Dzieci’s “A Passion,” performed April 3 at the Reformed Church of New Paltz, reimagines the Gospel of Matthew as a spare, immersive work of choral theater. Drawing from early Aramaic sources, Hebraic chant, and ritual elements of Judaism, the ensemble pares the story down to its essential human drama, staging it with minimal props and close audience proximity.
Set against the historical shadow of the Warsaw Ghetto, the production invites a broader reflection on suffering, community, and transcendence across traditions. The performance unfolds as a “dramatic choral liturgy unbound,” emphasizing voice, movement, and collective presence over conventional staging.
Reservations aren’t required, but the experience rewards arriving early—and settling into the charged stillness the company is known to conjure.
