SIGHT AND SOUND EXPEDITION!

The Sight and Sound Theater in Branson, Missouri, opened in 2008.The theater is so expansive, that I could not get all of it to fit into my iPhone photo frame!

Most people get to the theater long before the production starts, so they can stroll in the beautifully-decorated lobby, have food from their concession areas, and shop the gift shop:

The Moses production was one of the first performances I ever attended at this theater, and I was able to hear the actor that played Moses, reference this verse, that is one of my First Place 4 Health (www.FirstPlace4Health.com) memory verses: "Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today',  Exodus 14:13".  Although it is no longer showing in Branson, this photo shows the DVD you can purchase in the gift shop theater, or on line.

The gift shop also has a plethora of Queen Esther-related gifts, including a costume for Queen Esther and King Xeres "wannabes".

The costumes, when displayed on mannequins, show they are designed for children.  The photo below also shows there are coloring books designed for children, that reference popular Bible stories. 

The Book of Esther in the bible was originally written on scrolls, and replicas are available in the gift shop.

Megillah definition is also explained in the gift shop.  This blog will not tell "the whole megillah" of Sight and Sound Theaters, but I do want to mention that it had its beginnings over forty years ago, because Glen Eshelman had a passion for photography.  Likewise, this blog started about fifteen years ago, partly because of my passion for photography!

This Queen Esther mug, available in the gift shop, would feel good in your hand, as you sit down with a hot beverage and your Bible, to read (or re-read) the book of Esther.  I found it helpful to review the book of Esther BEFORE the performance, and then again after the performance.  When I read it afterwards, I could better visualize the sentences on the written page.

This Esther 4:14 artistic wall hanging is a reference to this verse:  "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish.  And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?"

A fun photo opportunity for guests, is to have their picture taken with something indicating their presence at the Sight and Sound Theater.  This year, it is a large banner, and I was able to get a photo with it:

On a previous occasion, when I attended the Samson production at Sight and Sound Theater with my grandson, he agreed to pose with the statue of Samson, to make his grandma happy!

There is a permanent statue inside the theater lobby (no matter the subject of the performance), you can use as a photo opportunity, if you have a hankering to be photographed with an angel:

I was trying to get my 10,000 steps in before the production, so I took the stairs (there is also an elevator) to the second floor balcony:

There are banners from previous productions up on the balcony:

The balcony gives you an overall view of lobby:

At the balcony level, you can also see a model of what the stage for the Noah production looked like:

You can also see the ticket box office from upstairs.  At the box office, one can purchase their tickets in person, or pick up a ticket one purchased on line with their credit card.  If you have a group of 15 or more, be sure to inquire about the group price discount.

Be sure to visit the rest room BEFORE the production starts, because the line is very long at intermission!  At intermission, the theater had female staff members inside the women's rest room to direct guests as quickly as possible to one of the dozens of stalls available, as soon as it became available.  But even with their help, the line seemed to go on forever!  However, waiting in line is a great time to visit with like-minded ladies who enjoy seeing the Bible come to life on stage!  (You might even make a new friend!)

About 45 minutes before the actual starting time of the performance,  guests can go inside the theater to their designated seat.  I liked where my seat was located, behind the sound board, with no one in front of me to obstruct the view:

One can request a listening device at no added cost, which I did:

 

While waiting for the performance to begin, a graphic was shown on the curtain, about the Sight and Sound Conservatory.  The purpose of the conservatory is to mentor  the next generation of Christ-centered performing artists through classroom instruction in acting, singing, dancing, and other relevant courses.  The conservatory also provides an opportunity to perform in Sight and Sound Theaters Professional Stage Productions.  Their overall goal is to cultivate a lifestyle of character, commitment, and competence, whether in the secular or Christian realm, of performing arts. 

Although no photography is permitted during the show, photos inside the theater are permitted at intermission:

These colorful lanterns are lowered from the ceiling, above the audience, during one of the scenes depicting nighttime, and they stay visible during the intermission.  I have been at previous productions at Sight and Sound where angels were lowered from the ceiling for a Christmas production, and also a gigantic whale, for the Jonah production.  You do not have to be a dramatic arts professional, to come to the realization that the scenes being portrayed before us, took a VAST amount of skilled and creative work to accomplish---engineers for lighting, sound, and animations; carpenters for set construction, costume designers and seamstresses/tailors; musicians; live animal trainers, concession workers; ushers; parking lot attendants, landscaping workers; box office workers; writers, website managers, etc., etc.!  Yet, at the end of every performance, they give all the glory to God, and have volunteers/staff available for anyone who wants to remain afterwards for prayer or conversation.  Just as these lanterns are providing light, Sight and Sound has the goal of providing light to a world in need of redemption.   

I am hoping these photos and this information will make you want to travel to Branson to see the Queen Esther production.  You can find out everything you need to know by visiting their website at www.sight-sound.com .  For information on other Branson attractions/lodging, check out www.ExploreBranson.com . Being a visitor  in this magnificent facility, and seeing a Bible story portrayed on a magnificent stage, by magnificent performers,  gave me magnificent "MILES OF SMILES"!! Tricia