish--but include the contact address!
REFRESHMENTS
Everyone looks forward to refreshments, if you wish to provide them after the performance. They add an air of celebration and fellowship that go well with the Gospel. Coffee, milk, juice, sandwiches, cookies, pastries, potluck desserts, you name it!
CHILD CARE: Please provide a nursery for preschoolers, if possible.
Children of all ages are welcome at the performance, but if a church is sponsoring, PLEASE have a nursery for preschoolers. Children 7 years of age and older enjoy the play tremendously, but if younger siblings get restless or noisy, it's good to have a place for them to go. Parents deserve a chance to focus on the Gospel!
PHOTOS AND AUTOGRAPHS
• Frank enjoys staying afterwards and talking with people. Photos and autographs are fine. Frank will also be happy to sign copies of the video of the show. You may make this "reception” part of publicity.
• No photos should be taken during the performance. It distracts the audience as well as Frank. Frank will arrange photo-ops for the press. Ask!
HOW LONG IS THE PLAY?
- The play is 70 minutes long, with no intermission.
- If for some reason you wish the play to fit into a shorter time slot, a shorter version is available (55 minutes).
Any other questions, call Frank at: (800) 984-8472
He'll be happy to answer them!
THE TECHNICAL CREW
3 MAJOR HELPERS: (1) One person runs the follow-spot (2) The second person reads the cue-sheet for the follow-spot. (3) The third person turns the "stage" lights on and off during the show.
2 MINOR HELPERS: A fourth and fifth person sit in the audience to turn the side-aisle lights on and off at a few moments during the play. (Spouses or friends can easily do the side-aisle lights with a quick 1-minute rehearsal, if necessary.)
1 EXTRA: A sixth person could be in charge of the many candles, and/ or serve as a "stage manager."
If you have difficulty recruiting this 3 to 6-person "crew," just let Frank know. He's flexible! But know that everyone on this "technical crew" in the past has always enjoyed themselves. It's a fun experience to share, and it only involves a couple of hours. Plus, it's fun for Frank to meet people from your parish or school and work with them to bring the Gospel alive!
Sermon on
the Mount Technical
Details:
TECHNICAL NEEDS
LIGHTS: Please provide a follow spot with: a light pink and a rich orange (or amber) gel. If this is not possible, the play can be performed with a 75- or 90-watt halogen spotlight bulb mounted in a clamp lamp, on top of a music stand. If both of these prove a problem, give us a call. (The play can be performed with all the sanctuary lights on, although the darkness and candlelight do make the setting more effective.)
TECH CREW: We will need just 2 helpers, one to run the follow spot and one to turn the house lights on and off. Rehearsal is usually one hour before the performance. (It’s easy.)
PROPS: Please have 10-20 candles for a little mood
(What looks pretty: 1-2 candelabras
and 2-6 standing torches,
plus 4-6 altar candles of gradually decreasing height;
and 4-8 votives or tea candles for the altar steps).
But we will work with whatever you have.
Also, please have very large book or Bible, which represents the Hebrew Scriptures
(the Gospel book is often good for this), and
a tilting book stand, which will allow the open book to rest open on the altar
in front of the candelabra or assorted altar candles.
MUSIC: It is a good idea to precede and follow the SERMON with a brief hymn or instrumental. Please arrange for an accompanist and someone with a strong voice to lead the singing. I recommend “SEEK YE FIRST” with lyrics printed in the program. If you need a copy of the music or lyrics, let me know. (During Lent, “BLEST ARE THEY” is another possibility, to avoid the Alleluias.)
ALSO:
CHARACTERS TO THINK ABOUT: I will describe the “characters” in Matthew’s church and refer to people sitting in the audience. Nobody has to do or say anything, but it helps bring the story to life to imagine these folks as the characters. You may want to have a few people in mind for the more important characters, folks that would be appropriate and fun, or I can just pick from whomever is in the audience:
THE LEADER OF THE COMMUNITY
(the pastor or a priest is best; he just sits up front)
THE SCRIBE-PHARISEE (usually an older man, a priest or teacher is good)
THE LADY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
(Usually the DRE or a woman who is very prominent in the local church)
I will speak to these people for a moment or two before the performance just to reassure them that they don’t have to do or say anything, just enjoy listening to the Gospel like everyone else.
Any further questions, don’t hesitate to call: 800 984-8472 . Thanks!
Letter of James Technical
Details:
TECHNICAL NEEDS
LIGHTS: Please provide a follow spot with:
a light pink and
a rich orange (or amber) gel.
TECH CREW: We will need just 2 helpers, one to run the follow spot and one to turn the house lights on and off. Rehearsal is usually one hour before the performance. (It’s easy.)
PROPS: Please have 10-20 candles for a little mood
(What looks pretty: 1-2 candelabras
and 2-6 standing torches,
plus 4-6 altar candles of gradually decreasing height;
and 4-8 votives or tea candles for the altar steps).
But we will work with whatever you have.
Also, please have very large book or Bible, which represents the Hebrew Scriptures
(the Gospel book is often good for this), and
a tilting book stand, which will allow the open book to rest open on the altar
in front of the candelabra or assorted altar candles.
MUSIC: It is a good idea to precede and follow the JAMES with a brief hymn or instrumental. Please arrange for an accompanist and someone with a strong voice to lead the singing. I recommend “God Has Spoken to His People” with lyrics printed in the program. If you wish to use some other hymn that echoes the themes of James, that’s fine, too.
Any further questions, don’t hesitate to call: 800 984-8472 .
Thanks!
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