Black Hills Passion Play

Black Hills Passion Play

June-AugustOne of Europe's oldest productions, the Passion Play—which recreates events during the last seven days of the life of Christ—was first presented on the American stage in 1932. It was brought to the United States from Germany by Josef Meier, who, until his retirement in 1991, continued to produce and direct the drama three nights a week from early June through the end of August in an outdoor amphitheater in Spearfish, South Dakota.
Known as the Black Hills Passion Play since 1939, when the company settled in Spearfish, the huge outdoor production features Roman soldiers on horseback, a camel caravan, and pigeons escaping from cages as merchants and moneylenders are driven from the Temple.
The amphitheater, which seats 6,000, was built specifically for the Passion Play and claims to have the world's largest stage. A series of permanent sets are used to portray Bethany, the home of Mary and Martha; the palace of Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor; the Temple; the Garden of Gethsemane; the Tomb; and Mount Calvary.
CONTACTS:
Black Hills Passion Play
100 Saint Joe St.
P.O. Box 489
Spearfish, SD 57783
800-457-0160 or 605-642-2646; fax: 605-642-7993
www.theblackhillspassionplay.com