The Canadian Badlands Passion Play has three new directors as it moves into the 2017 season.
The Passion Play held its Annual General Meeting on Saturday, March 4 with about 26 attending. Executive Director Vance Neudorf told the Mail, they have elected three new directors, including Geraldine Lee, Dennis Harder and Lonna Hogan.
They also took time out to honour long-time director Lloyd Huber, who has been on the board for 25 years. He has also volunteered in many other aspects including parking and even acting in the play one season as a toga clad member of Herod’s entourage. Huber has also served on the script committee through many revisions, guiding the process to keep the story true to the Gospel accounts.
It was a tough year for the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, with one of its largest losses in 24 years. With the slowdown in the economy, the Passion Play saw a decrease in donations. The economy, as well as poor weather also took a toll on ticket sales.
“We actually had 1,000 more people last year but we were $40,000 short in revenue because we had to discount so deep with the recession in full swing,” he said.
While the passion play hosted a successful Blue Rodeo concert, their presentation of Paul Brandt suffered poor ticket sales due to another major country event in Calgary that same weekend.
This adds up to an approximately $95,000 loss for the season.
This year they have some exciting events planned to fill the Badlands Amp, with a series of four concerts, including a classical music concert on August 3, back-to-back shows, slated for August 25 and 26, and a blues show on September 16. The performers are yet to be announced.
“We are looking for corporate sponsorship, and we have put it out in town,” said Neudorf.
This year’s Passion Play runs from July 7 to July 23.
