STAGE

A NYC BROADWAY JOURNEY SEPTEMBER 2027

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them… when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do.”

— Matthew 6:1-2 ESV

Day 1 · Thu — Welcome & Spotlight
Arrive in the city and gather for our welcome dinner — we unpack ruach, frame the journey, and your chavurah begins to know one another. Together we name the theme waiting for us all week: the masks we wear, and the One we were made to live before.
Day 2 · Fri — Center Stage
The city of performance. We explore by day, then take in a Broadway show together tonight. Teaching opens on performance as the water we swim in — how applause and audience quietly shape the self.
Day 3 · Sat — Backstage & Unmask
Behind the curtain: a set/backstage tour and a meet‑and‑greet with working actors — the craft of the mask, and the person beneath it. Then an improv class that strips away the script. Teaching on Matthew 6 and the Greek hypokritēs — the freedom of authenticity and hiddenness before an audience of One.
Day 4 · Sun — Curtain
A reflective final morning on living unmasked — carrying “your Father who sees in secret” back into ordinary life. Depart.
A note on rhythm. We hold this itinerary with open hands. We follow the weather, the light, and the leading of the Spirit — so the order and shape of days may shift along the way. When it does, it isn’t a disruption; it’s part of how these journeys breathe. We’ll always protect the heart of the experience and the moments that matter most.
- All scheduled group activities, including a Broadway show, backstage/set tour, actor meet‑and‑greet, and improv class
- Guided teaching on Matthew 6 and the theme of authenticity, hiddenness, and the performed self
- Group transportation to and from all itinerary experiences
- Three nights of double‑occupancy accommodation in New York City
- Daily breakfasts and select group meals (see itinerary)
- Spacious free time to explore the city at your own pace
- A keepsake gift symbolic of the journey’s theme
- All scheduled group activities, including a Broadway show, backstage/set tour, actor meet‑and‑greet, and improv class
- Guided teaching on Matthew 6 and the theme of authenticity, hiddenness, and the performed self
- Group transportation to and from all itinerary experiences
- Three nights of double‑occupancy accommodation in New York City
- Daily breakfasts and select group meals (see itinerary)
- Spacious free time to explore the city at your own pace
- A keepsake gift symbolic of the journey’s theme
- A Broadway show — performance at its height, and the week’s living text.
- A backstage / set tour — the craft of the mask, seen from behind.
- A meet‑and‑greet with working actors — the person beneath the role.
- An improv class — no script, no mask, only presence.
This journey is guided by a gifted Bible teacher and working theater artists. Our teacher will be announced soon — join the list to hear first.
Final pricing is announced soon. When booking opens, your place is secured with a non‑refundable $500 deposit, then pay in full or use a 5‑installment plan (final payment 60 days before departure).
1. Join the interest list
2. Receive full details & discern fit
3. Reserve with your deposit when booking opens
4. Prep packet, WhatsApp group & pre‑trip Zoom — so you arrive grounded
How physically demanding is it?
Light. Expect city walking, subway stairs, standing, and a late evening or two at the theater — nothing strenuous. Comfortable shoes are your friend.
What’s the weather like in September?
Early‑fall New York is usually mild — often 60s–70s°F, cooler in the evenings. Bring layers and a light jacket.
What about meals?
Breakfasts and a few group meals are included; most lunches and dinners are yours, so you can explore the city’s tables at your own pace and budget.
Can I come alone?
Absolutely — many travelers do. Solo travelers are paired with a roommate of the same gender, or may request a single supplement. You’ll be part of an intimate chavurah from the first night.
Is this only for Christians?
No. Via Ruach welcomes anyone with an earnest desire to know God more. We teach from the Bible through a Christ‑centered lens; a love for Scripture is all you need to bring.

When Jesus warned against the “hypocrites” who perform their righteousness, he used the Greek word hypokritēs — a stage actor, one who speaks behind a mask. There is no better place to sit with that image than Broadway, where masks are a craft and performance is the air everyone breathes.

This four‑day journey steps into the theater — onstage, backstage, and into the actor’s discipline — to ask a quietly searching question: where do we perform our faith, our worth, our very selves, for the approval of an audience that was never meant to judge us? Through a Broadway show, a set tour, time with working actors, and an improv class that strips away the script, we explore Jesus’ critique of the performed life and the freedom of living unmasked before an audience of One.

It’s the most surprising journey in the Via Ruach canon, and the most disarming. You’ll laugh, you’ll be a little exposed, and you’ll leave lighter — having set down a mask you’d forgotten you were wearing.