Mormon pageant shares message of Easter

MESA, Ariz -- This year, carrying on a tradition that began more than 70 years ago, more than 850 people are joining to portray the life of Jesus Christ and to proclaim the Easter message through drama, dance and music.

The 450 cast members and 400 members of the crew are part of the Mesa Arizona Easter Pageant, which is one of several pageants sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in various locations across the United States.

The pageant welcomes nearly 100,000 visitors each year who witness the depiction of scenes from the Savior’s life, including his birth and baptism, miracles and healing and interaction with children, as well as his crucifixion and resurrection. With its staging, professional sound and lighting, live animals and authentic costumes, the onstage production is impressive in its pageantry and beauty.

Equally moving, however, is the “rest of the story,” the behind-the-scenes expressions of faith and personal sacrifice that add richness to this annual production.

Jenee Wright Prince, who is in her first year as the pageant director after several years as an assistant director, said, "The pageant is a creative, spiritual and miraculous process. We have the task of portraying the life of the Savior in a way so that hundreds of thousands of people can feel the spirit in the beautiful Easter message. I am humbled to know that the Lord is going to guide us in the way we should do this. He always has — he always will."

While several cast members are new each year, others have made it a family tradition to participate.

Erik Parkinson and his wife, Melanie, have the roles of Joseph and Mary this year, and their daughters, 12 and 8, are also participating for the sixth year.

“It was a tradition in my wife’s family growing up. This is her 26th year of doing it,” Parkinson said. “It’s a neat spiritual experience to be able to be together every night during pageant and to portray the life of the Savior and what he means to us.”

Melanie Conway, of Gilbert, Ariz., is a 13-year veteran, serving on the pageant board and performing as one of the followers of the wise men.

“It’s a fabulous, wonderful experience to share the gospel that way and to share the Easter message that way,” she said.

Rick Bodrero agrees. The Mesa resident, who had the role of an apostle for the past 13 years, plays the apostle Peter this year.

"It has taught me more about Christ, about his life, who he is and what he does. My favorite scene is the Last Supper. Several times I’ve seen tears in the eyes of the men who play Christ, and that just brings the spirit in, and that’s what the pageant is all about.”

Participating in the pageant for the third time this year, Mark Bayless of Cave Creek, Ariz., said, “I absolutely love it. I love the spirit of it, the missionary work aspect of it.”

However, in his role as a Sadducee, his experience is that of one of the “bad guys,” he said.

“I take the Savior before Pilate, yell at him, mock and deride him. This year, I’m the one who spits on the Savior,” Bayless said. “There are times I have left the stage pretty heavyhearted, but I have found that I can do the bad part as long as I end up being able to bear testimony at the end, when the entire cast sings, ‘I Know He Lives.’ ”

Mary Cavenee, her husband, David, and their children, of Gilbert, Ariz., are also repeat participants. Mary, who has the role of narrator, said her family has enjoyed getting to know other families and joining with them to portray the message of Christ’s mission and his resurrection.

“It’s a great experience. Sharing the gospel message offers us a chance for renewal each year, a daily dose of the spirit” she said. She added that cast members find ample opportunities to serve one another and emulate the Savior in small ways.

“Small miracles happen,” she said.

Conway said she has seen the same thing on many occasions, even when it seems things may not be coming together smoothly. “Miracles happen. It’s the Lord’s work, and it’s going to come together.”

Some have asked Cavenee about the time commitment and the challenge of getting her family to pageant practices and performances during the month they are involved. She said they never regret the time that is invested.

“It’s a blessing. It’s not a sacrifice at all, at all, at all.”

Best of all for her is the invitation she gets to extend at the end, when, as the narrator, she says, “May we all know and feel the truthfulness of this beautiful Easter message … (and) that each of us may be able to say, ‘I know he lives!’ ”

Cecily Markland is a freelance writer, book editor, publicist and author of "Hope: One Mile Ahead" and the children’s book, "If I Made a Bug." She owns Inglestone Publishing and produces a calendar of LDS events in Arizona (www.cecilymarkland.com).