Samson: Ancient Plays of Israel

Barker is a playwright, Northwestern professor, and Iowa’s 2006 Professor of the Year. He and Dr. Tom Boogaart, professor of Old Testament at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Mich., have been exploring the possibility that stories in the Old Testament might have been intended to be communicated through drama.

In addition to touring productions of Old Testament stories, Barker also has scripted “David and Goliath” as a full-length drama, and he has written original musicals “And God Said” and “Terror Texts.”

Northwestern’s Drama Ministries Ensemble has performed across the United States, including off-Broadway in New York and at the Crystal Cathedral. The college’s award-winning theatre program recently received national media attention for “Terror Texts,” based on passages from Joshua, Judges, II Kings and II Samuel.