Exeter, NH (April 30, 2007)—On Sunday, May 6, and Monday, May 7, veteran TV and film actor, Frank Runyeon will perform one-man spiritual productions entitled, Signs and Sermon on the Mount, and Hollywood v. Faith at 7:00 p.m. inside Phillips Church. Phillips Church is located on the campus of Phillips Exeter Academy, on the corner of Tan Lane and Front Street. Runyeon will also give a dramatic address, “The Great American Treasure Hunt,” at the student assembly on the morning of May 7. Only the evening performances are free and open to the public.

Signs is the actor’s own translation from the original Greek version of the Gospel of John, regarded as a book of signs. The production is presented with raw text, and promotes a central tension between rural believers and urban skeptics. Visually, it uses darkness, candlelight and shadows to evoke themes of belief and doubt amongst such artifacts from the ancient temple of Jerusalem as the altar of sacrifice, the book of Torah and the ritual water.

Sermon on the Mount is presented in a new setting, designed to have the audience receive it openly, as Runyeon speaks directly and personally to the audience. In Hollywood v. Faith, the audience is urged to think about the media, not just accept it wholeheartedly; to watch television “inside-out,” recognizing the subtle impact of commercial sponsorship; and the real reasons for sex and violence in the media. Runyeon’s desire to tell the truth in storytelling, not censorship, offers a fresh perspective on the media. The actor supposes, for example, that all Americans live between two major stories: Scripture, which is at the root of the nation; and Hollywood, which addresses the cultural context people live in and the voices that are allowed to influence their lives.

Runyeon starred opposite Meg Ryan on “As the World Turns” in the 1980s, as well as on “Santa Barbara,” “Falcon Crest,” “General Hospital,” “L.A. Law” and “Melrose Place.” He also starred in the feature film, Sudden Death. 

He received his Bachelor’s degree from Princeton University; pursued graduate studies at Yale Divinity; and received his Master’s degree, with honors, from the General Theological Seminary in New York City. He is now pursuing his doctorate in Biblical Studies. 

For more information, contact religion department chair, Kathleen Brownback at 603-777-4331. A complete list of upcoming events is available on the Phillips Exeter Academy public events line at (603) 777-4309 and on our website at http://www.exeter.edu/news_and_events/news_events.aspx. For directions to Phillips Exeter Academy, call (603) 777-4330.

Phillips Exeter Academy is a coeducational, independent preparatory school that was founded in 1781 and originated the system of instruction known as Harkness teaching in 1931. In the spirit of its charter to foster both goodness and knowledge, students come from a wide variety of geographic, economic, racial and religious backgrounds. The diverse student body comes from approximately 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and 26 foreign countries.