Production & Stage Management for the Arts Ministry

Stage director Mark Aranal conducted a seminar entitled Production and Stage Management for the Arts Ministry last September 10, 2011.  It was held at the Conference Room of the Bishop La Verne D. Mercado Ecumenical Center of the National Council of Churches in the Philippines in Quezon City.

MARK ARANAL welcoming the participants

The half day morning event was a crash course on the basic principles of Production and Stage Management, with special focus on the needs of the Christian performing arts ministry.

The seminar was attended mostly by church people involved with the arts ministries of their churches.  During the introductions, a number of the participants said that they have little or no training at all in production work.  Sadly this is true in most churches or church-related institutions here in the Philippines. On the bright side, more and more churches are now recognizing the importance of the music and theater arts ministries as an outreach tool and in livening up not only activities but the actual services in their respective churches and are now sending members of their production teams, whether drama/theater, music ministries, to seminars like this.

view of the 30+ participants who attended

 

I had another scheduled activity that day so after helping in the set-up and taking some photos, I was off.  I heard afterwards that the activity was a success and that the participants are asking for more in-depth training on directing, lighting and other aspects of the trade to further enhance their skills.

A high school student attending the seminar

a light moment during the introductions

Another note worthy of mentioning is that the registration fee of this seminar was only 200 pesos.  The speaker Direk Mark, as he is fondly called, really has a heart for teaching this craft and worked really hard to make this event affordable not only to poor churches but also to like-minded individuals with a love for the theater arts ministry who otherwise will not be able to afford the more expensive seminars offered in and around the metro.  As you bless others, may the Lord bless you more Direk Mark.