This summer, embark on a transformative journey unlike any other in Ohio. Ohio’s only outdoor passion play, The Living Word Outdoor Drama, launches its 52nd season on Friday, June 19, in Cambridge.
“This remarkable production is meticulously crafted to provide a theatrical retelling of Christ’s last days, unfolding the Biblical Account of Jesus Christ against the stunning backdrop of a 400-foot panoramic amphitheater,” said Debbie Robinson, Cambridge/Guernsey County Executive Director.
The amphitheater is recognized as America’s most authentic re-creation of Old Jerusalem.
Through a captivating blend of lighting, immersive sound effects and authentic costumes, the ancient city of Jerusalem springs to life, enhanced by live animals, including a donkey and a horse-drawn Roman chariot.
Notably, this unique drama invites audience members and visiting groups to engage directly with the performance, allowing them to step into the story as ‘extras’ for the evening and experience the Passion of Christ in a profoundly intimate manner.
Performances take place on Friday evenings beginning June 19 through October 2 in 2026. (Performances will be closed July 3 and September 4 for holiday weekends.) Throughout the season, special theme nights have been created to encourage different groups to attend, ranging from youth nights to family events to church gatherings.
Ticket prices are $18 for adults (13-59), $16 seniors (60 and up), $6 children (4-12), and free (4-under). Purchase tickets at the box office (open at 6 p.m.), call 740-439-2761 or buy online at https://livingworddrama.org/. All seating is general admission. Parking is free.
Guests are welcome to take a behind-the-scenes tour beginning at 6:30 p.m. the night of each performance (donations accepted). Front-set tours are also available beginning at 7 p.m. and are included with admission.
For younger audience members, The Living Word Outdoor Drama will host a special youth weekend July 24 & 25. On Friday, July 24, all teenagers (ages 13-19) and children (ages 12 and under) will receive free admission to the live drama.
Then on Saturday, July 25, parents are encouraged to bring their children to The Jerusalem Experience. It is a day (2-5 p.m.) kids won’t forget, full of costume making, carpentry, games, food, animals, Shofar lessons and more! This event is geared toward children and is like an outdoor Vacation Bible School. The cost is free for everyone! (There will not be any drama that evening.)
To learn more, visit https://livingworddrama.org or call 740-439-2761.
ABOUT THE LIVING WORD OUTDOOR DRAMA: Founder Frank Roughton Harvey was a pioneer in Christian drama. Starting in the theater and then being called to the ministry in 1959, he was inspired to combine the two. For his Master’s and Doctoral theses, Reverend Harvey wrote a script and constructed a model to envision how the set would be built for his passion play. In 1968, at the height of the Civil Rights era, he was given the opportunity to stage his passion play at the Atlanta Stadium under its original title, “Behold the Man.” After moving to Ohio, Reverend Harvey’s wife, Hazel, pointed out that the farm they had just purchased featured a natural amphitheater and would be the perfect place to present his drama. In 1975, with the help of several ministers and business people in the area, all of whom were volunteers, the first phase of the set for The Living Word Outdoor Drama was constructed. In the late summer of 1975, the first performance was presented to an audience of more than 1,000. In 1977, the Articles of Incorporation were filed. Today, the drama continues to grow, thanks to the dedication of the entire cast and crew, who continue to volunteer. Since The Living Word Outdoor Drama’s inception, over 400,000 audience members, from all corners of the United States and beyond, have enjoyed wholesome family entertainment, but more importantly, have heard about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!