“Vianney, the live theatrical production performed by acclaimed actor and producer Leonardo Defilippis of St. Luke Productions will be presented Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. and Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. and again at 7 p.m. in Felician University Breslin Performing Arts Center, 262 South Main Street, Lodi.

“Vianney,” a popular live production, filled with all the elements of professional  theater, a moving musical score, full theatrical lighting and a video backdrop offering a full cast of characters, creating a fast-paced and engaging drama. More than 100,000 people have seen more than 200 performances of this drama, which began touring the U.S. as part of the worldwide celebration of the Year for Priests. Since then it has been the centerpiece for celebrations in parishes, seminaries, universities, schools and pastoral conventions.

John Vianney, commonly known as the Cure of Ars, lived in the era following  the French Revolution, which had decimated the Catholic faith in France. A poor peasant, incompetent in his studies of Latin and theology, he was ordained because of the shortage of priests. Father Vianney was then sent to the obscure village of ARs, where the people had fallen into decadence, crime and debauchery. In his determination to save every single soul put into his care, he encountered tremendous resistance and even violent supernatural attacks. Vianney courageously overcomes these attacks and by his holiness, succeeds not only in reforming the lives of his parishioners but also drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the tiny parish, where people were willing to wait in line for days for a few minutes of his counsel. Vianney himself found the onslaught difficult to bear and even tried to escape to a monastery to live and pray in peace. In the end, however, he returned to his flock, recognizing his role as “the shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep.”

As founder and president of St. Luke Productions (stlukeproductions.com, Defilippis has, for more than 35 years, produced numerous one-man and one-woman plays on the lives of the saints and the Gospels, and has created feature films, television and radio/internet programming. He is best known for directing and starring in the feature film “Therese “(2004).

“I find the character of John Vianney extremely endearing,” said Defilippis. “He was truly an eccentric character, wearing a ragged cassock, living on a diet of one potato a day, yet sparing no expense for the church or his children. his love and concern for the salvation of every single person he encountered came through in his every word and action. There is an urgency in him that is extraordinarily compelling and convicting.”

Admission is $25 for general admission and $15 for children ages 8-14. The performance is suitable for ages 10 and up.

For ticket information, contact John Leaps Evangelization at 800-313-6933 or johnleaps.com.