Live Biblical Theatre
Great Passion Play (Eureka Springs, Arkansas, USA). Photo courtesy of the Great Passion Play.
Mesa Easter Pageant (Mesa, Arizona):
Founded: 1928
Annual 2-week performance run, hosted by Mesa's LDS Temple. Sixty-five minute production portrays the life of Jesus with 400+ member cast.
The Great Passion Play (Eureka Springs, Arkansas):
Founded: 1968
The attraction's largest feature is the Holy Land tour: a "3-hour interactive Biblical teaching tour, [where] you will explore the ancient Middle-Eastern culture in which Jesus was raised and will meet characters from the time of Moses to the time of Christ." Also, there is an outdoor theatre that stages a daily Passion Play, a Tabernacle replica, and a Bible Museum.
Holy Land Experience (Orlando, Florida):
Founded: 2001
Set on 15 acres, 11 miles from Walt Disney World, the Holy Land Experience describes itself as a "living biblical museum," with numerous exhibits and theatre productions. In addition to daily Passion Play performances, there is a floor model of Jerusalem c. 66 AD, "the largest indoor replica in the world"; Herod's Temple on Mount Moriah; and, the Garden Tomb. The park also hosts "The Scriptorium: Center for Biblical Antiquities."
Story of Jesus (Bowling Green, Florida)
Founded: 1990
American Passion Play (Bloomington, Illinois)
Founded: 1923
Jesus of Nazareth: The Passion Play (Munster, Indiana):
Founded: 1984
Sight & Sound Theaters (Branson, Missouri):
Founded: 2008
Live action theater presentations of biblical stories. Past and ongoing shows include: Noah's ark, Jonah and the whale, and the life of Moses.
Passion Play (Union City, New Jersey):
Founded: 1915
The Living Word Outdoor Drama (Cambridge, Ohio):
Live action Passion Play.
Founded: 1975
Holy City of the Wichitas (Lawton, Oklahoma):
Founded: 1935
Picture in Scripture (Eucha, Oklahoma):
Founded: 1985
Sight & Sound Theaters (Lancaster, Pennsylvania):
Live action theatre presentations of biblical stories. Past and ongoing shows include: Noah's ark, Jonah and the whale, and the life of Moses.
Founded: 1976
NarroWay Productions (Fort Mill, South Carolina):
Founded: 1997
Passion Play in the Smokies (Gatlinburg, Tennessee):
Passion Play operates on a 10-week season (beginning in June, ending in October). Experience "a powerful dramatization of music, pageantry, and Hebrew dance."
Founded: 2005
Nativity Pageant (Knoxville, Tennessee):
Three 120-member cast performances every December.
Founded: 1969
Biblical Times Dinner Theater (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee):
Dinner theater with live nightly performances of song and biblical events.
Founded: 2012
The Promise in Glen Rose (Glen Rose, Texas):
Live biblical theatre and musical performances.
Founded: 1989
Nova Jerusalem (Brejo da Madre de Deus, Brazil):
Outdoor Passion Play site is set in a walled replica of Jerusalem. Nine stages depict 26 scenes, from the Sermon on the Mount to the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.
Founded: 1968
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play (Drumheller, Canada):
Set in an outdoor "natural amphitheater," stages Passion Play performances. In 2001, the site added a "Jerusalem Wall" replica.
Founded: 1994
Oberammergau Passion Play (Oberammergau, Germany):
Staged every 10 years.
Founded: 1634
La Passione (Sordevolo, Italy):
Held every five years in a 4,000-square meter theatre, this Passion Play uses 400 actors.
Founded: 1816
Presepe Vivente (Sicily, Italy):
Living nativity scene enacted seasonally.
Passion Play (Grassina, Italy)
Founded: 18th century.
Founded: 1928
Annual 2-week performance run, hosted by Mesa's LDS Temple. Sixty-five minute production portrays the life of Jesus with 400+ member cast.
The Great Passion Play (Eureka Springs, Arkansas):
Founded: 1968
The attraction's largest feature is the Holy Land tour: a "3-hour interactive Biblical teaching tour, [where] you will explore the ancient Middle-Eastern culture in which Jesus was raised and will meet characters from the time of Moses to the time of Christ." Also, there is an outdoor theatre that stages a daily Passion Play, a Tabernacle replica, and a Bible Museum.
Holy Land Experience (Orlando, Florida):
Founded: 2001
Set on 15 acres, 11 miles from Walt Disney World, the Holy Land Experience describes itself as a "living biblical museum," with numerous exhibits and theatre productions. In addition to daily Passion Play performances, there is a floor model of Jerusalem c. 66 AD, "the largest indoor replica in the world"; Herod's Temple on Mount Moriah; and, the Garden Tomb. The park also hosts "The Scriptorium: Center for Biblical Antiquities."
Story of Jesus (Bowling Green, Florida)
Founded: 1990
American Passion Play (Bloomington, Illinois)
Founded: 1923
Jesus of Nazareth: The Passion Play (Munster, Indiana):
Founded: 1984
Sight & Sound Theaters (Branson, Missouri):
Founded: 2008
Live action theater presentations of biblical stories. Past and ongoing shows include: Noah's ark, Jonah and the whale, and the life of Moses.
Passion Play (Union City, New Jersey):
Founded: 1915
The Living Word Outdoor Drama (Cambridge, Ohio):
Live action Passion Play.
Founded: 1975
Holy City of the Wichitas (Lawton, Oklahoma):
Founded: 1935
Picture in Scripture (Eucha, Oklahoma):
Founded: 1985
Sight & Sound Theaters (Lancaster, Pennsylvania):
Live action theatre presentations of biblical stories. Past and ongoing shows include: Noah's ark, Jonah and the whale, and the life of Moses.
Founded: 1976
NarroWay Productions (Fort Mill, South Carolina):
Founded: 1997
Passion Play in the Smokies (Gatlinburg, Tennessee):
Passion Play operates on a 10-week season (beginning in June, ending in October). Experience "a powerful dramatization of music, pageantry, and Hebrew dance."
Founded: 2005
Nativity Pageant (Knoxville, Tennessee):
Three 120-member cast performances every December.
Founded: 1969
Biblical Times Dinner Theater (Pigeon Forge, Tennessee):
Dinner theater with live nightly performances of song and biblical events.
Founded: 2012
The Promise in Glen Rose (Glen Rose, Texas):
Live biblical theatre and musical performances.
Founded: 1989
Nova Jerusalem (Brejo da Madre de Deus, Brazil):
Outdoor Passion Play site is set in a walled replica of Jerusalem. Nine stages depict 26 scenes, from the Sermon on the Mount to the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.
Founded: 1968
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play (Drumheller, Canada):
Set in an outdoor "natural amphitheater," stages Passion Play performances. In 2001, the site added a "Jerusalem Wall" replica.
Founded: 1994
Oberammergau Passion Play (Oberammergau, Germany):
Staged every 10 years.
Founded: 1634
La Passione (Sordevolo, Italy):
Held every five years in a 4,000-square meter theatre, this Passion Play uses 400 actors.
Founded: 1816
Presepe Vivente (Sicily, Italy):
Living nativity scene enacted seasonally.
Passion Play (Grassina, Italy)
Founded: 18th century.