(DETROIT – June 23, 2026) – “The Thorn,” a powerful and popular theatrical event, seen live by over one million people, will return this Fall 2026 with 23 performances throughout September and October, including shows at the Fox Theatre on Friday, October 9 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, October 10 at 2 p.m. Comerica Bank is the exclusive presenting partner of the Fox Theatre.
Pre-sales start Thursday, June 25 at 10 a.m. local time through Friday, June 26 at 9 a.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. local time at 313Presents.com, thethorn.com/tickets and Ticketmaster.com.
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, The Thorn continues its legacy of bringing the passion of Jesus to life through a visually stunning and emotionally moving production. Over the past year, The Thorn has continued to captivate audiences nationwide, drawing more than 160,000 fans to its sold-out performances.
The Thorn offers audiences a unique theatrical experience in a show that has been hailed as “Cirque meets ‘The Passion’” thanks to its compelling mix of drama, music, dance, martial arts, aerial acrobatics, emotionally evocative performances, and timeless spiritual perspectives. The story spans from creation to the formation of the early church. Watch the trailer here. To learn more about The Thorn, please visit TheThorn.com.
Author John Bolin created the show over 25 years ago to convey the meaning of Christ’s sacrificial death to a group of young people who knew little about the story of Jesus’ suffering but were familiar with pain through their own practice of cutting and self-harm.
The show has evolved ever since, with the current live version returning to the original format featuring St. John, “the beloved disciple,” recalling his many amazing encounters with Jesus.
“It’s a story full of love, sacrifice, spiritual warfare, and redemption,” said Bolin.
Fall 2026 Tour Dates
- Cincinnati, OH Aronoff Center for the Arts September 11 & 12
- Indianapolis, IN Clowes Memorial Hall September 14 & 15
- St. Louis, MO Stifel Theatre September 18 & 19
- Cedar Rapids, IA Paramount Theatre September 22 & 23
- Milwaukee, WI Miller High Life Theatre September 25
- Omaha, NE Orpheum Theatre September 29 & 30
- Minneapolis, MN Orpheum Theatre October 2 & 3
- Rockford, IL Coronado Theatre October 6 & 7
- Detroit, MI Fox Theatre October 9 & 10
- Pittsburgh, PA Petersen Events Center October 13
- Cleveland, OH KeyBank State Theatre October 16 & 17
- Boston, MA Wang Theatre October 20 & 21
Meet “The Thorn” Creators:
“The Thorn” creator John Bolin says God called him “to tell stories on the page, stage, and screen,” an assignment he has now completed with the film version of “The Thorn.” His books include novels The Eden Project and Christian growth guides So Loved, The Two Doors of Heaven, and Life Unlimited.
John’s wife, Sarah Bolin helped create the show and is the Producer, managing the show’s national touring troupes. When asked about why she tours and has participated in “The Thorn” for so long, Sarah said, “God asked us to trust him and open our hands, and he promised to make something beautiful happen.” Over the years, Sarah has been witness to seeing God move in tangible ways across audiences and cast members alike.
Sponsors:
“The Thorn” partners with Compassion International, a child sponsorship and Christian humanitarian aid organization, headquartered in Colorado Springs, CO, the same town “The Thorn” was created in. In an effort to assist in the sustainable development of children living in poverty around the world, Compassion works with the local church to provide food, clothing, education, healthcare, discipleship and more. With a partnership spanning since 2011, “The Thorn” is proud to have the touring cast and audiences be participants in seeing over twenty five thousand children sponsored and is expectant to see many more sponsored this Spring.
Jesus Trending:
Although polls show that U.S. church attendance is declining, interest in Jesus is growing. “The Chosen,” the popular streaming series about Jesus, has racked up over 400 million episode views.
“As I first saw with my students 25 years ago, people who may have jaundiced views of Christians or churches are more open to learning about who the real Jesus was, how he lived, and what he taught,” said Bolin.
While previous incarnations of “The Thorn” live show have been performed mostly at churches, the new touring model makes the show available to everyone at mainstream performing arts venues and arenas.
“Jesus believes in accessibility,” said Bolin. “He wants everyone to have access to the ultimate story of love and hope. That’s why he came to earth in the first place.”
More information about “The Thorn”:
Live performance details and tickets are available at thethorn.com/tickets
The feature film version of the show is available to stream and purchase at shop.thethorn.com
