RONKS, Pa.—This year, the Sight & Sound Theatre is celebrating their 50th anniversary with another spectacular presentation that is sure to bring the house down or, at least, the walls of Jericho. For “Joshua,” the stage is, once again, brought to life with original music, monumental sets, and live animals—a tradition that theatergoers have come to expect from Sight & Sound over the past five decades.
As the premiere venue for bringing Bible stories to life on stage, the makers of “Moses,” “Daniel,” and many other productions do not disappoint with their latest offering.
From One Great Man to Another
“Joshua” picks up the story from Moses parting the Red Sea as the Israelites flee from the pursuing Egyptians. The Israelites narrowly escape capture when the waves of the sea come crashing back down on the Pharaoh’s army.
As the Israelites exult in this newfound freedom, they set out toward the Promised Land–the land promised to them by God. But their trials in the desert soon turn this band of travelers into an ungrateful pack of doubters. Tired, thirsty, and very hungry, they turn on Moses.
Joshua is the only one who is grateful when the bitter waters of Marah become sweet enough to drink. He follows God’s orders that families pick only enough manna and quail to last them one day. His obedience and faithfulness to God is not lost on Moses, who appoints him to lead the men against the invading Amalekites to victory.
News of the Israelite’s God and His intercessions for His people spread far and wide, reaching Rahab’s ears as well. The Canaanite prostitute will have to make a choice that will change her life forever.
As the Israelites get ready to finally enter the Promised Land, Moses hands over the reins of leadership to Joshua, leading to the ultimate climax in the story: the fall of the walls of Jericho.
Tricks of the Trade
It is no surprise that the Sight & Sound Theatre opens “Joshua” with the stunning parting of the Red Sea. Using all the tricks of theater, the “waves” get transformed to a dry seabed just in time to get the Israelites beyond harm’s way.
Sight & Sound efficiently mixes old-school methods and state-of-the-art technology to create their vivid scenes. Throughout the show, a dynamic backdrop presents movement as well as change of scenery. When the Israelites travel through the dusty desert, the background LED screens—along with one of theater’s reliable props, the fog machine—create the illusion of a sandstorm or invading armies on horseback kicking up dust. Wind machines create the desert wind as tents fly open.
Theatergoers will be left astounded when all of these elements are pulled together to create the grand finale of the walls coming down in Jericho.
The first act focuses on the desert scenes, but the second act brings readers inside the walls of Jericho. Floor-to-ceiling sets, three-stories tall, fill the main stage and side stages to capacity, allowing an immersive theater experience for the audience.
Aisles are well-utilized for the actors’ entrances and exits. Animal actors like horses can be found clip-clopping their way up the stage and a small herd of goats make a hasty exit after their scene. It’s a lively addition, not just for the children’s enjoyment, but also for completing the picture of life during biblical times.
Musical ‘Revival’
The word “revival” comes to mind to describe the songs sung throughout the play. Uplifting music is used especially in the scenes when the Israelites are hopeful and when something good happens. The actors raise their hands up in the air, mostly in praise, but also in prayer.
In the scenes of drudgery and trudging, especially when the Israelites drag their feet across the desert, the music has a catchy beat, as if motivating the Israelites to keep moving. A similar beat is used as they march around the walls of Jericho. The music fills the scenes that need no words.
Unsung Heroes
For those familiar with the Sight & Sound format, the show’s program does not include the cast and character names. This is in keeping with the vision of letting the message and the stories of God speak for themselves. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge the heavy lifting done by the actor who plays Joshua. The first act is shared with Moses, but the story is uniquely portrayed from the point of view of Joshua, and he therefore receives plenty of stage time. In Act 2, he and Rahab become the lead characters. They are able to bring out the themes of trust and redemption through the inner conflict their characters endure. Throughout the story, Joshua carries his lines convincingly and is able to handle the solo musical numbers with aplomb.
Sight & Sound Theatre’s reputation for high-quality shows based on faithfully retelling Bible stories has served it well for the last 50 years, and “Joshua” is bound to be a beautiful start for another round of epic productions for 50 more years to come.
‘Joshua’
Sight & Sound Theatre
300 Hartman Bridge Rd., Ronks, Pa.
Tickets: 800-377-1277 or Sight-Sound.com
Running Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes (one intermission)
Closes: Dec. 31, 2026
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