God Takes Center Stage
by Debbie Coleman-Topi
June 27, 2006
(AgapePress) - - The culture war is no more evident than on stage in theaters on Broadway and across the nation. These Broadway shows often end up traveling across the country with stops in Omaha, Wichita, Denver and Indianapolis. But a new generation of playwrights is coming up and their message is one of hope and redemption -- through Christ. Their plays are finding success in local theater and on radio as they entertain, often humorously, while sharing life-changing revelations.
After nearly 20 years, Lori Triplett came to a startling revelation herself -- her "center-stage" acting career wasn't "Christ-centered." The Overland Park, Kansas, woman danced, sang and acted her way into professional theatre at the age of 16, performing in shows throughout the country, including the musical The Arkansas Experience, which was broadcast on television's PBS network.
But as her resume' grew, Triplett more frequently was asked to play roles that conflicted with her Christian beliefs and background. That's when God sent Triplett's pastor with a new challenge -- and the beginning of a way out of secular theatre. Rev. Timothy Waggoner, with Knox Presbyterian Church in Overland Park, asked Triplett to lead a weekly performance for her church's contemporary worship service, and she became co-founder and director of the Knox Drama Team. The sketches provide a lead-in to Sunday morning messages.
| | 
Lori Triplett |
"It's an important part of our service," Triplett said of the role she has led since 1994. "It adds comprehension and memory because it uses multiple senses." But that was only the beginning of the new theatrical path down which God was leading this seasoned actress. Triplett had spent her life on stage, but she never had faced a lack of material. She soon discovered that Christian theatre was different because such plays were scarce. Now Triplett, who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the University of Arkansas and a Master's degree in theatre from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, added "playwright" to her list of accomplishments and she began creating the group's skits.
On several known occasions, the Knox Drama Team has met its desired goals. Christians often comment that the performances have helped them understand better a Bible story or passage while non-Christians sometimes confess to accepting Christ as a result of a performance. Triplett said one such example is a local woman, a non-Christian, who eventually accepted Christ following a show and later became a minister.
"Those are reminders I'm headed in the right direction," she said.
As she worked developing the Knox Drama Team, God called Triplett to bring Christian theatre to the public. She formed a traveling troupe in which the dramas and their messages could reach the un-churched and non-Christians. She was aware of a small movement among Christians who were forming touring theatrical troupes. Triplett took cues from the most successful of these to form a troupe that was organized through the formation of The Heart of America Performing Arts.
She learned that Michael Bauer of Lawrence, Kansas, had established a successful interdisciplinary organization, which he called IMAGO DEI, using Christian artists to teach drama, conduct poetry readings and offer lessons through visual arts. His repertoire also included sculptures and paintings.
The two theatrical artists combined efforts to form IMAGO DEI: Friends of Christianity and the Arts in 2004. Since then, the organization, which numbers about 50 individual members, has provided financial and other support for literary, visual and performing arts. The group also boasts 24 institutional members, which consists of churches and businesses providing support. Through IMAGO DEI, which in Latin means, "Image of God," professionals from throughout the country perform religious-based shows. They also conduct workshops designed to teach churches about the benefits of using drama, music, dance and the literary and visual arts in worship services.
IMAGO DEI presented its premiere Performing Arts Series with a performance of A Wise Woman. The story is based on the fantasy by George MacDonald, who was inspired by author C.S. Lewis, writer of the famed The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and other tales. Triplett's rendition is the story of a teenage princess who is given everything she wants and is never disciplined. A wise woman takes her on a spiritual journey where she learns life's true lessons. Other performances include A Celebration to God, a sacred dance and chamber music combination, and Godspell, a well-known Broadway musical.
Triplett said the difference between secular and religious drama lies in its goals. Her early acting career proved the secular goals of entertaining and exploring new ideas. These often are delivered by shocking the audience. Revealing truth, evangelism and "doing your best for God" are religious drama's goals.
While the audience benefits, one of IMAGO DEI's main goals is played through its actors and actresses.
"Artists need a place to work and not have secular pressures ... and to glorify God," she said. "God gave them this gift for a reason. The guy who's given a talent as an engineer has the opportunity to work that we don't always have."
"My ultimate goal for IMAGO DEI is that Christian artists can come and make their living at it -- to impact the secular community."
While Triplett has hopes and aspirations for the organization, she also knows who's in control.
Her work has not gone unnoticed. She has received a Kansas Arts Commission Fellowship in Playwriting in 2003 for Women of the Wind, a historical play about a 1929 women's air derby race, a cross-country airplane race by Amelia Earhart.
Thanks to technology and the extraordinary quality of her work, people around the world will now be able to hear the productions at the click of a mouse. Triplett recently learned that an audio theatre series she wrote is going into syndication. Boise, Idaho. Stillriver Productions has announced the release of audio theatre Twain's Eden in downloadable format. Nathan Snyder of Boise has directed this warm-hearted comedy in which Mark Twain envisions himself as Adam and his wife as Eve. The one-hour-and-ten-minute audio production features the voices of Liz Johnson as Eve and Darrel Boatwright, star from the motion picture Autumn's Angel as Adam. Bob McMinn narrates this spoof as Adam and Eve learn about life and each other in the Garden of Eden. Recorded at Owyhee Sound Studios in Boise, Idaho, this light-hearted comedy is available as an MP3 download at CastleCreekRadio.com.
So now the world can be an audience. "How much impact we have and where we go," she said, "is totally up to God."
Debbie Coleman-Topi is a contributing writer for the Metro Voice, a 17-year-old, award-winning Christian newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri. This article is printed with the permission of the newspaper.
