Even though the temperature is squelching, these youth didn't seem to mind. Their hearts were filled with music from the live country band. It's pre-pageant activities in the park until dusk, then the live pageant begins. Pageant performers are totally separate from the site missionaries. Pageant families came from all over the country, hundreds of them, to perform in this popular pageant during the month of July. They danced and sang every night for two weeks, and then another crew came in for the remainder of the month. This amazing gentleman is Dallyn Bayles, a professional actor, singer and recording artist. He played Joseph Smith in the Nauvoo Pageant (below) and a lead role in the British Pageant. Dallyn has performed with the Broadway touring companies of The Phantom of the Opera and with Les Miserables. In one word, STUNNING.
You'll never see a group of performing missionaries sing and dance like this anywhere else. These young college-age students are the finalists after thousands try out to spend their summer in Nauvoo. The schedule is grueling, but what an incredible experience for them to spread the spirit of Nauvoo and testify of joy. Elder Contreras (center) broke his foot while performing, and the young men gathered for one last picture before Elder Contreras was sent home to heal. Sunset By The Mississippi is performed on an out-door-stage every evening beginning Memorial Day weekend through mid-August. The young performing missionaries and the senior missionaries combine their talents with the Nauvoo Brass Band. The program has group numbers as well as speciality numbers. My favorites are a trio of three trombones and of course, the drum solo. | Check out the temperature! More importantly, look at the humidity and the "feels like" temperature. The horses were sent to the barn, but we still performed! We smiled and the audience came, thousands of them. We tried our best to hide how miserable we were! Ever tried "gunnysack" racing, or walking on stilts? Hand cart races and pioneer games of every kind kept the youngsters happy. You can bet your lunch that Tom didn't do much jumping in this grain sack! BYU International Dancers performed live for two weeks in June on the outdoor stage in Nauvoo. If you ever have a chance to go see them, don't hesitate. They are extremely good. Summer days are filled with historical vignettes and evening programs on outdoor stages. One of the Nauvoo stars is the drummer, Elder Fjeldsted. He does a solo with both feet and hands going at an impossible pace. Then the crowd goes crazy! Performing sisters from the Nauvoo Brass band, Sisters Young, Dalton and Grounds.. Left: Sister missionaries, Stirling, Heninger, Schenck, and Yata |
"Then when the battle is past and gone, And we're as grains in the sands of time, Let it be written there upon, We did it willingly, willingly, willingly, Because we want to!"
This scene is very powerful with 30 men marching across the stage, brandishing their rifles and singing their battle song.