MtnView-NewPlayForum: “Gospel Vision of the Arts”

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

“Gospel Vision of the Arts”

(The Gospel Vision of the Arts is the title of a July 1977 Ensign article adapted from a 1967 BYU Speech given by Spencer W. Kimball—52 years ago)

For those interested in past "LDS Arts" speeches and the somewhat current state of “LDS Arts,” here are a few resources:

▪ Education for Eternity: September 12, 1967 • BYU Speeches
SPENCER W. KIMBALL of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Audio (47:12) but begin about minute 28 for the "Arts" portion of the talk at
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/spencer-w-kimball/education-eternity/
Text (adaptation) at
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1977/07/the-gospel-vision-of-the-arts?lang=eng

▪ The Arts and the Spirit of the Lord: February 1, 1976 Devotional
BOYD K. PACKER of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
Audio (48:19) and text available at
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/boyd-k-packer/arts-spirit-lord/

▪ The Gospel Vision of the Arts + the Mormon Renaissance
by Seer [Mormon Art] with Jessica Bingham Young (Time10:56), published Nov 30, 2017 at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWxMULY8-Kg

▪ My Thoughts on Spencer W. Kimball’s Gospel Vision of the Arts
J. Kirk Richards, MAY 27, 2012 at
https://jkirkrichards.wpcomstaging.com/2012/05/27/my-thoughts-on-spencer-w-kimballs-gospel-vision-of-the-arts/

▪ Interview: J. Kirk Richards and the Gospel Vision of the Arts
November 17, 2016 by ASHMAE at
https://bycommonconsent.com/2016/11/17/85019/

▪ The future of Mormon art? Scholars and artists gather in New York to explore the possibilities
by Mariya Manzhos for the Deseret News, published: July 5, 2017 at
https://www.deseretnews.com/article/865684235/The-future-of-Mormon-art-Scholars-and-artists-gather-in-New-York-to-explore-the-possibilities.html

▪ First-Ever Mormon Arts Festival Set to Open in New York
by Madeleine Tolk | Jun. 27, 2017 Mormon Life at
http://www.ldsliving.com/First-Ever-Mormon-Arts-Festival-Set-to-Open-in-New-York/s/85733

▪ Zion Art Society at https://www.zionartsociety.org/

In President Kimball's 1977 Ensign article his first words were:

"In our world, there have risen brilliant stars in drama, music, literature, sculpture, painting, science, and all the graces. For long years I have had a vision of members of the Church greatly increasing their already strong positions of excellence till the eyes of all the world will be upon us."

And yes, since 1977, we have seen some great progress in support and recognition for artists creating (or performing) music, literature, sculpture, and painting, yet drama, the first mentioned in the list, remains, to large extent, the neglected child in terms of opportunities and support. So, perhaps it is time now for MV.NP Forum to step-up to the NPD stage and do what it can in the cause of drama.

The task may seem overwhelming because, in part, theatre often encompasses all the other arts in its development and presentations: music, literature, sculpture, and painting, not to mention the need for many active, committed participants. Yet, working together, we can begin. Let's do it, Mountain View. Let's take up the torch for drama and NPD.

Mission Statement

▪~▪ to encourage, explore, develop, and launch new dramatic works devoted to the E's of theatre—i.e., to enlighten, edify, enrich, enthuse, elevate, educate, entertain, evoke empathy, etc.—all for the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31).

The "E's of theatre" have a long and varied history, commented on by such men as Plato, Moliere, & Tolstoy.

▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪▪

MV-NPForum is still in the process of development. It is hoped that its first script reading will take place sometime soon. There is much to do in preparation. At present, this Blog is not open to comments as there is not adequate time to properly review or respond to them.

When the time is right, a call will be made in a post for those interested in becoming involved with NewPlayForum and in the new play development (NPD) process. As time progresses we will need actors, directors, pianists (or other musicians according to script needs), sometimes designers, and sometimes small audiences. When a moderate production is scheduled, we will hope for larger audiences (paying a small admission to help defray what are hoped to be minimal costs.)

Philosophy of MV-NPForum

Beliefs
—▪ Let all things be done unto edifying. 1 Cor. 14:26
—▪ Do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

Principles
—▪ Respect the playwright's vision.
—▪ Don't assume a new play necessarily needs revising—it is the job of the actors and director to make it work. \\ Tom Diggs, The Dramatist, S/O:2008:35

Practices & Practicalities
—▪ No submission fees required.
—▪ No subsidiary rights requested.
—▪ Readings, workshops, productions, etc. will be minimalist to moderate with the emphasis on showcasing the SCRIPT.
—▪ All participants [including the playwright] will hang their egos outside the NPD door and prepare to don, when appropriate, the various Six Thinking Hats* in parallel.
—▪ All changes to a playwright’s script belong to the playwright, no matter where or from whom the suggestion or idea came.
—▪ The playwright will acknowledge, in all subsequent published scripts, the NPD involvement of MV-NewPlayForum.

*Six Thinking Hats of Edward de Bono: 1) Facts/Information; 2) Feelings/Intuitions; 3) Critical Judgment; 4) Positive Judgment; 5) Alternatives/Creative; and 6) The Big Picture

Relevant Quotes

▪ Val Lieske: Like any theatre company we have a mandate. Ours is hope—challenge—change. … I want people to leave my theatre different than when they came in, and yes. I want to offer a little hope in this often-depressing world. / Everyone starts a theatre company because they want to talk about something. … We all have an agenda, a message we want to get out. … I work hard to create theatre about relevant issues and current events, reassuring people that there is hope without glossing over the real darkness in the world. \\ “The Final Taboo,” Theatre Alberta News, Summer 2008:5

▪ Oscar Hammerstein: I see plays and read books that emphasize the seamy side of life, and the frenetic side and the tragic side, and I don’t deny the existence of the tragic and the frenetic. But I say that somebody has to keep saying that that isn’t all that there is in life. … We’re very likely to get thrown off our balance if we have such a preponderance of artists expressing the “wasteland philosophy.” \\ as quoted in Broadway Babies Say Goodnight by Mark Steyn, p.72

▪ Heinrich Heine said originally that the reason we could no longer build gothic cathedrals was because they were built from convictions, and we had only opinions. Lacking today the communal life that breeds convictions—no longer desirous of abstaining and abnegating self for the greater glory of God, the Christian era is now dying and nothing is yet here to replace it.” \\ Referenced by Clifford Odets in The Dramatist, Jan/Feb 2009:34

▪ Harley Granville-Barker: Behind the action, be the play farce or tragedy, there must be some spiritually significant idea or it will hang lifeless. \\ More Prefaces to Shakespeare , p. 146

▪ Lee Blessing: A play is a series of shifts in perception; culminating in the largest shift—the climax. … It makes the audience change—helps them to grow—to see the world differently. \\ The Dramatist, N/D 2008:49

▪ Apostle Paul: … whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. \\ New Testament Philippians 4:8

▪ Brigham Young: Upon the stage of a theatre can be represented in character, evil and its consequences, good and its happy results and rewards; the weakness and the follies of man, the magnanimity of virtue and the greatness of truth. The stage can be made to aid the pulpit in impressing upon the minds of a community an enlightened sense of a virtuous life, also a proper horror of the enormity of sin and a just dread of its consequences. The path of sin with its thorns and pitfalls, its gins and snares can be revealed, and how to shun it. //
... I wish those who perform to select a class of plays that will improve the public mind, and exalt the literary taste of the community. Journal of Discourses, Vol.9, pp.243 & 245

(For additional quotes see blog entry of August 24, 2009)

SMSmith Backgound

▪ lifetime member of the Dramatists Guild of America, Inc. as of 2018 (associate member 1988-2018)
▪ member of Theatre Alberta Network (since 2001)
▪ member of Alberta Theatre Projects (6 years, 2004-2009)
▪ volunteer with Cardston Community Theatre (1996-2006~ varying roles: makeup, set painting, assist. stgmgr, light booth, programs, etc.) and CCT Board Member (2004-2006)
▪ volunteer with Carriage House Theatre (1998:sewing, 1999:makeup, 2000:set-dressing)
▪ extensive self-directed study in writing, playwriting, theatrical history, dramatic production, and new play development.

Summary of Dramatic Works
Musicals:
◊ Jacob & Kin ~ A musical in two acts (text, lyrics, & music) covering the 20-year period of Biblical Jacob’s sojourn in Haran (based on accounts from Legends of the Jews, The Book of Jasher, Josephus, & The Old Testament Pseudipigrapha); epublished (2018) at https://www.zanthymhouse.ca/musicals-plays/jacob-kin/ Also epublished in 15 May 2013 at Scribd.com

◊ Joseph: Down in Memphis Town ~ A Verse Musical in two acts covering the period from Joseph’s arrival in Egypt until his marriage to Asenath (based on the same sources as above); epublished (2019-02-14) at https://www.zanthymhouse.ca/musicals-plays/joseph-down-in-memphis-town/
◊ Tut Tut* ~ A study of modern flatland during a museum showing of Egyptian artifacts.

Three-act Plays:
◊ Voices From the Dust ~ Three sequential one-act plays based on the reigns of Kings Zeniff, Noah, and Limhi in the Book of Mormon;
◊ The Anniversary ~ The account of a man’s fall from grace and his female companions rise toward it—a story of two persons traveling in opposite directions.

Two-act Plays:
◊ Offering Up the Children* ~ A career woman’s ambivalence about committing to marriage in the midst of her preoccupations with staging a new play about the ancient practice of child sacrifice;
◊ My Son, My Son* ~ An account of King David’s inability to deal with his erring son Absalom, as he seeks forgiveness for his own sins.

One-act Plays:
◊ The Loved Ones ~ A young widow struggles to understand her place in her husband’s busy life after his death;
◊ The Unbelievers ~ A wayward child’s behavior is never dealt with until it is too late;
◊ Witness for Peter ~ A reconsideration of the Apostle Peter’s denial of his Lord, as seen through the eyes of his brother Andrew (based on comments by Spencer W. Kimball, Bruce C. Hafen, & Andrew Skinner); epublished 2018 at https://www.zanthymhouse.ca/plays/one-act/witness-for-peter/ Also epublished 3 March 2012 on Scribd.com

◊ One Digit Off * ~ A comedy of errors when a wrong number brings an eccentric stranger to the apartment of a newlywed couple;

◊ The Stage Manager* ~ An impressionistic study of attitudes and choices.

(* means these works are not completed, but in various stages of progress. I also have a novel and several stories completed, as well as others in various stages of progress. Note: completed is an arbitrary term because it seems that every time I revisit a “completed” work, I make revisions.)

Education:
- B.A.: Univ. of Lethbridge, 1970, Psychology
- Assoc. of Science: BYU, 1974, Law Enforcement & Justice Administration
- Juris Doctor: J. Reuben Clark Law School, BYU, 1980

MtnView-NewPlayForum

Wednesday, July 10, 2019

“Gospel Vision of the Arts”

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SMSmith Backgound