Group launches fund drive to save American Passion Play at BCPA

Posted on July 16, 2015
American Passion Play
The American Passion Play has been performed at the Boomington Center for the Performing Arts for 93 years, dating back to its time as the Scottish Rite Temple. (Photo courtesy American Passion Play)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – The story of Christ’s death and resurrection could be coming to an end at the Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts.

President of the American Passion Play Lars LaBounty told WJBC attendance took a huge hit after the 9-11 terrorist attacks and never recovered.

“The bus trips that were coming from these states all around couldn’t sell any tickets,” LaBounty said. “They said it wasn’t just the American Passion Play, they just couldn’t sell tickets to anybody to go anywhere. We went from 10,000 tickets to 3,000 tickets in one year.”

PODCAST: Listen to Susan Saunders’ interview with Lars LaBounty and Andy Bender on WJBC.

LaBounty said the performance, now 93 years running at the former Scottish Rite Temple, is losing up to $50,000 per year. He said costumes and burrows used in the performance and the marketing of the shows runs close to $100,000 annually, even as the BCPA has rented the venue at cost and the nearly 200 amateur cast and crew members are volunteers.

LaBounty has been involved with the play for 27 years and said he’s one of the younger performers. He said many of the play’s cast and crew believe the play will be saved.

“They are in denial this can happen. They are just on pins and needles about what it going to happen. We just can’t let this happen.”

LaBounty added there will be a 2016 performance, but unless the group can raise $50,000 through a GoFundMe campaign and other efforts, 2016 will be its last year.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

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