Exploring Hope and Suffering in The Hiding Place
Reported by Katelyn Lam
Photographed by Luci Lettau
Tickets are now available for the Performing Arts Department's fall production of The Hiding Place, with eight performances scheduled in Wood-Mar Auditorium. Free student tickets are available for Thursday shows only. Students and staff can claim one free ticket for themselves by visiting georgefox.edu/box-office. Additional tickets may be purchased on the site. Dates for the shows are as follows: Oct. 17-19 at 7:30 p.m., Oct. 20 at 2 p.m., Oct. 24-25 at 7:30 p.m., and Oct. 26-27 at 2 p.m.
“They can expect a really moving, hard-hitting, and hopeful story,” said Artistic Director Ben Tissell. “This production, in particular, highlights the human elements—both suffering and the possibility for hope. Cycerli has created a sense of community and family on stage, supporting each other. Cycerli does shows that move quickly and are super entertaining.”
The fall drama is directed by guest artist Cycerli Ash, CEO of a faith-based theater company in Atlanta, Georgia, and a part of the Portland Playhouse alongside Tissell.
“I have a wonderful relationship with Ben,” Ash said. “We have worked on many projects together, especially at the Portland Playhouse. When he read this play and fell in love with it, I think he wanted someone—like me—who has the same passion for excellence, which is why he chose me to direct.”
Student Mckenzie Rescorla plays Corrie.
“I felt we were able to collaborate and discuss who this character was, and I think she was very open to interpretation, direction, and heart,” Ash said. “Mckenzie has such heart and passion, making her a fitting choice for the character of Corrie.”
Corrie’s sister Betsie is played by student Shianna Deck-Ugelstad.
“I wanted to shout out Shianna for the emotional depths she’s willing to explore in playing that character,” Tissell said.
Based on the book by Corrie Ten Boom, The Hiding Place is one of the world’s bestselling memoirs of World War II. When the Nazi occupation overruns Holland, it forces Corrie and her family to choose between turning a blind eye to oppression or defying authority to save lives.
“I think this family really stood for change and embodied what it means to be more like Christ, unlike any other play I’ve read,” Ash said.
With the drama rooted in historical events, there are challenges in adding dramatic storytelling elements.
“We’ve done our research,” Tissell said. “Cycerli did her research, I did my research, and the designers are doing their research to ensure historical accuracy. However, we made some early decisions not to use dialects for clarity for the audience. The script follows the book closely, but there are a few changes for the sake of heightening the drama.”
Ash emphasized that The Hiding Place encompasses joy, peace, love, faith, and forgiveness, as well as reality, struggle, and suffering.
“I hope that people come to see this show with open hearts,” Ash said. “I pray they approach the story with grace and mercy. This story is painful to tell, but it is necessary. We owe it to this family to tell the truth of what happened as much as we can.”