Sight and Sound Theatres - Strasburg, Pennsylvania - Christian-based theatre complex in Pennsylvania

When Sight and Sound theatres was founded in the 1970s by Glenn Eshelman and his wife Shirley, their theatre once only consisted of a microphone, turntable, and single slide projector. Today, this facility has a number of buildings, including the modern Millennium Theatre, which seats 2000 people and has a 300-foot wrap-around stage. This facility is now home to a number of productions every year, all inspired by Biblical stories.

Sight and Sound first got a permanent home in 1976 when the first Sight and Sound Auditorium was built. This space, now called Living Waters Theatre, opened its doors with a showed called Land of Our Own. Eventually, the theatre began to feature live shows, and it's first full-length production, Behold the Lamb, opened in 1987. Today, this facility is the site of a water fountain that used lighting, visual and audio effects, and music to create a water-based show. This theatre seats up to 643 people for each narrated show. The theatre productions moved to the larger Sight and Sound Entertainment Centre, which opened in 1991 just a mile from Living Waters Theatre.

In 1997, a fire destroyed the Sight and Sound Entertainment Centre, and many of the sets, shops, and storage buildings were also severely damaged or destroyed. The theatre was rebuilt over the next year, and the new facility, called Millennium Theatre, is home to a number of productions throughout the year. Overall, 16 productions based on the Bible has been produced by Sight and Sound, as of 2009. Some of the most popular shows now and in the past have included The Miracle of Christmas, Daniel and the Lions' Den, The Eternal Flame, and Abraham and Sarah: A Journey of Love.

The wrap-around stage at Sight and Sound's Millenium theatre allows audience members to feel like they are part of the show. The elaborate sets include mechanical animals in many cases, as well as live animals. These animals sometimes walk down the aisles of the theatre, so audience members are up close and personal with camels, horses, donkeys, and more.

Along with shops at the theaters, there is also a Sight and Sound retail location in Rockvale Square, a nearby outlet shopping center that is popular among tourists and people who live in the area alike. This location, called Noah's Landing is part of the 120-store center and is crafted to look like the interior of Noah's Ark. Sight and Sound sells stuffed animals, t-shirts and other apparel, gifts, collectibles, memorabilia, and more at this shop.

Sight and Sound's facilities are open from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday, with extended hours during evening shows. Show times vary depending on the time of year and the shows in production, but most weekends feature at least three show times. Tickets at Living Waters range from $12 to $31 and tickets at the Millennium Theater range from $16 to $55, depending on group size, day of the week, and age. They also have a behind the scenes tour for guests who want to learn more about the shows and how the productions come to life. Guests can call 800-377-1277 to learn more or order tickets.