Acclaimed theatrical phenomenon "The Thorn" has launched it's 2025 national tour, with more than 20 performances scheduled in major cities nationwide before Easter. Select markets will also feature Spanish-language performances, further expanding the show’s reach to new audiences.
In a captivating interview with K-LOVE's Crystal Thornton, John Bolin, the creator and producer of the dramatic production "The Thorn," shares the inspiring story behind this innovative retelling of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Over the past three decades, Bolin's vision has evolved from a small church Easter pageant into a powerful theatrical experience that is now touring secular performing arts centers nationwide.
As the Thorn continues to tour the country, Bolin is encouraged by the impact the production is having on audiences, both believers and non-believers alike. Over the years, the Thorn has led over 100,000 people to make first-time or recommitment decisions to follow Jesus, with many miraculous and transformational stories of people encountering Christ through the production.
(Listen to the complete interview between Crystal Thornton and John Bolin in the podcast below)
Bolin's journey began 30 years ago when he moved to Colorado Springs and started volunteering as a youth pastor at a local church. Recognizing the need to engage young people, Bolin began experimenting with "illustrated sermons" that combined music, video, dance, and drama to bring the gospel message to life.
"I really believe that God is doing something and drawing a generation of people to who he really is. And so we love that. My background was not in church work or anything like that. It was in marketing and business," Bolin explained. "I come from a family of entertainers. My parents met at the Goodman Theater in Chicago. They were actors. My dad was a folk music singer and recording artist. So that's kind of in my background."
It was during one of these illustrated sermons that Bolin had a pivotal encounter with a 16-year-old girl who was struggling with self-harm.
"One Wednesday night after the service when I was sitting on the edge of the stage, this 16-year-old girl came and sat next to me, and Crystal, she held out her arms and I could see where she'd been cutting up and down her arms and she was weeping, and I looked at her and said, 'you don't have to do this because I believe Jesus did this for you 2000 years ago,'" said Bolin.
This experience inspired him to create a production that would not only captivate young people but also speak to the depths of human pain and the transformative power of the Gospel.
"The next Wednesday night in October, 1997, I said, 'let's do an illustrated sermon.' And I want to show two things to young people. I want to show number one, the price that Jesus paid. I didn't want to pull any punches. I didn't want to be gratuitous, but I didn't want to pull any punches. I wanted them to know, no matter what you're going through, no matter how hard it is, no matter how deep your pain is, Jesus understands because he's been here, he's been through it. He knows you, he knows your story. The second thing that I wanted to communicate to young people was the reality of the spiritual battle for their choices, their identity and their calling. So we created this little illustrated sermon, and performed it the next Wednesday night for a couple hundred high school students. I'll tell you Crystal, it wasn't very good. The music was bad, the makeup was bad. The lighting was four people in the corners of the room turning up these lamps.
"But the Holy Spirit was there and a couple hundred young people encountered who Jesus was maybe for the first time in their lives."
Then something special happened, the senior pastor said, 'Hey, would you do this illustrated sermon, this production for our church for Easter next year?' So I said, sure. I don't have any idea how to do that. We'll figure it out. So the next Easter, we did it for the church and we had five to 10,000 people show up at these Easter services and the rest is history," said Bolin.
"The Thorn," as it came to be known, evolved from a simple church pageant into a two-and-a-half-hour theatrical experience that combines storytelling, aerial acrobatics, martial arts, and stunning visuals to bring the story of Jesus to life. Bolin's team of creative collaborators, including directors Rob Stennett and Andrew Harmon, have shaped the production into a captivating and immersive experience.
"It's not a musical. Peter doesn't sing from the garden, and it's not a play. There's only one primary speaking part, and that's the narrator who tells the story and weaves these scenes together," Bolin explained.
"You've got the storytelling element, and then you have these big scenes that show the story of Jesus from the Book of Genesis through the Book of Acts and focusing on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus."
After years of performing the production at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Bolin and his team began touring the Thorn to other churches across the country. But when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2021, the production was forced to go dark. Bolin and his wife, Sarah, then had the idea to film the production and release it in movie theaters through Fathom Events, allowing the story to reach an even wider audience.
However, Bolin's vision for the Thorn didn't end there. Recognizing the opportunity to bring the story of Jesus to secular performing arts centers, Bolin and his team took a risk and booked venues across the country, despite facing initial hesitation from their church partners.
"We knew that was going to be a huge risk. We took out a massive loan, probably a bad idea, don't tell Dave Ramsey. We realized that if it didn't work out, the only thing we could do is sell our house," Bolin explained.
"Going from the very beginning and then to where we are now is something only God could do. I think we had to come to the end of our rope and then God steps in and does what only he can do."
To their surprise, the Thorn's performances in these secular venues have been met with overwhelming success, with audiences filling the theaters and being deeply moved by the powerful portrayal of the gospel message.
"There's this moment in the production where John the beloved is talking to the audience and he says, 'Remember this thing, that he knows your name.' It's like in that moment you can feel this collective. The audience is just like, oh my gosh, God knows who I am. He knows my story," Bolin shared.
Bolin hopes "The Thorn" will inspire a new generation of creative artists to use their gifts to share the transformative message of the Gospel.
"We need new filmmakers. We need new artists, new composers, new stage play writers and producers. So whatever it is, new novelists, whatever it is God's put in you, especially in the arts, in music, stage, film, whatever it is, dig into that. Don't be discouraged, stay focused. Know that if God is for you, who can be against you and he that has begun a good work in you, will complete it in Jesus name," Bolin said.
With its captivating blend of artistry and spiritual depth, the Thorn continues to leave a lasting impact on audiences across the country, sharing the timeless story of Christ's love and redemption in a powerful and innovative way.
Tickets for The Thorn are available now at thethorn.com, where audiences can also find detailed tour dates, behind-the-scenes content, and more information about the show.
In addition to its ongoing national tour, THE THORN will premiere on UPtv Palm Sunday, April 13 at 7 p.m. ET, and begins streaming on UP Faith & Family on April 4.
*Due to sensitive themes, The Thorn is not recommended for children under 12 years of age.