Hopewell's Passion Play

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2005 Passion Play performances:

Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:30 PM

June 17-18: Hopewell UMC presents "The Passion Play," our original presentation of the power of Jesus' life, death and resurrection. This theatre-in-the-round production has been offered since 1963 in the majestic language of the King James Version of the Bible.

June 24-25: The Passion Play at Hopewell premiers "The Power and The Glory." Based on our original 1963 production, this new rendering has been translated into modern day language from contemporary Biblical translations.

Both productions are considered Family Friendly.

Sign language support is available at all performances.

Reasonably priced light dinner fare and desserts, available in the Concession from 6:30 PM, can be enjoyed with your friends and family in the Huffnell Picnic Grove before the performance.

After each show, all guests are welcome to join us for Communion.

Tickets are suggested, but walk-ins are always welcome! To order free tickets:

Phone - toll-free 866-HIS-PLAY (866-447-7529)
E-mail - p_play@yahoo.com (Please place "Passion Play ticket request" in the Subject line, and reference contact info and number of tickets required in the body of the message)
On-line - Passion Play Tickets Order Form

For those wishing to support the Hopewell UMC Passion Play Ministry financially, donations are welcomed, appreciated and acknowledged in the program if received by the printing date.

Annual Patrons: $20 or more
Chair Patrons: $50 or more
Supporting Patrons: $100 or more

Call 866-HIS-PLAY for other categories.

The Origins of the Passion Play

Generations have followed the story of Christ's Passion. It all began in 1633 when the mountain village of Oberammergau, Germany, vowed to perform the "Passions-Tragedie" every ten years if their people were spared from the plague. More than three centuries later, Hopewell's Hilltoppers sustain a similar commitment in telling the eternal truth of God's reconciliation with man through the death and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ.

Hopewell's Historic Passion Play

In 1963, a dramatic production of the last days of the life of Jesus Christ was presented by members of Hopewell for others in the congregation. It was performed indoors on a stage in Fellowship Hall, on the lower level of the Education Building. The Bible-based play was written by a member of the congregation, Charles J. "Pud" Ax. The presentation was so popular with the congregation, and eventually the community surrounding Hopewell, that additional performances were added, and it became an annual event. In 1964 arrangements were made to transform the hillside at the rear of the Education Building into a 1,000 seat outdoor amphitheater. The first outdoor performance of the Passion Play was held on June 24, 1966. Since the original days of the outdoor performances (where the audience sat on folding chairs), the Hilltoppers have installed permanent stadium seating for the comfort and convenience of those attending the Play.

The presentation, comprising directors and producers, production, audio engineering, make up, costumes, and lighting crews, in addition to several hundred actors and actresses, are all members of the Hopewell congregation. There have been as many as 400 people involved in this annual presentation in any single season. The performances are in June because of the seasonal weather.

The 2005 season will mark another first in the Passion Play's history. In addition to the two performances of the original version on June 17-18, "The Power and The Glory," a modern take of the original version, will be premiered on June 24-25.

Article from the Philadelphia Inquirer