Pastor starting new passion play

After Simon Peter Productions disbanded last year because of copyright problems, 27-year-old Michael Dohrmann set to work writing his own passion play, "On the Road to Jerusalem," which tells the passion story through the eyes of the Roman soldiers who end up crucifying Jesus Christ.

Dohrmann is still making minor revisions to polish the script but promises it will be ready for the public by Easter.

"I had the idea a long time ago — it was always in the back of my mind. When Simon Peter closed, it gave me a perfect opportunity," said Dohrmann, a Christian missionary and Tucson native who currently is the interim pastor at Palo Verde Baptist Church in Midtown.

"It's going to be an aggressive rehearsal schedule, and we are still in need of new props and costumes," he said. "But I'm actually out to top 'Simon Peter.' "

The 'Simon Peter' play was founded, written and developed by Tucsonan Katherine R. Genders in 1979. The emotional musical was presented from the perspective of Simon, a doubter who became the Apostle Peter. The lead female in Simon Peter was Mary Magdalene.

Genders died unexpectedly in 2002 at age 57 and left ownership of the play to her daughter, who's now 16. The nonprofit production company did not know about the copyright issue until spring 2005 and, unable to come to an agreement with the teen, board members made the difficult decision to disband.

Dohrmann has booked the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall for the production — the same location where Simon Peter was performed during recent years, regularly filling the music hall's 2,200 capacity. "On the Road to Jerusalem" is scheduled to be performed April 13-16, with the last performance on Easter Sunday.

The new production will cost an estimated $60,000 and because there's no admission charge, Dohrmann and a splinter group from 'Simon Peter' have been fund-raising. Rather than forming an independent nonprofit production company, the play, at least for this year, is performing under Palo Verde Baptist Church, which as a religious organization has nonprofit status.

"What I've found when I ask for help is that more people are saying yes than no," said Virginia Palacio, a former 'Simon Peter' cast member now fund-raising for "On the Road to Jerusalem."

"This isn't just a play, it's a ministry," she said. "I couldn't see my life without it. It's a big part of our lives."

Dohrmann said the concept behind 'Simon Peter' — telling the passion story from the perspective of a character other than Jesus — is the one he used in "On the Road to Jerusalem."

The new play begins 10 days before Christ's crucifixion, as Roman soldiers are trying to secure Jerusalem as Passover approaches. The lead character is a Roman soldier named Lucas. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, is the lead female character.

"Their point of view is not described in the Bible, so it gave me a lot of open range," said Dohrmann, who performed in and once directed the 'Simon Peter' passion play. "I'm sympathetic to the soldiers — I don't think they wanted anything to do with it (the crucifixion)."

Rafael Delgado, 21, first performed in 'Simon Peter' as a child in 1987, and he has signed onto Dohrmann's play. Casting is not complete, so Delgado doesn't know in what capacity he will perform, but he's excited about it.

"It's the same very powerful message — what Christ went through for us up until he is risen," Delgado said. " 'Simon Peter' was a great production — I sat in the audience many years and people said it changed their lives. This is going to be a great production as well."

Gail Davlin had been part of 'Simon Peter' since 1994. She was a member of the production company's board of directors and voted against the disbanding. Though she was devastated by the end of the play, Davlin said she's been re-energized by the prospect of a new one.

Indeed, Dohrmann said at least 45 people who had been involved with 'Simon Peter' are already on board with "On the Road to Jerusalem," either as actors or production assistants. He anticipates the cast will include 50 to 60 people, not including the support crew.

"I think it was just the right time to do a new show," he said. "We'd exhausted 'Simon Peter' to the point where it needed to be refreshed."

● For more information about "On the Road to Jerusalem," go to www.passionplaytucson.com or call 326-0631.

● The last auditions for "On the Road to Jerusalem" are Saturday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Palo Verde Baptist Church, 2151 N. Palo Verde Blvd. Actors of all ages are needed. Singing ability is not required. Go in the entrance by the playing field.