Founded by Biblical Dramatist, Frank Roughton Harvey, The Living Word Outdoor Drama has been proclaiming the Gospel of Christianity since 1975. Starting from Jesus’ baptism, visitors can witness Jesus’ life story, surrounded by the Appalachian mountains.
Set in the beautiful foothills, the history of Jesus is performed on a 400 foot set with a stage resembling the streets of Old Jerusalem.
Arriving early to the site in Cambridge, Ohio, I learned that I could participate in a backstage tour and meet the actors before the show. A small group of us gathered at the ticket counter, where we were escorted to the set starting at Golgotha, the hill where Jesus was crucified. The beautiful display was set up with three crosses and the tomb of Jesus had been carved into the hill below.
The details of the set were spectacular and included the Hebrew inscription on the cross, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” added by Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect (governor) of Judea.
Below the cross was the tomb of Christ and the site of His resurrection. Following Jesus’ death on the cross, He was buried in the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Aramathea. In three days, Jesus was resurrected and the stone of the tomb had been rolled away. 
The set had been magnificently designed with extensive attention to detail. It felt as though I was walking the streets of Jerusalem.
The play began with the preaching of John the Baptist foretelling of Jesus’ coming, baptizing those who believed in the Messiah. Across the field, Jesus arrived, preaching the gospel to the crowds. Of course, his words were not without controversy as soldiers watched in the distance to control riots and local disturbances.
The Jewish religious leaders did not believe that Jesus was their Messiah and plotted to have him captured and killed.
As the Passover holiday was approaching, the religious leaders were plotting to have Jesus arrested. During the Passover meal, Jesus foretold of his death and the events that were to come, including his betrayal by Judas Iscariot.
The Crucifixion
The Resurrection
Resurrection
The Living Word Outdoor Drama considers itself non-denominational and welcomes Christians of all beliefs to view as well as participate in the story of Christ. Christians from various spiritual backgrounds assist in the production of the story of Jesus from the production to the costumes, practices and performances. Living Word has only one mission, and that is to share “The Greatest Story Ever Told.”
Have you had the opportunity of visiting The Living Word Outdoor Drama? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Thank you for reading about my amazing experience and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Living Word Outdoor Drama
6010 College Hill Road
Cambridge, OH 43725
Telephone: 740 439 2761
- Hours: The Living Word Outdoor Drama is a seasonal production, so check the website for dates and times running from dates in the summer to fall.
- Amenities: Group tours, weekly/weekend entertainment, handicap accessible and outdoor seating. See the special rates on their website.
- Tips for Your Visit: Arrive early if you would like a tour of the production set.
Where to Stay:
Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center
14755 Cadiz Road
Cambridge, OH 43725
Telephone: 740 439 2751
Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center is one of Ohio’s State Park Lodges. This fabulous property offers a great selection of summer activities including pontoon rentals, hiking, fishing, archery, outdoor pool, beach, lounge, restaurant and more. The rustic accommodations of the lodge rooms were perfect for our extended weekend stay.
Where to Eat and Drink:
Georgetown Vineyards
62920 Georgetown Road
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
Telephone: 740 435 3222
- Hours: The winery is open from 11 AM to 8 PM on Monday – Thursday, 11 AM to 8:30 PM on Friday and Saturday. The winery is closed on Sunday. Hours are seasonal and are subject to change. Please refer to the winery’s website for any updates to its hours of operation and schedule of events.
- Amenities: Weekend entertainment, dining, wine tastings, outdoor seating, online shopping, wine, Southside brewery, private events and scheduled events to include
- Tips for Your Visit: During the nights when the winery provides entertainment, wine tastings are not available. As always, please drink responsibly.
There is an interstate sign off of I-70 and additional signage that will bring you to the winery. They are open year round and offer a variety of wines for tasting as well as brick-oven pizzas. There is a gift shop and of course, one of the most scenic views for an Ohio winery. Visit their website for more information about their wines, hours of operation and upcoming events or check them out on Facebook. Please note that the winery’s hours change from the winter to summer months.
Georgetown Vineyards offers a great selection of custom-made Wood-Fired Brick Oven Pizzas. I ordered the Margherita Pizza which was absolutely delicious with a perfect blend of tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese and basil, drizzled with olive oil.
Timber’s Restaurant at Salt Fork Lodge and Conference Center
14755 Cadiz Road
Cambridge, OH 43725
Telephone: 740 439 2751
During my first night’s stay, I had expected to order a full dinner, but after having left-over pizza from Georgetown Vineyard, I decided on an order of chicken wings with the tropical habanero sauce. The appetizer was the perfect size and I enjoyed the heat and sweet of the wing sauce.
The Forum
2205 Southgate Parkway
Cambridge, OH 43275
Telephone: 740 439 2777
Flaming cheese Saganaki is one of my favorite dishes and you can’t go wrong by ordering the Greek sampler. All foods are made from scratch and are absolutely delicious!
Georgetown Vineyards
62920 Georgetown Road
Cambridge, Ohio 43725
Telephone: 740 435 3222
Books to Read:
- The Mansfield Killings: A Novel Based on True Events by Scott Fields
- Green Bay Tree by Louis Bromfield
- The Haunted History of the Ohio State Reformatory by Sherri Blake
Photo Guide to Mansfield:
- The Jerusalem set of Living Word Outdoor Drama
- The Ohio State Reformatory’s Facade, Cell Blocks and scenes from the movie, Shawshank Redemption
- The Iconic Carousel at Richland Carousel Park
- Kingwood Hall, the peacocks and gardens at Kingwood Center Gardens
- Malabar State Park’s home of Louis Bromfield, the farm animals on the property and Mt. Jeez
- The beautiful view of Georgetown from Georgetown Vineyards
Located in Cambridge, Ohio among the hilly landscape of southeast Ohio. The drama takes place from June 15 to September 22, 2014 on Fridays and Saturdays. For more information about the Living Word Outdoor Drama, visit their website at www.thelivingword.org. There are additional productions of Oklahoma and the Jerusalem Experience available as well, so check out their website for additional information such as cost for tickets and to confirm directions to the park.
Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.
The Set of the Living Word Outdoor Drama
The Royal Palace
The Whipping Post
Another view of the Royal Palace
Living Word Outdoor Drama Stage