Preview: Passion Play marks 30 years of bringing Bible story to the Badlands
The Badlands Passion Play in Drumheller is one of Alberta's premier entertainment ambassadors.
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Since its inception in 1994, this live telling of the ministry of Jesus Christ has been heralded as one of the top 10 attractions in Canada.
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Seating 2,500 people, which is the same capacity as the Jubilee auditoriums in Calgary and Edmonton, it is the largest outdoor amphitheatre in Canada, and last year, it passed an accumulated attendance of more than 300,000 people. The Badlands event theatre is situated on 400 acres of an old mining site, whose hills provide the backdrop for this dramatic theatrical event. The stage itself is six acres in size.
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In its 30 years, 15 actors, beginning with Hunter Barnes, have played the role of Jesus. This year, this central role will be played by 30-year-old Calgary actor Connor Suart. He leads a cast of more than 75, mostly volunteer, actors.
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'I've never seen the show. I really went in blind. I certainly heard about it, but wouldn't have thought of auditioning for it myself. Katelyn Morishita, my former drama teacher at Western Canada High School, and Emily Howard, an actress I was at university with, told me I should audition. I took their word for it,' says Suart, who was last seen in Calgary in the Shakespeare Company's production of Richard III, which featured Bruce Horak.
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'It's such an iconic role. It's an incredible challenge. We're doing Matthew's Gospel version as adapted by Royal Sproule. Nathan Schmidt, who is playing Matthew, played Jesus years ago. He hasn't given me any tips and tricks, but he has nodded at me and patted me on my back, which tells me I'm doing something right. I really get the feeling that the entire cast has my back.'
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This is the third year the Passion Play has used the Matthew Gospel because it has proven so popular with audiences. Matthew was initially vilified because he was a tax collector, known as Levi. This is why he understood the plight of the prostitute Mary Magdalene. They were both outsiders whom Jesus welcomed into his inner circle, as symbols of his love and acceptance of everyone.
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'The one thing I learned very quickly is that this is a very physical role. There are three hills I have to run up and down. By the end of the summer, I am going to be in the best shape I've been in for a long while. I'm grateful for the time when I get to ride on the donkey.'
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Suart, who was raised Catholic, says his religion has given him a proximity to the story.
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'Jesus was the ultimate outsider. That's what I share with him. I'm coming into a group that has been working together for 30 years. I'm the manager of a restaurant, who is getting to play one of the most iconic roles imaginable. People keep asking me how my Jesus will be different. I tell them that the last few actors who played Jesus had long straight hair. The longer my hair grows, the curlier it gets, so they're going to see a curly-haired Jesus. The story is the same. The script we're using is the same. It will just be a physical thing. I do think I bring a smile and warmth to my characterization.'
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This year, the Badlands Arts Centre has completed a new indoor space that can be used year-round. Eventually, it will be used for a winter Nativity event, telling the birth of Christ. It will have a 270-degree projection wall that will be used for a Passion Play digital experience.
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