Multnomah's Introduction to Drama class will present a dessert theater on May 7
and 8. The cast of eight will perform "Trial by Error" (or "Drama in Dust Valley"), a melodrama set in the Old West. The 90-minute play will be performed in two acts with a 15-minute intermission between acts. The students will perform the play in the Student Commons at a small charge.

The class instructor, Shawna Reed, described the show as a hilarious performance, full of surprises, that the audience "will get involved in." Reed will direct and play several roles in the production. Reed majored in drama in college and spent eight years as drama director at Northridge Community Church. This is Reed's first year instructing Multnomah students.

Senior Andy Gurevich who plays "Hangin' Judge Parkins" described the show as "a hilarious composite of every under-developed stereotype in existence."

The cast of eight will construct its own set for the production. Stage craft is one of several theater skills the class is focusing on this semester.

According to Reed, students participating in the class learn the basics of theater, including theater history, acting, directing, stage craft and make-up. "My goal is that after taking this class students have enough knowledge to start a drama ministry," Reed said. "Drama can be an incredible tool in the church."

The Introduction to Drama class meets on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons to study theater and rehearse the play. The experience of the cast varies. Some students participated in drama in high school and college; others have no past experience. Reed said the students have greatly improved their acting skills through acting exercises and theater games.

The introduction to drama students are John Baima, Chris Chambers, Kristin Elder, Andy Gurevich, Rochelle Potter, Derek Sandbeck and Sonny Varela.

--by Suzanne Hadley

Classes will be canceled April 14 so that MBC students can cover a 3/4-mile radius around school, cleaning, pruning, painting, mowing and doing other tasks free of charge to show community support.

The Multnomah Community Out-reach Team (MCO) is organizing the spring outreach called "Project Samaritan." Students will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Central Bible Church, form teams and then disperse to work until noon.

Students are invited to an all-school barbecue at the A-Frame after they return from their ministry. There will be no charge for the lunch. Items on the menu include chicken, hamburgers, potato salad, chips and soda.

MCO has sold about 30 "Project Samaritan" T-shirts with 2 Corinthians 4:7 on the back for $5 at the campus bookstore.

A plant sale will be held on April 11 in the gym parking lot from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Crisis Pregnancy Center and Christian Women Against Crime.

A prayer night on the 12th is also being considered by MCO.

On the 13th, Chris Green will give a message in a special cha-pel that will focus on "Project Samaritan." Green and Amber Beverly will be recognized for their work with MCO.

The student-led ministry founded in 1996 by Green and Beverly is to create individual student ownership of ministry to the community.

Green stepped down as chairman in January. Ted Highhouse accepted the position, and the vice chairman is Brian Heath.

MCO consists of several teams. The outreach team led by Dave Pettersen is involved in door-to-door ministry.

The athletics outreach, which includes basketball, soccer and rugby, is led by Tiffany Ferderer. Ferderer oversees the basketball, Chris Green handles soccer, and Jon Bryant started the rugby team.

MCO also runs a children's ministry called "The Homework Club," led by Beverly two afternoons a week in the A-Frame. There, children from the community receive tutoring in academics within a Christ-centered atmosphere.

--by Sue McArthur