Last Supper Comes Alive in Ocean City

One of the world’s most recognizable masterpieces will come alive in Ocean City to mark the start of Easter weekend.

Thirteen men will re-create Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper in a two-night performance at at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday (April 5 and 6). The 15th-century tableau freezes on the moment Jesus reveals that one of his disciples will betray him, as recounted in the New Testament.

The cast holds that freeze for most of the performance until, one by one, each disciple breaks the stance to talk about what Jesus’ news means to him.

“You get an insight into the mind of each man and how his story fits in with Jesus,” says Carolyn Lothian, the Ocean City Tabernacle’s pianist and director of the production. “It’s really moving to people. Last year, we had people in tears.”

Lothian will direct the Living Last Supper for the second year, after she initiated the project at the Tabernacle last year. The production has been staged around the country since 1954.

Jesus and the disciples come from the , , and Second Cape May Baptist Church. Eleven of the 13 cast members participated in 2011 as well, including high school senior , back for his second stint as Jesus.

“We had people asking us if they were real actors last year. It was a delight to hear that, because they’re all amateurs and volunteered for the production,” Lothian says. “They haven’t acted before — last year, we basically just grabbed bodies.”

Bodies that can stay still, that is.

“We work on that a lot because they need to freeze for a long, long time,” Lothian says with a laugh.

The Living Last Supper kicks off a full weekend of on Maundy Thursday. That is the day in the Bible that Jesus dined with his disciples before his betrayal, crucifixion on Good Friday and resurrection on Easter.

An estimated 800 people saw the performance last year, and Lothian hopes to top that this year.

“It gets you in a state of mind for Easter and what the holiday really means,” she says. “And, visually, it’s very amazing. I spent so much time directing it last year, and I only recently saw the video. My mouth just hung open.”

The Living Last Supper will be staged at Ocean City Tabernacle, 550 Wesley Ave., on April 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. Communion follows the performance. Admission is free and an offering will be received.

Living Last Supper cast:

Phillip: Ben Weisberg

Nathaniel: Grant Karsner

Peter: Carlo Calle

Thomas: Dave Terry

Judas: Eric Hitchner

Jesus: Kameron Ghanavati

John: Robert Winder

Andrew: Tony Costagna

James: Andy Halliday

Simon the Zealot: Kim Murphy

Thaddaeus: Will Evans

Matthew: Allan Matthews

James: Jody Lovette