Actors Share the Experience
of Portraying Jesus
Ask any of the actors who have portrayed Jesus to describe the experience, and you will hear words such as “awe,” “appreciation,” “understanding,” and “fear.” The role in itself is awesome, and to play it is, according to fellow cast members, to define the intensity of the entire pageant.
Although most ordinary men feel somewhat unworthy of the role of Jesus Christ, their work in making the story of his death and resurrection become real to the cast and audience is what makes the Easter Triumph the moving and inspirational pageant it has become.
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“One year as I was getting on the cross, it fell over. It wasn’t anything serious, but these things happen. The hardest thing [about playing Jesus] was knowing what to do. Here you’re portraying someone who’s perfect.” Alfred Boemer (Jesus 1968-1971, 1975) |
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“The most peaceful scene to me is with Mary Magdalene. It is near the end and the straining roles are over. Playing Jesus is an awesome role and I feel very unworthy doing it, but I want to do the best I can.” Don Arldt (Jesus 1979-1980, 1989, 1997-1999) |
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“Playing Jesus has made me appreciate what He did for us. My favorite scene is with Jesus and Peter—Feed my sheep. It was a moving scene. It shows the close relationship between Jesus and Peter.” Barry Samsel (Jesus 1991-1992) |
Actors Who Have Portrayed Jesus
Ted H. Knippa 1959-1966
Walter Headley 1967
Alfred Boemer 1968-1871, 1975
Don Hilsberg 1972-1973
Lawrence Kohler 1974
Greg Phillips 1976
Bill Krueger 1977
Dennis Crow 1978
Don Arldt 1979-1980, 1989, 1997-1999
Ralph Caroll 1981-1982
Jay Starnes 1983-1984
Randy Scheer 1985-1986, 1990
David Merritt 1987-1988
Barry Samsel 1991-1992
Jeffrey Svoboda 1993-1996
Ken Loveday 2000
Joe Keller 2001-2004
Benjamin Arldt 2005-2007
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