May 12, 2022

Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble Presents the Spiritual Drama 'The Christians'

BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – Lucas Hnath's masterful play about faith and spirituality comes to BTE’s Alvina Krause Theatre, beginning May 26th. Pastor Paul, who has spent years growing his faithful congregation from just a handful of congregants to thousands, stuns his congregation with a revelation he had at a recent conference. Shock waves course through those at his sermon and expose rifts along the faultlines. As he navigates the fallout, issues of faith, loyalty, and belief itself shift and change those around him. This heartfelt exploration of universal questions will leave audiences with thought-provoking conversations.

BTE’s ‘The Christians’ is helmed by director and resident acting company member Eric Wunsch. The resident acting company members Amy Rene Byrne, Elizabeth Dowd, and Daniel Roth are joined by returning guest artist Dominic Santos (‘Airness’) and BTE’s Emerging Artist Fellowship recipient Dante Green, as well as membership candidate Aaron White as Pastor Paul.

The performances begin May 26th and run through June 12th at 7:30pm on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and Sunday matinees at 3:00pm. Season tickets and subscription packages can be purchased by calling the BTE Box Office at 570-784-8181. Group sales are available at a reduced rate. Tickets are on sale now at the Box Office and online at www.bte.org. COVID protocols are in place at the theatre, please see our website for details.

Special 'Pay What You Decide' performances will be held on Thursday, May 26th, Friday, May 27th, and Saturday, May 28th. Reserve your seat for free and choose your own price after the show.

Area spiritual leaders and academics are taking part in talkbacks with the cast. Following our show on Saturday, June 4th, BTE will be joined by Reverend Mary Schmotzer of Danville’s Shiloh United Church of Christ, Eric Miller of Bloomsburg University who researches religious participation in the public square, and Reverend Tormond Svensson of The Table, First Presbyterian Church in Bloomsburg. After our Sunday show on June 5th, we will joined by Reverend Mark Reisinger of Bloomsburg’s Wesley United Methodist Church and Pastor Joel Zeiders of Bloomsburg’s St. Matthew Lutheran Church. Our Saturday, June 11th show will be followed by discussion with Safa Saracoglu, Professor of Middle Eastern and Islamic History at Bloomsburg University, and Susan Schwartz, a representative of Congregation Beth Israel in Bloomsburg. These talkbacks are open to anyone, regardless of when they see the show.

Founded in 1978 as an artist-driven, community-based resident ensemble, BTE creates innovative work with local and national impact. Today, BTE produces a lively mix of classic and contemporary plays as well as original theatre education programs for all ages. For more information about our shows and programs, please see www.bte.org.

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