On March 28, EMU Theater will debut an original production written by Jerry Holsopple and Justin Poole, called “On the Breath of God: The Life of Maria Skobtsova.” The piece follows the life of Maria Skobtsova, a twice-divorced, smoking, sass filled Russian nun, who will be played by senior Reah Clymer. This show showcases the extraordinary life of this Russian immigrant who spent her life trying to fulfill a greater purpose, which she found in God. From her fight for the Russian people in the Bolshevik Revolution, to her efforts to protect Jewish people in World War II, Maria was never one to give up without a fight.
The piece also features music composed by Jerry Holsopple, sung by Erin Batten, Elizabeth Eby, Caitlyn Holsapple, and Elie Hoover, who embody the characters of the Mystics. These women were real people who received visions and holy messages, and in the show they serve as guides for Maria throughout her life.
When asked about the creation of the music for the show, Jerry Holsopple said “I imagined these strong visionary women accompanying Maria through the challenges of her life…this music can hold the pain she experiences together with hope.” This has become a feeling found throughout the piece, and is pulled together in titular moments that happen across the span of Maria’s life.
Clymer has worked hard throughout the duration of the rehearsal process, learning lines and finding her way to understanding the complex character she embodies. Rarely leaving the stage, and typically having a (fake) cigarette in hand, she’s brought the character to life in more ways than one. When asked about her experience in playing this character, she said “It’s been hard yet gratifying to play such a powerhouse of a woman. I’ve learned a lot about myself in this process through playing the character of Maria.”
“It’s an interesting concept, and it’s a type of show I’ve never worked with before. The technical elements incorporated are interesting as well because it’s less moving parts than I’m used to, while also being a very prop heavy show,” stage manager Sarah Peak said about the process.
“With the script, it was about trying to create a believable world, populated with interesting characters, and write to the strengths of the students and community members we worked with. It’s a combination of my words and Maria’s words, and finding the way they connect and intertwine to create a strong, compelling story,” Justin Poole said about the creation of the script and the process of the show as a whole.
The show will run from Friday, March 28th, through Saturday, April 5th, and tickets are still available at https://search.seatyourself.biz/webstore/accounts/emu/buy-tix. Please come out to see the amazing work the actors and tech crew have put in!
