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Couple Juggles Work, Family, Theater in Duo Ministry
ROSEVILLE, MN (August 3, 2004) - Juggling work and family life is often a
difficult feat, but a pair of Covenanters have thrived in the juggling
act, sharing their performing gifts while enjoying marriage and ministry
together.
Joy Donley and Michael Pearce Donley of Roseville Covenant Church have
been using their dramatic skills for well over a decade. The two are
combining their talents this weekend in Seussical the Musical
written by Stephen Flaherty, Lynn Ahrens and Eric Idle. They have taken
many of Dr. Seuss's stories (including "Horton Hears a Who" and "Horton
Hatches the Egg"), set them to simple, sing-able music and given it all
a baseline, according to Joy, who is directing the play for Front Porch
Theatre while her husband serves as musical director and accompanist.
Along with the Donleys, Roseville Covenant Church teen Grace Schmidt is
one of the cast members in the Fringe Festival production in
Minneapolis. It begins Saturday and runs for five performances before
its close on August 15.
Although Seussical would not be categorized as a Christian play,
Donley believes the lessons of Dr. Seuss stories fit well into her value
system as it pertains to theater. "My mission statement for Front Porch
Theatre says that our shows center upon the human soul reaching for
truth and grasping for hope," Donley says. "I didn't want to pigeonhole
myself into being seen as a 'Christian theatre company'; however, all
the plays I direct have Christian principles and values. Or, they at
least explore enough of life to make one at least ask questions about
their spirituality, and hopefully they will be pointed to Jesus.
"If you are familiar with Dr. Seuss at all, you know about his moral
lessons, which are so profound yet simple," she continued. "He says so
much in his stories - simply, and best of all, imaginatively. 'A
person's a person no matter how small,' says Horton the Elephant. That
simple phrase encompasses Jesus's teachings . . . 'Love your neighbor as
yourself; there is neither slave nor free; whoever welcomes one of these
little children welcomes me.' So whether Mr. Geisel (Dr. Seuss) meant to
or not, he really lays out Christian principles throughout much of his
work."
Drama has been part of the life of the Donleys for many years. The
Donleys met while Joy was a student at Bethel College in St. Paul,
Minnesota, and Mike was working for a local Christian theater company.
They met through mutual friends and eventually became part of the local
theater company. Joy acted and Michael provided musical direction.
After they were married, the Donleys worked together directing youth
group musicals at churches they attended. They did the same thing when
they began attending Roseville Covenant and they have been sharing their
talents in the church's Christmas outreach
production during the past five years. They've also shared in Joy's work
with Front Porch. Two years ago she directed "Thirst," a drama that
retells Jesus's Parable of the Soils, and cast her husband in the play.
Although Mike works part-time with the church coordinating worship
service and leading contemporary worship ensembles, his regular job has
helped him to become even better known - Mike is a co-star and
co-creator of the comedy hit Triple Espresso, which got its start
in 1995. The three performers – including fellow Covenanter Bob
Stromberg and Bill Arnold – have enjoyed long and successful runs in
Minneapolis and
San Diego and have traveled to sites around the world in recent years.
Joy has been busy in her own right with various directing and producing
ventures with Front Porch. Next year, she's planning to direct a show
she wrote entitled "The Jesus Chair," a story about a young girl who
breaks away from her father's faith and finds her own way to God.
The busy performance schedules of both Donleys force them to tag team
childcare for their two children, but they believe the pluses far
outweigh the minuses. And for Mike, the success of the long-running show
is an unexpected bonus. Fifteen years ago Mike had a bout with cancer
that nearly killed him. Given that history, every day the Donleys use
their gifts in tandem is a joyous one.
"We work together really well and really enjoy each other's work," Joy
said. "And it's been energizing to our marriage. It is busy, kind of a
seesaw (schedule). Doing theatre is a night thing, and if you both are
doing it, what do you do with the children? So, you
have to take some turns. We feel so blessed by Triple Espresso
because he (Mike) is making a living doing what he loves. And because of
that, I can do the Fringe Festival and more theatre and employ other actors.
"We realize - because of our history facing Mike's life-or-death
situation - when something happens that is good, and we feel like we are
climbing the ladder, it is so fragile and can be gone like that," she
continued. "That's not being fatalistic, but being realistic. If we
approach success with that attitude, it helps keep us centered."
The Minnesota Fringe Festival performances of Seussical take
place at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet & Mask Theatre, 1500 East Lake
St, Minneapolis. Performance dates and times are Saturday at 4:00 p.m.,
Sunday at 1:00 p.m., August 13 at 7:00 p.m., August 14 at 1:00 p.m. and
August 15 at 2:30 p.m.
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