Performing Arts

Sergio Pecanha / DMN

Churches and theaters have been at odds for most of the last 500 years. So why are so many Dallas theaters moving into churches?

Some, including Contemporary Theatre of Dallas and Risk Theater Initiative, have taken over church buildings that have lost their congregations. But others, such as Labyrinth Theatre and the San Jacinto Project, are trying to fit a secular theater company into a church setting. Of course, European drama got its start in medieval churches that acted out key Bible scenes, and religion nourished the theater with mystery plays and the miracle plays just before the Renaissance. But when secular theaters split off, the church took a dim view. Every theater student remembers, for instance, that Molière got excommunicated.

Some churches now put on their own theatrical events – extravagant Christmas pageants, or plays designed to do some low-key evangelization. Lots of theater artists (contrary to stereotype) have religious convictions, and Texas has seen a number of attempts to found theaters designed to bolster faith – not to mention the touring gospel musicals that are a mainstay of The Black Academy of Arts and Letters.

What's different about the current crop of church-housed theaters is that they aren't specifically religious in their programming. You can now put on your Sunday best, go to church, and see a play that doesn't preach.

Here's how four relatively new groups manage that.

History: Former Baptist church at 5601 Sears St. has been out of commission a long time. Was a jazz bar, restaurant and club before Sue Loncar and her theater company remodeled it as a theater that opened in February 2003.

Performance space: The former sanctuary is niftily refitted with a stage that can bear complex sets, an audience area usually set up as cabaret tables, and a bar that is curtained off once a performance starts. A U-shaped balcony can hold additional audience members.

Religious involvement: Nothing specific.

Quote: "A lot of people tell me that the theater is their church," says Ms. Loncar, founder and artistic director. "One of my goals is that it be a real spiritual experience of some kind. People also tell me that Contemporary is like nothing else they go to. It's intimate, like being part of a family."

Current show: Social Security runs through Sept. 9.

Info: 214-828-0094; www.contemporarytheatreofdallas.com.

History: Kevin L. Ash, an Equity actor and producer-director from New York, joined Arapaho United Methodist Church in Richardson when he moved to the area. Church members helped him start Labyrinth in 2004 and still offer financial support.

Performance space: Labyrinth performs in the church's former sanctuary at 1400 W. Arapaho Rd., which is now used primarily as a pre-school. The crew must set up stage and seating for dress rehearsals and performances.

Religious involvement: Mr. Ash chooses scripts with a social message, and the theater hosts a discussion after each performance. Every production is the subject of a Sunday sermon during its run – but the theater is essentially an independent venture.

Quote: "Some people were a little skeptical about having a theater in the church, but after they've seen some of the things we've done and the discussions of the topics we've brought up, they've found great value in it," says Mr. Ash. "As we've branched out and done the summer youth program this year, that increased the level of church interest. The point is, if you're a person of faith, it should permeate all of your life."

Next show: www.thelabyrinththeatre.org.

Mona Reeder / DMN

Tom Parr IV and Marianne Galloway in an old church on the 3600 block of Ross Avenue. The space, which is mainly used as a wedding chapel, will be Risk Theater's new headquarters.

History: Former church at 3605 Ross Ave. has been a wedding chapel in recent years. Risk signed a lease-to-own contract earlier this summer and opened the first of three performance spaces last month.

Performance space: The two main performing areas are going into warehouse-type buildings on the southwest and northeast corners of the property. Risk also plans to use the lovely former sanctuary for comedy and music performances. Other nicely appointed spaces in the main building are being used for the theater's receptions and meetings.

Religious involvement: Part of the complex is still rented to a church group for Sunday services.

Quote: "It's definitely not strange for me to work in a church. I went to Baylor and started off as a religion major," says producing artistic associate Tom Parr IV. "The two have always been very close together in my mind. Our first show we did here has ideas about religion, and the show I'm directing next, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, has spiritual themes, too."

Next show: The Last Days of Judas Iscariot opens Oct. 25.

Info: 214-223-7483; www.risktheinitiative.com.

History: The First Baptist Church of Dallas established the San Jacinto Project as an artistic outreach last year. Performances are in Criswell Center, 1707 San Jacinto St.

Performance space: The CenterStage auditorium, used for praise-style worship services on Sundays, contains a stage that can hide an elaborate set behind a curtain. The audience sits on straight-back chairs with good sightlines for theatrical productions.

Religious involvement: First Baptist supports the theater financially but doesn't dictate programming. The company's last production used only two cast members who are also members of the church.

Quote: "In the Renaissance, the church funded art – and good art," says artistic director David Stanley. "It's the church's connection to the arts community. We use the space for free, and it's the church's chance to do something un-churchy – be a part of the Arts District and connect to the arts community. I've seen enough bad community theater and enough bad church theater, so we're trying to use the best talent available. We don't want to scare people away. We're a theater in a church, but we don't want to be a church in the theater."

Next show: Next show not set yet.

Info: 214-969-7887; www.sanjacintoproject.org.