playbill vip

     If you had told me 30 years ago when I was in the dance ensemble in The Music Man at CSCS, performed in Pulpit Rock Church’s sanctuary, that I would be back at CSCS in 2019 directing The Music Man myself, I would not have believed you! It is amazing the plans that the Lord has laid out for me. My journey in the theater has been such a growing experience. I have loved all of the people I have met and the students that I have had the privilege of teaching over the last 20 years.

     But the most life-changing lessons are the ones I have learned about the Lord during my time in the theater. I have learned that He does care about the mundane areas of our lives and answers prayers in ways that are often miraculous. But, more importantly, I have learned that theater is what I do, it’s not who I am. My identity is not in the theater and what I produce there but in Jesus and what he produces through me.

     We can see this theme played out in the story of  The Music Man, where each person has been searching for who they really are. They ultimately find themselves in what they do for others, not what they can get from them. We also see that it often takes someone else's encouragement to show us who we are and what we are capable of and that, as always, music unites us all! Let Jesus show you who you are in Him and all that He can accomplish through you! When we find our delight in Him, He will give us the desires of our heart! (Psalm 37:4)

     Thank you to everyone who has joined me in this huge undertaking in order to take my vision for the show and make it even more beautiful than even I could have imagined, especially to those of you who have put almost as many hours into this show as I have, you know who you are! And thank you to every student who has pushed themselves and has taken risks and has put it all out there to create a beautiful show! And I can't forget my sweet husband and kids who support me every step of the way, I love you! To my seniors, you will be missed and your talents and hearts will never be forgotten! 

     Sit back and enjoy the show! I pray that whatever we do, we will work at it with all of our hearts, as working for the Lord, not for men...it is the Lord Christ we are serving. (Colossians 3:23-24)

In Him and for Him,

Carmen Brown

1994 CSCS alumna 

Director, Music Director and Private Voice Teacher