Maestro's Passion Play
Maestro Production's beloved Passion Play was first presented on March 22 and 23, 1991 in the historic Grand Opera House, Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The production followed in the tradition of Maestro's Christmas pageants also held at the Grand Opera House. A reviewer of the first production noted, "As good as each scene was, the next seemed even better." And further commenting, "It can't be easy to tell a story so well-known, to make it new and interesting and to give it a special glow that at once stuns the audience with its simplicity and immerses them into its depths." The 1992 Passion Play was also held at the Grand Opera House in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
In 1993 the Passion Play embarked on what would become a very successful touring production in Northeastern Wisconsin. It became a touring production in that the performance site moved between cities, but also in that the Wisconsin motorcoach industry took great interest in Maestro's Christmas productions and the Passion Play.
The 1993 performances, held at St. Vincent Catholic Church, Oshkosh, included a Thursday matinee of some 800 people comprising 19 motorcoaches from throughout Wisconsin. Since that time the Passion Play has received wide spread interest from tour groups, church groups, and others throughout Wisconsin. The production has appeared in Appleton (1995, 1998, 2001), Green Bay (1996, 1997), Green Lake (1996), and Oshkosh (1994, 1995). Plans are now underway to re-launch the production as an annual event beginning in the Spring of 2007 (location to be announced). Participants and donors are being sought to once again bring to life these important days in Christianity with the same sincerity and beauty always associated with Maestro's Passion Play. Inquires are welcome.
Familiar scenes in the Passion Play include: The Triumphal Entry, Clensing of the Temple, Teaching in the Temple, Judas the Betrayer, The Lord's Supper, The Mount of Olive & Gethsemane, The Sanhedrin, Jesus Before Pilate, The Crucifixion, and of course, The Resurrection!
Each Passion Play performance closes with the resurrection and Jesus sharing these beloved words: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age." The entire cast joins forces to offer an uplifting and exuberant ending including favorite musical reprises from the production.
Maestro's Executive Director, Mark Bloedow, has served as the artistic and musical director of the Passion Play since its beginning. Each year's production is unique and all aspects of thepresentation are carefully woven together. Inspirational music and life-like dramatic recreations are highlights of the production.
Each year, the almost exclusively volunteer cast and crew looks forward to bringing the Passion Play to life as an expression and witness to their own faith. Through the years, many wonderful comments have been received from cast and audience members alike attesting to the great impact the Passion Play has on those who experience it.
