<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?><!-- generator=Zoho Sites --><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"><channel><atom:link href="https://www.richdrama.com/blog/tag/Ben-Harney/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><title>RichDrama - Blog #Ben Harney</title><description>RichDrama - Blog #Ben Harney</description><link>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/tag/Ben-Harney</link><lastBuildDate>Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:11:25 -0700</lastBuildDate><generator>http://zoho.com/sites/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Silent Night: a Christmas Journey]]></title><link>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/silent-night-christmas-journey</link><description><![CDATA[Times Square Church posted their first feature film on Christmas Eve, and it is--in a word--charming!&nbsp; The story follows Charlie, a young man w ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_5vMdDHMIQyaK7ASPuj1GQg" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_BhSgBt5WQOyu1e_XVaBFwA" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_hokwpHXtSvSiBVLL3qjRNw" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_erR6MOZXRJW3aCiCKZ1DdA" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style></style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.TSC.NYC" target="_blank"></a><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.TSC.NYC" target="_blank"></a><a href="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/1687161682723698/medium/1609002844/enhance" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/1687161682723698/medium/1609002844/enhance" width="182"></a></div>Times Square Church posted their first feature film on Christmas Eve, and it is--in a word--charming!&nbsp; </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"> The story follows Charlie, a young man with special needs, who steps out of his comfort zone to deliver a poinsettia to a customer at the store where he works (played by <a href="http://www.RichDrama.com/PatriciaMauceri" target="_blank">Patricia Mauceri</a>, <i>Bull, One Life to Live, Courageous Love</i>). Along the way he encounters others in deeper need than himself, and with the help of a couple of guardian angels who give Clarence a run for his money, Charlie blesses everyone he comes across... eventually.&nbsp; </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"> Charlie isn't the only one facing a challenge. His adopted brother Joey triggers their father's military reactions, but Tony Award winner Ben Harney plays Adam, a catalyst of reconciliation between his grandson and the man Adam entrusted to raise him.&nbsp; </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"> Click the arrow below to watch it for free, or if you're receiving this in an email, visit <a href="http://www.RichDrama.com/SilentNight">www.RichDrama.com/SilentNight</a>. </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/s5bSub_5mvw" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/embed/s5bSub_5mvw</a><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br><div style="text-align:center;"><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.richdrama.com/MyPassion" style="text-decoration-line:none;">&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/1687161691374326/medium/1609002845/enhance" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/1687161691374326/medium/1609002845/enhance" width="200"></a></div>You can hear me play a Scrooge-like character in the new audio drama <i><a href="http://www.RichDrama.com/UnlikelyWiseMan" target="_blank">Unlikely Wise Man</a></i>&nbsp;for free through December 31. <br><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><br></div>
</div><div><a href="https://www.IMDb.me/RichSwingle" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9ng-y4IQZQ/VonNh0iC9kI/AAAAAAAANKQ/UVPynDP6kt8/s200/00000839.png" width="30"></a></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Tue, 29 Dec 2020 02:11:00 -0500</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Henry Box Brown]]></title><link>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/henry-box-brown</link><description><![CDATA[
 Two prayers of my heart from twenty years ago were answered! I heard about the Christian Cultural Center , the largest church in New York City and ]]></description><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zpcontent-container blogpost-container "><div data-element-id="elm_maAbaik2QN2H--1EJlNwBA" data-element-type="section" class="zpsection "><style type="text/css"></style><div class="zpcontainer-fluid zpcontainer"><div data-element-id="elm_H8xaJX6tRJWbRwKFOiyqGQ" data-element-type="row" class="zprow zprow-container zpalign-items- zpjustify-content- " data-equal-column=""><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_cnFVeGJoSNutcDOt12rrpw" data-element-type="column" class="zpelem-col zpcol-12 zpcol-md-12 zpcol-sm-12 zpalign-self- "><style type="text/css"></style><div data-element-id="elm_9YoZtc8bROi0qxvzdqvIzQ" data-element-type="text" class="zpelement zpelem-text "><style></style><div class="zptext zptext-align-center " data-editor="true"><div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113715516248/medium/1517939343/enhance" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113715516248/medium/1517939343/enhance" width="400"></a></div>
<br> Two prayers of my heart from twenty years ago were answered! <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113725956670/medium/1518579309/enhance" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113725956670/medium/1518579309/enhance" width="200"></a></div>
 I heard about the <a href="http://www.cccinfo.org/">Christian Cultural Center</a>, the largest church in New York City and one of the largest independent churches in the US, shortly after moving here in 1993. As I started to develop my own <a href="http://www.richdrama.com/Plays">one-man plays</a> it was on my heart to perform there some day. <br><br> I play James Smith, an historical abolitionist, in <i>Henry Box Brown</i>, a musical that tells the story of a slave who ships himself in a box from Richmond, Virginia, to Philadelphia and freedom in 1849. <br><br> Though it's not one of my one-man plays, this musical is answering my prayer of two decades, because we'll be performing at CCC three times: <br><blockquote class="tr_bq"><b>February 11, 8 AM and 10:30 AM</b><br> 20-minute version <br> Directions at <a href="http://www.cccinfo.org/">www.CCCInfo.org</a>, where you can <b>live-stream</b> the 10:30 AM Eastern service. <br><br><b>February 14, 7 PM</b><br> 20-minute version streamed <br><a href="http://www.cccinfo.org/">www.CCCInfo.org</a><br><br><b>Feb 15, 10-1pm</b><br> Full musical <br><a href="https://www.cccinfo.org/events/2018/2/11/black-history-production-3snsc">Click here to register</a>&nbsp;(first come first registered) <br><br><b>February 17, 6 PM</b><br> 20-minute version streamed <br><a href="http://www.cccinfo.org/">www.CCCInfo.org</a></blockquote> Hope you can see this miraculous production online! </div>
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"><br></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align:left;"> The other 2-decade-old prayer that was answered was working with Tony Award-winner, Ben Harney. He wrote a sketch in which I played Jesus for the Easter Parade on Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, in the mid-90s. My prayer to work with him was answered, as he stepped in as director.&nbsp; <br><br> The performances went miraculously well! Though Joyce had already seen it five times, she got up at 3:30 am, after going to bed after midnight, to be an on-site intercessor for our performance for students. She prayed over all 3,000 chairs, and the students, representing more than a dozen public schools were remarkably well-behaved. The Q and A was rich, deep and long! I pointed out that Scripture was used to support slavery, but slavery was mentioned in Scripture because it was a man-made institution that needed to be addressed. God commanded in Exodus 21:2, &quot;In the seventh year your slave shall go free.&quot; When I said, &quot;The Lord never intended for the lifelong ownership of a fellow human being,&quot; they burst into applause! It may have been the first time some of them heard that Scripture. <br><br><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113729978407/medium/1518892173/enhance" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113729978407/medium/1518892173/enhance" width="200"></a></div>
 The Geneva gown I'm wearing in this photo was my grandfather's PhD robe. During the Reformation Protestants refrained from wearing liturgical garments, and since most of them were scholars they wore their scholarly robes, which turned into the liturgical garments of the Protestant clergy. <br><br> Grandpa was a pastor, missionary, and history professor. He's one of the people who inspired me to do historical plays that have ministered in 29 nations so far: <a href="http://www.CliffMillerPhD.Blogspot.com">www.CliffMillerPhD.Blogspot.com</a>. <br><br> As <a href="http://www.RichDrama.com/TreasureSeekers" target="_blank">Trevor the Treasure Seeker</a> I answer some of the questions raised by some of the children in our cast: <br><br><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZyC5o9M8FbE" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZyC5o9M8FbE</a><br><br><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113715607651/small/1517943771/enhance" style="clear:right;float:right;margin-bottom:1em;margin-left:1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://uniim1.shutterfly.com/ng/services/mediarender/THISLIFE/001089509830/media/113715607651/small/1517943771/enhance" width="166"></a></div>
 You can see my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RichDrama/posts/10156988894583998">Facebook Live announcement by clicking here</a>. <br><br><br><br><div style="text-align:center;"><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.richdrama.com/MyPassion" style="text-decoration-line:none;">&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;&gt;&lt;</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzr4QcFy_bo/Vo2DwvmcMuI/AAAAAAAANLA/4Z8DpAKF4BI/s1600/Line.png"></a><br><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"></div>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear:both;text-align:center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dzr4QcFy_bo/Vo2DwvmcMuI/AAAAAAAANLA/4Z8DpAKF4BI/s1600/Line.png"></a><br><div><a href="http://www.richdrama.com/AClearLeading" style="clear:left;float:left;margin-bottom:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://im1.shutterfly.com/procsrserv/47a5d705b3127cce9854aa71cc6100000030100RZuHLVy4Y-/cwvDm9asA3Lw9bNmwfl5esWDJpY" width="123"></a> Another reason I'm excited to be a part of Henry Box Brown is that I've been performing my own one-man play about an abolitionist since 1995.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.richdrama.com/AClearLeading">A Clear Leading</a> tells the story of John Woolman, a Quaker who spoke against slavery a century before our Civil War. </div>
<br><div><a href="https://www.blogger.com/www.IMDb.me/RichSwingle" style="margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G9ng-y4IQZQ/VonNh0iC9kI/AAAAAAAANKQ/UVPynDP6kt8/s200/00000839.png" width="30"></a></div>
</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div> ]]></content:encoded><pubDate>Tue, 06 Feb 2018 15:57:00 -0500</pubDate></item></channel></rss>