Stagehands announce spring musical, Passion of Christ

SPRING VALLEY, WI –About four years ago, Luke Hayes got a nudge. It was what felt like a calling. He ignored the nudge, put it off, and hoped it would go away. That strategy didn’t work; the calling didn’t go away, so Luke began to search for a script. He found some, but nothing seemed just right, so he wrote, edited, and refined; saw the show come together in his mind; and determined it was time. That’s the backstory for Director Luke Hayes bringing the Passion of Christ musical to the Spring Valley Stagehands theatre.

The Passion of Christ tells the story, in words and music, of the last week in the life of Jesus Christ. There is something for everyone in this show, Luke notes. Even if one isn’t a Christian, the story is compelling – it demonstrates how the interactions that occurred that fateful week changed a variety of individual characters’ lives. There’s power, politics, compassion, love, grief, and an abundance of meaning in Christ’s life and sacrifice to be experienced. 

Rehearsals began the beginning of January, and the 27 member cast is really getting into their roles (most play multiple roles), Luke says. There are a variety of ages of cast members, and they hail from Spring Valley, Ellsworth, Glenwood City, River Falls, and Baldwin. Some have been on stage in Spring Valley, and some are new to the Stagehands Theatre. 

The show is scheduled to run April 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12 at 7 p.m., with Sunday April 6 and 13 matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets are available now at www.svstagehands.org

THE CAST of Passion of Christ, which includes Glenwood City senior Kyra Dahl, is pictured above. The Spring Valley Stagehands will present the play in early April. —photo submitted