No, this was not our theater. Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash The school had a small vocal ensemble, but no band or orchestra—not even flutophones. When I arrived, we had no school newspaper, though there was a yearbook, which the principal’s wife advised. Nor was there an art program, though elementary teachers had some projects and one year there was an arts and crafts club. Of course, we did have soccer (which later became football), basketball, and baseball, with cheerleaders for all sports. I’m sure that sports didn’t come cheap, but coaching the teams added a bit of income for the men involved and for the woman who coached the cheerleaders. There was no space resembling a theatre and no drama club when I arrived. Twice, later in my career, we had “drama in a box,” courtesy of Nicky Chavers and his team, who offered the makings of biblical dramas to small Christian schools like ours. The team arrived with a large trailer filled with script, costumes, makeup, props, and scenery, plus the people who knew how to fit it all together, to put on a biblical drama. Just add students and stir. Memory says we did the Joseph story once, and another year story of the spies and Rahab in Jericho. I remember these only because some of my favorite students were in them; I can see their sixteen-year-old selves on the platform of the church declaiming their lines, perhaps with a false beard added to give them the years and dignity of Judah, Joseph's brother, or in an elaborate gown and wig as Rahab. Given all the limitations, they did a great job.
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Baptist GirlI was a conservative Baptist girl who grew up to become a career Christian, working first in a Baptist school and then in a Baptist college. For about three decades, it was very good until it wasn’t, and I had to leave. But the Baptists formed me. This is my homage to the good times and good people of the world I left, finally, at forty-three, when I became an Episcopalian. These are my memories; others might disagree with my recollections. So be it. Archives
January 2024
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