History as theater: Behind the scenes at Journey Through Bethlehem

We may live in divisive times, but if you look closely, there are people bringing us together. Jana Brown and Catherine White do just that by organizing Journey Through Bethlehem, a re-creation of the town of Bethlehem on the night Jesus was born.

In the process they create community, a place where participants and attendees together are whisked back in time. Held at the Walker County Fairgrounds since 2003, Journey Through Bethlehem has been a joint effort of more than thirty different churches from almost every denomination in town.

Their bylaws prohibit debate on the beliefs distinguishing these denominations, focusing solely on replicating the night of Jesus’ birth. There is no sermonizing or proselytizing, and no one church is in charge. It's simply a hands-on way for people of all ages to step back to a special moment in time.

There's a star in the east

Journey Through Bethlehem (JTB) isn’t a drive-through event – it’s an immersive theatrical one.

After paying the tax collectors $2 for entry, attendees observe King Herod learning of a new king from three Wise Men. They are then escorted by shepherds to a choir of angels before coming into town, where there are a variety of shops, a traditional Jewish wedding celebration, Roman soldiers wandering about, a petting zoo, and a synagogue. In the back stands an inn with no rooms available, and a quiet manger next door.

This year, over 1,000 people attended each night, forming lines that extended well out into the parking lot. According to JTB’s findings, two-thirds of visitors come from outside Huntsville, such as Claudia King from Magnolia, who’s attended each of the last five years with her two daughters. “I love that [it’s] hands-on, they get to explore,” she said.

Daughter Hannah, 7, loved the olives, and Ally, 9, loved making her clay object and weaving a basket. Claudia, originally from Mexico, feels a little taste of home with the busy market atmosphere of people, food, crafts, and artisans.

Among the foods on hand were Ezekiel bread with honey butter, olives, spices, grains, fruits, and nuts. Not only do these take you back 2,000 years – they provide a tasty late-night snack.

Getting it all to come together is also a miracle

While the performance of Journey Through Bethlehem lasts just one weekend, the nonprofit operating it is active year-round, holding garage sales, securing sponsorships from local businesses, building sets, sewing costumes, and finding volunteers to play roles in the production or behind the scenes.

On performance weekend, costumes alone require a crew of five – and there is an amazing amount of laundry to do afterwards. Others provide food for the actors, staff the gift shop, or greet visitors in line.

Then there is building the sets and disassembling them afterwards. For this, there is a surprising source of help – trusties from the Wynne Unit.

This year, they constructed a new addition: a market road lined with shops. Brown “feels so blessed [for the trusties] because that's a lot of work to put up the city. They do a marvelous job.  They really are excited to be a part of it; they are so happy that they're a piece of that puzzle that puts it together.”

Several people supervise the trusties, including David Blaylock, who is as adept at maneuvering his wheelchair as he is at construction. He darts about the unpaved floors of the fairgrounds organizing the assembly of the town.

Organizers raised the entry “tax” from $1 to $2 this year with heavy hearts. White laments, “It’s painful because we had to switch it, we were crying.” But with rising costs – everything from food and materials to renting the fairgrounds – the increase was necessary.

A promotion from goat shepherd to groom

JTB actors are local and vary widely in age and background. For one 9-year-old angel, it was their first time acting. Others have been doing it far longer.

Nicholas Kaukonen, 15, served his 4th year as a Roman soldier and loves it. “The immersive experience, it’s a new world that brings you back to see what the times were like, people show up and leave with smiles on their faces.” This year, he recruited a friend, Jade LaPierre, 16, to serve as well. “Roman stuff and food? I’m in,” she said.

This year, history was made when fantasy met reality in the wedding party. Tristan Campbell, 25, a goat shepherd last year, played the groom, with his real-world wife, Ashley, as the bride. For Ashley, it was an opportunity to act again, which she hadn’t done since high school.

For others, playing a character is even more meaningful. For the 4th year, Sarah Page played two roles: Mary’s cousin Elizabeth and a stand-in bride in the wedding party.

Though her mother and grandmother were involved, Sarah was initially apprehensive about joining the cast. But as a special needs adult, she enjoys meeting other people through the fundraising and planning events that take place throughout the year. Under the circumstances, Sarah feels like “me being a bride in this thing is maybe the closest I ever get.”

C'mon down, y'hear?

Journey Through Bethlehem is held from 6-9 pm on the first Friday and Saturday of December at the Walker Country Fairgrounds, rain or shine. It is accessible to individuals with mobility issues, including wheelchairs.

Your $2 donation – pardon, tax – gets you into the theatrical production, the town, snacks and take-home crafts, and a petting zoo complete with a camel. The town is self-contained and suitable for older children to roam free and explore. Benches inside let adults rest while the kids stay in sight.

A visit can easily last an hour and a half. On the way out, stop by the gift shop, where nothing costs over $10, and grab a free bible from the Gideons. Then make a note in your planner: “Come back next year.”

Listen to Claudia King's full interview here.

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