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A church draws on the arts to reach out to families
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An exterior shot of Faith Church, located in New Milford, Connecticut. (All photos are courtesy of Rev. Robert Faubel.)
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Faith Church’s Kidzstuff performances feature larger-than-life characters and fun for the family. Photo (top right): A wide shot of the stage shows how audience members can come right up to the edge. Photo (above): Outback Jack and Jackeroo Jane encounter the Queen Bee while trying to get the hive’s honey. (All photos are courtesy of Rev. Robert Faubel.)
We all know that using drama is a powerfully engaging way to spread a message, certainly a church’s message. Many churches find that dramatic skits can be an approachable way to teach a moral or a lesson. It is an especially good way to reach out to children and a great way to get families to participate in something that they can all experience together.
When you walk into the 1,200-seat worship space of the New Milford, Connecticut-based Faith Church during the presentation of one of its Kidzstuff productions, you might think that you walked into a full-fledged theatre. The sanctuary is transformed with full-blown scenery and the lighting positions over the congregation feature moving lights, black lights, and special effects right next to the ellipsoidals that normally wash the sanctuary. The auditorium is filled with wall-to-wall kids of varying ages who have brought their parents along for a fun Friday night out. Kidzstuff is performed just on Friday night and then the sanctuary is restored for Saturday night services. Faith Church presents Kidzstuff about four times a year.
When the show begins, the 70-foot-wide stage is filled with singing and dancing kids and a host of animated costumed characters. This is just the kick-off moment of events known as Kidzstuff—live stage shows that are free to the public and offer a great experience for families. A mix of staff and volunteers use lighting, audio, video, and scenery to underscore the message and to support the production.
Front and Center
Always the center of attention is Rusty, the 7-foot-tall, yellow. furry, “we-don’t-quite-know-what-he-is” guy that is loved by everyone. Rusty is surrounded by a group of friends that includes a variety of kids, a coach, a school nurse, and explorers from every continent led by Outback Jack. Rusty’s adventures with his friends are always fun, but include important life lessons. The night I attended, the Kidzstuff adventure was The Right Stuff: A Lesson on Doing the Right Thing. Rusty’s friends Jasmine and Chip learn about justice when they try to take matters into their own hands to make things “fair” after a rival school cheats to win a game. The show also features an interlude story with world adventurer Outback Jack and his friend Jackeroo Jane. All of the skits underscore the message of doing the right thing. Essential truths are taught in a way that kids can really gravitate toward. It’s all packaged into a well-produced show that’s enjoyable for adults as well.
Ray Martin, children’s pastor at Faith Church, explains their goals for these special family events, saying, “We want families to have as much fun as possible in one night. We’re putting together an experience for families similar to Sesame Street Live shows, complete with larger- than-life characters, professional sets, and a program that offers something for all generations. It is fast paced, offering a multimedia smorgasbord that is anything but boring. Parents can have a shared experience with their child that’s kid-centered and kid-relevant. With Kidzstuff everyone can appreciate the values and character-building lessons that we incorporate into every production. The story lines are generally geared to children in the 7-10 age brackets. However, because of the multimedia nature of Kidzstuff, younger children also benefit from it and enjoy it.”
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Michael S. Eddy writes about design and technology. He can be reached at mseddy2900@hotmail.com. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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