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"Beyond Dickens" at The Great Passion Play In Eureka Springs

by Press Release edited by Gary J. Groman a.k.a. The Ole Seagull
published: Nov 28, 2004

As the city of Eureka Springs, Arkansas celebrates "It's A Dickens of a Christmas", The Great

Passion Play is participating with an interactive live nativity experience called "Beyond Dickens."  At The Great Passion Play, a Victorian Town Crier can be heard inviting visitors to step back in time to go "Beyond Dickens". Stationed at the Great Wall on The Great Passion Play grounds, the Town Crier, in the midst of a Dickens era Victorian street scene with Victorian Carolers and Christmas decorations, greets visitors and is their first look at this Christmas Experience being offered in the midst of the Ozarks hills.

 

The "town crier" encourages visitors to travel back "Beyond the Ghost of Christmas Past, Beyond Dickens, to the very first Christmas, to the town of Bethlehem." Here visitors join the travelers from throughout Judea to register for the census decreed by Caesar Augustus. Visitors find themselves intermingling with the Roman soldiers, camels, donkeys, horses, the shepherds, the citizens of Bethlehem, and Mary & Joseph to create this live interactive Nativity experience.

 

"This is a tremendous experience for all of our visitors, as well as for us. By offering a unique Christmas event, we're also participating with Eureka Springs in increasing our tourism season," says Mardell Bland, Sales and Marketing Director for The Great Passion Play. "All of our actors have special characters designed to create an authentic atmosphere as the visitors mingle and become part of this magnificent event."

 

The Roman soldiers, Messala, Quintus, Arrius, Cato, Brutus, Flavius, Antony, & Justus, help keep order for the census takers, Ezra & Obadiah. Money Changers such as Elihu & Bildad help visitors exchange their money for special Great Passion Play "denary" as the Shepherds, Abinadad, Shammah, and Jesse try to share the joy of seeing angels with the skeptical townspeople of Bethlehem.  The innkeepers, Samuel & Leah, try to explain their lack of rooms.

 

Included in the entire experience is a display of Christmas nativities from around the world, interactive events for children, as well as choirs and soloists bringing special Christmas music. There is a special exhibit of paintings by Jack Dawson in Smith Memorial Chapel, a collection of bells and the history behind the 12 Days of Christmas in the Bible Museum along with spectacular lighting of the buildings and grounds of The Great Passion Play.

 

"Beyond Dickens" at The Great Passion Play operates through December 11, 2004, on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Cost of admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 17 with a family pass of $20 for Mom, Dad, and all the kids 17 and under. Groups of 15 or more are $ 7.50 per person.  For more information, call 1-800-882-7529.