Faith: A Mother's Story
A Play for the Advent Season

The events surrounding Mary and the birth of Jesus come to life in this play that portrays the women who were close to Mary, as they learn of the news that she is, while unmarried, carrying a child.

A great mystery unfolds as these women pray, do housework and take care of small things in preparation for the arrival of the first Christmas.

Become immersed in the times and culture in which Jesus was born; listen to the courage and strength of Mary’s mother, Anne; her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with John the Baptist; Leah, a daughter of the House of David; a shepherdess in Bethlehem; and Anna, the seeress in the temple.

As Jesus’ light comes into a world of darkness experience the doubts, disbelief and joy of each of these women as her hope and faith is renewed in God, herself, and life.

Running time: up to 75 minutes
Performed November through January
Performance now available on CD

The Heart of the Cross
A Passion Play

This play brings to life the passion and spirit of Easter through the love, faith and triumph of five women who loved Jesus.

Join these women as they witness and recount the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection. These extraordinary events are told with devotion, humor and great feeling.

A young girl sneaks up the stairs to watch The Last Supper; Veronica watches Jesus carry the cross; Mary Magdalene watches Him die on the cross and later is at the tomb when He rises; Mother Mary cleanses and buries Him; and Martha wonders at the events of Pentecost.

Since 1992, this play has been performed at churches, schools and women’s groups across the country. The events of The Passion come alive as audiences, young and old, imagine they are in Jerusalem experiencing these timeless events.

Running time: up to 75 minutes
Performed February through May

Hearing The Call

The beginning of Jesus’ ministry is the focus of this play that dramatizes the ‘calling’ three different women heard as the result of meeting Jesus. Because Jesus was not yet known in Israel, these women had no frame of reference for how to respond to his teachings that were a radical departure from Jewish traditions. Experience how they set aside well-established customs and preconceived ideas of God to receive what Jesus offered.

Join the widow Susanna on the shores of the Jordan with John the Baptist as Jesus comes to be baptized; Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law as she is healed from her fever and is then present for healings later that evening; and discover how the choice to talk to a stranger forever altered The Woman at the Well.

Running time: up to 90 minutes for each play
Performed January, February, May-November

Let It Be

Taking place during the last year of Jesus’ ministry, the play focuses on the community that had formed around Jesus and how they responded to John the Baptist’s beheading, the size of the crowds, the mounting danger surrounding Jesus, the rising of Lazarus from the tomb and Jesus’ triumphant last entry into Jerusalem.

Join Joanna, Chuza’s wife; the Mother of the Zebedee brothers; and Mary of Bethany as their faith is newly awakened through witnessing the miraculous events of their time.

Running time: up to 90 minutes for each play
Performed January, February, May-November

Women of the Bible Retreats

Have Olivia be a presenter at an upcoming women’s retreat. She offers day-long and weekend retreats that are designed around excerpts from her plays that she performs at the retreat. The retreat my also include:

• related bible readings
• discussion of themes found in her plays;
• facts about the realities of living in Israel 2,000 years ago;
• reflection and discussion about the role of women in Israel, in Jesus’ ministry and in the church today;
• each participant choosing a woman of the gospels to explore through writing, visualization, and discussion.