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Large crowds flock to annual Easter show

The Promise is a dramatic retelling of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.
New Hope Community Church

New Hope Community Church in Williamsburg, is a large church, but not a mega church. Yet, over a period of four days last year, 6,000 people crammed into the building to view The Promise, a dramatic Broadway-styled retelling of the Easter story. 

This year marks the 18th year of the show. 

Take one step into the dress rehearsal and you realize this isn’t your average church production. Viewers quickly find themselves immersed in culture 2,000 years old complete with authentic looking Roman soldiers and Hebrew priests. 

Carolyn Hoover, has been directing the musical drama for 13 years. After pursuing an acting career in California, she and her husband returned to Michigan to raise their family. 

She's seen the production grow substantially since she first started. "We started off with a budget, I think my first budget was $1,200 dollars. And now it’s about $25,000," she says. "Including all our advertising and everything like that."

Nearly 400 people are needed to pull off these shows each year. Attendees from New Hope and surrounding churches pull together to form a volunteer cast, crew, and even a hospitality service which offers free childcare, and valet parking.

Choreographed dances are one of the elements of the Broadway-styled production.
Credit New Hope Community Church
Choreographed dances are one of the elements of the Broadway-styled production.

Last year, thousands of people came to watch a drama full of denial, betrayal, and ultimately redemption. 

Rick Stewart, the show’s producer, says audiences are drawn to the passion of the portrayal of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.

"It’s not about our church. We’re not trying to promote anything about us," he says. "It’s strictly about them coming to hear the real message of Jesus...Whatever your problems are, you think God can’t forgive you. He can forgive anything. And that’s the whole story. We’re all sinners in need of a Savior and Jesus is that Savior."

 

With months of preparation finally behind them, Carolyn Hoover believes it’s ready for show time. 

"It’s interesting, because there is a time -- it reaches a point every year where I say, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m never going to do this again,’ because it just gets chaotic and crazy," she says. "And then I say ‘Oh, okay.’ You know and it comes out great...every year."

Seamstresses work months in advance to create authentic costumes.
Credit New Hope Community Church
Seamstresses work months in advance to create authentic costumes.

The Promise is a free production that runs through Saturday afternoon. For show times and more details, visit our Almanac.

Dan Wanschura is the Host and Executive Producer of Points North.