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As of press time 34 churches and 150 people representing many
faiths are working shoulder-to-shoulder to bring the story of
the lineage of Christ alive Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec.
6.
The Trail of Light, an interfaith Christian drama, will be performed
at Cullowhee Baptist Church on the campus of Western Carolina
University at 7 p.m. both nights.
"Trail of Light" is a story of the lineage of Christ
beginning with Adam and Eve, and then traversing through the trail
of the Old Testament to the New.
All the cast are members of the community, including individuals
who have an acting background and those who do not. Many families
are involved – grandparents, mothers, fathers and children
– all learning and working together.
Lisa
Banner as Tamar, left, and Henry Wong as Judah practice their
roles for this year's annual production of the "Trail of Light,"
which will be held Friday, Dec. 5, and Saturday, Dec. 6, at 7
p.m. at Cullowhee Baptist Church.
A pre-show consisting of local entertainers such as Kimberly
Shuler, soloist; Josh Bulla on the harp; Kayla and Seth Creason
who will sing and play the violin; and WCU's Inspirational Choir
will be held at 6 p.m.
The play is written by author Amy Garza of Whittier, with the
millennium section written by Gene McAbee of Cullowhee.
Executive director Barbara Eberly and executive producer Etheree
Chancellor lead the drama team consisting of assistant directors
Ray Menze, Penny Graham, Bernice Edwards and Garza; choreographer
Suzanne Kehrberg; sound manager the Rev. Roy Burnette; costume
coordinator Ginny Welsh; and stage manager Dianne Yount.
The play is so named because at the end, each generation carries
a torch, lighting the trail to the birth of Christ.
"The birth of Jesus was not just something that happened
2,000 years ago on the other side of the world. It was an event
that makes a real presence here today in the mountains,"
said Eberly, who researched the genealogy of Christ's lineage
for the Christmas drama .
"Christ's lineage surrounds us... and it doesn't end with
us. We carry it on – that's how important each one of us
is," she said.
"Last year when we performed the play, that trail of light
was so impressive. It's a powerful thing to see the genealogy
trail of Christ on one stage at one time," said Garza.
There is no charge for the play, but donations will be accepted.
A benefit drawing for a hand-pieced, machine-quilted queen-size
string quilt will be held to help defray production costs.
Fund-raisers and donations are very important, Garza said, since
all posters, banners, programs, costumes, lights, sound
and other expenses have to be raised by volunteers.
The drawing will be Sunday, Dec. 21. Tickets are $1 each or six
for $5 and may be sent to The Trail of Light, Cullowhee Baptist
Church, P.O. Box 37, Cullowhee, N.C. 28723. Indicate that the
donation is for the string quilt drawing. For more information,
call 293-9024. View the quilt on line at http://home1.gte.net/eberly1/barbara/tolquilt.htm.
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