Ted Swartz and Trent Wagler, with director Ingrid De Sanctis, have created a new play with music, What Would Lloyd Do? to be presented at Hesston Mennonite Church at 7 p.m., Sunday, March 22. The play contains great original music, lots of humor, and important themes of disappointment and disillusionment, faith, and hope, within the context of a church and a radio program.

The performance is sponsored by Hesston College, Hesston Mennonite Church, and South Central Mennonite Conference.

What Would Lloyd Do? tells the story of Mike Webber, a struggling inner city church pastor (Ted), who recruits a new music director, Jeff Nelson (Trent). Coming from different generations, the two discover conflict and commonality. Well, some commonality. They find themselves in charge of a tired radio show that must be broadcast each Sunday morning in a church where no one attends.

Pastor Webber also struggles relating to his teenage children and his wife, and finding reason to go on as a pastor. Things come to a head when Jeff begins asking questions and pushing for answers. The resulting changes in the radio program, in the church, and in Pastor Webber give audiences lots to laugh about, and even more to think about. The show includes a radio show engineer, Doug, played by Jay Lapp, and a choir comprised of a number of Hesston College Bel Canto Singers.

Ted Swartz has been searching for and experimenting with the intersection between humor and faith ever since his seminary days—when he thought his search would lead to a pastorate. Instead, his journey led him to creating and performing dramatic plays, the first 20 years with Lee Eshleman. Since Lee’s death in May 2007, Ted has been writing and performing new plays with a number of other artists. Ted lives in Harrisonburg, Va.

Trent Wagler is a freelance actor and musician. He has recorded three full-length albums with his band, Trent Wagler and the Steel Wheels, or in duo performances with Jay Lapp. Trent works at a sexual assault crisis center in Harrisonburg, Va. where he integrates theater and music into the education and prevention programming of The Collins Center.

Jay Lapp lives in Goshen, Ind. and is a free-lance musician, producer, recording engineer, studio musician and teacher. He performs and records with Goldmine Pickers and with Trent Wagler.

The show is appropriate for all ages.

Tickets are $10/adult and $5/college age and younger, available at the door or in advance through the Hesston College Bookstore (620-327-8105).

For more information, call the Hesston College Church Relations Office toll-free at 866-437-7866; locally, phone 620-327-8109.