Playwriting Commons^™

How Would Jesus Watch This? An Investigation Into Dance Restrictions In American Protestantism, Rebecca Lynn Huppenthal

Theatre & Dance ETDs

In the United States there has been many disagreements concerning the place of dance within Protestant Christianity. Some denominations have banned dance entirely while other utilize dance as an essential element of worship. At the center of this argument is the understanding, treatment, and use of the physical body. Beginning in the sixteenth century through current times, I analyze specific Protestant denominations including the Puritans, Evangelical Fundamentalists, Southern Baptists, the Shakers, certain African American denominations, and Pentecostals. Additionally, I examine notable liturgical modern dancers, as well as my own choreographic work, a dance film titled Rebirth. This research displays …

Sarah Kane's Post-Christian Spirituality In Cleansed, Elba Sanchez

All Master's Theses

The existing scholarship on the work of British playwright Sarah Kane mostly focuses on exploring the use of extreme acts of violence in her plays. However, few scholars like Dr. Graham Saunders and Anabelle Singer can trace it back to the rejection of her Christian beliefs during her adolescence. This thesis explores how Kane used violence and images of impalement, dismemberment, and cross-dressing in her third play, Cleansed as a vehicle to examine and validate her notions of gender and sexuality as well as her developing post-Christian spirituality. Through the critical textual analysis of Cleansed in conjunction with scholarly literature …

They-See-(Desi)-Mac-N-Cheese: A Conversation To Make The Invisible Visible, Satwik Srikrishnan

Senior Projects Spring 2017

Senior Project submitted to The Division of Arts of Bard College.

Though The Earth Give Way

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 2013 performance of Though the Earth Give Way by William Gebby, commissioned and presented by the Taylor Theatre Touring Company.

Though the Earth Give Way is a reimagined telling of the story of King Hezikiah and his resistance of the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem in 701 B.C.. The story is found in the Old Testament, in 2 Kings 18-20 and Psalm 46.

Godspell

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 2013 performance of Godspell by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak.

Gospell is a musical telling the parables and life of Jesus found in the gospel of Matthew.

Footprints Of A Pilgrim

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 2009 performance of Footsteps of a Pilgrim based on the book by Ruth Bell Graham and adapted by Kerry Meads and Robert Smyth.

Footprints of a Pilgrim is the story of Ruth Bell Graham recounting the story of her childhood as the daughter of missionaries in China, her marriage to Reverend Billy Graham, and beyond.

“…And A Child Shall Lead Them”

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1999 performance of “…And a Child Shall Lead Them”.

“…Of Things Unseen”

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1991 Advanced Oral Interpretation Class’s performance of …Of Things Unseen adapted by Oliver Hubbard.

Cotton Patch Gospel

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1987 performance of Cotton Patch Gospel book by Tom Key and Russel Treyz, music and lyrics by Harry Chapin.

J.B.

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1984 performance of J.B. by Archibald MacLeish.

J.B. is a retelling of the Biblical story of Job by two old circus performers by the name of Zuss and Nickles (Zeus and Satan), who make a wager and play out Job’s story in modern America where Job is a millionaire named J.B..

Quest And Query

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1978 performance of Quest and Query adapted by Oliver Hubbard.

Christ In The Concrete City And The Prodigal Son

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s 1974 performances of Christ in the Concrete City by Philip Turner and The Prodigal Son by R.H. Ward, performed by the Religious Drama Company

Cry Of Dawn In Dark Babylon

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1968 performance of Cry Dawn in Dark Babylon by P. W. Turner.

From the playbill: “According to the author, this is a play about death, the Resurrection and the Church. It is a true story, based on his own experience as a pastor in an industrial parish in England.”

Performed by the Taylor Religious Drama Company. It was second of three projects developed by the class for the semester.

J.B.

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Spring 1961 performance of J.B. by Archibald MacLeish.

J.B. is a retelling of the Biblical story of Job by two old circus performers by the name of Zuss and Nickles (Zeus and Satan), who make a wager and play out Job’s story in modern America where Job is a millionaire named J.B..

This was part of the 1961 Fine Arts Festival and performed in Maytag Auditorium.

The Robe

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s Fall 1957 performance of The Robe adapted by John McGreevey from Lloyd C. Douglas’s work of the same name.

The Robe tells the story of Marcellus, a young Roman officer who wins the robe of Jesus when he is crucified, and how Marcellus’s life is changed after that encounter.

Androcles And The Lion

Taylor Theatre Playbills

The playbill for Taylor University’s 1956 performance of Androcles and the Lion by George Bernard Shaw.

Androcles and the Lion is the story of a Christian in early Rome named Androcles, who helps a Lion that later comes to his aid when Androcles is captured and brought to the Colosseum for torture and death.