Passion Play Alive!

Drumheller, AB – As the Canadian Badlands Passion Play Society prepares "The Greatest Story Ever Told" for its thirteenth season this summer, organizers are scrambling to come back from two years of financial setbacks that have plagued Drumheller’s tourism industry.

"While the Play itself is a real winner – recognized with several awards over the years – and the story is ‘The Greatest Ever Told,’ attendance has been declining," said John Bruins, Society President.

Various factors have influenced tourist traffic including weather, ticket prices, accommodations, B.S.E., S.A.R.S., and in 2005 the flooding of the Red Deer River just weeks before the Play’s opening caused the evacuation of much of Drumheller. The Board of Directors responded by cutting expenditures, laying off salaried staff, reorganizing its own structure, and calling for volunteer help.

LaVerne Erickson, founder of the Passion Play, came out of two years of retirement to volunteer his services to help orchestrate this revitalization at the request of the Board.

"It was the only way out," added Bruins. "We had to mobilize volunteers and somehow bring them all together in painting the big picture. We had to make tough decisions and work toward renewal, starting at the very foundations, in order to ensure a future."

The tone of the project, however, remains positive. "This is experiencing the heart of the Passion Play – a resurrection," said Erickson. "Perhaps out of this trying time will arise a new vision for evangelism and outreach."

The Board must now face the daunting task of filling 2,500 seats for each of the 6 performances running July 7, 8, and 9 and 14, 15, and 16.

"We are confident," added June Evans, Marketing Team Chair. "We have some great new ideas, new people on our team and a strong faith that God will help us keep this story, His story, before thousands of people."

Volunteers have responded to this call to action in many ways. Daniel vanHeyst of The King’s University College, Edmonton, a Passion Play veteran of twelve seasons, is leading a group of theatre volunteers from across western Canada to produce the Play this summer with auditions being scheduled across the Province.

Regional choirs under the direction of Mike Gardner, a Calgary choral director, are leading local marketing and rehearsal efforts in Edmonton, Olds, Calgary, Claresholm, Drumheller, Lethbridge, Parkside and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Brad Teske, a Drumheller teacher, is heading up the recruitment of volunteers to help on Passion Play days in the summer. As well, Drumheller businessmen have opened their wallets to help back this summer’s marketing expenses, and others have sponsored ads in local papers to assist the Passion Play in this time of need.

"Fundraising and marketing initiatives also have a big part in the renewal plan. We have learned that we cannot ‘live by attendance alone,’" Bruins said. "There are many other fundraising events planned to help brighten the future, including a Gift Certificate Campaign that shares funds with other charitable organizations."

Christ the Redeemer School Division has adopted this campaign to encourage its children and families to see the play and realize the benefits of mutual support, and has also partnered with the Passion Play to give educational leadership to the Canadian Badlands Performing Arts Summer School.

The King’s University College was the Passion Play’s first Gift Certificate Fundraising Partner raising money for their spring choir tour, another bright spot in the Society’s renewal.

On January 14, choirs from Rosebud, Drumheller and Calgary presented a fundraising Choral Concert in Drumheller that raised over $8,000 to help with marketing expenses.

A province-wide gathering of the Passion Play choir members will present a concert at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Lethbridge, at 7pm on April 1. Other ventures designed to raise support began February 12 (Passion Play Sunday) with the community gathering after church to enjoy a celebrity fundraiser and auction as part of the Drumheller Dragons hockey game against the Lloydminster Bobcats.

Now in its eighth year, the Passion Play Celebrity Golf Tournament is scheduled for Friday, June 9 followed the next day by Beethoven in the Badlands, a concert by the Calgary Philharmonic in the Passion Play amphitheatre.

"Over the years lives across this province have been touched by the Passion Play and now people are responding to the call to renew their commitment to tell the story of Jesus," noted Erickson. "Whether it is by distributing Passion Play information through their communities, offering to help on Passion Play days, donating time to help organize fundraising events, or giving of their talents in many other ways that are needed, there is a sense of urgency and anticipation surrounding the renewal of the Passion Play." For more info call 403 823-2001 or e-mail pplayproduction@hotmail.com .