Showtime Specials Season 1 Episode 122 Jesus Town, U.S.A.
Jesus Town, U.S.A. is the 122nd episode of the first season of Showtime Specials, a documentary series that takes a deep look into unique communities and subcultures across the United States. In this episode, viewers are taken to a small town in Oklahoma called Lawton, where every year, hundreds of actors and spectators come together to produce a live reenactment of the life and death of Jesus Christ.
The episode starts off with an introduction to Lawton, a town with a population of just over 90,000 people. We are given a brief history of Lawton, including its founding as a military post in the late 1800s and its transition into a farming community in the early 1900s. We are then introduced to the founders of Jesus Town, U.S.A., a local pastor and his wife who had a vision to create a theater production that would bring the story of Jesus to life for the people of Lawton.
We are then taken behind the scenes of Jesus Town, U.S.A., where we see the immense amount of work that goes into putting on a live production of this scale. We meet the actors who play Jesus, his disciples, and other key characters in the story. We are shown the costumes that are made by volunteers in the community, and the sets that are built from scratch every year. We see the rehearsals, the lighting and sound checks, and the final preparations before the big day.
As the day of the performance approaches, the town of Lawton comes alive with excitement. People flood into the town from all over the state to see the show, which is free to the public. We see the crowds filling up the bleachers, the actors putting on their final touches, and the volunteers scrambling to make everything just right.
Finally, the production begins. We are treated to a stunning display of acting, music, and special effects as the story of Jesus unfolds before our eyes. We see his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, his last supper with his disciples, his betrayal by Judas, his crucifixion, and his resurrection. We are taken on an emotional journey that leaves us with a deep appreciation for the sacrifices that Jesus made for humanity.
After the show is over, we are given a glimpse into the impact that Jesus Town, U.S.A. has on the community of Lawton. We see the actors and volunteers hugging and crying, grateful for the experience they were able to share together. We hear from spectators who were moved to tears by the performance, saying that it gave them a deeper understanding of the story of Jesus and a renewed appreciation for their faith.
Overall, Jesus Town, U.S.A. is a powerful and inspiring look into a community that comes together every year to celebrate their faith and share it with others. The episode does an excellent job of showing the amount of work and dedication that goes into putting on a production of this scale, and it gives viewers a deeper understanding of the impact that Jesus has had on people throughout history.