CrossWise Players History

CrossWise Players History

The CrossWise Players were organized by Leon McWhorter as a ministry of the Fine Arts department of the Tyler Street United Methodist Church in Dallas Texas.

Catacombs by Paul McClusker- 1997

Snapshots and Portraits by Paul McClusker- 1997

Stained, The Ministry of Christ in Stained Glass, by Alan Elliott and Leon McWhorter - March, 1998

The original production of Stained was presented at the Tyler Street UMC in March, 1998. "Stained follows three generations of a family as they discover God’s presence in the triumphs and tragedies of life," says director and co-author McWhorter. "Each episode in the family’s life relates to one of eight historic stained glass windows that were designed by artist Roger Macintosh in 1925. People and places in Dallas history from 1900 to the present are weaved into this story of life, romance, and faith."

Stained’s co-author, Alan Elliott, is also a native Dallasite who currently resides in Cedar Hill. He is also an author of 15 books and serves on the faculty of the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

In addition to the 25 actors in the CrossWise troupe, the Stained production featured accomplished soloists, a select vocal ensemble and special music from a pipe organ that is almost twice as large as the Lay Family Concert Organ at the Meyerson. Special stages were constructed and extensive rewiring of the Tyler Street Sanctuary was performed to allow the stained glass windows to be individually lit at critical moments during the play.

In addition to the play, an historical display titled "100 years in Oak Cliff" was presented each night before the performance in Yeats Hall at the Tyler Street Church. This display contained numerous historic pictures and artifacts from Dallas and Oak Cliff history.

All of the proceeds from the play benefited mission ministries of the Tyler Street Church, including a food and clothing bank and a North Texas ranch for troubled boys.

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The Vision by William Grandgeorge - Nov-Dec, 1998

The CrossWise Players’s production of The Vision by William Grandgeorge was presented in a four-day North Texas Christmas mini-tour in November and December, 1998. This classic Christmas drama tells the story of a cobbler in old Bavaria who sees a vision that Christ will visit him in his shop on Christmas Eve. The production is full of the sights and sounds of a "European Christmas" including carols performed by The Sounding Joy.

The play premiered on November 27 and 28 in the Anderson Hall Theater at the Tyler Street United Methodist Church, 927 West Tenth Street, Dallas, in the historic Winnetka Heights district. It was then be presented on Saturday December 5 at the Westview United Methodist Church in Greenville and on Saturday December 12 at the First Methodist Church in Cedar Hill.

"This heartwarming Christmas classic is the perfect way to begin the Christmas season. It is a play that will be enjoyed by the entire family," says director Leon McWhorter.

Caroling before and during the production was provided by The Sounding Joy, a community Christmas choir in its 26^th season.