A group of University students is hoping to make a modern-day impact with an age-old story — what some, like Father Michael Dandurand, call “the greatest story ever told.”
Nearly 25 students from St. Thomas More University Parish will perform this week in a contemporary adaptation of the Catholic tradition of Stations of the Cross. The play, called “That We May Live,” tells the story of Jesus Christ’s passion and death, but in a 21st century setting, Dandurand said.
Dandurand proposed the idea for the play to senior Katie Breidenbach nearly one year ago. Breidenbach, a film major, eagerly accepted the challenge of directing the play and revising its script to be more relevant to University students.
“We still have the cross and crucifixion of Jesus, but everyone depicted is struggling with modern day problems,” she said. “I wanted to go with the idea that Jesus’ sacrifice is chronologically transcendent, which means it’s not bound by time as we perceive it — it’s a series of events, but it exists outside of time.”
Although the play takes place today — complete with iPhones and current fashion trends — its message remains the same as the original story, Breidenbach said.
“I hope the audience comes away with a sense of being loved,” she said. “I wanted to portray Jesus [in the play] as an active participant in his own crucifixion, to show how he chose to suffer and die for us. He had that much love for us.”
Sophomore Steve Hermann, who will take on the lead role, agreed with Breidenbach.
“I think people need to see the pain and suffering and be stricken by that to get the overall message of love from my character,” he said. “No matter how two-faced or hypocritical the characters in the play are, I’m still there, ready to forgive them, and still seeing them as having the potential to believe in me.”
The play may also help audience members reflect on their own sinfulness, said Junior Andrew McCaffrey, who will portray Alexander, the guard who whips Jesus.
“My character is very much aggressive in his selfishness, and he is in the unique power to act on it,” Alexander said. “My role is to teach people the dangers of selfishness when mixed with authority.”
This year is the first time St. Thomas More has hosted a Stations of the Cross play on campus, but Dandurand said he is open to the idea of it being a yearly tradition for the Catholic parish during Lent.
“That We May Live” will take place Saturday and Wednesday, with a special opportunity for the Catholic sacrament of reconciliation offered after the Wednesday performance, he said.
“We’ve never done anything quite like this,” he said. “The play, coupled with the sacrament of reconciliation, is a powerful way to experience new life and get back on track, and there’s no better time to do that than during the Lenten season.”
