By Richard L. Gaw
Staff Writer

It is a February weeknight in the Recreation Room at the Cornerstone Church in Bear, and the God’s Power and Light Theater Company’s cast of Children of Eden are being put through their rehearsal paces by director Genevieve Aucoin and her husband and assistant-director Jordan Francis.

The cast is made up of a generous cornucopia of youngsters, teenagers, Gen-Xers, Millennials and a few seasoned veterans who have spent decades in community theater. 

Taken from the Book of Genesis, Children of Eden rings with purpose and rich meaning from its first notes to its last and draws a linear parallel to the modern world by exploring the challenges of free will and living a value-centered life. 

As rehearsal continues, voices echo in the space. The youngest cast members prance on the periphery of the rehearsal stage. Aucoin moves from scene to scene downstage left. Empty cartons of take-out dinners lay on offstage tables, as do coats and cellphones and promotional flyers to promote the upcoming musical. There are no elaborate costumes yet, no audience, and at this moment, it would not be too presumptuous to conjecture that there is absolutely no way that such a diverse group could ever share the same beating heart that is so crucial in a stage production, but here they are, several weeks before they open at the Everett Theatre for a three-show run in early April, finding their way through the first act of the musical in a kind of colloquial harmony.

While the actors struggle for lines and the choreography is still weeks away from perfection, there is a quiet assurance that permeates the room, that gives off the confident feeling that for God’s Power and Light Theater Company, the upcoming production of Children of Eden is not their first rodeo.

Founded in 1988 and with dozens of productions to their name, God’s Power and Light is a family-oriented, Christian-based theater company that provides family entertainment throughout the Middletown community. There are no long and pressure-cooked, cattle call auditions here and no one needs an Actor’s Equity credential; everyone who auditions finds his or place within every cast, and community members welcome to provide backstage assistance with props, lighting, costuming and technical assistance. 

‘Discipline, cooperation and respect’

If there is one goal that every community theater company aspires to, it is to light the fire of inspiration for its youngest members and give them nearly free reign to explore and cultivate their creativity within the parameters of a play or a musical. Often, the results are the precursors of a life in the theater, or at the very least, the incubator for a life that will be blessed with the joys of personal discovery.  

For JoAnne Ernsberger, who has been on the God’s Power & Light board of directors for the past four years and had a role in Children of Eden, seeing a youngster emerge from self-doubt and into self-exploration and personal growth is one of the greatest gifts the company provides.

“This is a community effort that reaches out and brings those without acting experience into the theater fold and provides them with a lot of coaching and the creativity to develop an idea of who their character is before they go on stage,” she said. “When a young actor is assigned a part, they are required to go through the process of determining what their character’s emotions are like and what their thought processes are.

“In turn, it gives them an opportunity to grow as an actor, manage their expectations, govern their emotions, respect their elders, work as a team and grow into their ability to portray a character who is a lot different than they are. Theater teaches them the principles of discipline, cooperation and respect.”

‘This is a creative ministry’

In conjunction with its mission, the company funnels ten percent of its annual income back to the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend community through ticket and program advertising sales, raffles, donations and grants. In past years, the company has contributed to recovery agencies, faith-based organizations and homeless shelters. The company also offers scholarships to its young members, many of whom who later study theater in college and beyond.

“The true magic of this theater company is that we never turn anybody away,” said company President Maureen Hoffman Ernst. “They always get a part, and to watch these kids grow and that what they learned here and go onto college, no matter whether it is acting, lighting or theater production, is truly heartwarming. When we read those scholarship letters, it really touches you how this company has enabled these children to grow and blossom.

“We believe that being good stewards of what God has given us gives us an opportunity to give back to the community and it lets them feel cared for in ways that regular donations do not,” Ernsberger said. “It is kindness on a more personal level. This is a creative ministry.”

‘God and Creativity’

Over its 35-year production run, the company has also given fledgling actors and tech people their introduction to the creative and collaborative energy of a theater production, and several have gone on to pursue the theater arts in high school, college and professionally. 

Often, the casts for God’s Power and Light productions become a family affair.

Children of Eden is Damon Cinaglia’s second production with God’s Power and Light, following his turn as last year in his performance of Sir Lancelot in Cabaret. He’s not the only Cinaglia at tonight’s rehearsal; his son Dante is playing a few roles in the show. 

“I used to do theater when I was young and I still enjoy it, but now, I fully enjoy the family atmosphere here and getting a chance to be on stage with my family,” he said. “In fact, this is a story about family using Biblical themes to tell the story. It’s part of the mission here – to provide an opportunity for families to come together and participate in wholesome entertainment. It also gives us all an opportunity to minister together.” 

Children of Eden actor Malinda Burkins first joined the company last fall for the production of I’ll Be Home for Christmas that drew large audiences for three shows last November at the Everett Theatre. For the second straight show, Burkins will be joined by her daughter, Jean Marie, who premiered with the company last year in a production of Elf: The Musical.

“My family has always been very theatrical, and my parents were always involved in church productions,” she said. “God’s Power and Light brings together two of my very favorite things: God and Creativity. When I see Jean Marie on stage, I am so proud of her that my heart practically explodes inside my chest, because I get to see her shining in her element. 

“God’s Power and Light captures the magic of theater, the moments when a production arrives in bits and snippets. Then, the week before the show, when everything is crazy and hectic, we think, ‘How are we going to pull this off?’ and then opening night happens and we realize that we really have a great show.”

Spencer McDowell, who serves on the company’s board with his wife, was first introduced to God’s Power and Light in 2018, when his wife’s co-worker suggested that the McDowells involve their son, Daniel in a production.

“At the time he was in about the ninth grade, my son was very reserved and hadn’t yet come out of his shell, but Daniel ended up performing in a Christmas show as a member of the ensemble,” McDowell said. “Up to that time, we never knew that he had any kind of theatrical talent, but we also found that everybody was welcoming and accommodating to Daniel.

“This is a fantastic organization that helps young people find their start and their love for theater. People of all kinds of backgrounds come to us, either to begin their life of art or to continue their life of art.”

Ernst said that in her eight years as the President of the theater company, she has come to enjoy a particular moment in every production.

“The youth of this theater company are the ones who form the strongest bonds here,” she said. “After each last performance, we all go out to eat, and the tears of these young people begin to flow because they realize that this was their last show of this production. They will get up in the middle of the restaurant and perform songs from the show. It is amazing to see the love they have for each other. 

“It’s a gift that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”

To learn more about God’s Power and Light Theatre Company, visit www.godspowerandlightco.org. or follow them on Facebook.

To contact Staff Writer Richard L. Gaw, email [email protected].

Past Productions of God’s Power and Light Theater Company

The Little Princess

It’s a Wonderful Life

Bah Humbug!

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

First Noel

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever

Esther

Compassions

Keeping Christmas

One Voice

The Choice

The Gift

Wings

The Witness

The Night the Angels Sang

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Mary Poppins

Three Days

Four Tickets to Christmas

The Sound of Music

Godspell

Narnia

Jane Eyre

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Children of Eden