SALT LAKE CITY — Bugs, heat, humidity and overcoming adversity are some of the perks that come with serving with the Nauvoo and British pageants.

Cast members from the U.S. and United Kingdom are practicing for the performances this week in Salt Lake City, while hundreds of supporting cast members and volunteers are preparing to make their way to Nauvoo, Illinois, to help with the production of the pageants this summer.

The two pageants are performed on alternate evenings over in Nauvoo and tell the story of some of the early pioneers and converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The performances run Tuesdays through Saturdays, from July 7 to Aug. 1.

The British Pageant recounts some of the early LDS apostles’ missions to the British Isles and their converts’ journey to the U.S. The Nauvoo Pageant picks up where the British Pageant leaves off, continuing with the story of the pioneers gathering in Nauvoo, building a temple and eventually embarking toward the Salt Lake Valley.

“It’s the story of the restoration (of the LDS Church) coupled with beautiful stories of families learning and discovering truth for the first time,” said Kristine Larsen, a stage manager from Centerville, Utah. “There’s a special feeling in Nauvoo as you watch the pageants that can’t be felt anywhere else.”

Before the pageants, there is also a “county fair,” where cast members organize period games and activities for audience members, including swing dancing, stick pull and sack racing, Larsen said.

Trista Weibell/ Nauvoo Pageant

Alexandra Johns, of Jersey, United Kingdom, is the director of the British Pageant. Johns said the story presented in both pageants is “miraculous and inspiring,” regardless of what religious beliefs one has.

“It’s an incredible story of faith, courage and man’s love for his maker,” Johns said. “Many people here in Utah can trace their heritage to some of the early British (LDS) Saints, so for many, the pageant is the real story of their great, great-grandparents.”

Behind the scenes

Johns said she loves the experience of working for the pageants, despite the taxing hours that are required.

“There are literally hundreds of thousands of volunteer man hours that go into putting on the pageants,” Johns said. “It’s a small army.”

The “core cast,” is made up of 20 auditioned actors, representing historical figures like Heber C. Kimball, and Joseph and Emma Smith who have live speaking parts in the pageants, Johns said. The supporting cast is composed of families from around the world that volunteer to come to Nauvoo for two weeks at a time — learning the songs and choreography the first week and performing on stage the second week.

“It’s a grueling schedule; I love it,” Johns said.

Behind the cast, there are hundreds of volunteers, including the stage and light crew, Young Performing Missionaries, costumers, set designers, first aid and security, Johns said.

Rehearsals with the core cast began June 9 in Salt Lake City and are already moving ahead of schedule, said Lisa Zimmerman, of Salt Lake City, who plays Eliza R. Snow in the Nauvoo Pageant. This is Zimmerman’s second year performing with the pageants.

Zimmerman said the volunteers who come to Nauvoo all serve with great attitudes, despite the sacrifices.

“Through the bugs, heat, humidity and hours that are spent preparing in Nauvoo, everyone learns about flexibility and harmony in challenging circumstances,” Zimmerman said. “Most everyone gets a great experience because of all the time they spend selflessly serving.”

The experience

The objective of the pageants is to “help people come closer to light” through the performances, Johns said.

“My hope is and my experience has been that when people come to Nauvoo, they can start to realize they are a child of God, who loves them deeply,” Johns said. “There’s a quote in the Nauvoo Pageant: ‘When you’re here, we’re here also.’ It’s the connection people can feel with their forefathers in Nauvoo that makes the experience so special.”

Johns said it brings her great joy when families that come say they are happier and audience members say they found healing through the experiences of the pageant.

“Everyone should come to Nauvoo and experience it for themselves,” Johns said. “You will never regret it.”

Spencer Ricks is a KSL.com news writing intern and student at Dixie State University from Snoqualmie, Washington. Contact him at newsintern@deseretdigital.com.

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