c ov e r s to ry
N a r r at o r : J e s u s s p e a k s . JESUS: What is a moment? In a lifetime full of moments, have you ever stopped to see all that is in a moment? If we stop at a moment, we stop at a station. These are the last 14 stations of my life on earth. It is my life, but it is your life, too. I will walk with you so that my way of the cross 2,000 years ago and yours now are one. But remember, my cross can become your crown. My walk can become your dance. Don’t be afraid. Come …. Come walk with me.
Cherie Brown (L) as Mary and Dominico Nguyen (R) as a soldier sharing his story with Jesus (foreground).
WHAT’S A “DRAMATURGY?” The art or technique of dramatic composition and theatrical representation.
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My daughter Amy was dancing in it when I saw it for the first time, and I cried through half of it — particularly the scenes with Mary and Jesus. I fell in love with it.” When Tim McCray returned to Kansas City after finishing college, he was immediately drawn to the Theatre at Vis ministry and the opportunity to marry two of his passions — musical theater and his growing love for the Catholic faith. Tim began providing technical support on lighting, sound and set design for Theatre at Vis productions. It also happened to bring Sandie and Tim together — leading to their marriage to each other in 1987. As Paul’s expertise and notoriety grew, he elected to take his career in other directions, which also would take him out of Kansas City. Tim had proven himself worthy to take over Paul’s role as director, so a new legacy for Stations and Theatre at Vis began.
Stations: A Musical Dramaturgy premiered in 1984 at Kansas City’s Music Hall as an original production by Paul Novosel, the liturgist and music director for Risen Christ Parish, formerly located at Benton Blvd. and Paseo Blvd. The entire cast was composed of Black actors portraying modern-day characters like doctors, police officers, lawyers and nurses, with a storyline that follows the Stations of the Cross. The following year, Stations followed Paul to a new position as music director at Visitation Parish in Kansas City. In his second year at Vis, to bring the story to a broader audience, he chose to take the performance on tour and share with church communities in the diocese. Over the next several years, Paul continued to direct Stations and established Theatre at Vis, a theatrical ministry that also included a summer musical put on by children. Several of Sandie McCray’s children performed or grew up watching performances The 2008 cast of Stations looks on as Andrea Elliott performs as a character based on Veronica, the woman who wiped Jesus' face. by Theatre at Vis, including Stations. “I think of Theatre at Vis as a ministry.
Catholic Key • February/March 2022 • catholickey.org
