FEBRUARY 26 AND 27, 2010

7:30 PM IN TURNER CHAPEL

ON THE NGU CAMPUS

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Pilgrim’s Progress


Written by John Bunyan

Adapted by Tom Key

Directed by David Schneider

 “Powerful drama of the Christian faith!”

February 26 and 27 at 7:30 pm on the NGU campus in Turner Chapel. Tickets are $8 adults and $5 students, available by calling the NGU box office at 864-977-7085 or by email: theatre@ngu.edu Click the link above to order online.

Pilgrim’s Progress catalogs the journey of Christian, a man who is seeking his salvation on a pilgrimage to Heaven. John Bunyan wrote the allegory while imprisoned in 1675; Tom Key’s contemporary adaptation brings the characters and story to vivid life on the stage. Told as a dream, this seventeenth century religious drama comes alive in a contemporary adaption by Mr. Key, the acclaimed author of Cotton Patch Gospel.

John Bunyan (1628-1688), Read about the author by clicking on his name

Tom Key  has been, since 1995, Executive Artistic Director of the acclaimed Theatrical Outfit at The Balzer Theater at Herren’s in downtown Atlanta, a professional company giving dramatic voice to the themes of spirituality, race and community in the American South. As a solo performer, Tom Key has been in demand across North America for three decades, including appearances at The Lambs Theater off-Broadway, The John F. Kennedy Center of Washington D.C., The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, The Dallas Theater Center, The Westwood Playhouse of Los Angeles, The Alliance Theater, Harvard and Yale Universities as well as Oxford University of England. He is well known as the actor and creator of the off-Broadway musical hit Cotton Patch Gospel—“Turns a whimsical Bible Story into an exuberant country western hoedown.” (Mel Gussow The New York Times). He has been featured in the award winning television series In the Heat of the Night and I’ll Fly Away, as well as the Mirimax Family Films Gordy, and The Adventures of Ociee Nash. For his performances, direction, or script adaptations based on works including Leonard Bernstein, Harry Chapin, Truman Capote, Saint John, Clarence Jordan, CS Lewis, Flannery O’Connor, Walker Percy, Hank Williams and Tennessee Williams, he has won critical praise from The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Seattle Times, The Dallas Morning News, The Boston Herald, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Most recently he directed the critically acclaimed world premiere at Theatrical Outfit of Thomas Ward’s Keeping Watch. Key’s dynamic as a performing artist has been described in the Atlanta publication, Creative Loafing, as: “An actor with such energy that even standing still, he seems to quiver like a divining rod.” 

David Schneider holds an MFA in theater from Southern Illinois University and an MA in drama from Bob Jones University. An associate with the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, his directing work includes Gianni Schicchi for the Marjorie Lawrence Opera Theater, A Midsummer Night's Dream for the SIUC Department of Theater, and his own original work The Free and the Brave at Bob Jones University. He is a member of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and Christians in Theatre Arts and has participated in workshops with Joe Calarco, Nathan Allen, and John Dillon. David taught a Stanislavkian acting system, voice for the actor and Laban movement analysis, and an introductory theatre class at SIU from 2006 to 2009; he also served as interim drama director at the Tipton Christian Academy in Iowa in 2003. He has been seen on stage as Jason in Medea, Rosencrantz in Hamlet, Philly Cullen in Playboy of the Western World, and Arsene in The Swan. Other acting credits include Henry V, Pygmalion, The Winter's Tale, new plays, and original one-person shows such as Ben-Hur and The Life of Paul presented at churches and schools in South Carolina, Iowa, Indiana, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. 

The Cast

Addi Musen is a freshman Theatre major and this is her second performance at North Greenville. She was last seen in Undone as Stacy. Some of her other roles include Mary (Two from Galilee), Becky (A Little Princess) and Zorah (Ruddigore). She wants to thank and glorify Jesus Christ for the opportunity to perform in this play and also for allowing her to be a part of the theater department here. She has loved every crazy moment!

Nathan Baker is a junior, seen last semester in the senior project Undone, Nathan is excited to be back on the mainstage after last appearing there as Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet. Nathan is excited to see God at work in his life and is extremely grateful for the gifts he has been given. To God be the glory.

Jessica Berryhill is a freshman Psychology major from Easley, South Carolina. This is her first play at North Greenville and she is very excited about joining the theatre team. She won first place in the 2009 North Greenville Freshman Talent Competition. Also in 2009, she held the lead role as Polly for her high school’s production of The Boy Friend. Jessica is especially grateful to her high school director, Jeanette Walters for all of her guidance and encouragement. She is excited to see what God has in store for her and she feels blessed to be at a university where Jesus is the priority.

Jamie Costa is a 1^st semester sophomore majoring in Outdoor Leadership. He was born and raised in Charleston South Carolina. He graduated high school from a military school in V.A. Growing up he was involved in a few church plays here and there. While attending James Island Christian School in Charleston he acted in a high school play called Uncle Phil’s Diner. 

 Will Daniel was last seen in Undone, a play by Lindsay Ross Thomas. His previous performances include roles in Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Cinderella, and The Color Purple. Along with his theatrical endeavors, Will desires to study nuclear engineering in hopes of joining the navy. Thanks to all who believed in my dreams. .

Lindsay Furrow is a sophomore theatre performance major. Lindsay has been involved in theatre from middle school through high school. Some of her favorite roles include: Benn Gunn from Treasure Island, Jo in Little Women, and Maria in Sound of Music. She recently performed in NGU's production of A Grand Night for Singing. Lindsay is a member of Act Two and also likes to help backstage whenever she can. She is very excited about what she will learn in the future.

Thomas Sieberhagen is a freshman theatre major from South Africa. He grew up in Kazakhstan, however, and was involved in a lot of productions in the city where he lived. He decided he wanted to study theatre in university after he was cast as Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream when he was in the sixth grade. His favorite roles include Edmund in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and Benedict in Much Ado About Nothing. This is his second NGU production but he looks forward to many more in the future.

Angie Toole (Costume Design) is a senior theatre major, with an emphasis in costume design. Her designs for this production are presented as her senior project in theatre. Previous involvement with the NGU theatre includes acting roles (The Twelve Pound Look, She Loves Me, Sanders Family Christmas), stage management (Romeo and Juliet, A Grand Night for Singing), and her favorite, work with the costume crew for All My Sons and She Loves Me, and costume designer for The Miracle Worker.  After graduation and marriage in May, 2010, Angie will take her imagination and creative spirit to Redding, California, where she is already searching for area theatres where she can share her talents and grow as a designer and potential teacher.