Productions: 2003-04

Divine Reverberations

Compiled and Adapted from Survivor Interviews by Noah Thomas, Ruth Krygshld, Dianna Clinch, Brian Farish, Lorien Reese, Jacqui DeBoer, Nathan Fluit, Linda Welker, and Evangeline Whitlock

Directed by Linda S. Welker

Assistant to Director: Zach Vicha

In the Lab Theater

On Dec. 4-6

Overview

Ferenc Visky, a Reformed pastor, was imprisoned because of his faith from May 1958 through August 1964 and released in the general amnesty implemented in 1963-1964. Visky explains that it was the singing of psalms and God’s faithful presence in that singing that brought him and others through such oppression. “When we sing, we are the strings and God is the finger,” Visky asserts. “Music and singing is part of the preaching of the Word.”

Countless Eastern European Christians like Ferenc Visky suffered under tyrannical Communist rule during the mid-twentieth century. They too found solace and sustenance in the singing of Genevan psalms. Based on interviews conducted in 2003, this performance chronicles the survival of personal faith during the dark days of Communist subjugation. Personal narratives of everyday church members and spiritual leaders serve as the dramatic underpinning of this multi-media experimental performance.

The Cast

Berényi Jozsef, Ensemble: Adam Mellema
Vicky Ferenc, Berecsky Albert, Ensemble: Ryan Hoke
Guláscy Lajos, Ensemble: Nathan Fluit
Fülöp Dénes, Ensemble: David Ellens
Richard Wurmbrand, Ensemble: Brian Farish
Fülöp Ilona, Gorza, Ensemble: Jacqui DeBoer
Rácsok Ilona, János Peter, Ensemble: Dianna Clinch
Geréb Erzsébet, Bartha Tibor, Ensemble: Rebecca Carpenter
Horkay Dolorosa, Ensemble: Allison Graff
Gulácsy Emma, Ensemble: Rachel Zylstra
Ensemble: Edward Westerhuis, Rei (Krista Rowe), Chelsey Harmon, Erin Ondersma
Head Script Adapters: Noah Thomas, Ruth Krygsheld, Linda Welker
Associate Script Adapters: Dianna Clinch, Brian Farish, Jacqui DeBoer, Lorien Reese, Nathan Fluit, Evangeline Whitlock
Calvin Interviewers: Beth Lantinga, Linda Welker
Hungarian Interviewers: Erdos János, Dáni Eszter, Iván Géza, Hös Hajnálka
Translations: Rácsok Gábriellá, Erdos János
Technical Director/Production Manager:: Nathan Blom
Stage manager: Jason Towne
Lighting design: Jeremy Den Ouden
Scenic Design: Nathan Fluit, Meredith Bytwerk, Zach Vicha
Image Projection: Laura Hoksbergen
Costume Design: Lorien Reese, Ruth Krygsheld
Graphic Design: James D. Korf
Movement Director: Evangeline Whitlock
Production Assistant: Katie Boelema
Dialect Coach: Stephanie L. Sandberg
Head Publicist: Dianna Clinch
Music Director: Meredith Bytwork
Vocal Coach/Rehearsal Pianist: Alex Agard
Musical Consultant: Beth Lantinga
Instrumentalists: Calvin Stapert, Alex Agard
Stage Electrics Crew: Brian Risselada, Brian Farish
Publicity: Brian Farish, Kara Borgman, Boniface Ngalu, Bob Herlien, Brittany Borgeson
Voiceover Recordings: Petr Kornilov, Andrew Schamp
Light/Sound Board Operators: Nick Zondervan, Kevin Anderson
Head Scenic Carpenter: Nathan Fluit
Scenic Carpenters: Mark Gaiser
Photographer: Megan Bush
Head Stage Electrician: Jeremy Den Ouden
Stage Electrician: Noah Thomas, Steve Williams