Hill Cumorah Pageant
Hill Cumorah Pageant | |
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Palmyra, New York, United States | |
[www |
The Hill Cumorah Pageant was an annual production of
It depicted
The Pageant was performed for the last time in 2019; the LDS Church announced plans to discontinue the event after 2020 due to new directives discouraging large-scale pageants. The final performance was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was later canceled in full.[3]
History
The pageant traces its roots back to the early 1920s and the "Cumorah Conference" of the Eastern States
The pageant advanced technologically over the next few decades, with
In 1991, local service organizations were invited to provide snacks and meals to pageant visitors. The offer was accepted by Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, and Kiwanis International, which have turned the pageant into their primary annual fund-raising event.[1] In 1997, Donny Osmond left his starring role in the tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to participate with his family in the cast of the pageant.[5] Osmond played the role of the prophet Samuel the Lamanite.[6]
During the 2012 season, the pageant held festivities and reunions in commemoration of its 75th anniversary.[7]
Brent Hanson, a faculty member at Southern Virginia University, served as the pageant's artistic director from 2005 until 2018.[8][9] Starting at the end of the 2018 season, Utah educator Shawnda Moss replaced Hanson as artistic director.[10]
The New York Times contrasted the pageant's sincerity with the raucous tone of another major production, the satirical Broadway musical The Book of Mormon.[4]
It was previously announced the 2020 would be the pageant's last year, as a result of new directives by the Church to discourage large-scale pageants.[11][12][13] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this was initially delayed to 2021. However in March 2021, the Church announced that the Pageant had been cancelled and would not be rescheduled, thus ending its 82-year run. Commemorations (including an online stream of the 2019 edition) will be held to celebrate the history of the event.[14][15]
Scenes
The pageant was 70 minutes in duration and depicted the overarching story of the
The script for the pageant was taken from the
- The Prophet Lehi
- The Visions of Christ
- The Building of a Ship
- The Voyage to Ancient America
- The Burning of Abinadi
- The Ministry of Alma
- The Prophecy: A Day, A Night and a Day
- The Resurrected Christ Appears to Ancient Americans
- The Written Word: A Golden Message
- The Restoration of Christ's Kingdom
Cast, setting, and special effects
The pageant's cast included approximately 700 people. Prospective cast members, many from outside
Over 1,300 costumes were utilized for the pageant, which played out on a 10-level stage. Special effects included earthquakes, floods, and fireballs.[4]
There were 8,000 chairs available for audience seating in a large outdoor "bowl" at the foot of the stage, which was built on many levels up the side of the hill. Audience members could also bring their own chairs and blankets. Parking was available for 3,000 cars. The pageant attracted approximately 35,000 visitors annually.[4]
References
- ^ Neal A. Maxwell Institute for Religious Scholarship. Archived from the originalon 2014-07-28. Retrieved 2014-07-22.
- ^ Christmann, Samantha. "A bittersweet moment as the Hill Cumorah Pageant prepares for its final bow", The Buffalo News, 16 July 2019. Retrieved on 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Elder Christofferson explains why the Hill Cumorah Pageant was a blessing and why it ended". Church News. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-04-18.
- ^ a b c d e f Applebome, Peter (13 July 2011). "A Mormon Spectacle, Way Off Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "Donny Osmond Sheds Dreamcoat To Star in Mormon Pageant July 11–19". Playbill. 12 July 1997. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- New York Daily News. 9 July 1997. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ Rappleye, Christine (18 September 2011). "Hill Cumorah Pageant to celebrate 75th anniversary in 2012". Deseret News. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
- ^ "Dixie State University Theatre Department Faculty". Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly: Brent Hanson Extended Interview". Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Hill Cumorah Pageant Facebook post". Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- ^ Stephenson, Kathy. "Manti’s Mormon Miracle Pageant is now history. Here are five remembrances of the show’s 52-year run.", The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 June 2019. Retrieved on 24 March 2020.
- ^ "Will next year's Manti Mormon Miracle Pageant be the last? Hill Cumorah show to end after 2020 as church steps away from large shows". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- ^ Walch, Tad (December 5, 2018). "Church finalizes pageant decision: 4 to end, 3 to continue". Deseret News.
- LDS Church. 2020-04-30.
- ^ "Hill Cumorah Pageant won't return, LDS Church announces". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
- OCLC 24502140
- ^ "Program Information". Hill Cumorah Pageant. Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- ^ Abcarian, Robin (17 July 2011). "A grand display of Mormon faith". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 23 January 2012.
External links
- Hill Cumorah Official site
- Pageants Latter-day Saints Official site