Spirit in the House » Dropped On My Head

Dropped On My Head

Dean J. Seal

This is a film of a live show shot ten years ago at the Bryant-Lake Bowl. The story of a commercial shoot gone wrong, the damage done, and spiritual recovery.

Cast:

Dean J. Seal is Artistic Director of Spirit Inthe House! He co-founded the Spiritual Fringe with Mary Woolover Shaffer and Chris Kliesan Wehrman. Attendance in 2005 was 1,600, and in 2006 it was 1800. After the Fringe decided not to include it, Seal moved it to Augsburg and called it Manna Fest. Attendance was 2200. After Augsburg lost interest in it, Seal moved it to Hennepin Methodist, where he had worked happily in other theatrical venues with the church.

The idea was born in his book, Church & Stage, which is about how any church can expand its mission by utilizing theater. (Get it on Amazon.) Seal teaches Religion and Interfaith Dialogue at Augsburg College as an Adjunct. He also does church drama at Westminster Church and at Northeast Community Lutheran Church. His Christmas Mummer’s play The Three Wise Men and One Wise Guy has played at a church every year for the last four years. He is the former Executive Director of the MN Fringe, which became the largest Fringe in the US on his watch (4400 to 30,000 in four years flat).

He writes about spiritual art and performance for mnartists.org, which is a website sponsored by the Walker Art Center. Seal is also an Artist in Residence at Interact Center, where he consults with artists about utilizing their spirituality in their work.

Seal was a two time Associate at the Playwrights’ Center; has written in broadcast for Comedy Central (nee’ Channel), HBO, MTV, A Prairie Home Companion, WCCO-AM, and others. His favorite job was the year he spent as a hospital chaplain. He is applying for a Validated Ministry Ordination with the Presbyterian Church USA.

Schedule:

Saturday May 24, 2008, 3:00 PM
Sunday May 25, 2008, 3:00 PM
Tuesday May 27, 2008, 7:30 PM
Thursday May 29, 2008, 5:30 PM
Friday May 30, 2008, 7:00 PM
Saturday May 31, 2008, 1:00 PM
Sunday June 1, 2008, 7:00 PM

Full Schedule of Movies

Press Reviews

“(Seal is) the rare comedian who is actually funny…Seal’s masterful writing, intense personality, harrowing story and big heart make him one of the best storytellers I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing.”
-Amanda Ferguson, City Pages

“There is plenty of humor, anger and wisdom in Seal’s story… an intelligent and heartwarming piece of work.”
-Peter Vaughn, Star Tribune

“It’s a MUST SEE…one of the most honest pieces of theater I’ve ever seen. Unavoidably beautiful. It does to your should what rain does to the color of a fern.”
-Chris Kliesan, America Online

“An incredible storyteller! Dean J. Seal is Virgil, only way funnier!”
-Kevin Kling, of National Public Radio

“(It) weaves Seal’s wry comic sensibility with a seriously life-affirming philosophy. Terrifying as it must have been, Seal’s first “and last” gig as a TV commercial actor makes for a wild story. Seal’s personable, funny tale-spinning style has been acclaimed throughout the Twin Cities.”
-Carolyn Petrie, Skyway News

“If there ever was an instance of courage in local comedy, this is it.”
-Tad Simons, Twin Cities Reader