RichDrama - Blog #FloridaRichDrama - Blog #Floridahttps://www.richdrama.com/blog/tag/FloridaSun, 12 Apr 2026 01:59:03 -0700http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[The Christmas Episode]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/the-christmas-episodeJanet Porter released our Christmas episode of What's a Girl to Do? I play Wesley, and this is my favorite of all our episodes so far...]]>

The Final Episode of What's a Girl to Do? Season One Is Free

Janet Porter released our Christmas episode of What's a Girl to Do? I play Wesley, and this is my favorite of all our episodes so far...

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Joyce and I have both submitted articles to Intercessors for America that are scheduled to post on www.HeadlinePrayer.org on New Year’s Eve. That day at 12:15 Eastern Joyce and I will be on Headline Prayer Live, leading prayer over our articles and others that post that day. Sign up at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Prayer for the reminder and login info. Joyce’s article is about ways America has been choosing life this year, and mine is a review of how revival has been brewing coast to coast.

]]>Wed, 25 Dec 2024 16:07:58 -0500<![CDATA[Jesus Freaks]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/MakingJesusFreaksI was so blessed to perform in the upcoming film  Jesus Freaks !  It's based on events that happened in 1972, during the Jesus Movement.  I ]]>

Performed with the Sorbos

I was so blessed to perform in the upcoming film Jesus Freaks! It's based on events that happened in 1972, during the Jesus Movement. 


I play the adult son of a pastor who tries to stifle the uncontrollable work the Holy Spirit is doing in the youth of his church. My character's daughter is played by Octavia Flynn Sorbo (photo to the left), the daughter of Kevin and Sam Sorbo, who were also in the film, and their son Braeden plays one of the leads. 


The writer/director Nina May (First Lady, Daily Bread) is working on a distribution deal now. Join us in praying for as broad of an audience as possible. 


We saw a rough cut at its premiere. We're praying it will have a powerful impact on those who see it, and that it will help propel the revival that's rising on so many college and university campuses, including many secular schools. 


I was blessed that Cheryl Felicia Rhoads (left in photo to the right) and Mell Flynn (right in the photo to the right) of What's a Girl to Do? were also in our cast! Joyce and I connected with them at the premiere.  

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If you're near Rochester, NY, I hope you can join our performance of the radio drama Unlikely Wise Man. 

]]>Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:58:10 -0500<![CDATA[A Few Highlights of the Year]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/a-few-highlights-of-the-yearI'm preparing our Year in Review, and I realized there are some pretty major events I hadn't given praise for yet: Sharing a monologue as Rees Howells, ]]>

More to Come    

I'm preparing our Year in Review, and I realized there are some pretty major events I hadn't given praise for yet:

50th Anniversary of Intercessors for America

Sharing a monologue as Rees Howells, one of our heroes, at the IFA celebration was one of the highlights of the year. The day before Richard Blackaby mentioned how Evan Roberts prayed "Bend me," which was something I had in my script. Then before I presented, one of the IFA board members mentioned Rees Howells. Then, after I was done, Dutch Sheets spent much of his talk on Rees Howells! After he got off the stage Dave Kubal, our CEO, told him Rees Howells had been dramatized on the stage, and he said, "No way!" He told Dave that while he was preparing he kept hearing, "Rees. Rees." What confirmations that we picked the right piece! They sold out of copies of Rees Howells: Intercessor in the IFA bookstore!


We're planning to record the monologue so watch your inbox.

I Dreamed I Was Free in Princeton

I shared my one-man play I Dreamed I Was Free in Princeton for the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society. It was a fund-raiser for them to build a museum. Robert J. Hillier, who hosts our Graceworks workshop every spring at Princeton University set it up and had this to say afterward: 


I want to tell you how pleased everyone was with the play and especially your acting, Rich! They are still all talking about it and even raising the possibility of bringing you back to a bigger venue. You certainly did yourselves proud and made me somewhat of a hero for proposing you do this. Thank you so much. 
— J. Robert Hillier
Founding Principal, Studio Hillier

Pensacola Christian Theatre Festival

I was blessed to share some excerpts from and stories about Songs of Revival: Hungry After God Himself at this marvelous gathering of Christian thespians! What a joy to spend time with those folks. As Rees Howells said of the students and staff of the Bible College of Wales, my sense is that those who spoke at and attended the Festival have laid their lives on the altar for their gifts to be used exclusively for the One who gave them.

What's a Girl to Do

I was able to drop onto the set of What's a Girl to Do in Ohio to answer questions for post-episode talk-backs with the cast and crew. Such a great bunch!

"Ember"

I got to perform and coach actors in a short film written and directed by a graduate of the Lamplighter Guild in Georgia. More to come on that as I'm able to share.

Our Christmas eLetter Will Go Out Soon

I want to thank you again for being on our prayer team! We know it makes such a difference as we go out into the world to encourage people in their faith and warm those who have none to the Gospel. 


We're composing our Christmas eLetter, so we appreciate your prayers that it will bless all who receive it. 


Also, we're letting many know for the first time about our need for people to partner with us to get us to Paris and Edinburgh for the Olympics and Fringe Festival. Please pray many give toward this trip. When we brought my one-man play Beyond the Chariots to London for the 2012 Olympics we know we reached people from at least 30 nations, so we're praying we reach people from even more countries through this trip. 

Help us bring Beyond the Chariots to Paris and Edinburgh next summer: 

www.GiveSendGo.com/ChariotsParisEdinburgh

]]>Mon, 04 Dec 2023 22:19:06 -0500<![CDATA[Mission Accomplished!]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/commanding-the-foreword...This morning IFA posted my third article about the Command the Foreword initiative: Lord, thank You for inspiring and empowering your people to anoint every state border before our deadline.]]>

All State Borders Covered!

This morning IFA posted my third article about the Command the Foreword initiative: 

Lord, thank You for inspiring and empowering your people to anoint every state border before our deadline. We praise You for the many ways Your people are commanding the foreword from coast to coast, declaring our founding documents to You Who inspired them! Hear our prayers for protection, healing, and revival!

“The Paint Your State/Command the Foreword assignment has now been completed,” Dutch Sheets announced in the September 1 Give Him 15 post. IFA has been reporting on this initiative, and we’re so blessed by how many of you have taken part! All state borders have been covered, and intercessors have gone above and beyond the assignment to pray at every border county line, except for eight in the remotest parts of Alaska. 
[Click here to read the full article…]

Here’s the latest map of how many county borders were prayed over: 

Here’s the video embedded in the article of me praying through some southern states:

And here’s a photo of the snake the three women mentioned in the article found dead: 

I had to ask if the photo was actually of the dead snake since it looks so alive! Carol Kemp assured me that was how they found it, but it was dead. 

Check out all of my updates on the Command the Foreword initiative at www.RichDrama.com/blog/tag/commanding-the-foreword.

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]]>Sat, 02 Sep 2023 17:17:16 -0400<![CDATA[The Revelation Behind Bars]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/the-revelation-behind-bars

Here's my report immediately following yesterday's performances of The Revelation in the Marion Correctional Institution...

This was the newsletter that reported my visit:

Dear Intercessors,

The interns at Marion Correctional Institution enjoyed a fabulous visit this past weekend.  Rich Swingle portrayed the book of Revelation for the men (www.RichDrama.com/TheRevelation).  They were quite moved by his acting and interpretation.  Here is what two of our CBB leaders had to say about the presentation: 

"Wow!! Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!  At the end of the morning session I told the guys that in my 75 & 1/2 years I have seen hundreds of sermons and plays, but I have never seen anything like that. Rich brought the character of John so alive and to portray the book of Revelation in the way he did was absolutely amazing." -C. B.
 
"Just wanted to send a note to let you know we had a great time Saturday with Rich, I was amazed at the program he put on. No one was disappointed when they left the Chapel. : ) He asked for some praise music to open the service, and we had no available praise team, per say, so I was asked by one of the Chapel orderlies if I would do some praise and worship, and I said I would. Rich asked if I knew any songs that would correlate to the Book of Revelations.  I said I sure do and opened with an up tempo song, then played and sang Revelation Song by Philips, Craig, and Dean- one of my all time favs.  Rich was ecstatic, it was the perfect song for his skit. I am amazed at how well he can recall an entire book of the Bible and put it into a visual perspective. Thanks for sending Rich!"  -J. T.

Praise the Lord!  God is moving!  If you would like to support our Church Behind Bars movement please click the button below.

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A blessed Shavuot, the Hebrew holiday, also known as Pentecost in Greek. Last year I released “Pentecost: Beyond the Imagination,” a scene from my one-man play, The Acts, 
at www.RichDrama.com/blog/post/Pentecost. 

]]>Sun, 16 May 2021 13:44:00 -0400<![CDATA[Reflection]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/Reflection

Joyce and I got to work on a short film by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers and Actors Camp alumni William and Morgan Willer ( It's a Life Worth Living, " There").

It's now available for viewing:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/364121185
REFLECTION from William Willer on Vimeo.

We were greeted with my favorite verse, which Morgan remembered from Film Camp and wrote in calligraphy on a card!


I'm playing the role of the father of a young woman played by Joanna Ferbrache ( Celebrity Confessions), who is being seduced by my character's arch nemesis, played by Andrew Hurt ( Polycarp, " One Day"). I'm also serving as acting and accent coach. We've set it in Florida in the late 30s, so the cast (and some of the crew) were speaking in Southern accents all week. One of them said to me, "I don't know if I'll be able to stop talking like this when we leave!" We were all having a ton of fun in the Florida sun!

On Day Two I got to drive this 193 Chevrolet nicknamed "Ethel," and it was an AMAZING experience!

The production value has been astonishing! The cars, costumes, furniture, and especially the locations, almost all donated in order to help tell the Lord's truths in film. It's going to look like a much more expensive production than it is.

We were particularly grateful for The Banyan Estate, which was a 1927 school house that was refurbished just over a year ago. It's an amazing event space for weddings and business events.

This time last year many of this same crew created the short film, "There," which you can watch here:  www.RichDrama.com/There.

You can find this page at www.RichDrama.com/Reflection. We'll announce when the film is released through emailings to which you can subscribe at www.RichDrama.com/Updates.

Click to see the best of the photos Joyce and I took on and around set.

Here are our Production Diaries filmed and edited by Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmaker alumna Morgan Willer...

Day 1
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Day 2 (This shows the 1930 Chevrolet named "Ethel" I got to drive.)
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Pre-Rigging at the amazing  Banyan Estate (I was performing " The New King" on Epiphany while they were setting up.)
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Day 3 (Filmed at the  Banyan Estate.)
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Day 4 (More footage of me driving Ethel.)
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Day 5 (This has my favorite line that won't make it into the film.)
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Day 6 (We wrapped by lunch! Unheard of!)
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There are still openings for the 2019 Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.
]]>Tue, 08 Jan 2019 11:47:00 -0500<![CDATA[There]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/There
Joyce and I joined my former students William and Morgan Willer who directed and produced the short film, "There."

Joyce served on crew, and I played a father in search of his daughter during a storm who finds that he has to decide between getting her to safety and bringing a woman in labor to the hospital in his two-seat car.

https://player.vimeo.com/video/292505984
You Should Be THERE: A Short Film from William Willer on Vimeo.

Joyce played my character's wife while the cameras weren't rolling. It was a sociodrama to help get our 22nd screen daughter ready for an emotional phone call. We were all deeply moved by the experience, and hopefully you'll hear that in her performance.

It was an official selection at the Christian Worldview Film Festival and the International Christian Film and Music Festival, where I was nominated for Best Lead Actor in a Short Film.

They created this brilliant fundraising video for the project:

https://player.vimeo.com/video/243531200

William and Morgan attended the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp in 2016. William was on the filmmaking side, and Morgan was one of my actors. Our film for that year, "Felicia's Pledge": www.RichDrama.com/FeliciasPledge. The next summer the siblings switched places and I got to work with William. Our short film that year was "Milk and Oranges": www.RichDrama.com/MilkAndOranges.

We also got to work with other  Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp alumni: Rebekah Stought, who plays the expectant mother, did both camps in the summer of 2015, when we offered two week-long camps back-to-back. Click here to see the film Rebekah directed and the two in which she performed.

Gwendelynn Martindale was a filmmaking student, and she wrote, produced and directed her own short film, " One Day."

Though RMCFC alumna Gabby Campana needed to be out of town during filming, she helped with pre and post-production. While we were there we got to see her in a really fun short she starred in with the Willers.

McKenzie set up a performance and
workshop for me in her church in
Albuquerque. Her brother, Matt,
also worked on "There."
While we were on set, RMCFC alumna McKenzie Harris got a call-back to play the lead in a Lamplighter Theatre production, of The Treasure of the Secret Cove. The production team listened to over 250 auditions without considering who the actors were. They were shocked to discover McKenzie was also an alumna of the Lamplighter Guild, where I got to teach this summer.

Of course, my own bride attended the Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp as well. The short she directed (...for one scene, and she did cinematography, lighting and sound for other scenes) is now online: www.RichDrama.com/MilkAndOranges.

Here's a great review of "There":

https://www.youtube.com/embed/J-Io1BesinQ

Sign up for the announcement that registration is open for the next Rocky Mountain Christian Filmmakers Camp.
]]>Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:11:00 -0500<![CDATA[Too cool for school]]>https://www.richdrama.com/blog/post/too-cool-for-school
The students here at Christian Clearwater College look out over Tampa Bay for their meals. How cool is that?

Not as cool as what happened last night: At the beginning of my Big Fish Little Worm performance I told the campus how I walked forward after a chapel speaker at my alma mater, George Fox University, invited us to show the Lord that we'd go anywhere He called us. I told the audience that on my walk to the altar I told God I'd be glad to go anywhere, but put in a request that it not be a big city. For 16 years I have LOVED living in New York City, the largest in the US.

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