Overview

Ted Swartz and his Ted & Company TheaterWorks team are known for blending Bible stories with comedy and poignancy, and pushing the envelope on issues of faith and social justice. But who is Ted Swartz? Follow along in this engaging memoir as Swartz finds his way as a middle child in an eastern Pennsylvania traditional Mennonite home to his early work in the family butcher shop. Journey with Ted through the decision of uprooting his young family to attend seminary and then embracing life as a writer and actor. Get a glimpse into the friendship that led to the formation of the popular acting duo Ted & Lee. This uniquely honest backstage tour of an artist's life and mind combines side-splitting reminiscences, heart-rending accounts of loss, and touching stories of restored faith and love. Swartz's engaging humor blends with his own stories of triumph and tragedy, and helps readers understand their own sense of place and how they're shaped by those around them. Read the forward by Bryan Mclaren under the ""Excerpt"" tab and see what is already being said about the book under the ""Quotes"" tab! ""Laughter Is Sacred Space is even funnier than Mennonite in a Little Black Dress--an authentic and profound snapshot of what it means to grow up and live Mennonite."" --Howard Zehr, professor of restorative justice, Eastern Mennonite University ""Ted Swartz is a gift. He unveils some of the most tragic pain and injustice of our world . . . but he knows that if we can't laugh then the devil has already won. Laughter reminds us that we know the end of the story--and in the end we see life conquer death and love triumph over hatred."" --Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and lover of Jesus About the author Purchase Ted and Company scripts and DVDs

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9780836195590

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Reviews

We thought we knew the Scripture pretty well<p> until Ted came along with his tricky mirror. It<p> turns out that humor unlocks some aspects of<p> the story that would otherwise escape a detailed<p> analysis. -- Gerald Shenk former professor, Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Ted Swartz is a gift. He unveils some of the most tragic pain and injustice of our world . . . but he knows that if we can't laugh then the devil has already won. Laughter reminds us that we know the end of the story and in the end we see life conquer death and love triumph over hatred. -- Shane Claiborne author, activist, and lover of Jesus There's a humor and non-threatening vulnerability in these pages which calls me and other readers to reflect, and it gives us permission to be vulnerable. -- Mike Patin Catholic speaker and trainer Like practically half the Christian world, I saw Ted & Lee perform and thought they were smart and hilarious. In the pages of this book, Ted is vulnerable and honest again, only this time on purpose. If you jump in, I promise you'll be glad you did. -- Bart Campolo neighborhood minister and Middle East peace activist This avant-garde memoir is alive with merriment and anguish, anger and tenderness, the profane . . . and the profound. From the prologue to the denouement, I laughed out loud and wept . . . sometimes simultaneously, which is the hallmark of a truly sacred story. -- Karla Yaconelli philanthropist and founding board member of the Wild Goose Festival Laughter Is Sacred Space is even funnier than Mennonite in a Little Black Dress an authentic and profound snapshot of what it means to grow up and live Mennonite. -- Howard Zehr professor of restorative justice, Eastern Mennonite University We thought we knew the Scripture pretty well until Ted came along with his tricky mirror. It turns out that humor unlocks some aspects of the story that would otherwise escape a detailed analysis. -- Gerald Shenk former professor, Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Ted Swartz is a gift. He unveils some of the most tragic pain and injustice of our world . . . but he knows that if we can't laugh then the devil has already won. Laughter reminds us that we know the end of the story and in the end we see life conquer death and love triumph over hatred. -- Shane Claiborne author, activist, and lover of Jesus Like practically half the Christian world, I saw Ted & Lee perform and thought they were smart and hilarious. In the pages of this book, Ted is vulnerable and honest again, only this time on purpose. If you jump in, I promise you'll be glad you did. -- Bart Campolo neighborhood minister and Middle East peace activist This avant-garde memoir is alive with merriment and anguish, anger and tenderness, the profane . . . and the profound. From the prologue to the denouement, I laughed out loud and wept . . . sometimes simultaneously, which is the hallmark of a truly sacred story. -- Karla Yaconelli philanthropist and founding board member of the Wild Goose Festival There's a humor and non-threatening vulnerability in these pages which calls me and other readers to reflect, and it gives us permission to be vulnerable. -- Mike Patin Catholic speaker and trainer Laughter Is Sacred Space is even funnier than Mennonite in a Little Black Dress an authentic and profound snapshot of what it means to grow up and live Mennonite. -- Howard Zehr professor of restorative justice, Eastern Mennonite University We thought we knew the Scripture pretty well until Ted came along with his tricky mirror. It turns out that humor unlocks some aspects of the story that would otherwise escape a detailed analysis. -- Gerald Shenk former professor, Eastern Mennonite Seminary

There's a humor and non-threatening vulnerability in these pages which calls me and other readers to reflect, and it gives us permission to be vulnerable. -- Mike Patin Catholic speaker and trainer Like practically half the Christian world, I saw Ted & Lee perform and thought they were smart and hilarious. In the pages of this book, Ted is vulnerable and honest again, only this time on purpose. If you jump in, I promise you'll be glad you did. -- Bart Campolo neighborhood minister and Middle East peace activist This avant-garde memoir is alive with merriment and anguish, anger and tenderness, the profane . . . and the profound. From the prologue to the denouement, I laughed out loud and wept . . . sometimes simultaneously, which is the hallmark of a truly sacred story. -- Karla Yaconelli philanthropist and founding board member of the Wild Goose Festival Laughter Is Sacred Space is even funnier than Mennonite in a Little Black Dress an authentic and profound snapshot of what it means to grow up and live Mennonite. -- Howard Zehr professor of restorative justice, Eastern Mennonite University Ted Swartz is a gift. He unveils some of the most tragic pain and injustice of our world . . . but he knows that if we can't laugh then the devil has already won. Laughter reminds us that we know the end of the story and in the end we see life conquer death and love triumph over hatred. -- Shane Claiborne author, activist, and lover of Jesus We thought we knew the Scripture pretty well until Ted came along with his tricky mirror. It turns out that humor unlocks some aspects of the story that would otherwise escape a detailed analysis. -- Gerald Shenk former professor, Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Author Information

Ted Swartz is a playwright and actor who has been mucking around in the worlds of the sacred and profane for more than 20 years. Ted fell in love with acting and theater on his way to a traditional pastorate in the Mennonite church, a denomination not usually thought of as a hotbed of theatrical opportunities. Coupling theater and seminary education, Ted became a theologian of a different sort. He discovered that at the intersection of humor and biblical story we often find new or different under¬standings of scripture. Ted's love of acting, comedy, and collaboration with creative partner Lee Eshleman took him to performances in 45 states in the U.S., Canada, as well as shows in Kenya and Japan. Ted & Lee became known for a quirky and gently askew view of life, building a loyal following. Despite the tragic loss of Lee to suicide in 2007, Ted continued the search for the intersection of comedy and faith, grief and loss, deepening that exploration. He is the creator or co-creator of over a dozen plays, and continues to perform and write across the U.S. and abroad. Born in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, Ted is a 1989 graduate of Eastern Mennonite University and 1992 grad of Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Ted now lives in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Along with writing and acting, his loves include his wife, Sue; three sons, Eliot, Ian, and Derek; daughters-in-law, Katrina, Hannah, and Chelsea; and newest addition, granddaughter Mona Quinn. He and Sue are members of Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

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