"Fire From Heaven" Spring 2023 Performance Tours North America

(Washington, D.C.) — The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities continues the theatrical tour of “Fire from Heaven: Michael Faraday and the Dawn of the Electrical Age”, a one-man-show about the life and scientific contributions of the 1700s English philosopher and scientist Michael Faraday.

Written and directed by Murray Watts (“Mr. Darwin’s Tree”) and produced through the CCCU’s Scholarship and Christianity in Oxford (SCIO) program, “Fire from Heaven: Michael Faraday & the Dawn of the Electrical Age” explores the work and discoveries of Faraday in a 75-minute show where actor Andrew Harrison plays multiple characters.  The tour is playing across several CCCU member institutions through from March 28 to April 5.

Funded through the John Templeton Foundation and M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, “Fire from Heaven” also examines Faraday’s Christian faith in the light of his scientific contributions. SCIO produced five USA tours and multiple Oxford performances of Watts’ acclaimed play, “Mr. Darwin’s Tree” throughout 2019.

“This is another great opportunity for our member institutions to enjoy an inspiring and historical story through the power of theatre,” said Shirley Hoogstra, CCCU President. “In the same way ‘Mr. Darwin’s Tree’ captivated audiences and invited important discussions, I’m confident ‘Fire from Heaven’ will have the same impact.”

The production’s tour began in February at Gordon College’s Ken Olson Science Center before heading to Calvin University’s Gezon Auditorium; Azusa Pacific University’s Upper Turner Campus Center, and Abilene Christian University’s Culp Theatre in Williams Performing Arts Center.

Wheaton College will show “Mr. Darwin’s Tree” (not “Fire from Heaven”) March 28, Barrows Auditorium. “Fire from Heaven” will then be performed at Dordt University March 30, Dordt Black Box Theatre; Seattle Pacific University April 1, E.E. Bach Theatre; Whitworth University April 3, Cowles Auditorium Building #3; Trinity Western University April 5, SAMC Theatre.

Watts is a well-known playwright, author, director and screenwriter in the UK.  He is the author of more than a dozen books and SCIO commissioned him to write and direct “Mr. Darwin’s Tree.” Watts has often worked with actor Andrew Harrison to create solo performances. Harrison has worked in film, television, theatre, and radio for over 30 years, and played Charles Darwin in Watts’ “Mr. Darwin’s Tree”.

For more information, contact SCIO.

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The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities is a higher education association of more than 185 Christian institutions around the world. Since 1976, the CCCU has served as the leading national voice of Christian higher education. With campuses across the globe, including more than 150 in the U.S. and Canada and more than 30 from an additional 19 countries, CCCU institutions are accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities whose missions are Christ-centered and rooted in the historic Christian faith. Most also have curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. The CCCU’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.

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