WTB Roles

While we all aspire to more angelic, our Angel costumes are fitted for young women in their teens and 20’s. The working shift for an Angel is shorter in length to accommodate a rotating cast and Each Angel, wears an assigned a specific costume; please make sure you’ve visited the Costume Room in advance of the event to sign-out your costume.

While the Virgin Mary holds a sacred place in our Christian tradition (see below), the Mary in our Bethlehem is a teen mother caring for her newborn in an animal pen. Joseph, her husband and proud father of Jesus, shares these lowly accommodations. Our manger likely is cleaner and warmer than the accommodations many years ago.

The manger area will be the last stop for our guests. Throughout their visit in the village, they will have been asked if they have heard about a special baby born in Bethlehem today. Most everyone will know the birth story so kids (and adults) will be curious about the baby and your accommodations in the manger. Many of the children will bring their rag dolls and gift them to the baby. Gently tell the children that they can look but not touch. Some of our staff will occasionally empty rag dolls from the crib. There will be hundreds.

You may be asked about your journey. It’s about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, so their trip was likely difficult and may have taken most of a week – especially for a soon-to-be mom.

Teens and young adults typically portray our WTB Mary and Joseph. As noted above the guests will be very interested and may ask questions. While we try to stay authentic in our portrayal of Bethlehem, requests for photos are common and reasonably accommodated.

(The Virgin Mary, also known as Mary, Mother of Jesus, holds a significant role in Christian traditions. According to the New Testament of the Bible, she was a young woman from Nazareth who received a divine visitation from the angel Gabriel. The angel informed her that she would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God, Jesus. Mary is revered for her unwavering faith and her willingness to fulfill this divine purpose. She is considered a symbol of purity, humility, and maternal love in many Christian denominations

Shepherds were responsible for the safety and well-being of their flocks. They had to protect the animals from predators, such as wolves or thieves, and ensure they had access to water sources and good grazing grounds. Shepherds would often use their staffs to guide and defend the flock.

Our shepherds add character to the outside corral area. In addition to the visual of the costumed shepherds, our cast members help keep unwanted hands out of animal pens (and mouths). Corral fencing often tempts young guests to go for a climb. Our shepherds gently discourage that behavior.

Please note: This role is a good fit for all ages, but is mostly stationed outdoors where the animal pens are located.

The color purple has long been associated with royalty and prestige. At the time of our Bethlehem a pound of purple dye might have cost half of the annual wage of a soldier. So cloth of this color was precious and highly sought after. Our seller of purple offers this treasure to the guest in the village.

As with any of the “special” characters, interaction with the guests is encouraged. WTB tries very hard to depict a bustling town full of visitors may anxious to buy rare treasures.

Spices were not only used for culinary purposes but also for religious rituals, medicine, and perfumes. A spice seller would have been well-versed in the different flavors, aromas, and medicinal properties associated with each spice. This is a highly-interactive role, requiring some conversation with our guests and base knowledge about the spices you are selling. A special basket of herbs and spices provides an excellent prop for the Seller of Spice.

Overview:

The synagogue was the hub of life in the Jewish community. Given the proximity of Bethlehem to the city of Jerusalem, Bethlehem residents would likely have visited the Great Temple for the worship and offerings. There are synagogues in contemporary Bethlehem, but the most recent of those was established in the 1850’s. However, our depiction of the town of Bethlehem includes a synagogue since it was such an integral part of Jewish life.

Rabbi:

The rabbi’s days are filled with prayers, studying scripture, religious services, and helping people better understand the religious laws, and teaching students. This is, of course, before the New Testament and the Jews still live in compliance to the Levitical Code with its many rules for daily living.

With the influx of people, your day is harried with regular classes and services, lighting of lamps, and the saying of prayers, etc.

Additionally, there are rumors of the birth of a special baby. There’s even talk that he could be the Messiah. In Bethlehem?

Share with the visitors the prophecy of a messiah from the Book of Isaiah verse 7:14.

There are Bethlehem veterans who will gladly share their advice on being an excellent rabbi.

You have followed a new star in the sky, and it led you to this small town and to this child. Your costumes are regal – by far the most elaborate that anyone has seen. There is no mention of the wise men’s homeland, but it would have likely been a desert land because they rode camels.

Likely questions:

• What are your names? (These aren’t mentioned so feel free to choose something interesting) Gaspar, Melchior, and Baltasar

• Did you ride camels? (The answer is “Yes” but we won’t have a camel this year. So, maybe the answer is that they are in a stable being fed)

• What gifts did you bring? Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. These valuable items were standard gifts to honor a king or deity in the ancient world: gold as a precious metal, frankincense as perfume or incense, and myrrh as anointing oil.

Frankincense is a resinous gum made from the sap of various trees. When burned as incense, it emits an earthy fragrance that lasts for hours. It was a symbol of deity and divine nature, and very costly.

Note: The frankincense and myrrh have been swallowed by guests; in small quantities it is non-toxic, but please discourage it if our guests are curious. Myrrh is an aromatic resin made from several plants. The oil was used for anointing and embalming; it was a lavish gift in this era.

Throughout the New Testament, soldiers of the occupying army from Rome are often at the center of the action. They were certainly present in the town of Bethlehem enforcing order on the crowds present for the census.

These soldiers were unpopular for a variety of reasons. First, they are an occupying army having conquered the Jews multiple times. While known as Roman soldiers, these troops were actually conscripts from Syria. Likely, they didn’t want to be in Judea and were not predisposed to dealing kindly with the citizens. In the past they had desecrated the temple in Jerusalem and stolen from the treasury.

They would be harsh and unfriendly urging the crowds to move along, and speaking unkindly to the shopkeepers and residents of Bethlehem. Their bright heavy armor is impressive and it makes them even more imposing figures. They are the bad guys. So in your role, be gruff and loud. Command the crowd to move along. Speak harshly to the shopkeepers. You are scary in your uniform and armor. It will help set the right tone. It can make an impression if you arrange to “arrest” a townsperson and haul them away. You may be one of the lasting impressions that our visitors take away from their time in Bethlehem.

HOWEVER – big and little kids are often fascinated by the soldiers. The armor is really cool looking. So, if you are asked to pose for a picture, take a momentary break from playing a role in the 21st century and enjoy a Kodak moment.  The armor is heavy, and the village is often quite warm.  Don’t be shy about taking a break to cool down and get some water.  Most of all, have fun – even if you are the bad guy.

Roman Soldiers for WTB must be 16 years or older. The armor is real, and, therefore, has some real weight, so be forewarned.

During Roman occupation of Judea, a Roman centurion held a position of significant authority and responsibility within the Roman military hierarchy. Centurions were the backbone of the Roman army, leading a century (a unit of around 80 soldiers) and were renowned for their discipline, bravery, and leadership skills.

In Judea, a Roman centurion would have been stationed to maintain Roman control and enforce Roman law. However, their interactions with the local population could vary. Some centurions may have adopted a more diplomatic approach, seeking cooperation and collaboration with local leaders. Others may have been more forceful, using their authority to quell any resistance or unrest.

Centurions were career soldiers who aspired to rise through the ranks. Demonstrating loyalty, skill, and success on the battlefield were key to their advancement. Exceptional centurions could be promoted to higher-ranking positions within the Roman army, such as becoming a praefectus or even a tribune.

The costumes for our soldiers are fitted for adult males.

The Healing Hut has also been a Rob Quinn project for many years. He’s looking for a successor here too. The healers offer “medical advice” based on herbs and potions. Rob and Mark Christopherson have also dispensed an endless supply of medical puns over the years. This shop is staffed by doctors, nurses, or other medical personnel, so that are always medical persons on hand during the event.