The Passion of The Black Hills Passion Play in Spearfish, South DakotaRead Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link: http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/shows/theater/passionplay/passion/bhpp.html
Now that you have seen
emotional and temporal Passion Of The Christ produced by Mel Gibson, take a trip to high plains for an even more emotional, positive, and enlightening live theatrical production about last seven days of Christ — The Black Hills Passion Play.
June 1, 2004 marked opening performance of 65th anniversary season of Black Hills Passion Play in Spearfish, South Dakota.
The play, which came to U.S. from Germany, was first presented in "Queen City" of Black Hill's magnificent amphitheatre in 1939, and has been in performance ever since founder, Josef Meier, became one of tourism pioneers of state, and who received much national and international recognition for his work in outdoor drama.
The Passion Play also toured for over thirty years, playing indoors in theaters and civic auditoriums throughout U.S. and Canada. It once had a winter home in Lake Wells, Florida, in middle of an orange grove.
Well known as one of oldest Passion Plays in U.S., production has been seen by over 10 million people. With performances three nights a week during June, July, and August, Passion Play features a cast of professional actors who speak oratory parts, along with nearly 100 extras from Spearfish churches, who all dramatize Christ's last days.
I grew up in Spearfish, and during summer months I was a Passion Play extra, and what a thrill it was, even though we participated for donuts and drinks. I learned how to wrap a turban, picked most colorful costumes, and fought over best sandals with other kids.
Once I was a camel tender, another time a Roman standard bearer, and then a Roman guard, and always in mob scene up to Golgotha, most stirring scene in play — The Crucifixion. One night real lightning shot through skies around cross Josef Meier was hanging from, and actors showed passionate fear running down hill, many tripping, and it was as if transported back two millennium. The play came alive that evening.
In conjunction with 65th Anniversary milestone, Passion Play company is planning a number of special events, including museum and backstage tours of USA's largest outdoor stage. A special visit to animal pens is a great photo opportunity for kids.
While 65 years is a long run for a drama like this, production's root actually runs much deeper. Originally it was a German play first staged in Luenen, Germany, presented by Monks of Cappenberg Monastery. As early as 1242 they staged a reenactment of Resurrection of Easter Sunday. The simple tableau was foundation of most Passion Plays, evolving as other scenes from Bible were added. Only a few of those Plays have survived test of time and are presented to this day — most notable is Oberammergau in Germany, which is held only once every ten years.
