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Drama

H.M.S. Productions, directed by Jeani Coleman, is the drama ministry of the Harvester Presbyterian Church in Springfield, Virginia. H.M.S. Productions has produced ten plays, two showcases of Christian drama sketches, and many seasonal and holiday dramas.

The showcase of drama sketches, H.M.S.’ debut in November, 1999, was presented in a cheesecake and coffeehouse atmosphere. Seven humorous sketches written by Steve Coleman were presented, ranging from themes such as a persons search for God to a modern day application of Psalm 1. In "Know Way", a professor tries to convince a traveler that all roads lead to Fairfax. Another skit had two law school graduates compare their new found jobs, one with a firm who fights for justice and the other with "Wicked, Sinners and Mockers," a firm which knows how to party.

The first play, in the spring of 2000, was a one-act by Lawrence Ensco. "Night Watch" is the story of the guards who stood watch over Jesus’ tomb.

The next play, a full-length play written by Jeannette Clift George (who portrayed Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place), was "O' Little Town of Bagels, Teacakes and Hamburger Buns". Presented at Christmas 2000, this is a wonderful love story of a widower who visits the bakery in Palestine, Texas, where he and his now deceased wife came every ten years on their anniversary.

In the Spring of 2001, H.M.S. presented "Who is this Man?" by David Dunlap, a one-act play about a family of Pharisees and Saducees set during the time of Jesus' crucifixion.

In 2002, C. S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" came to life.

In the spring of 2003 H.M.S. presented the powerful and funny family drama by Paul McCusker. "Family Outings" is a poignant dramatic comedy about family relationships and friends, with a depth of focus that touches the many facets of being a family in the closing years of the 20th and beginning of the 21st centuries.

In December, 2003, the worst kids in town put on "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" in Barbara Robinson's hilarious play.

In May, 2005, "The Judgment Seat" by Texas playwright C.R. "Pappy" Houck depicted men, women and children immediately after their moment of death standing before God to be judged. They recounted their life choices in dialogue with the disembodied voice of God. Some were ushered by angels into glory where others were dragged by demons into the pit of Hell.

In December, 2006, "The Missing Jesus" told the stories of hurting people experiencing the love of Jesus as they "saw" the 'baby Jesus' that was missing from the Trinity Church's nativity scene.

In June, 2007, "Real Life.... Real Solutions" was a showcase of relevant dramas and skits for everyday life! The short plays addressed topics such as dependency and addiction through the hilarious skit "The Wrap Group" where individuals gathered at their monthly meeting to deal with their addiction to "Bubble Wrap" to a drama which addressed a strained marriage dealing with communication issues in "Will you Listen." We saw a group of pre-teen friends become enemies from the poison of gossip and malicious pranks in "Gaggle of Gossips." The showcase opened with Adam and Eve and original sin in the Garden of Eden and ended with high schoolers struggling with pregnancy. The evening of dramas touched every audience member somewhere as they watched the show in a relaxed coffee house setting with coffee provided by the former Virginia coffee shop, "The Daily Grind."

At Christmas 2007, "From God and a Woman" was produced from an original script by Deacon, Steve Coleman. This script was based on the genealogy of Jesus through the women of the Bible. It was portrayed through a picture story book read to a young girl by her aunt. The pictures from the book came alive through the character of the Biblical women appearing in a life size screen on stage and interacting with the young girl.

In April, 2009, "The Judgment Seat" by Texas playwright C.R. "Pappy" Houck returned to the Harvester with an added segment at the front to include a busy emergency room with an atheist doctor who examines, treats and pronounces the death of accident victims who come through the ER, and whose wife, who’s dying of cancer, is admitted in the same hospital. In his despair an angel takes him to the Judgment Seat where he is able to witness the destiny of his patients who didn’t live, which picks up where the first Judgment Seat began. It is a life changing experience for the doctor and all who see the play through his eyes.

In October, 2010, “Cindy and the God Father” written by Cora Alley surprised the Harvester audience with this different type of play – a comedy with a strong message of how outward appearances can be deceitful – that God looks at the heart. Positioned in a coffee house setting with tables and candlelight, coffee and confections, the audience was delighted and entertained with food and drink and laughter. The play is a delightful retelling of the traditional classic, Cinderella, with a surprising Christian twist. It contains no hint of sorcery or "fairy godmother" magic; instead, it is the benevolence of a kindly "godfather," who is escaping his worldly associations with the Mafia, who outfits Cindy for the King's ball. The story includes familiar plot points which take an unexpected turn. And, in this comedic production, there is music and dancing and a surprise cast which takes the stage.

What separates H.M.S. Productions from other amateur theatre is the time Jeani puts into teaching and training her actors. Jeani believes that the heart of the play is not in the technical aspects as much as it is in the quality of acting. "If I can train my actors to stand alone without the added dimension of a great set, costumes and props, then I know I have a successful play. Although I must admit, we have had some pretty impressive sets!" Jeani, an experienced actress and director of 35 years, spends the majority of production time training her actors, pushing, pulling and tweaking them until "they get it just right and grow into their characters." Once she has this in place, then she puts her energy into the technical aspects which includes music, “the 2nd most important dimension.” These attributes combined with God’s blessing produce plays worth coming back to see as well as touching lives.

 
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