KTKA

Topeka — Since 1994, Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene has been opening its doors at Easter time to share their telling of the story of Christ.

"The first couple of years, it was all done to music," said Charlie Shinn, who has been a performer all 15 years. "And we had Jesus up there and we enacted basically the crucifixion of Jesus through music. There was very little dialogue actually in the first years. And after the first couple of years we had a vision that we would like to bring this to the community. And that's when we changed the name to call it the Topeka Passion Play because we wanted it to be a community event for Topeka."

This year, the Topeka Passion Play includes a cast of 130, plus,

"There's probably 30, 40, 50 volunteers who do everything from makeup to costumes to lighting to sound, even parking lot attendants," said Shinn.

Included in the cast, are more than 30 children.

"I am a baptized girl, and my hair gets wet and stuff," said 12-year old Mariah McCommon.

When asked her favorite part of being a cast member, her 10-year old sister Amanda said, "Hop-scotching. I'm a hop-scotch girl and I just love hop-scotching with Jesus."

Rehearsals for the production start in January.

"Our pastor always says we get people from the birth of Jesus to the death of Jesus faster than anybody, from Christmas to Easter because we just go immediately into play practice," said Rex McCommon, another 15 year veteran.

After months of rehearsal, there are mixed emotions as the performances take place.

" It's somewhat of a relief because we've spent so much time, but then there 's also a feeling of , y'know you really miss it too," said Lisa McCommon.

"A lot of intensity in this type play so emotionally you're kind of spent too," added her husband, Rex.

"And to know that we are doing that for our community in portraying what Christ went through in th is play and portraying that for people who maybe have never heard that story before," said 10-year performer Cathy Clark.

"This isn't a cheap movie," said Rex McCommon. "This is something real. It's something that you become involved in-even in the audience, and they won't be disappointed."

There are four performance left this year. They are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday evenings, April 8, 9,10 and 12, at 7 p.m., at Fairlawn Church of the Nazarene, 730 SW Fairlawn. There is no admission charge.