A big-scale theatrical production depicting the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is taking the United States by storm, selling out major venues across the country within the lead-up to Easter.
The Thorn, originally a small church play, has transformed into a panoramic stage production featuring greater than 40 performers, including aerialists, dancers, actors, and musicians.
With its unique mix of choreography, music, and cutting-edge visuals, The Thorn immerses audiences within the Gospel story in a way they’ve never experienced before. As creator John Bolin explains, the goal is to assist people see “Jesus in a way they never have before” and to feel connected to Him on a private level.
Bolin’s journey with The Thorn began in 1997 when he moved to Colorado Springs and volunteered as a youth pastor at New Life Church. Without formal training as a preacher, he used his background in marketing and entertainment to interact young people through what he called “illustrated sermons” – a mixture of music, video, and choreography.
One evening, a 16-year-old girl approached Bolin, tears in her eyes and arms covered in self-inflicted cuts. “You don’t have to try this because I feel Jesus did that for you 2,000 years ago,” he told her. This encounter inspired him to create a dramatic performance that might showcase each Christ’s suffering and the spiritual battle for people’s destiny and identity.
That first performance, despite its basic costumes and minimal production values, left a profound impact on the 200 highschool students in attendance. Encouraged by the response, Bolin continued staging The Thorn each Easter at New Life Church, drawing hundreds of attendees yr after yr.
As its popularity grew, The Thorn became an independent touring production, performing in large evangelical churches nationwide.
However, like many live events, it got here to a halt through the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, feeling disheartened, Bolin considered taking The Thorn to cinemas. With the support of industry connections, he partnered with Fathom Events, bringing The Thorn to movie theatres across the country in March 2023. But alongside the film release, Bolin still felt a calling to do yet another live tour.
Surprisingly, when he reached out to the churches that had previously hosted the production, all of them declined. Reflecting on this setback, Bolin said, based on the Catholic News Agency, “I truthfully think God was at work in that.” He and his wife prayed for guidance, and he felt led to take The Thorn into the mainstream, performing in public venues moderately than religious spaces.
With no guarantees of success, Bolin and his wife took an infinite personal risk, taking out a $500,000 loan to fund a tour in performing arts centres. “We knew that if it didn’t work, we’d must sell our house,” he revealed.
They booked 10 venues and handled all of the promotion themselves. The result? Nearly every show sold out. “That was the start of a latest chapter and what we see as a miracle,” Bolin said.
Now, The Thorn is embarking on its largest tour yet, performing in 25 cities across the United States, including Los Angeles, Austin, Atlanta, Baltimore, and Charlotte.
In a major milestone, the production may also be performed in Spanish for the primary time in six cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, and El Paso.
What began as a youth group sermon has change into a national phenomenon, fascinating audiences of all backgrounds – Protestants, Catholics, agnostics, and seekers alike.
Bolin hopes that those that attend will leave with a latest perspective on Jesus. “I hope that they will feel connected to him in a way they never have before,” he said. “I would like people to depart knowing that it’s not only a God that’s way on the market but that He knows your story, He knows your name.”
