In the News ... "PASSION PLAY: Students proud of Easter production"

OA Photo by Eli Hartman

• Putting on a show for the first time can present its share of obstacles

By Michael Bauer, Reporter
• Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - In celebration of Holy Week, middle school students from St. Mary’s Central Catholic School put on a play of the story of Jesus Wednesday afternoon in the school’s gym.

The production was called “The Passion Play” depicting the life of Jesus including his trial, suffering and death. The performance included singing in between each scene.

This year’s play was the first to be put on by the middle school students at St. Mary’s Central Catholic. St. Mary’s Central Catholic Music Teacher Elaine Randolph directed the music while Adel Cortez and Larry Cortez also helped directing the play.

“We’ve always done it out our church at St. Joseph’s but Elaine wanted her music class to do the same play that we’ve done before,” Adel Cortez said. “It’s beautiful. I think it’s really beautiful. They brought it to life and they did an awesome job. This is the first time that we’ve done this with all middle schoolers.”

Putting on a show for the first time can present its share of obstacles. For this production, one of the tough parts was getting the students all together to rehearse. “The challenges were that it was new to them so it was hard getting them all together and that was a challenge,” Cortez said. “They came together and Elaine had to work it out with the teachers and letting the students come together.”

Cortez was glad to have the opportunity to put on this play.

“It’s that time and it’s so beautiful and every opportunity that we get to tell the story of Jesus and bring the gospel to life, we should just take it and open the door for a great opportunity,” Cortez said.

Playing the role of Jesus was eighth grader Andrew Randolph. “I like playing Jesus,” Randolph said. “It was hard to learn all the lines and the songs but I love serving the lord and doing what he asks me.”

He also enjoyed putting the show on with his classmates. “I loved the music and how it brought us closer together and how it was fun for everyone,” Randolph said.

The students had been working on the play before Lent had even started, beginning practice in early February ...

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