Kick-off for the 41st Oberammergau Passion Play 2010

OBERAMMERGAU, Germany - Press Conference to Announce Actors and Renewal of Vows on April 18,
2009 in the Passion Theater Oberammergau.

- Cross reference: Picture is distributed via EPA (European Pressphoto
Agency) and can be downloaded free of charge at:
www.presseportal.de/pm/74828?keygroup=bild

Since 1634, the most famous passion play in the world has taken place in
Oberammergau. The Oberammergau municipal council, together with play
management, will make a final decision on casting of the 2010 Passion Play on
the night of April 17, 2009, in a meeting closed to the public. The passion
vow of 1633 will be renewed with an ecumenical service on April 18, 2009, and
afterwards the cast will be formally announced in front of the Passion
Theater that can seat approximately 4,700. The actors will then be presented
at a press conference.

The origin of the passion play goes back to a vow made in 1633 by the
citizens of Oberammergau to ward off the plague that was raging at that time.
The tradition, maintained and experienced almost without interruption for
over 370 years, of putting on the play about the suffering, death and
resurrection of Christ every ten years, will be continued for the 41st time
in 2010 and is regarded as the most important religious and cultural event in
Germany. The village at the edge of the Bavarian Alps expects approximately
500,000 visitors for the passion play, over half of which will be
international guests. Rehearsals will begin in November 2009. The premiere is
to be on May 15, 2010, with 105 play dates to follow up through October 3,
2010. Over 2,500 local residents, 450 of which are children, have volunteered
for the play, the most ever.

All actors of the world’s largest amateur dramatic performance come from
the village, since a special play law is in effect. All participants, from
actors playing the big speaking parts such as Jesus, Mary or Judas, through
members of the choir, orchestra members, firemen and ushers, must have been
born in Oberammergau or lived there for at least 20 years.

For the third time, Oberammergau director and manager of the Munich
Volkstheater Christian Stuckl will direct the 2010 Passion Play, in a
tremendous collective achievement. Christian Stuckl has already directed
“Everyman” for the Salzburg Festival and most recently “Palestrina” at the
Bavarian State Opera in Munich.

Advance sales of individual tickets begin on April 20, 2009.

Registration for delivery of ticket order forms or reserving tickets with
Arrangement can be done immediately at the website
www.passionsspiele2010.de.

Ticket contact: Oberammergau und DER Reiseburo oHG, Eugen-Papst-Str. 9a,
82487 Oberammergau, info@passionsspiele2010.de, Tel:+49-8822-923-10

Press contact: Frederik Mayet, manager, Weronika Demuschewski, assistant,
presse@passionsspiele2010.de, Tel +49-89-523-55-13, Fax +49-89-523-55-65

Ticket contact: Oberammergau und DER Reiseburo oHG, Eugen-Papst-Str. 9a,
82487 Oberammergau, info@passionsspiele2010.de, Tel: +49-8822-923-10 ; Press
contact: Frederik Mayet, manager, Weronika Demuschewski, assistant,
presse@passionsspiele2010.de, Tel +49-89-523-55-13, Fax +49-89-523-55-65

Source: Oberammergau Passion Play

Press contact: Frederik Mayet, manager, Weronika Demuschewski, assistant, presse at passionsspiele2010.de, Tel +49-89-523-55-13, Fax +49-89-523-55-65