17TH ANNUAL SEASON CELEBRATION THANK YOU AND RECAP

I want to thank all who came to our 17th Season Celebration! It was truly a blessing to share this evening with so many in our LifeHouse Family.

Among the highlights were the live music performances by Jonathan Bushey and Samantha Stephenson, the LifeHouse scholarship award presented to Rebecca Riley and several multimedia presentations detailing all God has been doing in our midst.

We announced the broadcast of our “LifeHouse Theater On-The-Air” series of stage musicals will premiere on or about July 1. DVD versions of these performances are now on pre-sale, beginning with special editions of “Pilgrim’s Progress,” “Beauty and the Beast,” and “Peter Pan.” These will be available in late June.

LifeHouse Theater On-The-Air CDs are also on sale now. These are truly exciting audio dramas that offer you amazing “theater of the imagination” experiences. “The Count of Monte Cristo” will transport you to a thrilling adventure in 18th century France. “The Princess and the Pigs” takes you to a kooky fairy tale kingdom “once upon a time” with the hilarious story of a pauper prince, a pampered princess and a platoon of pigs! And “Job – A Modern Man” imagines what the life of Job might be like if he lived among us today — a powerful story based on the biblical book that offers keen insights regarding our own lives. Soon, “Trapped in Aesop’s Fables,” “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi,” “Tom Sawyer” and many other titles will be available to stimulate both our imaginations and our spiritual lives. Once you listen, you’ll get hooked — ask anyone who has heard an episode!

Of course, we announced what I believe to be the best year ever at LifeHouse for our 17th 2010-11 season:

LITTLE WOMEN (October 2 – October 24, 2010)
REVELATION (November 6 – November 21, 2010)
SCROOGE! (December, 2010)
A SONG IN MY HEART (January 14 – January 23, 2011)
THE PRINCESS AND THE PIGS (February 5 – March 13, 2011)
RUTH (March 26 – May 8, 2011)
THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO (May 21 – June 26, 2011)
THE JUNGLE BOOK (July 9 – August 14, 2011)
LES MISERABLES – A NEW DRAMA (August 27 – September 25, 2011)

We are also launching our most ambitious outreach ever with the multi-performances of “Scrooge!” at Clock Auditorium in Redlands. Season subscribers will be admitted free to this CLO-style presentation directed by Dustin Ceithamer and featuring a live orchestra, glorious scenery, special surprises and the true Spirit of the Season. I’m counting on you to spread the word to all your family and friends between now and December. We are praying over 5,000 people will join us this Christmas season for a spectacular and unforgettable experience!

I especially want to thank all who responded to our financial needs. These are always ongoing in a theater company and especially in our operations as I refuse for our company to retreat despite the dismal economy. On the contrary, I believe this is the time for us to be aggressive in sharing spiritually enriching and uplifting theater with the community at large — people in desperate need of good news and encouragement. Your financial partnership helps us bridge the budget gaps that tickets alone do not cover — unglamorous expenses such as $50,000 in insurance, utility and storage costs before we even open our doors.

The response to our appeal for help at the Season Celebration led to $11,000 raised in gifts and pledges. A record $10,600 in season subscriptions was also sold. This is a wonderful beginning. Follow-up letters to all unable to attend are going out now. Please join me in praying for positive responses so LifeHouse can remain strong.

I’ll look forward to keeping you updated here on our website. And I also hope to see you soon at our deliriously funny “Esther” performances!

God Bless,