RichDrama - Blog by RichRichDrama - Blog by Richhttps://www.richdrama.com/blog/author/richSat, 04 Apr 2026 20:05:09 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[A Great Awakening]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/AGreatAwakeningWe went to a pre-release screening of A Great Awakening last Wednesday and were thrilled that Joshua Enck (writer/producer/director), Jonathan Bl ]]>

In Theaters Nationwide

We went to a pre-release screening of A Great Awakening last Wednesday and were thrilled that Joshua Enck (writer/producer/director), Jonathan Blair (writer/George Whitefield), Josh Bates (Alexander Hamilton), and Katie Miller (head of Sight & Sound’s film division) were all in attendance and willing to do interviews with me after the screening. 


Here's my article about the film:


"What Will SAVE America? An Awakening!"


Lord, our government leaders fight like cats and dogs. Please bring another great awakening! We need You like never before!

Leaders from every state are at each other’s throats! Are they arguing over the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act or funding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)?

Nope. Those tensions won’t rise for 239 years. The heated debates comprise the first scene of A Great Awakening, opening nationwide on April 3. At issue in the Constitutional Congress of 1787 is the power dynamic between large and small states. That will soon be solved by creating the House of Representatives (with the number of representatives based on population) and the Senate (with two senators for every state, regardless of size). Though it isn’t featured in this film, we know from The American Miracle Expanded that eight of the 13 states wanted to abolish slavery, which also caused much contentious chatter.


Here are the interviews:

And a trailer for the film:

Here's Joyce's most recent article:

"Take Aim at “Trump Derangement Syndrome”"


Lord, destroy the evil behind Trump Derangement Syndrome for the good of America and Your Kingdom.

I saw a social media meme that about summed it up for me:

“I don’t get involved much in politics, but I’m pretty sure that if President Trump saved a drowning child, the Democrats would say he was depriving sharks of food.”


[Click to read the whole article...]


We were both on Headline Prayer Live to cover those articles and more:

Join us in praying for America the second and fifth Tuesdays of every month. If you'd like email reminders, you can sign up at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Prayer.


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Have a blessed Resurrection Day! 

]]>Sat, 04 Apr 2026 11:55:26 -0400<![CDATA[A Sure and Steadfast Anchor]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/AnchorI taught on Hebrews  6:13 -20  as a part of Westchester Chapel 's Wednesday night series,  The Supremacy of Christ: A Study of the Book of ]]>

Hebrews 6:13-20

I taught on Hebrews 6:13 -20 as a part of Westchester Chapel's Wednesday night series, The Supremacy of Christ: A Study of the Book of Hebrews.

Once you've finished Part 1, watch the video:

Once you've watched the video, play Part 2 of the recording:

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to know more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/salvation.

From the founders of the Creative Arts Fellowship, which hosted Journey to the Garden outdoors when they were both performing for the 
St. Louis Symphony...

"We were all mesmerized by watching Rich (as Jesus) enacting the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection up close and personal. It brought the whole story to life for us in a new and meaningful way; especially when God showed up to create the storm with lightning, thunder, and a tornado! What will God do for you when you experience this wonderful work? Come and see!"
--Paula Kasica

"Christ's tomb was empty. Will yours be?"
--John Kasica

Info / Link to Livestream
]]>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 03:41:55 -0400<![CDATA[The Difference]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/the-differenceI just woke to this #ScriptureInTheNight : My upcoming performance of Journey to the Garden on Saturday (www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/JourneyWCCN) will h ]]>

Between the Asbury Revival of 1970 and the Outpouring of 2023

I just woke to this #ScriptureInTheNight:

My upcoming performance of Journey to the Garden on Saturday (www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/JourneyWCCN) will have a focus on worship, which parallels the revival we’re watching explode around the world! 

When we drove 11 hours to experience the Asbury Outpouring, one of the people we spoke to there had experienced the Asbury Revival in 1970. He said that one was marked by testimonies. There was worship, but the way he remembered it, more of those 185 hours were filled with people telling how the Lord changed their lives and what they were turning away from to follow the Lord more closely. We saw some of that in the 374 hours of the Outpouring in ‘23, but most of it was non-stop worship! 

Joyce wrote about her theory about the difference: 


     Friday, February 17, 2023


     Lord, let worship tear down demonic strongholds.


Yesterday Rich Swingle, IFA contributing writer and prayer leader, spoke with a man who had been a classmate of Jeannine Brabon, who was instrumental in the 1970 Asbury revival. The man made an interesting comment about the differences between the two outpourings: The 1970 revival was marked by testimony, usually focused on repentance, and then with worship: this current outpouring seems to be marked by worship, followed by testimony of repentance, healing, and deliverance.


Worship has always been central to spiritual warfare. Judah — the tribe whose name is linked to praise — was the tribe that disembarked first from the Israelite camp (Numbers 2:1–4). Joshua sent first the priests carrying the ark of the covenant, representing the very presence of God, into the Jordan when the Israelites began to take the land (Joshua 3). The Lord ripped open prison walls when Paul and Silas worshipped in the Philippian prison (Acts 16:25–40).


Further, the Bible tells us that the Lord is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). That being the case, is not the heartfelt expression of worship going to bring the overwhelming power of the presence of the Lord into our environment, circumstances, and community?


And given that the days are increasingly evil — seemingly more evil than those of 50 years ago — the presence of the Lord in overwhelming abundance is even more necessary to the clearing away of demonic strongholds. As the love of most grows cold, the fire of His presence as He inhabits the praises of His people melts away the ice, burns away the demons, and creates a new ladder to heaven (Genesis 28:12).


The Lord is accomplishing His work today in Asbury and beyond, even as He did in the 1970s. Throughout the ages and across the globe, the Lord has visited His people to recover them to Himself through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. In His wisdom, He chooses the means and the expression of His visitations. We are left to revel in His goodness and rejoice with the saints.


As Joyce Swingle, IFA contributing writer and prayer leader, reflected on the Swingles' days in Wilmore, she told IFA that a spirit of humility is dominant. This was also emphasized by student body President Alison Perfater in an interview with Glenn Beck: "My generation struggles with pride, and what we've seen here is a radical humility. Students are standing up and confessing …  and they're opening their hearts up not only to the presence of God but to each other, and that is a very intimate thing. … There is that core of honesty that we are holding onto."


Radical humility. Is that something you want? Please post your prayer in the comments.


Info/Link to Live Stream
]]>Tue, 24 Mar 2026 02:59:30 -0400<![CDATA[SuperCentennial Celebrations]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/SuperCentennialCelebrationsThese pieces about three of our founding fathers are available for our nation's 250th birthday: “Thomas Jefferson Explains the Declaration” : On our 25t ]]>

Monologues for our 250th

These pieces about three of our founding fathers are available for our nation's 250th birthday:


“Thomas Jefferson Explains the Declaration”: On our 25th anniversary as a nation, our third President explains the Declaration of Independence, which he drafted. Some children are invited to the stage, so he can explain it to them… and so adults in our era can understand it better. 

“Something’s Brewin’ in Boston”: Rev. John Bacon stirs the crowd to join him at his church, the Old South Meeting House, where people will be gathering to plan the Boston Tea Party. Rev. Bacon reminds a modern audience that “the clergy of this colony understand the solemn charge laid upon us: to shepherd not only souls, but the cause of liberty itself.” 

"A Pastor Signs the Declaration": Rev. John Witherspoon, the sixth president of Princeton University, was the only clergyman to sign the Declaration of Independence. He reflects on the day and the importance of faith in our founding.

All three pieces are planned for the Museum of the Bible on the Third and Fourth of July this year for Intercessors for America’s Rededicate America — Celebrating 250 Years of Faith. 

"Something's Brewing in Boston" was first performed at the Council for National Policy in Boston, where “Rev. Bacon called upon Jenny Beth Martin (co-founder and national coordinator of the Tea Party Patriots) to help plan what would become possibly the most famous protest in our nation’s history. Unaware of the setup she leapt to her feet and yelled, “I’ll throw tea into the sea!” When Rev. Bacon asked Chad Connelly (founder and CEO of Faith Wins, “dedicated to education, activating, and mobilizing faith leaders…”) if he knew of any who would encourage pastors, he said, “I’m on it.” And when Rev. Bacon asked David Barton (founder of Wallbuilders) if he would pray that the Lord would raise up skilled historians, he said, “I love it.” 

Those luminaries may not be at your event, but I’d be thrilled to work in whoever is there! 

The pieces can stand alone or be combined. 


Each is about 15 minutes. 

Book a Performance
]]>Sun, 15 Mar 2026 15:50:20 -0400<![CDATA[Journey to the Garden]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/JourneyWCCN Start your Passion Week with an immersive experience from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection.  Rich Swingle has performed this one-man play acr ]]>
The crucifixion scene in Amman, Jordan.

Start your Passion Week with an immersive experience from Palm Sunday to the Resurrection. Rich Swingle has performed this one-man play across America, Jordan, and Israel. He performed an excerpt on the Debilly Bridge in Paris during the 2024 Olympics.* Experience it live or live streamed.


The most recent performance was at Westchester Chapel on March 28. Here are what people had to say: 


Rich, your performance was an utter balm and joy to witness! Konstantine is 2 and I didn’t expect him to watch intently but he started crying so sadly as you played Jesus being tortured. Balderich, 5, was so into the performance and could understand what was going on very clearly! Thanks again for making it come alive for us!!
--Christina Vincent
Actress, Writer, Educator

This will stay with us forever.
--Ron Flodquist
Oxford, CT

The Scriptures came alive in a deeper way!!  I will be playing these scenes over and over in my memory during this Passion Week!  Glory to God!!

--Nancy Rife

Prayer Leader for Intercessors for America

Director of the Upper Peninsula House of Prayer at Father’s Heart Church in Ishpeming , Michigan


Well done! Very powerful! May all those who watched it be filled with thanks and amazement at the love of Christ for us at the cost of His life. May they all remember the true meaning of Easter. 🙏❤️🙌

--Cathi Scorcia


This performance will be available through Easter, April 5, 2026...

Quotes from Previous Performances...

I am so thankful that you came to call us to remember the Journey to the Garden ... and all that our Lord accomplished for us in His great love. It was a wonderful evening. The chairman of the Elders left me a message last night that he had never been in a service that had impacted him so powerfully. He thought it was the best communion service (and Good Friday service) that he had ever attended and thanked me deeply for having you come. That sort of response has already been coming in this morning as well. So thanks for allowing God to use you. May this fruit remain!
--Sparky Pritchard
Senior Pastor
Immanuel Baptist Church
Richmond, VA

From the founders of the Creative Arts Fellowship, which hosted Journey to the Garden outdoors when they were both performing for the St. Louis Symphony...

We were all mesmerized by watching Rich (as Jesus) enacting the story of the crucifixion and the resurrection up close and personal. It brought the whole story to life for us in a new and meaningful way; especially when God showed up to create the storm with lightning, thunder, and a tornado! What will God do for you when you experience this wonderful work? Come and see!
--Paula Kasica

Christ's tomb was empty. Will yours be?
--John Kasica

Journey to the Garden
in Jerusalem

This site just outside the wall of
Jerusalem is believed to be near where
Jesus was crucified: Golgotha, or
The Place of the Skull. A number of
skulls were found here. 

For more comments about Rich's work visit What people are saying.

If you've experienced Journey to the Garden, feel free to leave a comment below...

For more on Rich's work visit RichDrama.com.

Rich has availability to bring this play in NYC and D.C. throughout Holy Week.

Book a Performance at Your Church or School

​​* If you received a postcard saying I (Rich) performed Views of the Manger on four continents, there's a funny story behind that. Joyce and I were talking about where I'd performed it, and we remembered we'd performed it in Taiwan and Kenya. After ordering the cards I looked up the photo of me washing feet in Kenya... but it was Joyce. Then I realized it was Shepherds Reflect on the 23rd Psalm that we'd performed in Taiwan and Kenya! I called to cancel the order, but somehow when I placed the order with the text you read above it re-ordered the original. So some of you got the accidentally erroneous cards. We've performed and taught on six continents, but this particular play I've only done on two. 

]]>Wed, 11 Mar 2026 23:52:27 -0400<![CDATA[Another Chance at Angel]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/another-chance-at-angel I know some of you voted for Angel Studios to pick up Star Spangled Adventures: The Movie,  and I'm so grateful, since I play a few ]]>

And my latest article

I know some of you voted for Angel Studios to pick up Star Spangled Adventures: The Movie, and I'm so grateful, since I play a few roles and think it's going to have a very positive impact on children during this SuperCentennial year. 


Unfortunately, it was voted down. Our team argued that it needed a bit more context, so we're being given another chance. You'll see that our new clip opens with an animated Dr. Ben Carson setting up the film for students. The Star Spangled Adventures series and movie were his idea. 


If you can watch it with children that’s better, and you’ll only be able to see it once.


FYI: I've heard it's easier to vote on a phone than on a laptop. 

Click here to vote

Thanks!


Here's my latest article for Intercessors for America:


Two States’ Schools May Be Forced To Leave Out the Facts of January 6

Lord, the future of our nation is in the minds of our students. Please give teachers the courage to teach the truth, no matter what!
Virginia school teachers may soon be required to teach about what happened on January 6, 2021, within the narrow confines of approved talking points. ...
Though the Virginia bill doesn’t require children to be taught about J6, Long Island Democratic state Rep. Chuck Lavine wants to take things a step further in New York. His bill, A03966, “Requires instruction on the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol and its aftermath in all schools in the state.”


We covered this and other articles from www.HeadlinePrayer.org, leading with "FBI Investigates NYC ISIS-Inspired Attack As Terrorism" on Headline Prayer Live:

Joyce and I are on Headline Prayer Live the second and fifth Tuesdays of each month. You can subscribe for email reminders at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Prayer. 


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If you're in or near Westchester County, start Passion Week with...

Find out more at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/JourneyToTheGarden.

]]>Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:33:14 -0400<![CDATA[Our Founders Wanted to Abolish Slavery]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/our-founders-wanted-to-abolish-slavery In June Joyce and I covered The American Miracle: Our Nation Is no Accident . It’s now  available on DVD and streaming , a ]]>

The American Miracle Expanded

In June Joyce and I covered The American Miracle: Our Nation Is no Accident. It’s now available on DVD and streaming, and today my review of the follow-up documentary, The American Miracle Expanded, posted to www.HeadlinePrayer.org:

"Our Founders Wanted to Abolish Slavery"


Lord, thank You for all the ways You’ve blessed our nation. We pray during our 250th Anniversary that the facts about our desire for liberty for all from the start would be spread broadly and help diffuse racial tensions.

Modern scholars have convinced our generation that our founding fathers and mothers were all racist slave owners. This argument is part of what is fueling unrest in Minneapolis right now. The American Miracle Expanded does a deep dive into our push to condemn slavery from the first draft of the Declaration of Independence.


Headline Prayer Live

Joyce and I helped lead Intercessors for America in covering that article and several others, including the amazing presentation of the Gospel by Kid Rock at the All American Half-Time Show and the rededication of America to the Lord.


In the program we covered "Conservatives Work to Pass the SAVE Act, End the ‘Zombie Filibuster’," and promised that a site was being set up to urge our politicians to require voter ID, something 83% of Americans agree on. That site is now ready, and you can take action now. 


To get email reminders that we'll be on Headline Prayer Live (second and fifth Tuesdays) sign up at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Prayer.


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Joyce and I were blessed to attend the third pre-release screening of I Can Only Imagine 2, and we both loved it! It's a story of struggles, redemption, and second chances. It is coming to theaters nationwide on February 20.


Pray for a great opening weekend (critical to the success of any film), and that it draws many closer and into the Kingdom of God. 

]]>Tue, 10 Feb 2026 21:58:15 -0500<![CDATA[Seeking the Lord's Heart for Minneapolis]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/ICEandKirkI felt a heavy burden to write an article addressing how the Church is being divided by anti-ICE riots:  "Weaponized Compassion Pushing the A ]]>

And long overdue: "Was Charlie Kirk a Racist?"

I felt a heavy burden to write an article addressing how the Church is being divided by anti-ICE riots: 


"Weaponized Compassion Pushing the Anti-ICE Agenda"


Lord, please bring unity in the Body of Christ around truth and justice. Be the balm as facts are ignored and spun.
  

Many Christians are among those who have been protesting how Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is handling deportations in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There were more than 600 faith leaders and clergy who went to Minneapolis on January 22. About 100 of them were arrested for “trespassing and failing to comply with an officer.”


[Click to read the whole article...]


Joyce and I were not on today's Headline Prayer Live (we're on the 2nd and 5th Tuesdays), but I was really blessed by how today's team covered the article:

I recently realized that -- in a very busy fall -- I never posted this article here:


"Was Charlie Kirk a Racist?"


Lord, please put an end to the smear and fear campaign, twisting Charlie Kirk’s arguments to make him sound racist. Thank You that his friends are calling out the lies.

Joyce and I were on Headline Prayer Live that day:

To get reminders for when we're on Headline Prayer Live, sign up at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Prayer.


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My one-man play I Dreamed I Was Free exposes how the Church was divided over slavery. 

]]>Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:47:29 -0500<![CDATA[Jesus: Our Great High Priest]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/jesus-our-great-high-priestI got to bring the latest message in Westchester Chapel 's Wednesday night series  The Supremacy of Christ: A Study of the Book of Hebrews  wit ]]>

Westchester Chapel's Series on Hebrews

I got to bring the latest message in Westchester Chapel's Wednesday night series The Supremacy of Christ: A Study of the Book of Hebrews with 4:14-16. 

I made reference to the following:
• Pastor Jim Warren’s message from last Wednesday: “The Word: Living, Active, Sharp”

This service is available for download free on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to our podcast. Search for "Westchester Chapel" on the iTunes Store.

If you want to know more about starting a relationship with Jesus Christ visit www.WestchesterChapel.org/salvation.


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I'm excited to be adding to my series SuperCentennial Celebrations. Appreciate your prayers as I do research and write.

]]>Sun, 25 Jan 2026 17:34:54 -0500<![CDATA[Star Spangled Adventures]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/StarSpangledAdventuresTheMovieTorchI performed a few roles in Star Spangled Adventures The Movie , which tells our 250 year history in a children’s film we’re hoping will be in theaters ]]>

You Can Help Us Get Distribution

I performed a few roles in Star Spangled Adventures The Movie, which tells our 250 year history in a children’s film we’re hoping will be in theaters on the Fourth of July.

Our team submitted it to Angel Studios. If you’re an Angel Guild member (which you become when you subscribe to Angel) I’d be so blessed if you’d take a moment to watch our torch. That’s a section of the film, and in this case it’s a scene about the Boston Tea Party, featuring some of my friends.

If you like it, you can vote for Angel Studios to distribute it.

Once you subscribe (we subscribed just for Miracle and Homestead, both produced by our friend Ben Kasica , but there’s lots of great stuff on there), go to Guild in the index. It’s in the Short Torches for Kids category.

If you have kids or grandkids, I encourage you to watch it with them. One of the questions is, “Did you watch it with a child?” You can only watch it once.

When I voted it was at 66% approval, and it needs 70% to move forward.

We’d be so grateful if you can help move the needle!


One hundred twenty-four years ago one of my heroes was born. My one-man play Beyond the Chariots tells the rest of Eric Liddell's Chariots of Fire story, and here's a tribute I did to him on another key day for him:

]]>Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:55:32 -0500