By Tim Brosnan, Staff Writer

Jane Duensing, lyricist and wife of composer Craig Duensing, leads the children of Jerusalem in song during a final dress rehearsal of Christ is the Cornerstone.

Sometimes it takes a small army. A small but industrious army to cater the rehearsals, build the set and sew dozens of costumes. A small but careful army to fly the Son of Man into heaven without dropping him on the heavenly choir singing below.

In the case of North Trenholm Baptist Church's production of its new musical Passion play, ``Christ is the Cornerstone,'' that army numbered more than 200 performers, technicians and auxiliary personnel -- nearly 10 percent of the congregation.

``I don't want the spectacle to overtake the message,'' said Craig Duensing, the musical play's composer. ``But I do feel that the Lord is worth a good production.'' The play concluded its run Sunday.

Duensing's ``good production'' sat astride a mammoth fog-pumping, crucifix-raising, angel-studded set conceived by associate pastor and co-director Roger Orman and executed in part by Carl Copeland, a professional scenic designer.

It was enough to give any theatrical neophyte pause.

``I have no idea how we did it,'' said cast member Larry Jennings, still awed by the whirl of microphones, spotlights, black-suited stagehands and musicians. ``But with him, all things are possible.''

Orman's prayer before the company's final dress rehearsal reinforced that message.

``This is not our production but your message,'' he said ``Every ticket is spoken for. Thousands will see us over the next several nights. But we won't get caught up in the lights and the sounds.''

Genesis.

``Cornerstone'' began to take shape last September when Duensing, his wife Jane, and a team of three other collaborators sequestered themselves at a local hotel for a weekend of brainstorming.

``When we came out, we had the plan for `Cornerstone,' '' Duensing said.

Duensing, who earned a master's degree in music education at the University of South Carolina, leads a dual life as director of music ministries at North Trenholm and choral music teacher at Richland Northeast High School.

He had produced the Easter drama, ``The Living Cross,'' at North Trenholm since 1988. He also has written countless arrangements for the choir during his 15 years at the church.

But ``Cornerstone'' is his magnum opus -- more than 700 pages of music.

``I never thought I could do this. It blows you away, watching the melodies take shape,'' he said.

Jane Duensing wrote the lyrics while Barbara Thomson wrote the dialogue. They, along with co-directors Orman, Duensing's husband and Pam Cates, were the production team.

Each was likely to direct the tide of biblical humanity at any given moment.

``The five of us all agree that we have no egos about this,'' Craig Duensing said. ``Not a day goes by that we don't talk about the show.''

Backstage.

Rehearsals for ``Cornerstone'' were preceded by an evening meal provided by the church, a ritual that Cates said is in keeping with Southern Baptists' legendary fondness for eating.

Nor do they want for moral support.

``The whole church is involved,'' Orman said.

From the parking lot to the church hall to the office to the purple on an 18-wheel trailer parked on the side lawn, North Trenholm was a beehive of activity.

At the center of that activity were ``the buds,'' as the 12 actors portraying apostles referred to themselves.

Some of them -- like angels, Israelites, Pharisees and other biblical characters -- learned about theater for the first time.

But one -- John Bailey, who portrayed Jesus -- is eight years into his tenure as the the central character of North Trenholm's Easter season plays.

Bailey caught the production staff's attention the moment he showed up for the first ``Living Cross'' audition eight years ago.

``He was just perfect,'' Cates says.

Bailey, an electrical supply salesman who teaches Sunday school at North Trenholm, said having the role has made him better.

``It makes you more keenly aware of what you're doing,'' he said.

It's also given him a reputation to uphold or deny as the case might be.

``I had a 3-year-old ask me, `Are you Jesus?' '' Bailey recalled, ``I told her, `No, I'm just John Bailey. I just play Jesus in the play.' ''

``I'll explain to the children that John is not really hurt, he's just pretending,'' Orman said. ``All we need to do is be worthy vessels. We're going to have a great time in the Lord.''

Tim Brosnan is a writer, reviewer and photographer who covers general assignments for The State.