About Us
Why?
Why do the Players exist?
The Vanguard Players exist as the ministerial portion of the Theatre Department at Vanguard University. The Vanguard Players have two main focuses: The first is to serve the students by enabling them to go beyond the comfort zone of the main stage while at the same time serving the body of Christ by ministering to them through the wonderful and powerful art of drama. The second is to develop each player not only as a performer, but also as a follower of Jesus, a disciple if you will. One of the goals of Vanguard University is to prepare students to impact the world that they live in. The Vanguard Players is one more way of accomplishing this. We seek to bring quality plays to church drama by producing quality acting, directing, and scripts while preparing students for ministry. We want to bless and be blessed by those who we minister to and we feel that this is being accomplished every single year as we embark on our tour.
What?
What is your purpose statement?
The Department of Theatre Arts and VUSC seek to establish a Christ-centered, professional environment for artistic expression by developing the creative mind, body, and spirit of each student in the disciplines of performance/drecting, drama education, drama ministry, musical theatre, technical theatre, theatre management, and playwriting. Through teaching and hands-on participation, the department focuses on forming students to model the Christian life, preparing them for service, and transforming students to impact a contemporary society for Christ.
What do the Players do?
The Vanguard Players are not just about being on stage. In fact, that is only a portion of what we do. We seek, primarily, to train disciples. We want to prepare students to do ministry so as to impact the world we live in, and that can take several forms including but not limited to: leading worship, giving alter calls, praying with members of the congregation, performing, and so on.
What material have the Players done?
The Vanguard Players are committed to excellence in the selection of dramas through which they choose to minister. An excellent script as well as a Christian message are a must as the Players seek to minister to both the body of Christ and those who do not yet know Him. In recent years, the Vanguard Players have performed such dramas as Spread Your Garment Over Me (2002), For the Lease of These (2003), and Christ in the Concrete City (2004). Both Spread Your Garment Over Me and For the Least of These were written by Dr. Gillette Elvgren of Regent University in Virginia. Dr. Elvgren is cofounder and playwright for Saltworks Theatre Company in Pittsburgh, as well as a writer for Children's Ministries, Philadelphia. Christ in the Concrete City was written by Philip Turner who is best known for his "Darnley Mills" novels. He has also received the Carnegie Prize for Children’s Literature, and boasts an extensive bibliography which includes several religious works.
What do the Players hope to do in the future?
In the future, the Vanguard Players plan to continue to utilize drama as a tool to minister. With that in mind, we would also like to develop a program that would provide us with the opportunity to lead a series of drama workshops, as we are on tour, for those youth/adults who are interested in drama ministry themselves. We also have a dream to travel beyond the United States and perhaps embark on an International tour.
What is the history of the Players?
The Vanguard Players first came into existence in 1999 when Theatre Department Chair, Susan K. Berkompas, noticed a need for a program that would give those interested in drama ministry the opportunity to travel to places where they would otherwise be restricted to go. Berkompas realized that it was not enough to simply minister to those who were able to come to our own mainstage on the campus of Vanguard University. We had to go to them and meet them exactly where they were! Since 1999, the Vanguard Players have toured various regions of the United States every year.
Who?
Who supports the Players?
The Vanguard Players are a self-supporting drama team. That is the reason why we ask for a $300 honorarium from each church or school that we perform at. We hope and pray that the Lord will continue to provide us with the resources necessary to travel to where we have not yet been.
Who can audition to be one of the Players?
Auditions are open to anyone in the Vanguard University community. This includes Theatre majors, minors, and interested others.
When?
When are the Players available for booking?
Below is a calendar listing the dates of touring and the area we plan on being in. Anywhere within a two hour drive from the area listed will still be considered valid.
When do the Players tour?
Every summer, the Players enter rehearsal camp for two intensive weeks before embarking on their tour. A maximum of ten student leaders, including a technical director and tour manager, tour a select region the last week of May and the first two weeks of June.
Where?
Where do the Players perform?
The Vanguard Players try to get into anywhere and everywhere. We have been known to appear at churches, schools, and nursing homes. However, we do not want to be limited to those places so if you have in mind some place where you think we might be useful, use the contact information below and help us to broaden our horizons!
How?
How would I get more information on booking the Players?
For additional booking information, references, or questions about booking the Vanguard Players for a future tour, please contact Vanguard University and speak with our coordinator:
Deborah Marley
Phone: (714) 556-3610 Ext. 2972
Email: deborah.marley@vanguard.edu