feel me, gradely, everyone
& see that I have flesh & bone

york plays 2025
saturday, june 7
start time 6:00 am

50 short plays
in 35 clusters
each one repeating
at 3 different stations
we go until we’re done
(likely past midnight)

The first play-cluster will begin at 6AM at Station 1. From there, Cluster 1 will move to Station 2, and Cluster 2 will begin at Station 1. Each of these morning clusters will run about 20 minutes and, in turn, will repeat once at each of our three stations.

CLUSTER 1: Creation of the Cosmos
(Pageant I: Creation of the Angels & Fall of Lucifer / Pageant II: Creation): Fordham Medieval Dramatists, led from New York by pageant master Prof. Andrew Albin

CLUSTER 2: Adam & Eve
(Pageant III: Creation of Adam & Eve / Pageant IV: Prohibition of the Tree of Knowledge / Pageant V: Fall of Adam & Eve): CUNY-Brooklyn College & Claremont McKenna College, led from New York & California by pageant masters Prof. Lauren Mancia and Prof. Ellen Ketels

CLUSTER 3: Out of Eden
(Pageant VI: Expulsion from the Garden / Pageant VII: Cain & Abel): St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, led from Illinois by pageant masters Phoenix Gonzalez & Fr. Tim O’Leary

CLUSTER 4: Noah
(Pageant VIII: Building of the Ark / Pageant IX: The Flood): University of Tennessee-Knoxville, led from Tennessee by pageant masters Prof. Katie Lupica & Prof. Gina Marie di Salvo

CLUSTER 5: Abraham & Isaac
(Pageant X only): The Parchment Makers, led from Alberta by pageant master Prof. Jacqueline Jenkins

CLUSTER 6: Moses & Pharaoh
(Pageant XI only): Radford University, led from Virginia by pageant master Prof. Frank Napolitano

CLUSTER 7: Annunciation & Visitation
(Pageant XII only): Loyola Marymount University, led from California by pageant master Prof. John Sebastian

CLUSTER 8: Joseph’s Troubles
(Pageant XIII only): Unruly Players, led from Ohio by pageant masters Liam Daley, Kelly Elliott, & Charlene Smith

CLUSTER 9: Nativity
(Pageant XIV: The Nativity / Pageant XV: The Shepherds): Centennial College, led here in Ontario by pageant master Ara Glenn-Johanson

CLUSTER 10: Magi
(Pageant XVI only): The Honourable Company of Creatively Anachronistic Players, led here in Ontario by pageant master Sarah Scroggie

CLUSTER 11: Mary’s Purification
(Pageant XVII only): The Parchment Makers, led from Alberta by pageant master Prof. Jacqueline Jenkins

At this point, the play-clusters will grow a bit longer, about 23 minutes each. Medieval staging and transitions are unpredictable — we estimate ROUGHLY that Cluster 12 will be starting at Station 1 between 11:30am and noon. Know that Cluster 12 includes disturbing violence.

CLUSTER 12: Flight & Slaughter
(Pageant XVIII: Flight into Egypt / Pageant XIX: The Slaughter of the Innocents): Shenandoah University, led from Virginia by pageant master Prof. Carolyn Coulson

CLUSTER 13: Youth & Baptism
(Pageant XX: Christ and the Doctors / Pageant XXI: Baptism of Christ): Unchained Theatre, led here in Ontario by pageant master Jack Burrill

CLUSTER 14: At Cana and Simon’s House
(Lost Pageant: Marriage in Cana / Lost Pageant: Feast at Simon’s House): University of Tennessee-Knoxville, led from Tennessee by pageant masters Prof. Katie Lupica & Prof. Gina Marie di Salvo

CLUSTER 15: Temptation and Transfiguration
(Pageant XXII: The Temptation in the Wilderness / Pageant XXIII: The Transfiguration): CUNY-Brooklyn College and Claremont McKenna College, led from New York and California by pageant masters Prof. Lauren Mancia and Prof. Ellen Ketels

CLUSTER 16: Casting Stones & Raising Lazarus
(Pageant XXIV only): The Approximators, led here in Ontario by pageant masters Jane Smythe & Michaella Mairi Kinloch

CLUSTER 17: To Jerusalem
(Pageant XXV only): University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign, led from Illinois by pageant masters Prof. Carol Symes & Prof. Robert Barrett

CLUSTER 18: Conspiracy & Last Supper
(Pageant XXVI: Conspiracy / Pageant XXVII: Last Supper): The Chicago Contingent, led from Illinois by pageant masters Prof. George Cederquist (of North Park University) & Prof. Kyle A. Thomas

CLUSTER 19: Agony & Betrayal
(Pageant XXVIII only): The Bridgebuilders, led here in Ontario by pageant master Alysse Rich

CLUSTER 20: Caiaphas & Annas
(Pageant XXIX only): Don Bosco Players, led here in Ontario by pageant master Frederick Duquette

CLUSTER 21: Pilate & His Wife
(Pageant XXX only): Radford University, led from Virginia by pageant master Prof. Frank Napolitano

CLUSTER 22: Herod Antipas
(Pageant XXXI only): Unruly Players, led from Ohio by pageant masters Liam Daley, Kelly Elliott, & Charlene Smith.

We estimate ROUGHLY that Cluster 23 will be starting at Station 1 between 4:30pm and 5:30pm, but we cannot know the timing more exactly than that. This “early evening section” of our plays will include very violent scenes from Cluster 23 through Cluster 27. Not appropriate for kids.

CLUSTER 23: Judas’ Remorse
(Pageant XXXII only): Shenandoah University, led from Virginia by pageant master Prof. Carolyn Coulson

CLUSTER 24: Pilate’s Judgment
(Pageant XXXIII only): The Honourable Company of Creatively Anachronistic Players, led here in Ontario by pageant master Sarah Scroggie

CLUSTER 25: To Calvary
(Pageant XXXIV only): University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign, led from Illinois by pageant masters Prof. Carol Symes & Prof. Robert Barrett

CLUSTER 26: Crucifixion
(Pageant XXXV only): Centennial College, led here in Ontario by pageant master Ara Glenn-Johanson

CLUSTER 27: Death on the Cross
(Pageant XXXVI only: CUNY-Brooklyn College & Claremont McKenna College, led from New York & California by pageant masters Prof. Lauren Mancia and Prof. Ellen Ketels)

The very violent content will end after Cluster 27, as we move into the later evening. We estimate ROUGHLY that Cluster 28 will be starting at Station 1 between 7:30pm and 9:00pm, but we cannot know the timing more exactly than that. In other words, it might be getting dark at this point: Burwash Quad is pretty well-lit at night, but take extra care as you move around the space.

CLUSTER 28: Liberating Hell
(Pageant XXXVII only): The Chicago Contingent, led from Illinois by pageant masters Prof. George Cederquist (of North Park University) & Prof. Kyle A. Thomas

CLUSTER 29: Resurrection
(Pageant XXXVIII only): The Approximators, led here in Ontario by pageant masters Jane Smythe & Michaella Mairi Kinloch

CLUSTER 30: Appearances
(Pageant XXXIX: Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene / Pageant XL: Travellers to Emmaus): St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, led from Illinois by pageant masters Phoenix Gonzalez & Fr. Tim O’Leary

CLUSTER 31: Thomas & Ascension
(Pageant XLI: Doubting Thomas / Pageant XLII: The Ascension): Fordham Medieval Dramatists, led from New York by pageant master Prof. Andrew Albin

CLUSTER 32: Pentecost
(Pageant XLIII only): Don Bosco Players, led here in Ontario by pageant master Frederick Duquette

CLUSTER 33: Mary’s Death & Funeral
(Pageant XLIV: Death of Mary / Lost Pageant: Funeral of Mary): The Bridgebuilders, led here in Ontario by pageant master Alysse Rich

CLUSTER 34: Mary in Heaven
(Pageant XLV: The Assumption of Mary / Pageant XLVI: The Coronation of Mary): Loyola Marymount University, led from California by pageant master Prof. John Sebastian

CLUSTER 35: Last Judgment
(Pageant XLVII only): all teams, led here in Ontario by pageant master Prof. Matt Sergi