Mike Bauer (above, left), Mark Soko, Bill Lipscomb and Fred Ehlers hold their poses in “Jesus Fall- ing Beneath the Cross” by Gustave Doré and part of a large collection of wood engravings found in the Illustrated Family Bible, published in England about 1860. In “Pietà” by Michelangelo, Jennifer Bauer holds John McKanna, which Mike Bauer said drew an audible gasp when first shown.
works such as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Te Last Supper” and Michelan- gelo’s “Pietà.” First’s gallery was started 20
years ago by staff members Joan Kuehn and Judy Wach, who were inspired by a similar program at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Garden Grove, Calif. Te first year’s presentation was
modest: five scenes on a newly built stage, with minimal lighting and a black curtain, offered to 150 people one snowy Sunday aſternoon. Two decades later, First’s gallery offers a program of more than a dozen scenes, spanning the life of Jesus from the nativity to the resurrection and accompanied by narration and choral music. Te audience has also grown.
Last year 1,500 people attended four presentations in one weekend. Kuehn and Wach credit the
Spirit with the growth of the gallery, pointing out that members who vol- unteer their time on stage or behind the scenes provide every aspect of the presentation. A cast of 60 to 70, ranging in age from 4 to 80, portrays
the characters; a 70-person choir sings pieces chosen to accompany each scene; and a crew of 10 handles lighting, staging, costuming and makeup. “It’s been a joy to see all the giſts
and talents that have gone into it,” Kuehn said.
Enter: The Bauer family Some of those giſts and talents come from three generations of one fam- ily. Mike and Cindy Bauer, longtime members, have participated in every gallery. Mike has portrayed Pilate, Jesus,
Tomas and Simon of Cyrene; Cindy has provided art, created props and helped direct the produc- tion. Teir three daughters grew up in the cast; later, two sons-in-law joined in. Now two of their three grand-
children, Addison and Lillie Weis, also take part (Mike Bauer says his youngest grandson “still wiggles” so he’s not ready). Addison, 6, enjoys the gallery because “I get to wear a costume … and I will be standing really, really, really still.”
Jennifer Weis holds daughter Addison outside the stage area while waiting for their scene. Also shown is Bud Lemkuhl (right).
Cindy Bauer said, “For my fam-
ily, it’s a spiritual thing … to know they’re part of telling the story.” As a director, she tries to cultivate that same understanding in the whole cast. Even when she talks with the
youngest actors, Bauer tries to help them feel connected to their charac- ters. “I tell them, ‘You’re the children who get to talk to Jesus. Tat’s you!’ ” she said. Although the presentations are
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