MAHANOY CITY — The audience gave the cast of “Born For This” a standing ovation Sunday at the Blessed Theresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church.
More than 100 people came out to see the retelling of the passion of Christ by Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts, an Ashland-based theater group.
“Loved it. Loved it. Loved it,” Alice Moore, 73, of Mahanoy City, said to Jim Stepanchick, who portrayed Jesus Christ.
She said this is the first time she attended the performance and wants to see it again.
“Shame on you,” she said to people who did not see it.
The performance featured cast members in black attire except for Jesus. He wears a white shirt and a white robe after he is risen from the tomb after the crucifixion. Scenes depicted by the actors included Jesus entering Jerusalem; the Last Supper, when he is betrayed by Judas; and the crucifixion.
Despite weeks of practices, Stepanchick admitted he was a little nervous. He has been a regular in the production for years, but Sunday was his first time portraying Jesus.
“It’s an honor,” he said.
Afterward, Stepanchick said he thought everything went OK.
Cast members said that the message of Jesus dying on the cross in giving his life for ours should resonate with people.
Mary Wydra, 62, of Mount Carmel, who portrayed the mother of Jesus, said the other cast members dressed in black because there is good and bad inside all of us. She thought it was important to be a cast member so people can think about the historic importance of the event. She sang the show’s title track, “Born For This.”
“I walk by your side till we come to the end,” she sang.
Sunday’s performance was the beginning of the group’s 2016 tour. Other scheduled performances are: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, St. Columbia Catholic Church, Bloomsburg; 6 p.m. March 6, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Cornwall; 6 p.m. March 13, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dallas; and 6 p.m. March 20, Landsdale, United Methodist Church, Landsdale.