Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 30, 1991                   TAG: 9103290074
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: CODY LOWE/ RELIGION WRITER
DATELINE: ROANOKE                                LENGTH: Medium

STORY OF JESUS' LAST WEEK A POPULAR PRODUCTION

European dramatic presentations of the Gospel stories have been documented as far back as the 14th century.

The Passion play at Oberammergau, Germany, in the Bavarian Alps - one of the most famous of the ancient productions - dates to 1634 and is presented only every 10 years. Next due in 2000, it attracts visitors from around the world each time it is performed.

The Shenandoah Passion Play, though not quite as well known as Oberammergau, is making its mark.

About 6,000 people saw the play during its six performances this year, according to Terry Tankersley, its director and the minister of music at Shenandoah Baptist Church on Williamson Road.

Almost 100 children and adults, 65 choir members and at least another 120 people behind the scenes contribute to the production, Tankersley said.

All of them are church members and all are volunteers.

"Different scenes are presented each year," Tankersley said, so that every three years a "totally new" production, which includes a helping of contemporary Christian music, is presented. All of the scenes are based strictly on scripture, he said.

This year's production focused on Christ as the sacrificial lamb offering atonement for sins, and includes scenes from the Old Testament as well as the New. It features a finale with Christ in heaven with the angels after his ascension.

Tickets are always free, but are distributed in advance to organize the crowds. Even though each performance is to a full house, Tankersley said, he cannot foresee asking the volunteer cast to put on any more than six productions in a season.

Although he has been producing the Shenandoah play for only three years, Tankersley said he did similar, if smaller-scale, productions at the church he served before coming to Roanoke.

He views the play as "a tool for members to invite others to hear the Gospel message and see it presented" in a way that is different from the average week-to-week service.

"This is the church's major attempt to reach a community of folks who would not attend a regular worship service," he said.

Dana F. Pannell and Gail C. Thompson, authors of "The Resurrection," another 3-year-old Passion play in the Roanoke Valley, also see their work as an evangelical outreach.

"The Resurrection" is an independent production, not tied to any specific church, and is produced with an all-black cast.

This year's presentation was limited to two performances at Virginia Western Community College, partly because a couple of cast members were called to active military service in the Persian Gulf.

Pannell describes the work as "a vision" presented specifically so that "those who do not know Jesus will receive salvation and that Christians will experience a closer walk with Christ."

This is "not entertainment," per se, but a broader mission.

Like the Shenandoah production, "The Resurrection" adheres closely to scriptural accounts, spiced with original gospel music.

It also is revised each year to add depth where necessary, and sometimes new characters.

Unlike some other productions, it does not rely on elaborate sets or other production mechanics. Costumed actors perform on a bare stage, except for the crucifixion scene - where three bare crosses are displayed at the back of the stage - and the resurrection scene - in which a carved stone tomb is displayed.

Some churches, such as First Baptist at 515 Third St. S.W., have dramatic productions at other times of the year - such as Christmas - and focus on music at Easter.

The Christmas production at First Baptist will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year and will cover Jesus' life from his birth until the Resurrection and Ascension, Spence said.

Many churches produce versions of some aspect of the Passion story, including dramatizations of the Last Supper. Most are aimed primarily at their own members as a special event for the season.