Woman: It feels like God has shoved me down a road I never would have chosen—a road going in the wrong direction. (wisfully) By now I was to have grandchildren on my lap—a husband by my side. He had no right.
Man: Your husband?
Woman (sharply angry): God! He had no right. (pause; wearily) I'm sorry. This doesn't concern you.
Man: But it does.
Woman (after studying him; heavily): Who are you?
Man: Someone who's been there. (pause) I've been down that same road—but it wasn't the wrong road. It wasn't where I wanted to be, but it was where I needed to be. (script segment from the His Company sketch, The Road)

A Calling to the Stage

A Calling to the Stage is a book for those involved in Christian drama--be they directors of an independent group, an actor in the local church, or the music minister who seasonally directs actors in his or her musicals. There is no charge for either edition: both books are immediately available for downloading, in their entirety.

Common to Both Editions

Cover of A Calling to the Stage

Philosophy Behind the Separate Editions

The Director's Edition contains all chapters in all four Parts:

The Actor's Edition does not include Part Two, two chapters from Part One, and two chapters from Part Four--but all pages are numbered the same as in the Director's Edition. Of course, anyone is free to download either edition, but the idea is that the local director would download both editions, print the Director's for himself, and print multiple copies of the Actor's for those in his drama group. Indeed, the Actor's Edition makes an excellent manual for the director to use in training those in his or her group.

Download the Director's Edition Download the Actor's Edition

The Actor's Edition is a subset of the Director's, with only those chapters pertinent to the individual actor.

from the Preface...

"This book is not for everyone. A professional actor performing on the stages of the New York theatre would find its counsel to be rather insulting. Church theatre, however, is not usually peopled by professionals, but by dedicated amateurs willing to risk playing the fool because of their love for the Lord. They are motivated not by fame, the hope of adulation or wealth, but by a personal devotion to God.

"The dedicated amateur's training--as well as the training for their directors--is often limited to that offered by their high school drama coach, and may have occurred ten or twenty years in the past. They are often not self-starters, but require constant coaching, direction, encouragement and prodding. They welcome copious, often meticulous instruction, and without it would probably run screaming from the stage.

"This book makes no claim of universal appeal, but has been written for the possibly experienced, but still amateur director and actor. It is based on practical methods that have been put into use many times--and work. This book has been written, most of all, for those who have accepted their talents as gifts from the Lord, to be used at His bidding, in His service, and to His glory."