Sight & Sound marks 50 years of biblical theater with new stage productions, film releases

A Christian theater company that began as a traveling slideshow in rural Pennsylvania is marking its 50th anniversary this year with a new stage production, its second feature film and expansion plans for 2027, having drawn more than 40 million visitors to its performances since its founding in 1976, the organization said.

Sight & Sound, headquartered in Lancaster, announced a series of milestone projects tied to the anniversary. The company's two live-theater venues — in Lancaster and Branson, Missouri — together welcome nearly 2 million guests annually, while its streaming platform, Sight & Sound TV, reaches audiences in 200 countries and territories.

The centerpiece of this year's slate is "Joshua," a new Lancaster stage production the organization says took nearly four years to develop. A theatrical release of the show is planned for this fall. The company also released its second feature film, "A Great Awakening," in movie theaters, on DVD and through streaming, timed to coincide with the United States' 250th anniversary.

The organization's growth has not come without setbacks. In 1997, Sight & Sound's Lancaster theater burned to the ground six years after opening, shortly after premiering its production of "Noah." What followed, the company says, redefined its identity.

Katie Miller, vice president of brand development and the eldest granddaughter of founders Glenn and Shirley Eshelman, described the days after the fire as a turning point.

"Just a few days after the fire, my grandparents sat across from each other and decided that Sight & Sound was more than a business, it was a calling," Miller said.

A new theater seating more than 2,000 people was built on the same site within 18 months. A second venue opened in Branson in 2008.

Beyond live performance, Sight & Sound has expanded into artist training through its Conservatory, a two-year apprentice-based program that has graduated 122 students since opening in 2013. Its film division has released two features so far — "I Heard the Bells" and "A Great Awakening" — with a third in development alongside a new stage production.

For the 2027 season, the Lancaster stage is set to revive "Jonah," while Branson will debut "Daniel" for the first time. Following that production, the Branson theater plans to rotate a different show each year — a change from its previous format.

Chief Executive Officer Matt Neff said the organization looks ahead with confidence as it enters its next half-century.

"We are deeply grateful for every guest, employee, partner and community member who has been a part of this journey with us, and we look ahead with excited anticipation for how the Lord will continue to lead Sight & Sound to tell His story," Neff said.