Living Parables express faith through theatre
By Aubrey Lombardo
Old Gold and Black Reviewer

In today’s sensationalized world of Hollywood drama, acting hardly seems to go hand-in-hand with religion. Historically the two have been very closely connected. The first dramatic pieces evolved during the Middle Ages out of spiritual plays presented in churches. Additionally, many famous themes for movies and television plots have actually stemmed from stories based on those from the Bible. The Living Parables have sought to renew this connection between the world of acting and spirituality with their original theater performances.

The theater troupe, which now consists of nine members, was started six years ago by two students. According to their artistic director, junior Jonathan Horvath, the Living Parables are “a community of artists who want to share their own experiences with God dramatically.”

The group was founded as an alternative to other Christian ministries on campus in which they express spirituality through song or discussion. Horvath said they are able to affect people on a deeper level by dramatically enacting their spiritual experiences.

The troupe holds tryouts at the beginning of each year and soon after the members collectively decide on a theme, which will drive their performances. The theme often deals with a bible passage or issue that the group feels strongly about. This semester the theme was loss, which was chosen before Sept. 11th, but was particularly
meaningful for the members afterwards. Junior Jennifer Whelan, the coordinating director of the group, said that after Sept. 11, “The theme ‘loss’ had a totally new meaning for us.
We had to deal with loss in a way we never thought we would have to.”

According to Horvath, once a theme is chosen, the members then explore and discuss how “God has used this theme in the members’ own lives and their reactions (to it).”

The next step involves using the insights they have gained from this exploration to write a series of scenes that will eventually make up the show. Once the show is compiled, the troupe then does a series of seven to 15 performances per semester at various churches and community centers, along with one show on campus.

The shows and performances, however, are not what truly drive the members of the Living Parables. They are committed actors, but their main intention is not as much to be artistic, as it is to foster a sense of closeness amongst its members.

The troupe is much more of a spiritual community than a group of actors. “Ninety-nine percent of our experience is off-stage and acting with each other as opposed to just acting,” said Horvath.

Whelan echoes these sentiments. She said the most important thing for her about the group is their friendship. “We pray for each other and support each other,” she said.

Horvath encourages those who may be interested in learning more about the troupe or becoming a member to attend a performance. Although it is Christian theater, it is inclusive of all denominations of Christianity. Horvath believes that Living Parables has “the widest denominational spectrum of any group of its kind considering its size.”

Currently, various Protestant Christian denominations, Catholicism, and the Greek Orthodox Church are all represented in the troupe. The diversity and closeness of this group makes their theater truly moving and their passion for God and each other apparent.

In Horvath’s words what makes Living Parables unique is that “We are a community of artists, not artists who live in the same community.”