There’s never been a better time to dive into faith-based entertainment. Between TV series like The Chosen and Prime Video’s House of David, and upcoming animated films like The King of Kings and Light of the World, it’s never been easier to immerse yourself in the word of God. But this sentiment is nothing new to Sight & Sound Theatres®, as they set out decades ago to convey The Bible’s epic stories through the magic of theatre.
This year, Sight & Sound is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the production of ‘NOAH’. Originally gracing the stage in 1995, it sailed into the memories of audiences from all over the world. It’s one thing to read scripture and default to your imagination, but it’s a different ball game once a theatre puts on an entire production to bring the text to life.
I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.”
Genesis 6:7
NOAH takes us to a tumultuous time when human beings had evil in their hearts and minds constantly, and the Lord was displeased. But Noah was a righteous man and was found blameless among the people. After God decides to destroy the earth by flood, he instructs Noah to build an ark, a project that would take decades to complete. Along with his wife and three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, Noah was responsible for taking part in an event that would change the world.
With four-story theater sets and animals everywhere you turn, Sight & Sound brought a level of authenticity that most productions could only dream of. If goats and donkeys weren’t roaming the aisles, then skunks were scampering onto the stage. Having real animals as part of the message added another layer of “awe” to the already awe-inspiring setting. There were over 140 animals used in the production (camels, geese, horses, and more), and more than 40 live animals were used to load the Ark.
The story of Noah spans just three chapters in the Book of Genesis, enabling the gift of creative license (and Matthew 24 was used for context). We see things that weren’t written, but would make perfect sense for that time. Noah is framed almost as a dissenter, boldly following God when nobody else did. So the production did a great job of framing the kind of weight that one would have to carry during that time, on top of stress from outsiders and family, and even the danger in building a vessel with a meticulous list of materials in secret so looters and thieves couldn’t damage it. The singing was great, the story was easy to follow along, and it stuck close enough to the source material that consenting parents shouldn’t be alarmed.
Sight and Sound Theatre® in Lancaster, PA, presents an environment conducive to education, exploration, and imagination. I can say that confidently since it wasn’t just the staff that was amazing, the kindness of other patrons was noticeable from the beginning.
The image of a lion and a lamb awaits you outside, as you’re guided into the theatre. There are three levels of seating available, and I would advise taking the second. The benefit of the first level is being where the action is, since performers and animals walk the aisles throughout the performance. The benefit the second level provides is the view. The ability to see everything since you’re elevated, but still feel close to the set (after it expands for the Ark scene). The bright, airy, and spacious lobby is a great place to relax before the show. The concessions and the gift shop are both fairly priced, so don’t be afraid to grab some merch before heading out (a t-shirt and fridge magnet came home with me).
The story is comprised of two acts. Act I tells the story of Noah leading up to the Ark, while Act II goes from the Ark to the end of the story. The creative team consists of Ryan Miller (producer), Jeff Bender (director), and Caleb Hughes (writer). What started as a traveling multimedia show in 1976 has turned into two theaters (Lancaster, PA, and Branson, MO), inspiring over 30 million people with stories from the Bible.
NOAH gets a 9.5 out of 10. It’s a production that’s great for all ages and provides a truly unique experience. A theatre that turns into an Ark and has live animals is an amazing way to tell one of the most notable stories in the Bible. The best way to get tickets to NOAH is on the Sight & Sound website. Now, they probably wouldn’t toot their horns, but the fact of the matter is, a Sight & Sound production is a hot ticket. A few dates are available in June, one’s left in July, and August is completely booked.
NOAH is now playing at Sight & Sound Theatre® in Lancaster, PA. For more information, visit their website.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Sight & Sound