Roads

Adapted from the novella by Seabury Quinn

One Weekend Only: December 5-7, 2025
Friday & Saturday 7:30 pm, Sunday 3 pm
(This is a "Pay What You Want" event)

Directed by Allen Tyndall

Divided into three parts -- The Road to Bethlehem, The Road to Calvarym, and the Long, Long Road -- the novella "Roads" by science fiction author Seabury Quinn is a re-imagining of the origins of Santa Claus. It was adapted into a play by members of Stained Glass Playhouse and first performed in January 1991, under the direction of our founding Artistic Director, Alvin Tyndall.

In the days of the Roman Empire, the mighty gladiator Klaus has just finished his term of service in the province of Judea. On the journey back to his home in the frozen Northland, Klaus happens upon a poor family under attack from a murderous band of soldiers. He saves them, and with this selfless act, his life is changed forever.

Crossing from one end of the Empire to the other and back again, Klaus eventually outlives the power of Rome and the dark ages that follow it, and witnesses the rise of new civilizations on its former lands. Immune to the effects of time, he accumulates the wisdom of many lifetimes before discovering the final road he is destined to follow -- a path which will lead him to his true calling, and fulfill a promise made to one very special child on behalf of all the children of the world.