LITTLE ROCK — Supporters behind a frantic fundraising drive to save the Great Passion Play near Eureka Springs have raised $75,000 needed to pay loan interest to Cornerstone Bank and prevent the bank from taking over the property in lieu of foreclosure, said Charles Cross, the bank president.
Cross said the bank didn’t receive the money Wednesday, but those raising the funds plan to turn it over first thing today.
Others indicated the group was just shy of the amount needed in cash and checks at the end of the day Wednesday.
Kent Butler, a volunteer with the Elna M. Smith Foundation, which operated the Passion Play, said a group led by Randall Christy of Ada, Okla., had raised $72,700 in cash and checks.
A news conference was scheduled for noon today at the Passion Play amphitheater, Butler said.
Christy, owner of The Gospel Station Network, didn’t return calls Wednesday. He has been spearheading the effort to raise the money before the 700-acre Passion Play property was supposed to be turned over to the bank.
On Monday, Cross said he was willing to work with the group within a certain deadline — once Monday, and later moved to Wednesday because of the New Year’s Day holiday.
Christy, who is also pastor at Union Valley Baptist Church in Ada, has said he hopes The Gospel Station Network can operate the production for its 2013 season and buy it after that.
After 45 years, the Passion Play had what many believed was its last performance Oct. 27. The organization’s board began asking for financial help in September, saying $500,000 was needed to keep operating. But donations amounted to about $18,000, which was enough to allow the play to finish its 2012 season.
The $75,000 would go to interest owed to the bank on three loans. Christy said the Passion Play owes a total of $2.53 million.
Attendance at the play peaked in 1992 at 289,212, dropping to 46,578 this past season, said Keith Butler, chairman of the foundation and Kent Butler’s father.
The play depicts Jesus Christ’s last days.
Arkansas, Pages 11 on 01/03/2013