Following a well-received summer engagement, “Bob Jones University presents UNBELIEVABLE | Stories of Faith” returns this week to the stage at the Ark Encounter — an attraction of Answers in Genesis — in Williamstown, Kentucky.
BJU students Savannah Scott, Lydia Campbell, David Janowski and Joshua Stauff comprise the group that will be in residence through autumn.
Performances at 1 and 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday will be in the 2,500-seat Answers Center and are included in Ark Encounter admission. Children 10 and under are free with one paid adult admission.
BJU regularly has a drama team that travels to churches and schools. This production is the initial collaboration with the Ark Encounter.
“The number of people who will be coming to our shows with little to no prior knowledge of God and Christianity makes this a very special ministry,” said Scott, a senior theatre major with extensive stage credits and support roles for University productions. “People of many nationalities, backgrounds, religions and walks of life will see this production about faith and what it means to believe in God, and I feel so blessed to be one of the people telling that story.”
Confidence on Display
The script by former BJU faculty member David Burke was drawn from Hebrews 11 and developed for a multi-generational audience. BJU faculty member Jeff Stegall is the director.
Scott will be playing the role of Kayla Stevens, a freshman college student at a state university who cites fossil evidence in voicing her faith in the biblical creation account during a biology 101 class intent on marginalizing creation while pronouncing evolution as more than theory.
“Kayla is a brave young woman with confidence in her God. She is excited to share about the incredible Creator she loves, and she understands from high school that sharing Christ isn’t about forcing your beliefs on other people but about making them think twice before swallowing the world’s wisdom,” Scott said. “The love of God touches every life that has accepted His salvation, and Kayla endeavors in her classroom, and later in her conversation with her friend, Lauren, to touch others with that love.”
Not Your Regular Set
In lieu of traditional sets, BJU’s video group developed eye-catching and supportive scene visuals displayed on an impressive 70-foot-wide by 22-foot-tall digital backdrop that spans the presentation stage of the Answers Center.
“I’m excited about the incorporation of silhouette and 2D sets in this show,” Scott said. “While it bears few similarities with physical sets, there are ways that it is both easier and harder to interact with. The prerecorded video, lights and audio tracks allow the show to be done with relatively few stagehands, tech crew members, stage directions, etc. which makes the show less complex.
“From an acting point of view, however, the extremely exact timing of these tracks is another component that can be distracting from the other efforts an actor makes on stage. I believe our team is up to the challenge though, and so far our rehearsals have proved me right.”
