Wilshire’s Faith in 3D initiative will present The Christians, a dramatic play by Lucas Hnath, on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 17, at 2:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary.
Nancy Poynter is directing the cast of five Wilshire actors, and the show includes a 25-voice choir led by Ralph Manuel. The production marks the tenth anniversary for Faith in 3D.
The character-driven drama centers on Pastor Paul (Brad Russell), who walks to his megachurch pulpit and begins a sermon, as he does each week. Sitting attentively behind him are his wife, Elizabeth (Megan Wilson); Associate Pastor Johanna (Sally Gary); church elder Jay (Bob Coleman); and the “spirit-raising” choir. On this day, however, after some inner debate, Paul decides to share a viewpoint that runs contrary to traditional church wisdom, a decision that proves to have serious personal and professional implications for him and tests the bounds of faith and doubt along the members.
The Christians debuted at the Humana Festival of New American Plays (Louisville, Kentucky) in 2014. After its Off-Broadway premiere at Playwrights Horizons in 2015, Hnath won the award for playwriting excellence in 2016. That same year the play received the Outer Critics Circle Award for Most Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play.
When the Dallas Theater Center presented the play in 2017, Wilshire’s George Mason, Mark Wingfield and Timothy Peoples, then a pastoral resident, were among the local clergy who helped lead post-show discussions.
Performing as the choir in Wilshire’s production are Chrissy Alvarez, Patsy Brooks, Joshua Brown, Lauren Anne Cove, Kevin Cabaniss, Lynette DeBose, Laurie Diffee, David Duncan, George Gagliardi, Gary Griffith, Chelsea Hopkins, Bill Jernberg, Mike Korson, Ivan Martinez, Linda Martinez, Katherine McClellan, Candy McComb, Laura Mirochna, Meredith Mosley, Monica Mullins, David Nabors, Amy Pottkotter, Price Tinsley, Colman Vigil and Alison Wingfield
The 90-minute drama will be presented without intermission and will be followed by a brief discussion and dessert. Childcare will be offered by reservation for the Saturday show only. Register by Feb. 11 here: wilshirebc.org/events/faith-in-3d-2024.