Christ First Forum

Cathedral of Hope in Dallas says it will host 'gay Jesus' play

By Bruce Tomaso/Editor
btomaso@dallasnews.com | Bio
4:42 PM on Mon., Apr. 19, 2010 | Permalink

UPDATE, 10:48 a.m. Tues., April 20:

The Cathedral of Hope website now lists the following dates and show times:

Friday, June 4, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 5, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 6, 3 and 7:30 p.m.

The 'gay Jesus' play may be hitting the stage in North Texas after all.

Cathedral of Hope , the large Dallas church whose ministry is primarily directed toward gay and lesbian Christians, has announced that it will host a Los Angeles production of Corpus Christi, a ply by Tony Award-winner Terrence McNally. The play is about a 20th-century Christ-like figure (called Joshua) who is gay. In one scene, Joshua kisses Judas at the senior prom at "Pontius Pilate High School." In another, he performs a wedding ceremony for two of his disciples, who are also gay.

Earlier this month, the play made headlines when a theater student at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, Texas, chose to direct a version as a class project. The student's play was to be staged on the Tarleton State campus. But that show was canceled at the last minute, after vociferous criticism from Stephenville clergy members and others.

Then the director of a Fort Worth theater announced that he would host the production, only to see that decision reversed hours later by the theater's board of directors.

No date has been scheduled for the Cathedral of Hope presentation. The church doesn't plan to stage the student's production -- rather, it has invited in 108 Productions, a Los Angeles theater company that has performed Corpus Christi nationally and internationally.

Ticket prices have not been announced.

A statement from 108 Productions says in part:

Corpus Christi may still create controversy in some communities, but again we ask those that condemn to first experience the piece before judgment. 'Judge not lest ye be judged:' a simple but profound statement worthy to any believer or non-believer alike. This play is far from blasphemous. It is an extension of divine Love that Jesus Christ embodied. We are sorry Tarleton students were exposed to such hate, fear and homophobia.
PHOTO: An advertisement for Corpus Christi, as staged by 108 Productions of Los Angeles. (COURTESY)

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This is so sickening!

Blasphemy!

Hope this NEVER HAPPENS...

Hope it gets closed down...

TEXAS...how insulting...