the full review - The 5 Dragon Daughter

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KILGORE NEWS HERALD
SATURDAY,
JANUARY 21, 2012
LIFESTYLES
INSIDE
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SECTION B
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retelling
the greatest story
The beginning of the story is familiar,
one of the oldest.
A great ruler builds a shining, mighty
kingdom. He lavishly provides for his
cherished subjects but is betrayed by the
one he loves most dearly.
Unable to pass a death sentence, the
just king sends the traitor into everlasting
exile. Heartbroken, the king departs,
promising to return in time. He leaves
his own son behind, tasked with someday
restoring the condemned one and,
ultimately, the kingdom.
l
t is, simply, a love story – "A love story is a good place
to start, for any story," according to Matt Black.
A little more than a year ago, the 20-year-old was living in Houston, writing songs, planning to record a
new album. As the music took shape, he tried to find a
unifying theme to tie the collection together into one,
powerful story.
"As I started thinking about what you could do, and
what I'm inspired by and what love story I'm most inspired by, the Gospel came out of that," Black explained.
The project ultimately became The Five Dragon
Daughter, a blend of music, narration, illustration,
puppetry and dance. An allegorical retelling of the
Gospel, the story is set in an imagined oriental land –
God is the mighty King, Christ his Son. The Daughter
– whose wicked father, representing Satan, tempts her
into betrayal – is Black's symbol for all of humanity,
separated from God by sin.
Upon finding the Daughter, the Son falls in love with
her, vowing to rescue her from her punishment.
To do so, he must journey to the ends of the
earth to find the great dragons of the
east, west, north and south, pleading
for the right to save and marry the
fallen Daughter.
"The story just started basically
with the fall and how you could
portray that in a love story,
through Christ's redemption,"
Black said. "The story came as a
fairy tale. From that, you think of
other ways to just portray things that
are on your heart."
On his journey the Son encounters a
number of other characters, each representing a different facet of the salvation message or
of humanity: a faithful steward; a loyal farmer,
protecting the King's fields; feral orphans,
abandoned by the world; an engineer, wasting
his life and energy in a vain pursuit; or the
Son's own trials of temptation, patience and,
finally, sacrifice.
BY JAMES
DRAPER
NEWS HERALD photos by AARON MAY
ARTWORK courtesy of MATT BLACK
l
t gets the Gospel story out there in a
way I don't think has ever been done
before. I think it reaches a new audience," explains Dana Huber, who
plays cello in the production, one of
eight musicians taking part.
Moving from Houston to
Longview in December 2010, Black
enlisted the help of his elder brother,
Dan, to recruit other local musicians for
the project. Gathering with the others for
the first time one year ago, Black provided
them each with a rough-cut CD of the 12
songs in the show.
"Which is really rare," Dan Black said.
"Usually when someone creates something they're more protective of it. It was
clear to the band members, you weren't
just performing – Matt wanted help in
creating it."
Some of the songs changed; some
didn't. During four months of weekly
practice sessions in spring 2011, the
production evolved, each artist adding
his or her own influence.
There is a wide range of music involved,
from tender ballads to folk rock, bluegrass,
See FIVE DRAGON DAUGHTER, Page 8B
(From top) Matt Black collaborated with other
local musicians on his original idea for The Five
Dragon Daughter, combining multiple mediums
and talents to retell the Gospel message.
The Son (Chris) of the great King (God) comforts
the Daughter (the Church) who was condemned
to eternal exile after her sin against the father.
Ethan Herring, of Kilgore, plays keyboard
during a performance of The Five Dragon
Daughter at Crossroads Community Church.
LeTourneau University’s Belcher Center will host
a free show at 7 p.m. Monday.
CHITCHAT CORNER
LINDA K. BALLARD
The doors of opportunity
“So, many doors of opportunity
has opened for me,” said Peyton
Head. “But, it began with prayer.
I prayed the year 2011 would be
different for me and that I would
become bold in my faith. The
next day, a woman in my church,
who had heard me sing, called and
asked me to compete in the Miss
East Texas Teen Competition held
in Tatum…and I won! I knew as
fast as things were happening, that
it was God’s work in my behalf.
“From there, amazing opportunities opened and I have received
many offers of things career-wise
including modeling after graduation,” she said. At the moment,
Peyton is considering attending
Texas Christian University.
Eighteen-year-old Peyton is a
senior at Kilgore High School
where she is in the top of her
class. She also works part-time at
Twin Oaks Restaurant where you
can see her happily interacting
with the customers. She has recently returned from a mission
trip to the Louisiana State Penitentiary where she helped minister
to the inmates.
This summer she is planning on
becoming an International Church
Camp Counselor through which
she will have the opportunity to
travel to Israel and Peru. “I believe that will be a life changing
experience,” said Peyton. “But,
because of the turmoil in Israel
right now, my parents are very
concerned about me going. I understand that, so I am praying the
See CHITCHAT, Page 2B
KILGORE NEWS HERALD ◆ PAGE 8B
LIFESTYLES
SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012
‘The Five Dragon Daughter’ presents
Gospel message in multiple mediums
cians on stage and images on
the screen are accompanied
reggae, hard rock, hip-hop at times by dancers interpreting one song or perand traditional worship.
"It's an interesting combi- forming Tai Chi to another,
nation," says lead guitarist by a dozen children running
David Wolff. "Anybody that wild as the Wu-Tang Orcomes to the show, I think phans, by a seven-foot tall
there's something for almost puppet – eyes blazing – stageverybody. You will not be gering wildly as the Engineer
bored. The music just goes or by the treacherous Monthrough so many different key King stamping madly
around the stage.
movements.
Each of the initial six per"Hopefully the music conveys more of the emotion and formances of The Five Draggives the story more power, it on Daughter has also inhelps people to be able to re- cluded an array of paintings
and sculptures ilmember. The lyrics,
as part of those Principal Cast/Crew lustrating various
scenes,
consongs, are packed
MATT BLACK
tributed by the
with meaning."
Vocals, Guitar, Keys
show's cast, crew
But the songs
DAN BLACK
and other artists.
are just one aspect
Drums
All the different
of the entire show
PETER BLOSSER
elements provided
– Black said he reSound
a separate avenue
alized very quickly
for a person to apthat telling the full
SARA CASTILLO
proach the core of
story
required
Violin
the show's mesmuch more than
ETHAN HERRING
sage, Huber said.
melodies, lyrics
Keys
"That typical
and narration.
JESSE HERRING
image of a BibleMore than 425
Bass
beating, shouting
hand-sketched ilDANA HUBER
preacher
just
lustrations accomCello, Keys
doesn't cut it
pany the soundtrack. Each draw- ASHLEY SHERIDAN anymore," she explained. Rather,
ing began in pencil,
Female Vocals
illustrating the
was colored in PhoKURT THOMAS
Gospel message
toshop then aniTechnician
through various
mated. Projected
DAVID WOLFF
art forms makes
back-to-back, the
Lead Guitar, Vocals
it more accessible
slides fill almost the
entirety of the two-hour show, to a wider audience,
churched and unchurched.
expanding the tale.
Other artists have also col- "It's such good music, and
laborated on the production, it's such a good story, and
lending their talents in a va- the art is so good, you're
riety of mediums. The musi- drawn back to it again and
Continued from Page 1B
Taking the form of a crane, one of the dragons
challenges the Son, tempting him in the
manner of Christ’s temptation in the desert.
again. I think that causes it
to really grow inside of the
person and allows them a
longer time to think about it
and what it means to them.
"It stays with you – that's
important because it's a
message that we're wanting
to stay. We want people to
think about it. We want
them to process it. We want
it to affect them for more
than just the two hours
they're sitting there."
According to Wolff, the
production's
underlying
foundation and the common goal of all those involved, on-stage and behind-the-scenes, is reaching
people with the Gospel.
For those already familiar
with the Christian narrative,
each chapter is a mini-allegory they will relate to, cementing their understanding of
Christ's love for humanity.
"For the church person who
knows all of the lingo and has
heard it before, it makes it
fresh, and it evokes emotion
and hopefully causes them to
want to evaluate how they react to Christ and how they see
his rescue of them. I know it
does for me," he said.
The unchurched will be
entertained, Wolff said, but
more importantly, a seed
will be planted.
"It portrays the Gospel in
an accessible manner to people of our generation and our
time in a medium and a format that is very creative and
very fresh. It's not just a rock
concert, it's not just someone
reading you a story, it's not
just a dance, but it all works
together to make kind of a
living story in front of you."
The next performance of
The Five Dragon Daughter
is set for 7 p.m. Monday at
LeTourneau University's
S.E. Belcher Jr. Chapel and
Performing Arts Center.
Though tickets to previous performances of the
show have sold for $5 to $7,
the Jan. 23 is free to students
and the general public, part
of the school's Missions Emphasis Week.
"We try to do something
on the Monday of Missions
Emphasis Week which is
artistic, like a concert or a
NEWS HERALD photos by AARON MAY
Ashley Sheridan lends her voice to the character of the Daughter and
other roles in The Five Dragon Daughter.
drama or a movie or some- including LeTourneau stuthing that has a good solid dents from across the counmessage but doesn't have to try and world. With people
necessarily be as missions-ori- of all ages, children and
ented but something different adults, participating in the
and unusual," LeTourneau show itself, Carl looks forUniversity Chaplain Harold ward to an equally diverse
Carl explained. "Five Dragon and, audience Monday.
Whatever their backDaughter is that. It's just a
great allegorical telling of the ground, he said, audience
gospel. I think most of us members can focus on just
over here have seen it and re- one or several of the producally like it, and we want to tion's features and find somemake sure students have a thing to both enjoy and to be
touched by.
chance to see it as well."
"It's a multi-sensory expeThe production has sold
out several of the perform- rience that uses music and
visuals and art and
ances at Crossroads
For more
narrative to tell a story
Community Church
on
of grace and redempin Longview, where information
The Five
Dragon
tion in a completely
Dan Black is youth
Daughter
different way," he
minister. Of the 250
said. "I think one of
to 300 audience
the things I'm immembers at each
pressed with about
show, Dan said he's
the thing is the depth
been most impressed
of the writing and
to see half or twosnap the
or visit
composition, both the
thirds made up of CODeZ
www.the5dragon
music of it and the
first-time viewers.
daughter.com
storyline. I just think
"That's one of the
main reasons we kept wanting there's a depth to this story
to do it," he explained. Origi- that I don't see in a lot of
nally, the performers planned other productions.
"We're just excited to have
only the first show in June.
"We kept doing shows be- it here. I personally think
cause the shows we did would this is a show that a profesbe full. As long as people want sional Christian production
to see it, we'll do it, because company ought to pick up
we believe in the story and be- and promote. I hope that
eventually is what happens
lieve in the message of it."
With a capacity of more to the thing – I think it
than 2,000, the Belcher could be a pretty amazing
Center offers the potential traveling show."
of a much-larger audience,
Looking back at the
months spent developing
The Five Dragon Daughter
and the first series of performances, Matt Black sees a
common theme – finding
inspiration in art and using
art to inspire others, reaching them with the Gospel.
The project began with
music. A glimpse at a piece
of art online – two pairs of
eyes, male and female,
drawn in an oriental style –
planted the seed of the tale
after the love story of the
Gospel laid its foundation.
Every medium that followed
– singing, drawing, dancing,
painting, sculpting – provid-
COMING NEXT WEEK!
ed, for him, another voice to
share the salvation message.
"Art can speak to people
in a lot of ways," he explained. "I feel a lot of art is
used destructively and not
constructively. It's exciting
to me when I see art used in
a constructive way, for the
advancement of the Gospel
and things like that. That's
something that we as a
group are passionate about."
It's not enough for Christian artists to compete with
the secular world, Black insists. There are so many voices
spouting contrary truths, and
Christian creativity, he says, is
often suppressed.
But, as in other parts of
life, Christian artists must
choose to lead, not follow.
"Make great art. You don't
even have to compare yourself to what secular art is doing," he said. "Follow
Christ, and he'll direct your
art, and it will be better
"God will make that powerful. He'll make that art
substantial."
Though secular art prevails, Huber agreed, it's not
a choice of being a Christian
or being creative.
"You can paint a picture.
You can express yourself.
You can express your love for
God, for the relationship
you have with Him, through
these different ways."
For Dan Black, The Five
Dragon Daughter seems less
and less like something Matt,
himself and the other members of the group have created.
"It's almost like we stumbled across what it's become
in the process. That's almost
a beautiful thing in itself.
God loves creativity."
WHAT:
The Five Dragon Daughter
WHEN:
7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 23
WHERE:
LeTourneau University
Belcher Center
COST:
Free to All
Musician David Wolff says it is an enjoyable
challenge to perform the wide variety of musical
styles that make up The Five Dragon Daughter.