During our
second year, in addition to the resident shows, we developed a travel troupe.
The travel company began with a short twenty-minute production titled THROUGH STAINED GLASS WINDOWS.
This show was made available to churches, banquets, Christian camps, etc. The
group proved to be in demand, and it was the “love offerings” brought back by
the travel troupe that kept us afloat at many periods of financial crisis
during our second and third years. At first, the travel commitments were met by
the actors working in the resident company. However, as the bookings increased
and as the request for full-length shows kept coming in, it became necessary to
develop a separate travel company.
It was
during the third year that the Salvation Army became interested in Stained
Glass Theatre and began to request performances at their youth camps around the
country. They were very enthusiastic about our shows and were very generous. We
were excited to be involved with the Salvation Army.
During the
Spring of 1986, the Salvation Army asked us to come to St. Louis for four weeks
during the summer. As we struggled during the third year, the Salvation Army
often talked to us of the opportunities for us in St. Louis. We were invited to
move to St. Louis with their help. We did not seriously consider these offers
until we were invited to come for just a four-week run during the summer of
1986.
We were
skeptical that it was financially possible to do what they wanted. However,
again they were very generous and offered to furnish a free 400-seat building,
pay the utilities, house and feed the cast free, and help us with promotions.
The man who worked out all these arrangements, Captain Marshall, told us, “We
want to make it a no-risk situation for you.” The offer seemed too good to turn
down. We began to view the engagement as a test market for us—if it went well,
we might consider doing it every summer or even open a second theatre in St.
Louis.
In
preparation, we did what we believed to be all the right things, planning trips
to St. Louis, news releases, radio talk shows and public service announcements,
mailing thousands of letters and promotional materials, and preparing a first-rate
show. We were to perform the four weekends during August. When the time came,
we felt ready and left for St. Louis full of excitement and anticipation.
By the end
of our first weekend, all we had left was disappointment and dismay, for you
see, we had everything but an audience. No one came—NO ONE! Okay, I exaggerate a little—that first weekend we did have
five people. We were devastated. “Why, Lord, why?” was our prayer the
whole of the next week.
The answer
came on Friday morning just before we were to leave for St. Louis and the
second weekend of performances. While praying that morning, still seeking some
understanding from God, the Lord revealed to my spirit these words, “Excellence
in Residence—Focus—No Distractions,” and later that day, “Return to the Dream.”
These phrases spoke to my understanding, and I knew what God was saying to us.
Simply and in no uncertain terms, I knew that we were to turn our full
attention to creating an excellent resident company. We were to focus on
that and that alone. We were no longer to travel: it was a distraction
from our original calling and dream. That original dream had been simply to
begin and develop an excellent resident theatre in Springfield. Yes, God wanted
us to “Return to the Dream.” And as far as the ideas of additional summer tours
or a second theatre in St. Louis, God was saying that door was closed.
Had I misunderstood what God was telling me? The next three weekends would
tell. Again the second weekend, no one, the third, no one, and the fourth, no
one. For the whole four weeks, we had less than fifty people, total. There was
no mistake. We knew what God wanted. So we returned from what others might see
as failure with renewed spirits. The entire company had a sense of a new
mandate from God. I later expressed that mandate in a letter to our patrons:
To Move Forward in Developing Stained Glass Theatre into a “Jewel”
Among Theatres of the Midwest—A “Showcase
of Praise” Where God the Father Is Glorified and Jesus Christ Is Proclaimed
Lord and Savior.
COMING NEXT: A
PROPHECY OF HARVEST TIME
Discover the lesson a city boy had to learn from God about the harvest.
Discover the lesson a city boy had to learn from God about the harvest.
