The hills are alive with the sound of Jesus
Canadian passion play brings story of Christ to life
DRUMHELLER, AB—To see the Canadian Badlands Passion Play is an experience like no other. The performance takes place in a natural bowl amphitheater in Drumheller, Alberta. The hilly surroundings of the landscape bear likeness to those in Israel where Jesus walked.
“It's incredible to sit outside with a couple thousand people and watch 200 actors carefully choreographed in the hills. If you haven’t seen that, you will be blown away,” says Aaron Krogman, the actor who plays Jesus. “The Badlands are unlike Alberta, they’re unlike Canada.”
The dedication of the actors and volunteers is itself inspiring. Krogman says he spent two years as the understudy of the Jesus character before even assuming the role and says that this journey has been like an ongoing Bible study for him.
The play follows the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus as adapted from the Gospel of John. Each year, minor adjustments are made to the script to keep it fresh. “The Passion Play will also give you new insight into a story that is very familiar, because we give an interpretation that you see unfold in front of you, in a way that many would not have imagined,” says Krogman.
“It is entirely different, but I think as good as the best special effects you see in the movies, because it’s real. The biggest difference is the size of the stage. It’s outside, and walking up a hill is literally walking up a hill,” says Krogman.
The uniqueness of the theatre is a huge draw, bringing hundreds of visitors to the 2013 production. This year the play runs from July 11 to 27. For more information, visit canadianpassionplay.com.
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