Sharing is Caring-

If you click on the links below you will see a video promo for the upcoming play.

Please pass these links along to family and friends so they can see the exciting changes taking place at the Passion Play this year. 

Passion Play Promo Video

The Trees of the Passion Play

Last year we planted 5 Schubert chokecherry trees out in front of the  Jerusalem wall. The trees were sponsored by individuals to honour a friend or family member.

This year we are adding a number of new trees to the set area (as seen in a closeup of the set rendering below).

1 Russian Olive - a thorny tree representative of the crown of thorns Jesus wore. 

2 Spire Ash - These trees turn a beautiful red colour each fall before the leaves fall to the ground and die. The colour brings to mind the blood Jesus shed for mankind.

1 Buckeye -  This tree produces a fruit that was crushed by native americans to make a nutritious meal they called "Hetuck".  The tree speaks to the words of Jesus, "this is my body that was broken for you." 

1 Larch - This tree reminds us of the resurrection for it has the appearance of an evergreen tree but it looses its needles each fall. Many think the tree has died and find it incredible how it comes back to life each spring. 

5 Swedish Aspen - These tall columnar trees reach toward the sky pointing us to both the ascension of Christ and also the hope of his return.

1 Bur Oak - A slow growing tree that can live up to 300 years. the Bur Oak symbolizes the everlasting life Jesus promised us.

Making CENTS- Things to do in Drumheller that wont cost a penny!

We hope you will all be making it to the Canadian Badlands Passion Play this year, but just incase you decide to spend all your money on tickets to the show, I've gone undercover to find you some FREE FUN in Drumheller, Alberta.

                                          1. Rotary Splash Park

2. Drumheller Fountain (Behind the fountain by the bridge is an underpass where you can walk down and watch the river. (the kids always love walking "under the big bridge and coming out on the other side)     

3. Rosedale Suspension Bridge (also called the swinging bridge by locals) 4. Hoodoos
5. The views from Horsethief Canyon are priceless, (Most visitors visit Horseshoe Canyon, another wonder just outside Drumheller as well)
6. Midland Coal- There are 2 spots seperated by a gravel road when you turn right off of Dinosaur Trail on your way out to the museum. Be sure to stop in and check out the building to the right but there is also a walking tour and artifacts from the old coal mine that once sat there.
7. The Little Church-  The "Biggest Little Church in the World" seats thousands. . . six at a time. It is located on North Dinosaur Trail just past the museum.

8. Find all the downtown Dinosaur statues
9. Picnic at McMullen Island or Newcastle Beach (overgrown beach here, still usable if you bring some towels to sit on and shallow enough for the kids to walk around and play in the river)
10. Drive the 11 bridges to Wayne
11. The Bleriot Ferry-Named after famous French pilot and balloonist Louis Bleriot, this is one of the last remaining cable-operated ferries in Alberta.
12. Hill Climb- many a childs summer are spent in these hills if you are a local from Drumheller.

13. The Nature Trail- There is a walking path that spreads through all parts of Drumheller, but our favorite section is walking from in behind the splash park along riverside drive. Halfway through it connects to a beautiful treed path along the Red Deer River. (Great for pictures too).
14. Tennis courts near the pool
15. Farmers Market every Saturday

16. Volunteer- The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is a great way to camp for free, meet a community of friends, all while volunteering for 1 or 7 days during the summer performances.

Who is this prophet?

Chicken Soup for the Passion Play soul!

Sent out a request last month asking for our cast to send out stories of their experiences throughout the years at The Canadian Badlands Passion Play. Little did we know......here's an experience from John, whom we thank dearly for sharing, and feel free to share with whomever you so choose!

JOHNS STORY

Our daughter, Holly, gave my wife and I tickets to the play last June for my 59th birthday. We had never been to the play before, but she thought I'd enjoy it, as I had written and acted in numerous plays at our church over the years.

We instantly were enthralled with the production. After the play, we mingled with some of the cast and other volunteers, and ran into our friend Victoria Krawcruk, the costume designer. She had helped us with costumes for a play we did some years ago. She encouraged me to become part of the cast for 2011.
So I put my name in for an audition. As time went on, though, I started to have second thoughts. I just didn't wish to give up all my weekends for two warm months and use all my vacation time being involved with something to which I could bring little if any real artistic talent. I made up my mind to withdraw my application for an audition.

 Then on Dec 30, Holly gave birth to her third daughter, Elianna Felicity, up in Bonnyville with her husband Mike at her side. But it went horribly wrong. Severe haemorrhaging prompted the medical team to immediately call for a STARS helicopter to fly the 200 km from Edmonton to take her to the Royal Alexandra hospital. She was given 13 units of blood in Bonnyville and another six in the helicopter. She spent 3 hours in the OR in Edmonton, where she went into cardiac arrest. Her lungs collapsed, and her condition was grave.

 The anaesthetist told us later that during her 30 second cardiac arrest and with no measurable blood pressure…..he could hear her singing softly.

 My wife, Lynn, and I arrived at the hospital early afternoon. Mike, his parents, and our three granddaughters arrived from Bonnyville soon after (brand new healthy baby included). Holly was unrecognizable, with tubes and monitors everywhere, and bloated to almost twice her normal size. But she was alive. Prayers for her flowed like tap water from all over the country and the world. They gave her coagulants in a desperate move to stop the bleeding. The next 48 hours she improved miraculously.

We were staying with relatives in Edmonton. As we were driving there with our granddaughters Teagan and Kaelyn after spending the day with Holly, she called us in tears, learning that the chest pains she'd been having were the result massive clots in her lungs.

That night was my lowest of all. I didn't know if I should curse God or thank Him. I know what one is SUPPOSED to do at such times. I just sat in a chair, trying to just blank it all out. Then I saw a little glimpse of a really momentous thing. Holly was walking, pushing a baby carriage, with Teagan and Kaelyn by her side. She was walking with hundreds of other women who have overcome. And the walk was on Mother's Day, 2011. I wept. And at that moment I thought of my PP audition and knew  I owed God nothing for saving Holly. His grace is more than sufficient. But I also knew that I needed to thank Him in a powerful way. So I auditioned.

Holly and baby are doing well now. The epilogue to this story is the fact that the first performance of the season, and the 100th performance overall, is also Holly's 32 birthday.

Thank you all so much-

John Moerschbacher

Undiscovered talent in Three Hills

Community Theatre is one of my favourite parts of the drama world. You get to enjoy some
amazing undiscovered talent, watch unbounded enthusiasm and see the occasional
extremely funny blooper. It is guaranteed great entertainment value. 

Guys and Dolls, a wonderful musical with many great songs like "I love you a
Bushel and a Peck" and "Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat" opens
tonight in Three Hill at the curling rink. Tickets are only $15 and can be
purchased over the phone by calling the Three Hills IGA 403-443-5022 Ext. 5.
There are only 10 shows so reserve early. Its a great show, lots of laughs.

Who comes up with this stuff?

The word is out that we will be
featuring a new script this coming season. Royal Sproule (our Director this
past year) is working on a new script taken from the gospel of John.The weather was not the greates but 40 people showed up on February 20 & 21 to help us refine the script for the coming season.

This workshop was held at Greentree Mall,in Drumheller, Ab. Heres a clip for you to watch too!

http://web.me.com/canadianpassionplay/Backstage_Pass/Workshop2.html

You can also click on the link below to see a short clip of another script workshop at the
site.

http://web.me.com/canadianpassionplay/Backstage_Pass/Script.html

By The HUNDREDS!

100, 100, 100, tons of 100's being celebrated in Drumheller this year, yes we knew we were old, the dinos gave it away...but for The Canadian Badlands Passion Play it is our 100th performance on July 15 (opening day we might add). Oh how far we've come from practicing in a church to a large outdoor amphitheatre, brought to life realistic set and costumes, quality performances and remarkable similarity of the site to the Holy Land. A celebration is set for that day to commemorate

But Drumheller has even more 100's up their sleeve, The Drumheller Mail celebrates 100 year of print, enticindg readers with old articles and memories dating back to early 1900's. Munson, a small village where The Drumheller Mail first published as the Munson Mail, celebrates their 100th anniversary with a week long celebration.

But without coal, we wouldn't be in this amazing valley to begin with. It was the discovery of coal in Drumheller that led many families to flock to our area and build a life. The Atlas Coal Mine in East Coulee, keeps coal alive and we are proud to celebrate 100 year Mining Centennial of the Valley, and thankful Linda Digby has revived the importance of our past. Here is a link to the celbration site, but we reccomend you check out the Atlas Coal Mine as well.
http://drumhellermining100.com/mining-tales-a-tidbit/videos.html

SHAVING IT ALL OFF

Hard to believe it's almost that time of year again,
when others begin to start shaving off that winter we begin cultivating dashing beards that will       transform them into high priests.




                                                                                          In photo you see Bill Girard (Herod) gets a
                                                                                               more modern look from Patrick Meehan of                                                                                                            Shamrock Barbershop in Red Deer 
In 2009 "This will be the day my beard died" was
written and performed as tribute from the year before Bartholomew.
The song which we've shared the link to below,  took place at the cast and crew beard shaving
and pie party after the final show of 2009,
at the Nacmine Camp - the day
we said goodbye to those luxurious facial locks.
As we near 2011 rehearsals, we look forward to many new
memories, but wanted to celebrate some performers who make The Canadian Badlands Passion Play their home for the summer.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzy8Vc_cvVw