The Play of Herod is one of Atlanta's longest-running Christmas traditions. The play was first performed in Atlanta in 1974, in the drafty warehouse space of Kelly's Seed & Feed Theatre. For a quarter-century, the performances were continuously sold out and became a keenly anticipated part of the Atlanta Christmas season until the production was suspended in 1999. In December of 2004, the production was restaged by the original team of Director Kelly Morris and Music Director Kevin Culver. The cast and audience alike felt it was a joyous reunion.

The 2009 production of Herod will be presented at St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church located at 1790 LaVista Road in Atlanta, GA, on December 11th & 12. Performances begin at 8:30 p.m. Due to the nature of the play, there will be no late seating. The play is not suited for babies or youngsters unable to sit quietly for an hour. Your cooperation will be rewarded with a magical evening.

The audience is invited to join the cast backstage after the show to enjoy hot cider, cookies and Christmas carols.

Two parts of the Christmas story unfold in a medieval ceremony of simple gestures and ancient, haunting melodies. In a drama of mysterious beauty, a tale is told of awestruck shepherds, kings from afar come to worship a baby, a King Herod clinging to power for himself and his son, the bloody slaughter of children. The Play of Herod is sung in Latin, with English translations projected above the action.  A consort of period-appropriate instruments accompanies the singers. Read the Story Behind the Story.

General Admission is $20.
Reservations are required.
The Reservation Line will re-open in November of 2009.

The 2008 cast was headed by Butch Spivey as King Herod and James Robinson as Herod's Arminger; new in the Archangel role in 2008 was David Johnson. Amy Abrames and Wanda Yang Temko were the Midwives; Matthew Ireland, Roark Miller, and Philip Sasse were the Magi; Kristin Bonner, Cary Cleaver, and Susan Crawford were the Shepherds. Herod's Court: Jakub Kakietek joined Richard Carroll, Peter Clayton, and Ian Kincaid. Angels/Innocents in 2008: Heather Almond, Anna Lange, Cat Lyons, Elyn Macek, Sue Reynolds, Jennie Saliers, Christine Butz, Karen King and Sara Miller. Anne Carroll and Dowman Wilson rounded out the cast as Mary and Joseph.

The play is supported by Consort of period-appropriate instruments played by Paula Fagerberg, Pat DeWitt, Lynda Anderson and Susan Patterson, with music director Kevin Culver on percussion.

Herod's director since the play's Atlanta debut in 1974 is Kelly Morris. Read an INTERVIEW with Kelly Morris (pdf). Read about the Fleury manuscript of the play.