THE PASSION tells the story of the last hours of Jesus Christ’s life on earth through passages from THE BIBLE and a variety of well-known pop songs, sung by the cast.
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“Well, the reason I wanted to be a part of it all when I heard about it, I said, ‘Thank God I wasn’t producing it, ‘ ’cause how do you pull this off?”
The format of “The Passion” was originally created in the Netherlands in 2011 by Jacco Doornbos and Eye2Eye Media. It’s an all-star cast with Jencarlos Canela as Jesus, Daughtry as Judas, Seal as Pontius Pilate, Prince Royce as Peter, and Trisha Yearwood as Mary.
“A person that is a believer and is religious will see it and enjoy it and not feel like they’ve changed the word because the word is intact but it’s being surrounded with modern elements and modern music”, he said.
Sunday’s live musical production of The Passion is set to be epic, taking place in and around the streets of New Orleans. It’s going to help tell this story and there are movements to it and the music, even though it’s so different they tie together in a really great way.
“‘Love Could Move Mountains” for Celine Dion, “Home” from Philip Phillips, “Demons” from Imagine Dragons, “Calling All Angels’ from Train, ‘” said Jencarlos Canela, who plays Jesus.
“These are modern songs with a message that are very powerful and emotional. Despite your background or beliefs, the basis of the story is universal – love, compassion, acceptance and forgiving”, Daughtry said.
Yearwood’s rafter-raising performance scored her first appearance on Billboard’s Hot Christian Songs chart.
According to the City of New Orleans, volunteers will carry a 20-foot illuminated cross for a mile-and-a-half procession through the city from Champions Square at the Superdome to the production’s main stage at Woldenberg Park.
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“It’s a story about hope, about love, about betrayal, about believing in people no matter what and not letting the darkness or the mistakes or others’ weaknesses get the best of you and to be forgiving, fill your heart with love”, he said. It really inspires togetherness.
