Past Productions
Go to Bridgeway's SmugMug photo site to see pictures from our most recent productions.
1998: Christmas Play
Story: Boy tries to figure out meaning of Christmas. Varies people shared their Christmas traditions which were all disappointing. Christmas story also reenacted.
Interesting facts: Lance played "Joseph", Susie Hahn directed.
1999: Joy Story (Christmas)
Story: In the style of movie "Toy Story". Two rats kidnap four toys from under Christmas tree and hold for cheese ransom. Toys escape and foil rat's plans. The Rats discover the true meaning of Christmas in the last 5 minutes.
Interesting facts: Lance Hahn played a G.I. Joe toy. Former American Idol contestant Stevie Scott played a singing Porcelain Doll.
2000: Grinchmas (Christmas)
Story: The Grinch changes all the classic Christmas TV shows such as Charlie Brown, the Nutcracker and Rudolph into shows about himself to make him the new focus of the season. He goes back in time and meets the Wisemen, Herod, shepherds and goes to the manger but has a change of heart when he meets baby Jesus in the last 5 minutes of the play.
Interesting facts: Jay Evans' favorite Christmas play. We reenacted a scene from Charlie Brown Christmas complete with miniature piano for Schroeder. This also happens to be the first play Jay Evans directed.
2001: A Christmas Peril (Christmas)
Story: The story of a traumatized girl who becomes a super villain "The Caterpillar" with her band of "Grubs" and sets out to destroy Christmas. She defeats a group of B list super heroes such as "Moneybags" and "The Nag" and of course "Captain Fantastic" but eventually has a change of heart as a result of a special gift in the last 5 minutes of the play. She transforms into a super hero now known as The Butterfly!
Interesting facts: Crystal Evans played the leading role and designed all the costumes for the first time.
2002: The Wizard of Clause (Christmas)
Story: Young girl finds herself in Winterland and meets several unusual characters on her way to meet the wizard in hopes of getting back home. She finds the true meaning of Christmas in the last 5 minutes of the play. This story is an allegory where each character represented a key element in the Christmas story.
Interesting facts: Our first really big musical hit featured Roseville Hope's own boy band "Boy's R Us" performing "Baa Baa Baa". James Irvine is the only original member still attending Bridgeway, ask him for an autograph!
2003: Dragon and the Child (Christmas)
Story: Featured the Christmas story as seen from the spiritual world with angels guiding the events and demons trying to eliminate the Messiah while still an infant. A glimpse of what might have really happened behind the veil of the physical realm.
Interesting facts: This was our first serious play, there were no jokes. Jay Evans wrote it just to prove he could be serious for all those who said he couldn't do it! Practices proved to be very exhausting though and after our final dress rehearsal we did the play one more time with everyone ad-libbing funny lines the whole way through.
2004: Network Christmas (Christmas)
Story: In the style of the Dick Van Dyke show, three TV writers try to come up with the Christmas "Line Up" for their network. They think of creating "American Caroler", "Mint's Hints", "Everyone Loves Santa", "Space Trek", "H.E.R." and "BUDDIES" but never quite capture the true meaning of Christmas until the last 5 minutes of course.
Interesting facts: We created many videos spoofing current TV shows. Recreating our video spoof of "Friends" involved the cast jumping into Matt Larson's unheated swimming pool in November, brrrr. Fortunately he has a shower room large enough for the entire cast to warm back up in, please no questions. (Pastor Justin Pritchard was there, ask him!)
2005: Diary of an Arkwife (Summer)
Story: Our first summer play was the story of Noah from the perspective of the wives. This humorous look at the end of the world featured jazz songs from Broadway. We dealt with many issues including pre-flood debauchery, Methuselah's sugar addiction, and Lamech's (Noahs dad) inventions such as the wheel and the language of love.
Interesting facts: This play featured our first Posters for advertisement which are all safely kept at the home of Jay and Crystal Evans. They now have a poster room featuring all the plays since 2005.
2005: Immortal Manger (Christmas)
Story: This was a sequel to "A Christmas Peril" featuring the hero/archaeologist "The Butterfly". She joins a group of B list heroes (The Brick, Mother In Law, Groovy Guy, Beauty Queen) in their quest to stop a group of villains (The Assassin, Ladybug, Stinkbug, and Firefly) from capturing baby Jesus' manger which they think will give them immortal life. As usual the villains find the true meaning of Christmas in the last 5 minutes.
Interesting facts: Justin Pritchard stole the show with portrayal of "The Brick" (Modeled after "The Tick"). He wore skin tight red pleather and looked like a brick wall. His insane dialogue left everyone in tears of laughter. We had several mangers made since they were destroyed at the end of each performance by "The Brick". All archaeological facts presented in play were thoroughly researched by Jay Evans and presented passionately if not at great length to the amusement and dismay of many others!
2006: Samson (Postponed) (Summer)
Story: Story of Samson and Delilah. Postponed.
Interesting facts: The leading actor Gabe Duenas (Samson) broke his leg playing baseball two weeks before the play date. Many ideas were discussed but ultimately it was decided that a legcast and crutches would hinder Samson's feats of strength and stretch the believability of the audience. Also, the cast loved the play so much they liked the idea of another season of practice to make it very polished.
2006: Christmas Lost (Christmas)
Story: Another allegory. A jetliner crashes on some unknown island and its survivors must work together to find a way off. Each character represents different types of people's attitudes towards God and salvation is represented by those who find their way off of the island.
Interesting facts: Based on the hit TV show Lost. We were allowed to use Henry Kissinger's private jet at McClellan AFB to film opening interior plane video sequences. We used actual plane pieces for our stage props from a local business and brought in palm trees from a local nursery.
2007: Samson (Summer)
Story: Samson and Delilah's story from the book of Judges. We used the movie "Grease" as the theme for costumes, props, and songs. Both Grease and Samson have similar points such as the importance of hair, young love, rival gangs etc.
Interesting facts: Jay Evans actually wrote the play while touring Israel in 1999. It was not to see the stage for years after though because of injuries and that a "Grease" background soundtrack was needed and could not be located or reproduced. Gabe Duenas (Samson) eventually made the actual background tracks for all the songs.
2007: The Santa Suit (Christmas)
Story: Santa is arrested for breaking and entering Christmas eve. He is put on trial and defended by a cynical attorney and an elf. Many witnesses are brought forth testifying to how Christmas has ruined their life. In the last 5 minutes Johnny Grim, Santa's attorney, discovers the true meaning of Christmas and then wakes up only to find that the entire play was a vision and warning. He turns over a new leaf.
Interesting facts: The numbers in Santa's mugshot all had sci-fi meanings. 42: The meaning of life, 1138: George Lucas' first movie, 1977: Star Wars release year, 07: The year of the play.
2008: Fistful of Stones (Summer)
Story: The story of David and Goliath if it had been played out in the Old West. Sheriff Saul is called out for a gunfight with the fastest philistine gun in the west Goliath. David, son of a cattle rancher, defeats him with an old west style slingshot.
Interesting facts: Will Palitti made many of the props, featuring a life size paper mache horse and campfire and a cigar that had a fake glow and smoke. Most of the lines and situations were inspired by the movies "Support your local Sheriff" and "The Shakiest Gun in the West" and "The Andy Griffith Show".
2008: Mary's Mantle Mix-Up (Christmas)
Story: The figurines of the nativity set on a mantle come to life and with the help of a few stocking stuffer toys piece together the story of Christmas.
Interesting facts: Will and Brenda Palitti wrote and directed this play. The highlight of the play seems to have been the cast dancing to "Thriller" and a look alike doll of Pastor Lance.
2009: March Another Day (Summer)
Story: The story of Joshua and Jericho from the book of Joshua. This production will have a James Bond theme to its music, costumes and props in keeping with this story about spies.
Interesting facts: This is based on a play written by Jay Evans and Jay Young (Former worship pastor) who wrote it in the late 90's and was originally entitled "GoldenCalf". For some unknown reason it was never produced until 2009.
2009: TBD (Christmas)
Story: A story involving pirates!
2010: TBD (Summer)
Story: The biblical story of Esther.
And someday a play with puppets!
