The Story
The play's roots trace to a Passion Play tradition from Lünen, Germany, first staged in 1242. Josef Meier, a seventh-generation performer, brought it to America in 1932 and made Spearfish its permanent home; the amphitheatre premiered in May 1939 and drew over 14,000 in its first season. Meier played the lead for decades, retiring in 1991 after roughly 9,000 performances. His daughter ran it through the final 2008 season. The amphitheatre — with a stage about two-and-a-half blocks long and a cast including mounted Roman soldiers and a camel — still stands, rebranded as "Lookout Amphitheater" for occasional concerts.
Surprising Facts
→ The tradition traces back to a monastery in Lünen, Germany, first performed in 1242.
→ Its outdoor stage — about two-and-a-half blocks long — was billed as the longest in the country.
→ The amphitheatre was never demolished; it still hosts occasional live music today.