Behind the Scenes of FPA's Campus Initiative
Just prior to curtain of C.S. Lewis On Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert Feb. 23, 2020, Anheuser-Busch Performance Hall, Touhill Performing Arts Center, St. Louis
We desire to put a ‘vision of God’s Kingdom’ before students,” said Fitz Green, Director at the Center for Christian Study at the University of Virginia. “That’s why we were so glad to partner with FPA to host their play C.S. Lewis on Stage: The Most Reluctant Convert.”
At UVA, FPA worked with the Center to fill up the most prestigious performing arts venue in the college town of Charlottesville that dates back to the founding of our country. Students were encouraged to bring friends who wouldn’t otherwise go to a faith-based event.
“We packed out The Paramount Theater,” Fitz said. “As for the main event, Max McLean plays a wonderful Lewis: sharp, witty, joyful, larger than life. It was great to bring 500-plus students (not to mention another 500-plus community folks) from eight different fellowship groups along with friends they’d invited. A volunteer usher said, ‘I’ve never seen so many college students here!’”
The evening had an impact on many in attendance.
“One student said, ‘I thought I’d be bored,’” Fitz said. “‘But I got so wrapped up in the performance, the play was over before I knew it.’”
After the event, Fitz arranged dinner with Max and a group grad students.
“We talked about Lewis, theatre and my journey of art and faith,” Max said. “Really enjoyed interacting with these sharp young minds.”
The UVA performance is one of many events that FPA is doing on campuses such as UC-Berkeley, Princeton, Penn, Northwestern, UNC Chapel Hill and many more.
Campus productions often include small gatherings of students with Max like this post-show dinner at UVA.
“FPA works with several student organizations well in advance to provide an exciting, engaging, entertaining evening of theatre on campus,” said University Tour and Outreach Coordinator Courtney Menking. “The UVA event was two years in the making.”
We couldn’t do any of this without the generosity of our Fellowship Circle of supporters. Thank you for making possible theatre from a Christian worldview on campuses everywhere.