Christian Drama School of NJ

01/17/2026

Hour 6 into our 24 Hour Charity Dance Marathon Fundraiser! Students and staff of the Christian Drama School are dancing for 24 hours. 50% supports the ministries of the Christian Drama School. 50% supports our partners schools in Uganda, Africa through the Heart for People Foundation. If you feel led to donate, you can do so by cash or check, or though Venmo to Heart for People with the subject title “24 Hour Charity Dance Marathon.” 100% to God!

12/17/2025

Join us this weekend to celebrate Christmas through the story of “EBENEZER”, based on “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens! Students and staff have been working tirelessly since September to bring this story to life. Invite your friends, family, and everyone you know to see this classic story with a twist!

Shows will be Saturday (12/20) at 6pm and Sunday (12/21) at 3 pm. Tickets can be purchased in advanced or at the door. See the flyer for more information.

We hope to see you there!

09/16/2025

Join us for our winter production of “EBENEZER” 2025, based on “A Christmas Carol.” Classes begin this week and we are still accepting new students! All are welcome.

07/10/2025

Day 3 of “God’s Flood” Summer Drama Camp! Today’s theme was “The Flood - Trust God will protect you when the storms of life hit you.” Campers learned how to put Proverbs 3:5-6 into action. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge God, and God will make your path straight.” To learn how Noah trusted God, the campers learned how Noah and his family were rescued by God. In addition to practicing the dances they have already learned this week, they also learned a dance to “Fierce” by the band Jesus Culture. They also played water games centered around trusting God, and painted part of their costumes. Campers and staff have been working hard to prepare for Friday and to bring this story to life. We hope you can join us!

07/09/2025

Day 2 of “God’s Flood” Summer Drama Camp! Today’s theme was “Building + Boarding. Students learned how Noah followed God’s instructions faithfully. Children divided into teams and even made their own arks out of LEGO blocks, following the instruction that everyone needed to be able to fit into the boat! They also learned dances to “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” and “Build A Boat” by Colton Dixon - in addition to practicing the dances they learned on Monday. We can’t wait for Day 3!

07/08/2025

Students and staff and an amazing start to our camp week! This summer’s camp is “God’s Flood” - based on the story of Noah’s Ark. On Day 1, students were introduced to the story of Noah’s Ark, learned many new dances (including the infamous dances to “The Unicorn” song and “Flood”), and they learned to always listen for God’s call. Join us this Friday at 7 pm at the Presbyterian Church of Morris Plains, and see how students bring this story to life in just 5 days!

05/14/2025

Celebrate with us THIS WEEKEND as we celebrate the Christian Drama School’s 25th Anniversary! A small but mighty cast works miracles as they present, “I See You.” This original play, written by Rev. Kim Padfield Urbanik, tells the often untold story of Anne Sullivan, and how her and Helen Keller’s experiences led to their lifelong journey with one another. The performances of “I See You” will be at Morris Knolls High School this Saturday (5/17) at 6:00 p.m. and Sunday (5/18) at 3:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there!

03/30/2025

Happy 25th Anniversary!! This year is the 25 anniversary of the Christian Drama School leading an annual Good Friday service and Cross Carry! SEE and SHARE the attached flyer for Good Froday Cross Carry on April 18, 2025.

This year, we will be leading worship at The Presbyterian Church of Morris Plains and carrying the cross through Morris Plains. Attached you will alsoo see a flyer for our NEW CROSS CARRY ROUTE for our 25th YEAR - which was approved by Morris Plains Police Department on Friday, March 28. We will do 2 laps of this route on sidewalks starting and ending at the Presbyterian Church of Morris Plains. Joey Martella will be Jesus.

Please inform everyone you know to join! We also need experienced CDS students and grads who are willing to wear Bible costumes and help carry the cross! We need parents and families to attend our unique worship services on Good Friday morning and evening at the Presbyterian Church in Morris Plains - and then follow the cross.

12/02/2024

Dearest Christian Drama School Friends, Families, Churches, and Students of the past, present, and future, I love you and this play that reminds me of many good times as we approach 25 years of Christian Drama School! Please share this invitation with all the CDS and church folks I cannot reach.

Please join us at Morris Knolls High School for Christian Drama School's FAMOUSLY FUN and original play which includes Sneetches on the Beaches, King Yertle and his Turtles, the Whoville Housewives, the North and South Going Zax, the famous Whoville Chefs, Cat in the Hat, Dr. Seuss, and baby Jesus.

This play has not been performed since 2011 when Katie Harrs was the Grinch and Catherine Baresh was Little Cindy-Lou Who. This time, Maddie Harmon is the Grinch and Margaret Rizos is Little Cindy-Lou Who. Our cast will be doing amazing costume changes and CDS classisc dances like "You're A Mean One Mister Grinch." (See article in last pdf)

Please share these flyers (portrait and landscape and article) with all your friends, neighbors, and former CDS students and graduates. We need everyone to come out in December - ALMOST THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. We need the donations and also lots of helpers to load 2 trucks, move platforms, costumes, scenery, and ramps for the sleigh. Contact me, Bob, Mark, or Emma if you are willing to help or want info. Contact Deb DiGiovanna for tickets in advance or go to cdsnj.booktix.com (not yet active).

Hoping to see you again soon!
Much love to all,
Rev. Kim

05/10/2024

Dear CDS families and Heart for People Supporters!

You're invited to come and see the true story of "Uncle Segawa" to be presented by the Christian Drama School of New Jersey on Saturday, May 18th at 6pm and Sunday, May 19th at 3pm (the weekend after Mother's Day this year). Join us in Segawa's journey and our story together since 2008. "There is no me, without you!"

Please invite everyone you know! Maybe you're a CDS graduate who can appreciate that we have a small cast - doing amazing costume changes!

Come ... to celebrate Segawa and thousands of students and people in Uganda, Africa!

Come ... to see what God can do when all seems lost!

Come ... to re-connect with CDS performers from three previous plays about our journey to Uganda including: According to Africa, (2009), Heart for Uganda (2012), and Mama Uganda (2016).

If nothing else, come to see our determined cast and their amazing costume changes!

Warning ... some parts of this play could frighten little children. Feel free to stop by the Morris Plains Presbyterian Church after school if you want your small one to get an explanation and personal tour of our scary stage props - so they won't be afraid.

GET TICKETS: You can email Deb DiGiovanna
[email protected] with your order for BookTix today if you want. BookTix is not set up yet.

PLEASE SHARE these SHOW FLYERS! Please help us - help Uganda! Invite everyone you know! Segawa Ephraim says the greatest thing we can do is to tell others about Uganda. Segawa says, "We need you to be our spokesperson."

05/07/2024

05/07/2024