Why Sight & Sound Believes This Bible Story is So Relevant Today
By Movieguide® Contributor
Sight & Sound is currently in the middle of its production of “Daniel,” a story the theater company believes is extremely relevant today as culture becomes increasingly antagonistic towards Christianity.
“I think [Daniel’s] story could not be more relevant today,” Jacob Cummings, who plays Daniel, told The Christian Post. “I think we’re in the midst of a lot of lines being drawn in the sand as a nation, as a society, and the world is telling us that we really have to make stances.”
“I think what Daniel really proves is that you can be a part of a kingdom that has nothing to do with God and serve Him faithfully while being a good steward where God places you,” he continued. “I’ve learned so much about that, and I feel like audiences will too.”
“Daniel” went into production in 2021 and hit the stage last March. The crew was able to work both halves of the book into one story told at an incredible scale. The stage used for the production is 300 feet wide — the size of a football field — with a wrap-around city that transforms throughout the play.
“Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the powerful kingdom of Babylon,” a synopsis of the production reads. “Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in the one true God remain steadfast through every test of faith?”
Half a year into shows, the cast has seen the impact Daniel’s story has, inspiring Christians to stand up for their beliefs and find encouragement in a Biblical hero who faced a problem so many can relate to. The cast has also been greatly impacted by the story.
“Just to see the Lord continue to show the message and present His word, and for it not to return void, and to see the audiences continue to be impacted and to continue to heed His word, it’s been really, really, special,” Cummings said.
A recorded version of the show is now coming to theaters, with a limited run from Aug. 30 through Sept. 2.
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“I hope that people see the thread line of God’s faithfulness throughout Daniel’s life,” added Jacob Cummings, who plays Daniel. “God’s faithfulness wasn’t any stronger in the lion’s den or the fiery furnace than it was in all of the moments leading up to those moments. So I think my hope is that people see that they can rely on God in any situation, and the more that we put our faith and our trust in Him, the more that we can lean on Him adversities.”
Director Jeff Bender shared his vision for the production.
“We were starting this was to just kind of take that story and just make it as clear as we possibly could. It was like a thousand-piece puzzle, you know, just sort of putting the pieces together to find that through line…about the kingdoms of this world and the kingdom of God and how they interact,” he explained.
Sight & Sound’s productions are known for their elaborate sets. Bender called DANIEL’s set “by far are the most technically integrated show that we’ve ever done.”
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