August 31st, 2008 marked the final performance of the Black Hills Passion Play. After 70 years of performances in its Spearfish, South Dakota Amphitheatre, and hundreds of performances in cities throughout the United States and Canada, the Play has been retired.

The Passion Play arrived in America from Germany in 1932, and continued touring throughout the country until 1964, playing over 650 cities. In addition, two permanent Amphitheatres were built, one in the Black Hills of South Dakota where the Play was presented from 1938 - 2008, and a second one in Lake Wales, Florida from 1953 - 1998.

Its founder, Josef Meier, retired in 1991 and passed the production on to his daughter Johanna and her husband, Guido Della Vecchia. The entire family, the cast and staff, wish to thank the public for its enduring interest in the Play through four generations, and to the many communities which hosted it during its 76-year run in North America.

A newly-published history of the Black Hills Passion Play by Johanna Meier will be available through Arcadia Publishers as part of its 'Images of America' series. Orders may be placed through their website, www.arcadiapublishing.com , or call 1-888-313-2665. - $21.99

Click Here for some pictures and a little history