writing dramas
As I have mentioned, right now, I write all the dramas for Northridge. My goal is to write shorter dramas (about 2 pages each) that require only a few actors and have lines that easily play off each other. Below are some hints and tips on writing dramas and things to think about even before you write the first line. Enjoy!

The Tools - There are some things that you need to think about or do before you start writing dramas.

  • Your pastor needs to believe in the usefulness of contemporary drama. I realize that it may not for everybody or every church
  • You need at least 1 person (YOU maybe?) who can act.
  • You need resources.
  • You need to have a philosophy.
  • ou need to know what’s important to say and what’s not.
  • You need people who can memorize lines.
  • You need discernment.

Getting Started -Here's what you should have in mind before your fingers ever touch the keyboard...

  • Get a list of bullet points from what the pastor will speak on.
  • Choose 1 (maybe 2) that you will touch on. Don’t try to tackle too much.
  • Don’t say everything the pastor is trying to say. Allow the pastor to clarify your points.
  • Help them leave with 1 or 2 lasting impressions for the week.
  • Stories from the Bible acted out are fine but people want to see themselves up there
  • Careful not to write anything that doesn’t help them in their day to day lives.

K.I.S.S. - No, I'm not talking about the now-resurrected ‘70's glam band. K.I.S.S. is an acronym for "Keep It Simple Stupid." I’m sure you’ve heard this acronym used countless times in both your personal and professional lives. And, guess what? It also applies to drama. Just like in the movie industry, most successful films have a good, solid plot and good character development. In church drama there is sometimes a misconception that bigger is better and that the audience demands as much since they see it on TV and in the movies. Not so. It is important in the drama that people are focusing on the characters and not what is around them. Here's how I keep it simple:

  • If you are the only one who can act, then you will take on the bulk of the lines
  • You will need to write dialogue that plays off each other.
  • Don't write a drama that has more than 2-3 people. Memorizing is tough enough for most people and adding more people into the mix makes it even tougher.
  • Only do it when it’s absolutely necessary. Blocking is difficult on a small stage.
  • Where most people struggle in life is on the one-on-one level. Write more dramas with 2 people.
  • There is no need to say something in 5 pages if it can be said in 2, as most dramas do not require this level of wordage in order to get its message across and more words mean more to memorize for Martha.
  • You’d be surprised how much you can fit on one page and how long it takes to actually act out.
  • Cheat sheets are great! Work the script in. In about 50% of the dramas, I actually try to get part or all of the script in there somewhere (Newspapers, bills, laptops, note cards, etc.) No one will ever know and if they do, who cares? Did I mention memorizing is hard to do?
  • Every little bit helps (especially if you are a control freak!) A few good props (and lighting, and sound!) go a long way. Keeping it simple will keep the congregation focused on the people in the drama and their dilemma
  • Lights are good to tell the congregation it’s over. How you bring the lights down will emphasize what you are trying to say (Slow helps if you end on a contemplative note. Fast usually helps if you made a humorous statement at the end.)
  • Sound is key to your drama. If you want to avoid a lot of memorizing then write dramas where people think about things and record this and play it back. I've done this quite a few times.

The Everyman - The Everyman is the first key to writing an effective drama. The Everyman represents the general, normal, insecure, striving person. Most every drama I write has a main character who is the Everyman. This character has many of the qualities of you and I and allows each person in the congregation to relate. If the people, in one way or another, cannot put themselves in the characters’ shoes (even in the smallest way), I believe the drama has failed. What good is spending time acting something out if people can’t relate to it. The goal is for people to sit back during and after the drama and either be:

  • Encouraged about where they are spiritually/emotionally/psychologically
  • Broken by what they see on the stage and subsequently in their lives
  • Challenged because they see what they could be or how they could live

I find it extremely easy to write dramas that focus around the Everyman because I draw from my own failures/successes and from those I see around me. Yes, M.A.S.H. was extremely funny and well written but I believe it was so popular because the characters in it were ultimately just like us, trying to cope and live and to be a better person. The Everyman in each drama will either succeed, fail, be discouraged, encouraged, beat down, or lifted up. It doesn’t matter as long as people can find some of them in him. Funny is money I truly believe this:

Funny is money - People like to laugh and smile. They come to church to learn, worship, and be challenged. We also have to remember that they have now dedicated a small (but significant) chunk of their weekend to getting properly dressed, driving out and sitting through a 1-1 ½ hour service. There needs to be areas in the program that touch their hearts, motivate them, and (eeek!) make them laugh. In general, even in the most serious dramas about the most serious subjects, I try and find a way to inject humor (even if it’s small). I do it for 2 reasons.

First, I’ve always felt that drama could be a tool to bring people back to church. I always felt that a drama was successful if someone came up to me and said that they liked the drama and looked forward to one again next week . Now, this is not to say that this is the primary reason for doing drama. Again, I feel that the goal of drama is to support the message. But, if a person comes back again and again because they found the drama’s entertaining/ enlightening/ challenging, then that’s a good thing.

Second, long, angst-riddled dramas tend to make people feel really uncomfortable. Don’t misconstrue what I am saying here. I’m not advocating creating a bunch of comfortable Christians. I am saying that a little humor here and there in a serious drama will not adversely effect or undermine the integrity of the content if inserted appropriately. This adds a level of humorous humanity and keeps people from squirming in their seats and allows them a small level of "out" in case the subject matter is really overwhelming.

When the Dust Settles - Hopefully, after you have written and performed your dramas, you will hear people say these things to you afterward...

  • "I think the same thing or I saw myself up there." This is the best thing you could hear. If they can relate to your drama then you’ve done your job.
  • "I’d like to come back and see another one next week." I believe the we should do whatever it takes (with discernment) to get people to hear the love of Jesus again.
  • "I was challenged." They were challenged to live right because they see how they can live and walk with Christ.
  • "I was convicted." Man, if they were broken by what they saw on the stage and it prompts them to change a part (or all!) of their lives... what can be better than that! "I was convinced." Sometimes the drama will affirm their life and they are encouraged about where they are spiritually/emotionally.

Finally! Does this sound like something that could benefit your church? Do you believe my philosophy about church drama? If not, that's fine - really! But, if you like what you've read, then it's on to the goods. Click on the links to the left to find a drama that is right for you!