Mormon Literature Database - The Singles Ward

Notice: The Mormon Literature & Creative Arts database has moved to mormonarts.lib.byu.edu.

The Singles Ward
Produced by Dave Hunter, Kurt Hale, Matt Kennedy
Directed by Kurt Hale
Screenplay by Kurt Hale
Screenplay by John Moyer
Production Company: Halestorm Entertainment
Premiere Date: February 2002
Length: 102 min.


Genre:		Film
Production Type:		Mormon Contributor(s)
Content Types:		Narrative Film Significant Mormon Elements
Distribution Types:		Commercial Theaters

Subjects: Mormon singles;

Summary:
From the cover: "Frustrated and single again, standup comedian Jonathan Jordan (Will Swenson) now finds himself faced with the uncomfortable task of returning to the local singles' ward. Fellow apartment dwellers Dallen (Kirby Heyborne), Elden (Daryn Tufts), and Hyrum (Michael Birkeland) and several other well-meaning ward members try everything to help Jonathan from becoming--gasp!--inactive. In a twist of fate, Jonathan's car breaks down at a ward activity where he unwittingly meets Cammie (Connie Young), the ward activities director, whom he's been avoiding for weeks. Jonathan's life will never be the same.

"With several cameo appearances by well-known LDS personalities (Steve Young, Danny Ainge, Shawn Bradley, LaVell Edwards, and television legend Gordon Jump), The Singles Ward is a hysterical look at an (ab)normal LDS singles' ward and the challenge of trying to find that eternal companion. The road to eternal marriage has never been longer!"

Annotations:
See Mormon Film: Key Films of the Fifth Wave

As the first major theatrical LDS comedy, the plot of this film is secondary to its comedic appeal. The film is full of cameos and inside jokes aimed at Utah culture, thus making it somewhat foreign for the non-Utahn, whether LDS or not. It was the first theatrical film by Kurt Hale and a huge financial success, making HaleStorm arguably the most important production company of the early years after God's Army.

Quotes:
The road to eternal marriage has never been longer.

Awards:
Thunderbird International Film Festival: Best Picture, Best Director

Additional details at ldsvideo.com
http://www.ldsvideo.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=378

More info at HaleStorm Entertainment
http://www.halestormentertainment.com/movies/singlesward/index.html

View BYU Library catalog record
http://catalog.lib.byu.edu/uhtbin/ckey-search/3134145

View trailer at ishowstogo.com
http://www.ishowstogo.com/trailers/The%20Singles%20Ward.swf

HBLL Call No: DVDMM 197, VC 1035
Medium: 35mm color
Cast Members: Will Swenson - Jonathan Jordan; Connie Young - Cammie Giles; Daryn Tufts - Elden; Kirby Heyborne - Dallen; Michael Birkeland - Hyrum; Robert Swenson - Zak Aldridge
Music Composed by: Cody Hale
Film Editor: Wynn Hougaard
Cinematographer: Ryan Little
Country: USA
Language: English
Certification: MPAA: PG
Distributor: HaleStone Distribution

Reviewed In:
[Review of] The Singles Ward by Kurt Hale by Eric D. Snider
[Review of] The Singles Ward by Jeff Vice
Laughing at Ourselves: The Singles Ward Debuts by Jonathan Walker
New movie pokes fun at local culture by Eric D. Snider, Amy K. Stewart
In 'Singles Ward' Mormon church is on a merry mission that works by William Arnold
Local movie to show life as an LDS single by Amy K. Stewart
[Review of] The Singles Ward by Scott Foundas
The Cinema of Latter-Day Saints by Carlene Bauer
[Review of] The Singles Ward by Gregory Avery

Continued in the sequel:
The Singles 2nd Ward Directed by Kurt Hale,Writer Kurt Hale, John E. Moyer,Produced by George Dayton, Dave Hunter, Bryce W. Fillmore,Cinematographer Brandon Christensen,Music Composed by Cody Hale,Film Editor John Lyde	Film