Barbara Johnson, a woman who understands what it’s like to have her heart broken over the death of a child, and come through the pain and suffering with a new heart full of joy, brings heady emotion and gripping depth to her one-woman performance as Mary, the mother of Jesus in “Woman In Light.”
Heralded by Richard Rose, The Barter Theatre’s Artistic Director as a “…beautifully crafted play… Barbara’s performance is outstanding. She brings Mary to life with warmth, humor, and compassion. Audiences find themselves in awe of her talents and the story that she tells.”
“Woman In Light,” a deeply moving play written by Memphis author Charles Turner, takes Mary from girlhood memories to her old age. Johnson has performed this play to standing-room-only audiences in Memphis, TN, Tyler, TX, The Barter Theatre in Abingdon and in Roanoke at Mill Mountain Theatre and Showtimers.
No matter your denomination, “Mary” does not challenge the orthodox view of Jesus’ life. “It’s so easy to confine Mary to the little Nativity set that we put on the mantel at Christmas,” shares Johnson, “I try to set aside the whole range of expectations of Mary that we all have, and to find her heart in Charles Turner’s words…To that, I try to add my own experience as a woman, a wife and a mother. The last thing I want to be is an icon with a fixed expression or a single image, and that is partly because I don’t believe God takes away our personalities or our humanness.” She states further, “People are cautious about it…[and] wonder if it’s true to the Bible or if it will be contrary to their understanding of Scripture.”
Three performances will be held at Faith Christian School on Friday, December 6 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, December 7 at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 8 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $10 for Adults $5 for Students. Tickets may be purchased at Faith Christian School’s main office (540) 769-5200. Performances are open to the public and all proceeds benefit the Faith Christian School Fine Arts Department.
For more information, call 769-5200, or go to www.faithchristian-school.com