'The Passion and the Cross' set for Orpheum Theater

Yahoo

10-04-2025

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — A local production group is set to bring an Easter musical back to downtown Sioux Falls.
The pieces are in place at the Orpheum Theater, now it's all about the final details as 'The Passion and the Cross' returns for a fifth consecutive spring.
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'It's an encounter with the witnesses who were there with Jesus, the men, women, children, the religious, the non-religious, people of all walks of life,' show creator Brent Grosvenor said.
'The Passion and the Cross' features an all-local cast of about 140 adults and children. He says the recipe for success is staying organized.
'Musical theater lives and dies by the ensemble. The energy, the vocals, the quality of those large scenes, so we iron all that out first and work hard, hard, hard through those and then work out all the details beyond that with our smaller scenes with either three or five or twelve people in it,' Grosvenor said.
'It's a large group, but everyone's so supportive of each other and get along really well. It's a great group,' actor Mark Ditmarson said.
Ditmarson will be playing the role of Simon Peter for the third consecutive year.
'He's very bold, he kind of thinks he's a leader and he does a lot of good things, but sometimes puts his foot in his mouth,' Ditmarson said.
After taking a 20-year break from acting, Ditmarson has been part of all five productions of The Passion and the Cross.
'It's impacted my life personally a ton over the past five years, as well as my daughter who's been involved with most of the productions as well,' Ditmarson said.
And whether it's your first time or fifth time seeing the show, Grosvenor says it's always a learning experience.
'I think people need to come because they'll get a good broad, as well as a detailed understanding of who Jesus is as the Messiah, as the Redeemer, as the Savior of the world, the hope of the world,' Grosvenor said.
And opening night is only 48 hours away.
'We're going to be ready. Two more dress rehearsals though to polish is up and fine tune everything,' Grosvenor said.
The 'Passion and the Cross' opens Friday night at the Orpheum Theater and runs through Saturday, April 19.
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