UMC Pastor Produces Plays

From the Capital Gazette:

Pastor Kyle Durbin describes the set of "Where Your Treasure Is," a family play he wrote 

and is producing this weekend at Centenary United Methodist Church in Shady Side. 

The Church is home to the newly created Shady Side Theater, where Pastor Durbin 

will produce several family-oriented plays and musicals each year. 

(By y Jerri Anne Hopkins / Correspondent)

Growing up in Davidsonville United Methodist Church, he knew from early childhood that he would likely be a pastor. What he didn't know until high school was that he was also destined for the theater.

"I was doing soccer and wrestling and jock stuff," Pastor Kyle Durbin said. "In my junior year, I went to my coach and said, 'I can't be on the team any more. I'm doing the play and I was cast as a drag queen.' Which was probably was one of the more unusual ways someone has dropped off a soccer team in high school."

After high school, Durbin attended the University of Maryland, College Park and earned a bachelor's in Theater. He then attended Wesley Theological Seminary and earned his Master of Divinity. He is currently working toward his D.Min (Arts and Theology) degree at Wesley.

Once he earned his M. Div., he returned to Davidsonville UMC as assistant pastor. There, he served as the founder and artistic director of Cornerstone Theater for eight years.

Last year, Durbin was assigned as Senior Pastor at Centenary UMC in Shady Side. Here he has begun a new chapter in his theater career, founding the Shady Side Theater at the church. He has already produced two plays and this weekend will present "Where Your Treasure Is,' a play he wrote. The cast of 24 includes small children up to senior citizens, all local talent. The show revolves around a chaotic family Thanksgiving dinner and includes a little mystery and a lot of fun.

Performances will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church, 6248 Shady Side Road in Shady Side, and are scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 with dinner included and served at 6 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. service. There is a special matinee performance on Sunday at 2 p.m. for $15, with light refreshments provided. Call 410-867-3085 or emailshadysidetheatre@gmail.com to make reservations. Proceeds benefit future performances of Shady Side Theatre and the ministries of Centenary UMC.

Pastor Durbin said Shady Side Theatre is an inclusive, all-ages, family ministry serving South County. "You don't have to go to our church to be in the theater company; you don't have to be a Christian to be in the theater company; you just have to like theater," he said. "The whole point is that it's always a family show. The company is hosted and sponsored by the church, but it's really for the whole community."