The Passion of the King is a big production. The ability to do this doesn't come overnight. Where did you get your start in theater and what were you doing prior to writing, producing and directing the show?

I wrote my first play, built my own sets and found a small cast of friends in the first grade and convinced my teacher to let us perform it for the class. However, I joined a local regional theater when I was 16 years old and began training under a former Broadway entertainer, Fred Scheibe, who had returned to Lewiston, Idaho, to direct.


I spent nearly seven hours a day, six days a week, training and rehearsing for shows such as Camelot, Oklahoma and A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine in my senior year of high school and was preparing to go to Juilliard. Fred had very high hopes for me and looked forward to my success in New York. However, I became a Christian at age 19 and decided to take a turn away from performing arts which was like a god to me at the time.

Deep inside I felt that it was temporary, but my spiritual journey took priority. I pursued the ministry and got my BA in theology. Upon graduating from Northwest University in Kirkland, Wash., I worked in various churches in pastoral staff ministry. I produced various Christmas and Easter musicals.

Finally, in 1996 I embarked on my first original musical and started Lights Up Productions Inc. My family and I toured for eight years to over 350 cities and towns with my first two musicals. A large church congregation in East Hartford approached me about coming on board to produce theatrical productions and build a credible arts program.

Saying “yes” became very easy when they told me about the state-of-the-art theater they plan to build. I produced my Christmas musical The Richest Man in the Valley four years in a row in the old building and then for the Christmas season of 2007 we were in the new, beautiful facility which seats 890. The pieces continue to fall into place as we build our team of talent. After a full year of writing and composing, The Passion of the King launched Palm Sunday 2008 with our cast of 140.

Speaking of writing, producing and directing . . . how tough is it to wear all three hats? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

I don’t find it very difficult for a couple of reasons. First, When I’m writing a song or piece of music I have a final vision of what the scene looks like, how it is to be performed, what the lighting should be like, the sets or costumes. Then I simply find a great team of people to make this a reality. With a great assistant producer, technical director, stage manager, set builders and a seamstress nearly anything is possible. The only thing we can’t do is what we can’t afford. Sometimes my vision does exceed my budget, but overall I love the role of writing, producing and directing as a unit. I know my own show better than anyone. I must say, that if I find someone who has “caught” my vision and has the experience of producing musical theater, I would gladly relinquish much of the producing to such a person. I often do not spend as much time with my actors as I should because so much time is taken up with producing the music or the show itself. In my case, another disadvantage is that I can’t leave the performing side of the show. I will continue to act and sing. There are times when I just want someone else to direct so I can concentrate on my performance.

What are the challenges of combining a passion for theater and a passion for your beliefs?

I guess many writers wrestle with this depending on their “world view.” It can and does influence the subject matter. I’ve been to various Broadway shows where the agenda of the writer is “loud and clear.” My faith in God and the Christian world view is certainly going to influence my writing, but the key is keeping the show and plot relevant to my audience. If the show touches the hearts of those in the seats then something good is happening. If the show brings inspiration or encouragement, that is a good thing. If the show challenges the thinking of the audience, the show is doing more than making people feel good. I believe that this is good writing no matter what the writer feels strongly about. Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Rent, Phantom of the Opera and even Jersey Boys does all of this on several levels.

You don’t have to agree with Christian principles or my subject matter in order to receive something good from the show. People certainly don’t have to agree in order to be entertained. I will entertain and I will write songs you will not forget. The Passion of the King may be about Jesus Christ, specifically, but the 5,000 people who have seen the show this year seem to have “spoken” that the show delivers on every level of musical entertainment.

My next show, The Lost Son, is completely different with an intricate plot and various subplots. It deals with subjects such as the pursuit of pleasure, love and romance and the post-modern era. My Christian perspective will influence this, of course, but it will be filled with more allegory than anything I’ve written. It will be relevant. It will be very intriguing, but it will still address the spiritual needs of us all.