Why the CHRISTIANS? by David Cecsarini
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volume 31, issue 1 volume 2020 nov “ Why THE CHRISTIANS? by David Cecsarini In August of 1999, the 30th IT’S HUGE to be exact, Deborah Staples – As you stand in the nave (the in front of so many of our dear center where the two main friends, family members and col- structures cross) you can look leagues – agreed to step into a up to see the dome’s interior, lifetime partnership with me. starting about 100 feet above your own. Covering this massive, The wedding celebration was eight-sided structure is a fres- held at Wintergreen, “the ski co painting which depicts The hill,” on the south bank of the Last Judgment, as described in Wisconsin River across from Christian tradition. From that far Spring Green. Naturally it was away, you can tell that there’s a held on a Monday, since Deborah lot going on in the six rings of fig- was in the midst of her APT sea- ures and events. But it’s not until son and Next Act was in rehears- you climb the hundreds of steps als for HAUPTMANN. This caused and Italy*, we really didn’t have taking you up to the walkway us to delay the typical post-wed- any sense of heightened dan- around the dome’s base that you ding honeymoon until well into ger during the trip, other than see the enormity of the work. It October, when I had the bright the presence of Italian soldiers covers 38,750 square feet; that’s idea that visiting Glacier National sporting their automatic rifles a canvas the length of a football Park would be just the thing. at the train stations. Of course field and 129 feet tall. OK, besides the snow, the possi- there were still the usual dangers Continued, next page ble presence of our grizzly bear of pickpockets, tourist prices and friends and the complete lack of an overabundance of museums iconic bighorn sheep scampering and cathedrals. across mountaintops, it wasn’t One such cathedral is in Florence: too bad. Looking back, that sin- it’s one of the largest churches on gular, solitary blue grouse sitting earth. It took 140 years to build, on the forest floor as we hiked by, and much longer to complete- bear-whooping, was pretty im- ly finish the façade. No doubt, pressive, if only for its impudent, many readers have been to the beady-eyed stare. That’s when enormous Duomo al Firenze, Deborah, in one of her first exec- with its tri-color white, pink and utive actions in the partnership, green marble cladding, gorgeous established the mutual goal of a vaulted ceilings and the third real honeymoon to be taken in tallest dome in the world, top- the not-too-distant future. ping out at 375.5 feet above the cobbles below. Combined with its OFF TO EUROPE Inside This Issue Well, two years later, it was innumerable artworks, soaring all planned. We headed for a dimensions and layer upon layer Producer’s Circle 3 European adventure just weeks of history – both religious and ar- Inbusch Challenge Grant 3 after the terrorist attacks on chitectural – the building is truly Connect Your Laptop to Your TV 4 a testament to the determina- New York, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Curbside Concessions tion, ambition, vision, engineer- 5 Never a dull moment with us. *Tuscany on Wheels 6 It must be said, though, that ing, craftsmanship and faith of its throughout Holland, France human creators. Board Spotlight 7 THE CHRISTIANS is generously co-sponsored by Angela Jacobi and The Einhorn Family Foundation Why THE CHRISTIANS continued PRODUCER’S CIRCLE by Jane Flieller during the 1960s did not result in my adherence to the faith. (Perhaps the only way in which this son p r o·d u c·e r (/prəˈd(y)oosər/) a person responsible • Receive complimentary beverages at every has disappointed his mom.) Nevertheless, I find the for the financial aspects of staging a play Next Act Theatre performance ideas in this play completely engaging, and further, cir·cle (\ˈsər-kəl) an area of action or influence • Find your name highlighted in playbills and on the personal crises that characters are grappling our website with, humanly compelling. Pastor Paul’s revelation Producer’s Circle donors are among Next is deeply felt and rendered with eloquence, but as Act’s most dedicated contributors and are passion- • Have the satisfaction of knowing you bring our a convert to a new idea, he is blind to the dam- ate about the arts and Milwaukee’s vibrant cultural stories to life. age and hurt he will cause. Joshua, the Associate community. Consider joining this special group of Next Act Pastor, pushes back in front of the entire congrega- These distinguished individuals unite to support Theatre friends. tion, and the debate becomes a public display and Next Act by committing to gifts of $1,000 or more competition for power. The drama is firmly-rooted each season. Your participation in Next Act Theatre’s Producer’s in Hnath’s “testing ground.” Circle level of giving means you are directly respon- These gifts have a direct impact on Next Act’s abil- sible for bringing our artistic and educational pro- YIKES AS THE INSIDER ity to produce the outstanding plays you’ve come gramming to fruition. Not being well-versed in Christian and Catholic In that 2015 interview, Hnath was asked how the play to love: stories designed to engage the hearts and theology, I can only guess at all the stories these was going over, among Christians and non-Chris- minds of audiences, and promote the development Please contact Jane Flieller, Development Director, artists have told – and are still telling - with their tians alike. He said he was careful to not make the of new perspectives and understanding. at 414-278-7780 or [email protected] for more in- monumental work. But in the lowest ring of figures play about, “Do you believe in Christianity or not,” formation. You can make your gift directly at www. By joining our Producer’s Circle, you: and goings-on just above our upturned heads, but about an internal, doctrinal argument which, in nextact.org or by mail to: Next Act Theatre, P.O. there are some unmistakable images of a classic, effect, brings reluctant audience members inside • Gain exclusive access to behind-the-scenes Box 394, Milwaukee, WI 53201. fiery-furnace and brimstone-slingin’ Hell. Nasty, the belief rather than letting them sit outside of it. production preview events snarling beasts are busily chasing their wretched Hnath quips, “Not that agnostics or atheists con- p r o· d u c· e r ’s (/prəˈd(y)oosər/) cir·cle ( \ˈs ə r - k ə l ) prey toward molten caves. What can only be de- vert when they watch the play, but that’s where the • Enjoy history-rich backstage tours hosted by people like you, who define who we are mons are pouring burning liquid down the throats stakes are.” Producing Artistic Director David Cecsarini of hapless individuals marked for a roasting eterni- The “stakes” center upon the question of the exis- ty. The roiling backdrop of intense reds and yellows, tence of Hell. Christian doctrine holds that question- punctuated by torturing monsters and grotesquely ing the existence of hell is heresy, and the Inclusion twisted faces of doomed souls, give the impression Doctrine (all are saved) is simply the same heresy Bree Beelow (standing), that the heat is intense, intolerable, and impossibly by a new name. One current champion of Inclusion & Leah Dutchin everlasting. is Bishop Carlton Pearson, an African-American And this fate, many Christians believe, awaits all Baptist who, over many years, had formed a huge those who do not come to acknowledge Jesus church in Tulsa, OK, in the 1990s. Pearson had a Christ as their Lord and Savior. And they don’t just similar change of heart to Hnath’s Pastor Paul, and mean other Christians; they mean all mankind. though this is not Pearson’s story, his is perhaps the most well-known incidence of a crisis in belief THE PLAY which took down an institution. In a 2015 interview, playwright Lucas Hnath said, “I knew I wanted to write a play about a very large JUST WHAT WE NEED church, because as a child, I went to a very large One final thought: at the outset, Hnath’s characters Photo: Timothy Moder church.” In his play THE CHRISTIANS, Hnath has are absolutists, and yet through the course of the THE REVOLUTIONISTS, LAUGHTER ON THE 23RD FLOOR, 2019 Next Actors fulfilled that wish. He takes us to Pastor Paul’s conflict, the search for progress and peace with one another leads them to introspection, self-doubt, mega-church one auspicious Sunday, where Paul HEAR YE! HEAR YE! THE GAUNTLET HAS BEEN THROWN! by Jane Flieller delivers, not so much a sermon, but a change of and a more generous place of understanding the mind and heart to his congregation of thousands. other. In the end, there is nothing absolute in the The Dorothy Inbusch Foundation has made a very generous offer to Paul’s radical change in philosophy runs squarely ideas, or the people. There is only questioning, Next Act Theatre! Make a donation and they will match it dollar-for-dollar up into absolutist doctrine already in place. The con- hope and love. What a terrific play. to $10,000 for any new or increased gifts made through December 31, 2020. flict brings upon the church an extreme test of be- I’m left with this question: I wonder whether THE In what will surely be a very challenging time for performing arts groups, lief and loyalty, and results in a schism with serious CHRISTIANS would have shaken up the Florentine repercussions for all involved.