Health & Fitness
Passion Play at Fireman’s Field in Purcellville
The Play will take place on Palm Sunday at 3:00 pm at Firemen's Field, adjacent to the Historic Bush Tabernacle across from the Purcellville Town Hall on Nursery Avenue.
Sunday, March 24 at 3 pm
An Easter Story – A Celebration of Love
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6 “Come and see the place where He lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell His disciples” – Matthew 28:6-7.
Passion Play video:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey9qriWbtok
Admission is free - no tickets required! All are welcome.
While living in Augsburg, Germany, I had the wonderful opportunity to witness the 1978 Special Edition Passion Play in Oberammergau. About half the 5,000 inhabitants of Oberammergau take part in this once-a-decade passion play first presented in 1634. This means that over 2,000 villagers bring the story of Jesus of Nazareth to life for the audiences that flock to it from around the world. This event is an extraordinary community enterprise. Many people who attended back in 1978 believed that they were witnessing the greatest story ever told and one of the greatest productions on earth.
For over a quarter of a century, the Purcellville Passion Play has been a tradition in Western Loudoun County. After a year off in 2012, it is back and ready to go for 2013! Celebrated annually in Purcellville it has gradually evolved into a full historical reenactment. The play deals with the turbulent times surrounding the Roman occupation of Jerusalem at the beginning of the first millennium, over 2,000 years ago.
On Palm Sunday, March 24, the Passion Play will stage its 26th annual performance in Purcellville. The Play will take place at 3:00 pm at Firemen’s Field, adjacent to the Historic Bush Tabernacle across from the Purcellville Town Hall on Nursery Avenue.
The play was last performed at Firemen’s Field in 1999. Since then, it has been staged at Franklin Park and at Yaxley and A streets, behind Purcellville Baptist Church. “We are all very excited about the play returning to Firemen’s Field where it was a key fixture of the Easter season in Purcellville for so many years,” said Peter Buck, one of the producers. “The intimate setting of Firemen’s Field really encourages the audience to be part of the story not just spectators,” Buck added.
The Purcellville Passion Play re-enacts Jesus’ last hours on earth. The public is invited to attend this free event and experience Christ’s journey to the cross by joining the cast in the crowd scenes. The play starts with Jesus entering Jerusalem, continues with His Death on the Cross and finishes with the Resurrection. The audience will greet Jesus with palm branches as He enters Jerusalem; dine with Him at the Last Supper; feel His agony on the cross at Golgotha; and claim the victory and hope of His resurrection.
Staged outside to add realism to the play, actors in period costumes perform on stage and interact with the audience by bringing the play to them. Actors encourage audience participation as Jerusalem residents and visitors. Roman legionaries and aristocracy, religious leaders, rebels and common people all play a part in this story. Sets include a Roman palace, the Jerusalem temple, and everyday houses, as well as outdoor venues. The community actors reflect real excitement during the performance as they take on the challenge of striving to do his or her best – be it in the role of Jesus or a Roman soldier, a make-up artist or a music teacher, a seamstress or a stage-prop carpenter. The audience will share with the actors the sadness when the passion play is over and the Loudoun community has to wait another year for the next opportunity to participate.
“The Purcellville Passion Play is a wonderful way for family and friends to celebrate the Easter season and experience the reality of His sacrifice,” said Father Tom Simmons of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Purcellville, a co-producer who plays the Centurion in the play.
The event was started as a youth ministry activity by several churches in western Loudoun. Since 1987, more than 500 individuals and 70 churches, organizations and businesses from the community have participated as cast, crew and supporters of the passion play. This is truly an ecumenical event shared between a network of numerous churches within Loudoun County.
For more information on the 25th anniversary performance visit
www.purcellvillepassionplay.org.
The play will go on, rain or shine. Please arrive a few minutes early to allow time for the walk from the parking areas to the performance area. Comfortable shoes are recommended for walking and in case the ground is damp.
Media Contact: Reneé Brohard
The town of Purcellville is one such place in Loudoun County with a strong church presence. God’s people within the local congregations are sowing the seeds for a great church revival. Take a drive along Main Street and observe the abundance of scripture displayed on the front lawns of churches lining the route.
Family communities practice the subtle virtues of faith, hope and love. I leave the reader with scripture which reminds me of Purcellville whenever I pass through the town. Ephesians 5:19-20 “Sing to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Passion Play Event Schedule
February 17
Sunday
2:00 PM
Kickoff, St Peter’s, Play walk through, All
February 23
Saturday
9:30 AM
Bruce Smallwood’s shop to build props
February 24
Sunday
2:00 PM
Rehearsal, St Peter’s, selected speaking roles
March 3
Sunday
1:00 PM
Costume Pickup for speaking roles, St. Peter’s
2:00 PM
Rehearsal, St Peter’s, selected speaking roles and Legionaries
March 10
Sunday
1:00 PM
Costume Pickup for everyone, St Peter’s
2:00 PM
Rehearsal, St Peter’s, All
March 17
Sunday
1:00 PM
Costume Pickup, St Peter’s
2:00 PM
Rehearsal, Firemen’s Field, All
March 22
Friday
9:00 AM
Set & audio setup, Firemen’s Field
March 23
Saturday
9:00 AM
Set & audio setup, Firemen’s Field
10:00 AM
Dress Rehearsal, Firemen’s Field, All
March 24
Palm Sunday
1:30 PM
Cast in Costumes at Firemen’s Field
2:30 PM
Sound Checks
2:45 PM
Prelude Music Begins
3:00 PM
Performance Starts
5:00 PM
Breakdown Sets
Mark Gunderman can be reached at gunderman2001@aol.com.
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