Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe brings the holiday spirit to downtown Bryan with a magical retelling of the Nativity
'The Second Shepherd’s Play' runs at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Dec. 1-3
November 23, 2021
The Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe (BBTT) continues its 2021-22 season with “The Second Shepherd’s Play,” a unique retelling of the Nativity edited by Adrian Guthrie.
The troupe will present all performances of the seasonal show in downtown Bryan on the front steps of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (217 W. 26 th Street). Show times are 7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 1-2, and at 6 and 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, as a part of the First Friday celebration. The play is free, suitable for all ages, and approximately 30 minutes long.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair, blanket, or camping stool. In the case of inclement weather, the show will move inside the sanctuary of the church. Downtown street parking is free and paid spots are available in the Roy Kelly Parking Garage located at 205 E. 27th Street, three blocks from the church.
An engaging medieval mystery, “The Second Shepherd’s Play” is a unique manuscript from the Wakefield Cycle, a series of 32 mystery plays originating in England and based on the Bible. Noted as the jewel of the series, “The Second Shepherd’s Play” knits together the stories of the shepherds, a wily sheep thief and his wife, and a miracle in a lowly manger.
“Theatre often was used in medieval times to make the Bible more accessible to a wider audience,” Blinn-Bryan Theatre Director Greg Wise said. “This play celebrates the holiday season while mixing mystery and comedy to highlight the Nativity story.”
The BBTT consists of Blinn-Bryan theatre students, community members, and other area students who strive to create short, interactive theatre experiences to encourage cultural and collaborative exchange in the community.
“The goal of the BBTT is to make the performing arts more accessible,” Wise said. “By performing in downtown Bryan, we are able to share the arts with the local community, engage with the public, and showcase Blinn’s talented and dynamic students.”
The BBTT is part of Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program, which hosts a variety of performances each year on its Bryan and Brenham campuses. Productions integrate the artistic, technical, and academic disciplines of theatre from the classroom to the stage.
For more information about Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program, visit www.blinn.edu/theatre.
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