A Conference and Performance of Rudolf Steiner’s Mystery Drama The Trial of the Soul
CONFERENCE
Thursday, September 10, 2026
through
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Threefold Auditorium
260 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
PERFORMANCE
A full-cast performance, directed by Barbara Renold
Saturday, September 12, 2026
10 am - 9:45 pm
Door opens at 9:30 am!
Rose Hall at Green Meadow Waldorf School
307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge, NY 10977
Rudolf Steiner’s Mystery Dramas bring together theater arts and a modern initiation path. Steiner portrays the unfolding destinies of a group of karmically connected individuals on a path of inner development. This is not an intellectually worked-out plotting of fictional characters nor an instruction about the general laws of karma, but a realistic portrayal of a group of individuals working out their destinies together. The Trial of the Soul, the second drama, enters the depths of human soul life, where each character must unfold the layers of their will, uncovering the difficulties that arise in social life and in the practice of dedicated spiritual striving.
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Eurythmy in the Second Mystery Drama
Philia, Astrid, and Luna, the three soul forces accompanying Maria in the first play, now also appear in the second drama to Capesius and Johannes. A significant difference is the presence of the Other Philia – a luciferically inclined sentient soul force – rather than Philia.
The sudden and dramatic appearance of Johannes’ Double in scene five will also be presented eurythmically, along with the emergence of Lucifer and Ahriman at the conclusion of the scene. The two opposing forces appear again to Maria in the Medieval retrospective, as well as for the first time individually – Ahriman to Maria and Lucifer to Johannes – leading to far reaching consequences that set the stage for events of the third drama.
The culminating Temple scene again features Philia, Astrid, and Luna, as being given the task to be bearers and awakeners of the sleeping soul of Strader. Lucifer, having succeeded in taking hold of Johannes’ soul, is granted a place within the temple’s inner workings. The scene opens with a dialogue between Lucifer and Ahriman, the Temple’s opposing powers, revealing the nature of their inter-dependent dealings to thwart Benedictus’ progress with his spiritual pupils.
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Deepen and enhance your experience of the play in an intensive weekend conference that prepares attendees to fully participate in the theatrical performance with attention and inner rigor.
KEYNOTE
Daniel Hafner will give keynote lectures as a cognitive preparation for the play
WORKSHOPS
- Acting Workshop with Laurie Portocarrero
- Eurythmy Workshop with Virginia Hermann
- Speech Workshop with Barbara Renold
- Visual Arts Workshop with Rüdiger Janisch
- Writing Workshop with Adeline Lyons
Fess for the full conference (performance included)
September 10-13, 2026: $150 - $250 - $500
Performance only, September 12, 2026: $50 - $100 - $500
Meal Plans:
- Full Conference Meals (2 lunches, 3 suppers) – $130.00
- Play only (1 lunch and 1 supper) – $55.00
Accommodations available.
For more information, please contact Ezra Sullivan at ezra@threefold.org or (360) 774-9797.