Acts of Faith

Second Presbyterian Church celebrates six years as the convening sponsor of the Acts of Faith Theater Festival—the largest faith-inspired theatre event in America. This collaboration between the faith community and Richmond’s professional theatre companies will run January 15 through March 21. Joining Second Presbyterian as co-sponsors are Bon Air Presbyterian Church, Congregation Or Ami, First English Lutheran, First Presbyterian Church, St. Bridget’s Catholic Church, St. James’s Episcopal Church, and Tabernacle Baptist Church. 

Over the past five years, the festival has grown in all respects: the number of theatres involved, the number of co-sponsoring faith communities, and the number of people attending plays and participating in discussions. More important, the increased level of energy surrounding the festival has heightened the awareness of Richmond’s diverse theatre community and the idea that theatre can be a starting point for discussions about faith.

The Acts of Faith is a way to bring the community together in a shared discussion about how faith and values shape our public and private life. Using theatre as a vehicle to illuminate the issues and questions, the Festival provides conversations about the arts and faith and encourages unity among our diverse traditions. Throughout the winter, fourteen metropolitan theater companies will offer a selection of plays and will sponsor discussions after many of the performances. These post-performance conversations are intended for audience participation and will include the play director, cast members, and theologians. Discussions will address topics such as why the play was chosen for the festival, how cultural norms and values are portrayed in the play, and how an individual play might impact one’s faith journey. In addition to the talkback sessions at the theatres, co-sponsoring churches and synagogues encourage adult and youth groups to see the plays together and continue the discussions within their own faith communities.