BACKSTAGE AT THE AMPHITHEATRE–Julia Pottinger (Ella/Esther) assists Zach Thompson (Harry/Hegai) with his microphone before the premiere of ‘Just Pretend’. Collin Borisenko (Zeke/Xerxes) scans the crowd of over a thousand in attendance on a cool summer night.

PRE-SHOW RITUAL–The cast and creative team of ‘Just Pretend’ gather for a final boost of confidence before the show commences. At Youth Sing Praise, the show acts as a capstone to the week of prayer and preparation.

A PAIR OF QUEENS–Kristy Lozano (Victoria/Vashti) plays the deposed queen of Persia, while Julia Pottinger (Ella/Esther) portrays her successor. With the play-within-a-play device, teens portrayed both actors putting on a Purim spiel and ancient characters within the Esther story.