Hesston College hosting special performance of “Bonhoeffer: Cell 92”

Hesston College will host a powerful visiting theatrical production, “Bonhoeffer: Cell 92,” a thought provoking portrayal of the life and moral struggles of theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The community is invited to attend performances in Hesston College’s Black Box Theater at 7 p.m. on Friday, October 18 and Sunday, October 20. Admission is free and donations are welcome.

Created by Justin Poole and Jerry Holsopple, “Bonhoeffer: Cell 92” delves deep into Bonhoeffer’s pacifist ideals and the moral dilemma that led him to participate in conspiratorial activities against Hitler’s Nazi regime. Based on Bonhoeffer’s letters and writings from prison, the play offers a deeply reflective and artistic exploration of his final year of life, juxtaposing the tensions of his philosophy and actions in the face of tyranny. Through Bonhoeffer’s correspondence and flashbacks, the audience is drawn into his complex motivations and relationships, finding timely parallels to contemporary societal struggles.

“Are we facing the same dilemma that Bonhoeffer faced? Should we too be seeing the abuse of power in our context and upon seeing it, stand against it? Can we, like Bonhoeffer, put our lives on the line because of our faith?” mused Michele Hershberger, Bible professor and co-campus pastor. “It’s important for this community to ask these questions and take courage from this man’s life.

The immersive staging of “Bonhoeffer: Cell 92” includes three screens that represent the walls of Bonhoeffer’s prison cell, heightening the audience’s experience of the memory play. Known for pushing artistic boundaries, creators Poole and Holsopple use this unique theatrical approach to spark dialogue and reflection long after the curtain falls.

This production promises to engage both the Hesston College community and local residents, offering a poignant, timely reflection on Bonhoeffer’s enduring legacy and relevance.

About the Creators: “Bonhoeffer: Cell 92” marks the third collaboration between Poole and Holsopple, following “Distant Witness: Social Media, the Arab Spring, and a Journalism Revolution” and “U2 Romeo and Juliet: An Original Rock Musical.” Jerry Holsopple, Ph.D., is a professor of visual and communication arts at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) and an internationally exhibited artist with deep ties to Lithuania’s Baltic Way freedom movement. Justin Poole, Ph.D., associate professor of theater and theater program director at EMU, brings a wealth of experience in directing and experimental performance, both in the U.S. and Europe.

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