The Singles Ward
Encyclopedia
The Singles Ward is a 2002 LDS cinema
comedy film
directed by Kurt Hale
and written by Kurt Hale
and John E. Moyer
based on his own life as a stand up comedian and single member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like The R.M.
, and other films which followed it, The Singles Wards target audience is members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and citizens of Utah. As such, references to and parodies of the Mormon and Utah subcultures pervade the film and are unlikely to be completely understood by non-Mormons.
The Singles Ward was followed in 2007 by The Singles 2nd Ward
.
LDS cinema
LDS or Mormon cinema typically refers to films with themes relevant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though the terminology has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers...
comedy film
Comedy film
Comedy film is a genre of film in which the main emphasis is on humour. They are designed to elicit laughter from the audience. Comedies are mostly light-hearted dramas and are made to amuse and entertain the audiences...
directed by Kurt Hale
Kurt Hale
Kurt Hale is an American movie director. He was the director of The Singles Ward, The RM, The Singles 2nd Ward and Church Ball.Hale was one of the founders of Halestorm Entertainment along with David Hunter....
and written by Kurt Hale
Kurt Hale
Kurt Hale is an American movie director. He was the director of The Singles Ward, The RM, The Singles 2nd Ward and Church Ball.Hale was one of the founders of Halestorm Entertainment along with David Hunter....
and John E. Moyer
John Moyer (comedian, screenwriter)
John Moyer is an American stand-up comedian, screenwriter, actor and film producer. Moyer co-wrote the screenplays for The Singles Ward, The R.M., and The Home Teachers...
based on his own life as a stand up comedian and single member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Like The R.M.
The R.M.
The R.M. is a 2003 comedy film about the experiences of an LDS returned missionary. "RM" is an LDS initialism for "returned missionary." It was written by Kurt Hale and John E. Moyer and directed by Kurt Hale.-Overview:...
, and other films which followed it, The Singles Wards target audience is members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and citizens of Utah. As such, references to and parodies of the Mormon and Utah subcultures pervade the film and are unlikely to be completely understood by non-Mormons.
The Singles Ward was followed in 2007 by The Singles 2nd Ward
The Singles 2nd Ward
The Singles 2nd Ward is a comedy film, directed by Kurt Hale. Like The Singles Ward, and other films which followed it, The Singles 2nd Wards target audience is members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and citizens of Utah...
.
Plot
After faithfully serving a full time mission for his church and marrying, Jonathan Jordan finds himself recently divorced and once again a member of the LDS single adult world— a world whose ultimate goal is Eternal Marriage. Disenchanted, Jordan stops going to church. He even creates a stand up routine lampooning the Mormon way of life. His resistance to the church continues until he falls for Cammie Giles, a member of the local singles ward. Suddenly, Jordan finds going to church more appealing. But is he attending church again just to impress her?Crew
- Kurt HaleKurt HaleKurt Hale is an American movie director. He was the director of The Singles Ward, The RM, The Singles 2nd Ward and Church Ball.Hale was one of the founders of Halestorm Entertainment along with David Hunter....
, directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:... - Kurt HaleKurt HaleKurt Hale is an American movie director. He was the director of The Singles Ward, The RM, The Singles 2nd Ward and Church Ball.Hale was one of the founders of Halestorm Entertainment along with David Hunter....
and John E. Moyer, writingScreenwriterScreenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
Cameos
A number of celebrity members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints make appearances throughout the movie:- Wally JoynerWally JoynerWallace Keith "Wally" Joyner is a former first baseman and hitting coach in Major League Baseball. He played for four major league teams during a 16-year career, most notably for the California Angels, for whom he was an All-Star...
, a former player for five Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
teams, most notably the California AngelsLos Angeles Angels of AnaheimThe Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
, as Brother Angel. - Danny AingeDanny AingeDaniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
, former NBANational Basketball AssociationThe National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player and current Boston CelticsBoston CelticsThe Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
General Manager, plays a Sunbeam Teacher. - Shawn BradleyShawn BradleyShawn Paul Bradley is a retired American and German basketball player who played center for the Philadelphia 76ers, the New Jersey Nets and the Dallas Mavericks in the National Basketball Association. At tall, Bradley was one of the tallest players in NBA history...
, another former NBA player, as an auto mechanic. - Pro Football Hall of FamePro Football Hall of FameThe Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
r Steve Young as Brother Niner. The character name is a reference to Young's career as a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ersThe San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
. - Thurl BaileyThurl BaileyThurl Lee Bailey is an American retired professional basketball player in the NBA whose career spanned from 1983 to 1999 with the Utah Jazz and the Minnesota Timberwolves.- Basketball career :...
, another former NBA player. - Late actor Gordon JumpGordon JumpAlexander Gordon Jump was an American actor best known as the clueless radio station manager Arthur "Big Guy" Carlson in the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati and the incompetent "Chief of Police Tinkler" in the sitcom Soap...
. - Writer, producer, director and actor Richard DutcherRichard DutcherRichard Alan Dutcher is an American independent filmmaker who produces, writes, directs, edits, and frequently stars in his films. Well known among members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for his early Mormon-themed productions, Dutcher has been called “The Father of Mormon...
as the neighbor Wes, who knocks on the door while they are watching Dutcher's movie God's ArmyGod's Army (film)God's Army is a 2000 film. It was written, directed by and features Richard Dutcher. It is an independent film and was financed by private investors.-Main cast:*Matthew A...
and declines an invitation to watch it because he was offended by the "toilet scenes".
SoundTrack
The soundtrack was a compilation of Latter Day Saint artists performing songs from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' hymnal and children's song book. The soundtrack is on Guapo Records.- "The Church of Jesus Christ" — Magstatic
- "Come, Come Ye Saints" — Slender
- "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today" — Ponchillo
- "Do What is Right" — MishMash
- "Popcorn Popping" — RoosterRooster (band)Rooster were an English indie rock band that formed in London in 2002. Comprising singer-songwriter Nick Atkinson, guitarist and songwriter Luke Potashnick, backing guitarist and vocalist Ben Smyth, bassist Nick Howell and drummer Dave Neale, the band released two studio albums and five UK top-40...
- "Book of Mormon Stories" — Pipe DreamPipe dream- Music :* Pipe Dreams , 2009* Pipedream , the first solo album from Lindisfarne front man Alan Hull* Pipe Dreams , 1995* "Pipe Dream", a song by Project 86 from the album Project 86...
- "In Our Lovely Deseret" — Mr. Fusion
- "Keep the Commandments" — Mighty Mahogany
- "I Feel My Savior's Love" — MishMash
- "We Are All Enlisted" — Magstatic
- "Battle Hymn of the Republic" — Slender
- "Let Us All Press On" — Mr. Fusion
- "When Grandpa Comes" — Slender
- "God Be With You Till We Meet Again" — Jamen Brooks