Special guests at the first-night presentation of Dayuma - telling the story of the martyrdom of five missionaries in Ecuador in 1956 - are to be three of the group's surviving widows.
The story of the men's deaths at the hands of a reclusive jungle tribe - the Huaorani, known to outsiders as "Aucas" - is being told through music, mime and dance in a major stage production traveling to 20 cities, starting in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The presentation will also feature a special greeting from the tribe's first convert, who gives her name to the production. Now in her 80s, Dayuma recorded a video message from Ecuador, which will challenge the audience to respond to the needs of world evangelization.
Dayuma is being presented as part of Wycliffe Bible Translators' 20/20 Vision campaign, which aims to recruit prayer, workers and resources for the completion of 20 translation projects in 13 countries..
The "inspiring" production of the martyrdom - which made world headlines, and became an inspiration to thousands of Christians - has been endorsed by Billy Graham, who said that he hoped it might help "raise up a new generation committed to the urgent task of Bible translation".
Among those due to attend the premiere is Marj van der Puy, whose first husband, Nate Saint, was one of those murdered when the missionaries landed their light aircraft by a remote jungle river for a first meeting with the tribe.
Hoping that the tour would make "a great impact", she said that reliving the past was not painful because "I believe that God helped me from the beginning to believe that this was part of His plan. I just so firmly believe that - for myself and my children, too."
A 20-strong international cast began rehearsals this month for the production, which is being directed by writer and choreographer Colin Harbinson, the international dean of Youth With A Mission's University of the Nations College of the Arts.
He first presented Dayuma 17 years ago, and later traveled to Ecuador to visit the site of the martyrdom and meet Dayuma.
"Over the years, the 'Auca' story has challenged countless people in a dramatic way to a radical commitment to taking the gospel to those who have not yet heard about Christ," he said. "The response we have had as we have begun to prepare for this anniversary production suggests that is still the case."
From Tulsa, Dayuma travels to nine other cities - including Chicago, Illinois and Virginia Beach, Virginia before the end of the year. The second leg begins in Charleston, South Carolina next January, with dates including Nashville, Dallas and Houston - Texas - before ending in Orange County, California.
(Full itinerary available on request)
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