Pilgrim: The Musical is a traveling performance about the journey of struggle and hope. It is based on the story Pilgrim’s Progress, written by John Bunyan. The play conveys themes of faith, repentance, friendship, hardship, temptation, death, and eternity.
Arise Collective Theatre produces this traveling musical which is typically offered at community venues across the country. The 2022 tour will have just one New York performance location and that will be in Hilton at First Bible Baptist Church on Manitou Road.
Jeff Allen, a counselor at FBBC attended Pilgrim in 2021 in Bath, NY, and he was so moved by it that he encouraged his Pastor Kevin Pestke to see it. Pastor Kevin was able to get into a subsequent sold out performance and was blown away. It prompted him to inquire about bringing the musical to the area by offering FBBC as a sponsoring location for the 2022 Pilgrim musical.
Vinnie Tumia, Executive Pastor of FBBC said, “Sponsoring a large musical like this is a big undertaking, but it provides a needed message of encouragement.”
Eight performances of the musical will be presented during a two-week time frame in November. According to Pastor Vinnie, sponsoring the musical requires 100 volunteers per show, including feeding the cast of 70 people, hospitality, concessions, and a large financial commitment.
The church leadership team feels that despite the story setting based in the 1600s, it is incredibly relevant to life today. “It has elements of peer pressure, family conflicts, challenges of life, all the things we face today,” said Pastor Vinnie. “The performance reminds us that often we get so caught up in the little things going on we miss the big picture.”
Believing that the musical brings such an important message, the church is offering all eight performances to the community at no charge.
Pilgrim: The Musical will be presented at First Bible Baptist Church, 990 Manitou Road, Hilton, from November 10 to 20, Thursday through Sunday. ASL will be provided for the performances on November 17, 18, and 19. Admission is free but tickets are required and can be reserved at the church website. For show times or to reserve tickets, visit https://www.fbbc.info/pilgrim-musical/.
Provided photos
