Passion Play

Religion, politics and theater collide when Bart DeLorenzo directs the Los Angeles premiere of Passion Play by Tony and two-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Sarah Ruhl, kicking off the Odyssey Theatre Ensemble’s 45th Anniversary Season in a co-production with Evidence Room. Inspired by the historic festivals where everyday citizens came together to elevate their communities by staging the death and resurrection of Christ, Ruhl’s wildly ambitious triptych spins a funny and lusty tale of community spirit, individual morality and global politics. The three-part saga follows three acting troupes as they stage a classical passion play at different moments in history, transporting audiences first to 16th century England, where Queen Elizabeth threatens to shut down a small town's production; then to Nazi Germany, where Adolf Hitler's arrival at the famous Oberammergau Passion Play influences the lives of its cast; and finally to Spearfish, South Dakota in 1984, as a local production becomes a campaign stop for a famous actor-turned-President running for re-election. In each act, town members gather to commemorate the martyrdom of Christ, and the proceedings reflect Ruhl's trademark blending of philosophical query and light-spirited wit.

“I love plays that are about how theater affects our lives, and about how our lives are, in fact, a kind of theater,” says director DeLorenzo. “Sarah has a mad sense of humor, and in this magical play she draws the kind of imaginative connections that only theater can. It runs the gamut – from intimate scenes to crazy pageants to wild surrealism. It’s very funny, but she is exploring some rich dark themes.”

Performances of Passion Play take place on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m., Jan. 25 through March 16. (On Sunday, Jan. 26 only, the performance will be at 5 p.m. with no 2 p.m. matinee.) Additional weeknight performances are scheduled on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on Feb. 19 and March 5, and on Thursdays at 8 p.m. on Feb. 13, Feb. 27 and March 13. Tickets are $25 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and $30 on Saturdays and Sundays, except for the opening night performance on Saturday, Jan. 25 which is $45 and includes a gala reception with the actors. The Odyssey Theatre is located at 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West Los Angeles, 90025. For reservations and information, call (310) 477-2055 or go to www.OdysseyTheatre.com.