On Friday, September 20th my husband and I planned out a whole (early) birthday surprise for our oldest daughter! I was so excited to be hosted by Sight and Sound Theatre in Lancaster, PA to see a showing of Jesus. This show is only playing until October 5th but fortunately, if you missed it, you can always purchase the show on DVD (when it's released) to enjoy over and over again!
Sight & Sound "brings the Bible to life" by putting on a show that completely engulfs you in the storyline. The panoramic stage, live animals, incredible musical scores, and acting that sucks you in, are all a feast for the eyes and ears. From the moment you walk onto the property of the theatre, you are greeted by the beautiful building, landscaping, and sculptures. It was a great place for us to sit and digest our delicious pre-show meal at Hershey Farm while waiting for the doors to the show to open. We grabbed ourselves a program to look through while we chatted.
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Much to my daughter's delight, she saw that the upcoming show, premiering in 2020 is Queen Esther! This is one of her absolute favorite Bible stories and she was so excited to see that it would be coming to the theatre next!
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Once we found our seats, there was a gigantic screen on the stage that had some preview type graphics going across it. Up until this point, we had not told my daughter what all was in store for her (my husband and I had been to the theatre before). She was under the impression that the show "Jesus" was going to be a movie! I was so excited to watch her face as the lights dimmed, the screen went up, and the real show began! She had eyes and mouth wide open in amazement about what was happening in front of her. To be able to watch her face as the performance took place, was one of the best parts for me. She was completely immersed in the experience and was amazed over and over again as the live animals ran on stage, as the actors sang out beautiful songs and embodied their parts incredibly, as the emotions of the story were felt through and through.
The shows that they put on at Sight and Sound Theatres are ones that take years to create and perfect and it is shown by the experience. The details that they put into the show are ones that take it to the next level. What could just be "really cool" is made "unforgettable." As the 2.5 hour show came to a close, my daughter began retelling her favorite parts. The "Oooh! And remember the part where....?!" and "It was so cool when...." and on and on. She was so excited to share with others what she had experienced there and now can't wait to return again.
I love taking my children to do things rather than just buying them things for their birthday. I loved that I was able to take my middle daughter to Hershey for her 5th birthday and then was able to take my oldest to Sight and Sound this year. Experiences are something our children will not forget! They feel extra loved and cared about, more so than just being given a toy that will be forgotten in a month or so.
If you have not yet been to Sight & Sound Theatre, I highly recommend going! The Miracle of Christmas will be playing November 1st to December 28th and would make a great Christmas present for anyone! Or of course, you can order tickets to see Queen Esther coming March 14 through the end of 2020. This will be an experience enjoyed by children (I wouldn't recommend younger than 4 as the shows are long, however, they do have a family viewing room if your child gets restless) and adults alike. Make someone's birthday or Christmas a time that's unforgettable!
I received complimentary tickets to see the show Jesus, however, the opinions in this article are my own.
