New Jerusalem theater
Encyclopedia
New Jerusalem is a city theater founded in 1968, located in city of Brejo da Madre de Deus
, in the district of Fazenda Nova, about 180 km from Recife
, the capital of Pernambuco
- Brazil
.
Every Easter
, the theatre hosts an outdoor Passion of Christ performance which tells the history of the Death and
Resurrection of Jesus
. It's considered the largest open-air theater in the world due to its 100000 m2 (1.1Million ft2), surrounded by 3500 meters of walls and 70 towers.
. The big mankind story of faith
, hope and excitement for the Christians, containing 60 renowned actors (many from Rede Globo
) and more than 500 back actors
(which could be the visitors as well), with a daily average audience of 8000 people.
Another strength of the scenario is the technical infrastructure with digital sound, pyrotechnics, lights, special effects and elaborate customers; inside in a Jerusalem city atmosphere of 1.1M ft2 surrounded by walls and towers which delights national and international visitors.
, in the streets of the small parish of Fazenda Nova. The idea surges after his readings in a magazine about a German city (Oberammergau
) who was doing something similar called Passion Play
.
In 1956, Plínio Pacheco arrives in Brejo da Madre de Deus
and soon married Diva Pacheco, daughter of Epaminondas and local actress. In 1958, Plinio become director of the theater and in 1962 he had the idea to build the New Jerusalem Theater as a small replica of the Jerusalem city. The city theatre just was finished in 1968, and since then Plinio Pacheco was the Director until his death in 2002.
Brejo da Madre de Deus
Brejo da Madre de Deus is a city located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Located at 202 km away from Recife, capital of the state of Pernambuco. Has an estimated population of 42.250 inhabitants...
, in the district of Fazenda Nova, about 180 km from Recife
Recife
Recife is the fifth-largest metropolitan area in Brazil with 4,136,506 inhabitants, the largest metropolitan area of the North/Northeast Regions, the 5th-largest metropolitan influence area in Brazil, and the capital and largest city of the state of Pernambuco. The population of the city proper...
, the capital of Pernambuco
Pernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
- Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
.
Every Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, the theatre hosts an outdoor Passion of Christ performance which tells the history of the Death and
Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus and his ensuing death is an event that occurred during the 1st century AD. Jesus, who Christians believe is the Son of God as well as the Messiah, was arrested, tried, and sentenced by Pontius Pilate to be scourged, and finally executed on a cross...
Resurrection of Jesus
Resurrection of Jesus
The Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus states that Jesus returned to bodily life on the third day following his death by crucifixion. It is a key element of Christian faith and theology and part of the Nicene Creed: "On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures"...
. It's considered the largest open-air theater in the world due to its 100000 m2 (1.1Million ft2), surrounded by 3500 meters of walls and 70 towers.
Show
Every night at 6 pm, in just two hours, the crowd follows the footsteps of Jesus and his followers during nine permanent stages build it specially for the encenation, under the starry skies of the rural PernambucoPernambuco
Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...
. The big mankind story of faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
, hope and excitement for the Christians, containing 60 renowned actors (many from Rede Globo
Rede Globo
Rede Globo , or simply Globo, is a Brazilian television network, launched by media mogul Roberto Marinho on April 26, 1965. It is owned by media conglomerate Organizações Globo, being by far the largest of its holdings...
) and more than 500 back actors
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
(which could be the visitors as well), with a daily average audience of 8000 people.
Another strength of the scenario is the technical infrastructure with digital sound, pyrotechnics, lights, special effects and elaborate customers; inside in a Jerusalem city atmosphere of 1.1M ft2 surrounded by walls and towers which delights national and international visitors.
Stages and Scenes
- 1 - Sermon (Prologue, Temptation in the desert and sermon on the mount scenes
- 2 - Jerusalem Temple (Discurssions in the temple and The supreme council)
- 3 - The Upper Room (The last supper/dinner)
- 4 - The Garden (Agony in the garden, Judas betrayal and Arrest of JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
) - 5 - Herod Palace (Herod bacchanal/orgy and Jesus against Herod)
- 6 - Roman Forum (Pilate against Jesus, Scourging and Condemnation of Jesus)
- 7 - Via Sacra (Meeting with Mary, Women of lamentations and The Cirino)
- 8 - Calvary (Despair of JudasJudas IscariotJudas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
, Crucifixion and death on the cross, the descent of the cross and Mater painful) - 9 - Sepulcher (The burial, Resurrection, Three Marias (Mary's), Angel of resurrection and Ascension of Jesus)
Numbers
- Record audience in 2008 of 72000 people, from 23 Brazilian statesBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and 11 Countries; - 60 actors;
- over than 500 back actorsExtra (actor)A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
; - over than 400 professionals of sound, lights, special effects, security, administration, etc;
- Theater city area of 100000 m2 (1.1 Million ft2), surrounded by 3500 meters of wall and 70 towers;
- 9 stages, with a total number of 26 scenes;
- Capacity of 8000 people times nine days;
- 860 lights reflectors spending 1.29 Mwatts;
- 72 digital sound tables with a total of 150000 watts of power;
- 800 costumes in the wardrobe.
History
It was in 1951 when the marketer Epaminondas Mendonça had the idea to realize during the holy week the scenes of life, death and resurrection of JesusJesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, in the streets of the small parish of Fazenda Nova. The idea surges after his readings in a magazine about a German city (Oberammergau
Oberammergau
Oberammergau is a municipality in the district of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, in Bavaria, Germany. The town is famous for its production of a Passion Play, its woodcarvers, and the NATO School.-Passion Play:...
) who was doing something similar called Passion Play
Passion play
A Passion play is a dramatic presentation depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ: his trial, suffering and death. It is a traditional part of Lent in several Christian denominations, particularly in Catholic tradition....
.
In 1956, Plínio Pacheco arrives in Brejo da Madre de Deus
Brejo da Madre de Deus
Brejo da Madre de Deus is a city located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Located at 202 km away from Recife, capital of the state of Pernambuco. Has an estimated population of 42.250 inhabitants...
and soon married Diva Pacheco, daughter of Epaminondas and local actress. In 1958, Plinio become director of the theater and in 1962 he had the idea to build the New Jerusalem Theater as a small replica of the Jerusalem city. The city theatre just was finished in 1968, and since then Plinio Pacheco was the Director until his death in 2002.