CAMELBACK

My sister Allison invited me to go hiking with her this morning to Camelback Mtn. What a hurtful, rewarding time it was. I, of course, was a whimp & only made it half way. But, I want to go again & make it to the top some day. It is a tough hike. Allison, of course, "rocks the party" & went all the way to the top. I sat & enjoyed the view while she finished the hike. I busted out my ipod & listened to Mindy Gledhill. How could you not listen to something uplifting when looking at such a magnificent sight? Here's some pics of the fun times:

Here's Allison hiking back down from the top....

The view I watched while waiting for Allison...

Look at all of those blooms...

Now this is just nuts. This is one home. Just a little too "ostantacious" if you ask me. (Thanks Stephenie Meyer for teaching me that big word!) Do you REALLY need a home that big? This isn't even for Bill Gates. CRAZY!!!

FAVORITES

As Pageant comes to an end I now tell the end of my stories. Try not to be too sad - even though some of you may be jumping for joy that this will end. But, now I will reflect on my 3 favorite scenes to be in:

3. The 10 Virgin dance. I know this one's a shocker for you all, but I love this scene. I was in it for 5 years. I was foolish twice & wise 3 times. I've been through multpile choreographers, 2 different dances & 3 sets of costumes. Still to this day - I love this scene & it will forever hold a special place in my heart. I watch it everynight while waiting for my cue with Kylie & feel sad that I'm not still up there. Oh the glory days!

2. The Jesus & the Children Scene. I remember the first year this was introduced into the Pageant. It was the first year my dad played Jesus. Also, the first year for Chip Boynton to be the Director. What a truly inspired scene this was for Chip to add. (Not to mention that he has the coolest daughter - my good friend to this day Melanie. Yes, one of my best friend's is named Melanie.) I loved it back when I was in it as a kid & I love it even more now. During our first rehearsal last year for this scene I remember just crying when I first heard the music. I hadn't heard it in 8 years because we were out of state & being able to hear it again just moved me. It reminded me instantly of how wonderful Pageant is & how powerful this scene is. Being in this scene with Erik & Kylie is beyond words. When we were cast in this scene last year with Chandler Wolfe as our daughter for the scene (she was the Dead Girl last year) it was fun. But, it so much more meaningful to have Kylie be with us & she does such a wonderful job on her part. I'm so proud of her!

1. Mary Magdalene Scene: I know the previous should be my favorite, but I cannot tell a lie. This scene is the best to me! The last year I was in the Pageant before moving out of state I was lucky enought to be in this scene. I say this because I showed up to auditions sick. I could barely even stand - let alone dance & couldn't complete the audition process. I was devastated! The next day I went to the doctor & found out I had strep throat pretty bad. Before rehearsals started - I was cast as an accuser of Peter & a mourner in the Crucifixion scene - I received a call from the choreographer Melanie Reynolds saying that someone had to back out due to scheduling conflicts & would I be able to take her part? Well, YEAH! She was also cast to be one of the friends of Mary Magdalene to dance with here upon seeing the resurrected Savior. JACKPOT FOR MEL!! This was the best year for me - I loved being so involved! (I know that's a shocker for you all.) But, in all seriousness, there is no way to describe what it was like for me to be in this scene. Portraying my love of the Savior through dance. Towards the end of the scene the 3 friends of Mary Magdalene & Mary would go to the front of the stage & reach up toward Heaven on the words "He Lives"! Still to this day it sends joy to my heart hearing that phrase in the song & remembering what it was like to be in that part expressing to the audience the truthfulness of that statement. I know I keep saying this, but there's just not words to describe how wonderful that experience was for me.

As Pageant comes to and end - I am sad. Yet happy as well. We are tired this year. But, it is always worth the late nights & long days. It's an experience I am so grateful to have. I am forever thankful to my parents for starting the tradition & to my Dad for continuing it even through the tough times. I truly don't think I would be who I am without it. That may sound silly, but it's such a big part of my life. Easter was never about the Easter Bunny & easter baskets for us. It was always about portraying the life of the Savior & walking in his shoes. That's why it's been so important to me to have my own girls have this experience. I want them to live the true meaning of Easter as I did. Hopefully it will be as meaningful to them as it has been to me. Happy Easter to all & always remember:
"HE LIVES"

CLIFFORD

Why do I write about Clifford the Big Red Dog you ask amongst all of my Pageant experiences? Well, because Clifford came to Peageant with us the other night to meet some "Pageant celebrities". Jadyn's preschool class has Clifford as their class pet. When it's their turn to take Clifford home they write in a book upon returning it back to school about what adventures they had. So, we thought it would be fun to take him to the Easter Pageant & take some photos for the book. When we asked Jadyn who she wanted to take a picture with Clifford with she always said, "the Centurion!" Which is so funny since He's not someone we know or really see all that much. But, that's who she wanted. So, here's the pic...



















Then, we have our dear sweet "chocolate lady" as Jadyn calls her. We have to remind her everynight that her name is Melanie. Melanie Conway is so sweet & brings chocolate coins in her pouch everynight & passes them out to the children in the audience while she walks around. If she has leftovers she's so nice & usually looks for my girls to give them one. Melanie also handles all of the decorating of the stage as far as the plants & even painted all of the rock work on the walls. She's amazing!!



















And last, but certainly not least, is Doug. He plays the Savior on the spanish nights & even a couple of English nights. He's so nice to the girls. He has such a fun sweet spirit about him. My girls just think he's awesome!



















Then, upon browsing the internet one night, I found these photos in somone's photobook that I just had to share. First, the ascension. Just because it's cool.



















Then, is my lovely Kylie doing her part. I wish I could get my hands on this picture. I LOVE IT!! She's doing such a wonderful job with her part!

SILLINESS

One year (1993ish) L. Tom Perry came to see the Pageant. We have a devotional every night as a cast before a performance. Truly one of the best parts of being in the Pageant. They're so inspiring! Upon arriving at our cast devotional & walking into the building how was he to know that a strange little teenager would be walking down the hall looking at her feet. Well, that was me & what happened? Yep! Bumped right into him. Imagine my shock as I look up & see I just ran into L. Tom Perry. WOOPS! Sorry! It was a neat devotional & they even asked my Dad to come sit on the stand next to him. Which of course sent my Dad into tears at the opportunity to sit next to such a wonderful man. Then, we perform our show - all went well. Afterwards I head out to the crowd - still looking at my feet of course. (I have some real self esteem issues!) I walk around & bump right into someone again. Who was it? You betcha - L. Tom Perry again! He just laughed.

PARTS

Between 4 generations now of family members being involved in the Pageant - we've pretty much covered a lot of the parts. (Let me know family if I get anything wrong.) Here's some of them:

My brother Michael has been: Boy Jesus.

My brother Jeremy has been: appearing Angel to the shepherds & to Mary Magdalene, Joseph. (And yes, he was Joseph while my Dad played Jesus.)

My Mom has been: Eve, Pilate's Wife, Mary Magdelene (before she danced) & Mary. Along with many other numerous parts that they no longer even have in the Pageant.

My Dad has been: Adam, James, Joseph, Peter, John & Jesus. Along with various other parts that they no longer have in the Pageant.

My Big E has been: a props helper, Red Wise Man, Blue Wise Man & Father of the Dead Girl.

My Kylie: The Dead Girl

Me, Me, Me, I, I, I have been: little girl that gives Jesus a flower, an accuser of Peter, a mourner in the Crucifixion scene, a dancer with Mary Magdalene, an Angel & a 10 Virgin dancer. (I have been wise & foolish.)

My Stepdad Alan has been: a Roman Soldier.

My Stepmom Mignon has been: in charge of small props on the stage. In fact, after one of my Dad's scenes he had to climb through a small hole behind the rock on the stage & run to another entrance. He always got grabbed by someone, but it was too dark to see who it was. One day he finally met this mystery person & it was Mignon. The were engaged 2 weeks later & married a month after that. TRUE STORY!!

My step-siblings Luke, Sam, Robin & Allison have been: mulititude people.

My stepbrother Jackson has been: a trumpeter for the Bridegroom. (In the 10 Virgin Dance when the Bridegroom party comes up the stage they are announced by trupeters.)

OUCH!

OK - keeping with the Pageant theme I've got - here's a few more stories. As this was a bizarre week these stories are going to all revolve around injuries of the Pageant. I say this because we actually had to use understudies this week for some major parts. If you came to the Pageant on Thursday night you probably didn't even know what had happened. I can't say I ever remember an understudy being used in Pageant. In fact, upon talking to my Dad about this - they never even scheduled understudies back in the day. But, here's what happened. Robert Allen (he plays the Savior for the English performances. Also the guy in the "Reflections of Christ" photos.) was hurt at work on Thursday & spent the day in the ER. He had a run in with a mesquite tree (He told me the story last night.) & scratched his cornea. OUCH! So, he wasn't able to make it on Thursday or Friday. Well, Doug Shumway plays the Savior for the Spanish performances, so he was easily able to step in for Robert. Only thing is - when these gentleman are not playing the Savior they switch to the role of Peter. So, we needed an understudy for Peter. Jeff Rawls stepped in. (He's the guy that owns Jester'z that I've talked about before. Great guy!) He did wonderful by the way! In honor fo this craziness here's a few stories from my family:

1. In 1993 (roughly) we got a new donkey. We had the same donkey for as long as I could remember & she had passed away. So, we got a new one named "Peanut" & she wasn't very nice. She gave my Dad a few good bucks during practices. If I remember right, this was also the first year where a donkey didn't come on stage during a performance. She just would not do it one night. One time she bucked my Dad off & he caught the railing just right on his hand & sliced his wrist. He still has the scar to prove it. My Dad received a Purple Heart award that year from all of the apostles.

2. In 1994 (this really isn't an ouch, but an understudy had to be used) I was cast as a 10 Virgin. My first year cast as one, in fact. And I was beyond elated! The day of our first performance I received some strange news. I had had a headache for 3 or 4 days prior that I could not get rid of. Then, I had some weird bumps on my hip & face that I didn't know what they were. At the end of school I was sent to the nurse to get them checked out. Well, she told me I had the chicken pox. Keep in mind that I had already had them in kindergarten, but it was mild. Not to mention the fact that I am a senior in high school this year with chicken pox! Now that is weird. So, I had to call & quit hours before the first performance. I was heartbroken!

3. In 1987 (roughly) my Mom played Mary. Back in those days they didn't have a different Mary for each scene like they do now. So, after Mary's Lullaby (back then Mary didn't dance either) she had to rush to the other side of the stage for the Jesus in the temple scene. Where Mary & Joseph look for Jesus & find him preaching in the temples. Well, during dress rehearsal one night she was running backstage to get to her scene & tripped. Now tell me how this is logical? Backstage was a forklift. It was parked under the stage, but with the forks sticking out over the sidewalk & no lights shining on it so people could see it. So, my Mom goes running & trips over the forks & hits her head. She says it knocked her out for a second, but it gave her quite the goose egg. I remember the reahearsal being stopped & her receiving a blessing backstage & then continuing on with her part. What amazing powers a blessing has.

4. In 1988 (roughly) my Dad had another fun event. In the cleansing of the temple scene. (The one where he overthrows the money changers & foretold of his resurrection.) At one point Jesus throws over a dove cage & doves go flying out. My Dad did this during a performance just as he always has. Only this time he catches a piece of metal at the corner of the cage & it slices the palm of his hand. If you don't know my Dad let me tell you a little something about him. He hates the sight of any kind of blood! It makes him faint. Well, he cut his hand pretty good & He's onstage in the middle of a performance. He wrapped a piece of cloth around it & kept going. I was in the Jesus & the Children scene this year & I remember seeing how pale he looked & didn't know why. Then, when he came to talk to my group I saw his hand & blood coming out of a bandage around his hand. I have inherited this lovely gene of not liking blood, so I immediately feel sick on stage. Once the scene was over I had to go backstage & lay down & didn't go back out on stage. My Dad however was a trooper & just kept going. It's amazing to me to this day that he was able to do so. But, I know it's because of the help of Heavenly Father & that because my Dad was doing His work he was able to finish the performance. He was ok & didn't need stitches even though it was fairly deep. And yes, he still has the scar to prove it!

TV SPOT

So,we were told (the Easter Pageant cast) to watch some morning news show on Monday morning. Of course I forgot all about it. So, we show up to pageant last night & people start asking if we saw ourselves on TV. Uh, NO! Anyway, we were able to get it via email & now I'm posting it here. It's a little long, but about 6 minutes into it you'll see Kylie doing her big part & Erik as well. I'm in it for a split second in the background. But, how exciting for Kylie!! I always knew she'd be a star!
TV SPOT

COSTUMES

Check out our costumes:

The best is Erik's Blue Wise Man costume. He was the Red Wise Man last year & that was a very elaborate costume all decked out with peacock feathers even. Well, this year he's the Blue Wise Man & he has the only costume with pants! So, here ya go - check out our very own genie!

















It's so much fun every year to see what your costume will be. It's always a surprise!

I have to tell what Jadyn said the other night at practice. We were standing at our spot on side stage waiting for our cue to run onto the stage for Triumphal Entry (the scene where Christ comes with the donkey) when we heard our cue. Once we hear it everyone's suppose to run on stage with excitement, yelling "Hosana" & looking for Jesus. Well I hear Jadyn just start yelling, "Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!" I thought it was so stinking cute! I asked her again what she said because it just startled me that she totally grasped what we were suppose to be excited about & I can't say I took the time to really explain what was happening. I thought she just figured Jesus just got to ride a donkey. She then told me, "Jesus is coming to town!" Gotta love that kid!

So, here's Kylie story. Last night was press night. Well, they had camera men on stage filming everything with boom cameras. They asked all of those in the Jesus & the CHildren scene to stay late to run the scene again to film it in a different angle. So, we had to do Kylie's dead girl part again. So, we head up the stage & Erik hands Kylie over to Jesus & the camera's are right on her face & she's suppose to be dead right? What does she do? Opens her eyes for a split second! Little stinker! Hopefully they can do some fancy editing with the different angles they shot.

TOUGH SCENES

If you're clueless about what I'm talking about - read my previous post...

One year I had an actual speaking part. (Now let me clarify - when I say a speaking part I mean that I lipsynced. I've been asked before if the tape's a soundtrack or if we actually speak into microphones. It's all a soundtrack.) I was in the Peter's Denial scene where he denies Christ 3 times before the cock crows. Here was my line: "This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth." After which Peter would say: "I know not the man." This scene was fun for me because I had a line, but also because it had one of the most moving images in it. I love how they always have Christ being pulled by the Roman Soldiers at the end when the cock crows. Not because I love what it means or what's happening to the Savior, but because it's such a strong image to me on the realization of what happened.

The next year I was in the crucifixion scene. Nothing can prepare you for this extremely moving scene. Watching it from afar is one thing, but being that close is another. It was neat as far as seeing how they move those giant crosses onto the stage & seeing the actual setup happening. But, even watching that & knowing that the men on the cross are actors it was still extremely difficult to be their. It's such a pivitul moment obviously in the Savior's life & in all of our salvations. But, there's just not words to describe what it's like to be face to face with the reinactment of it. It was hard - yet very special to me at the same time. Those feelings of being in that scene will be with me forever.

If you want to hear some more stories (FYI-I will be telling more.) check out my Dad's blog under Mimi & Papa on my list. (Sorry Dad had to do it!) Also, I encourage everyone that's been in the Pageant before to share some stories as well. (hmm, hmm - Allison & EmmaLee)

WEEKENDS

I want to tell about the fun weekend we've had, but before that - I failed to mention the fun weekend we had last week. Well, my birthday was last week, so we celebrated on Saturday night with dinner at Cafe Rio. Then, we headed to Jester'z. A clean comedy club that's just HILARIOUS!! If you've never been their - you need to go! Here's their website if you want to check it out - Jester'z. Actually one of the director's of the Easter Pageant owns it & so he knew us well enough that he picked on my Dad. Good thing my Dad has a good sense of humor. Good side splitting fun that place is. If anyone wants to go & needs someone to go with - Erik & I are always game to go again!! Here's some pictures from that night:

I spy with my little eye - Mimi hiding in the background...

This weekend was all about Pageant. We actually had our first Saturday rehearsal last week, but we had a longer day today. Not to mention a rehearsal last night for the "Jesus & the Children" scene. OK - here's the lowdown on parts for this year - Erik is the "Blue Wise Man", Kylie is the "dead girl" & I am the "Mother of the dead girl". Jadyn is a "Multitude Child". So, basically this is how you find us: ERIK - during "Mary's Lullaby" (the birth scene of the Savior) look for a big guy in a blue costume. KYLIE - during the "Jesus & the Children" scene watch for a guy (Erik) to carry a dead girl (Kylie) up the ramp to the Savior. I follow behind. I won't tell you what happens beyond that in case you haven't scene the Pageant. I don't want to spoil the fun of that moment. Plus, you can probably guess what happens. Erik & I actually had these parts last year with a different girl. It was great, but it is so much more awesome for us to have Kylie be our daughter for this scene. She's doing a great job & we're so proud of her. She was really nervous before she tried it a couple of times & now she's ready to do it in front of 300 or even 400 people she says. Poor child - she has no idea the # of people that come. She'll do fine though. Here's a couple of pictures from today:

Here's Erik working on his lesson for tomorrow on our down time.

Here's Nanci (the director) receiving the Miss Arizona Easter Pageant award. I guess they joke around in their director's meetings that if their was ever a "Pageant" to crown a Miss Arizona Easter Pageant that Nanci would win it. So, the other directors presented her with a sash & a tiara today. One of those things where you probably had to be their, but it was funny. Nanci even did the elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist wave for us after her speech about world peace.
Here's where it pays off to be reading this long post .... a little hint of you want to see the Pageant, but don't necessarily like crowds. March 11th is a public invited dress rehearsal that starts at 7:00pm instead of the normal 8:00pm. Last year there was maybe 200 people at this. Then, they added a couple of extra performances this year on the 12th & 13th. I am betting that these will be way less crowded, especially since the following week is also spring break for a lot of schools. So, there's a little tip.

Now, if you get to go, go early for a decent seat & also to take the time to see the "Reflections of Christ" exhibit. It is truly phenomenal!! Words just can't describe the feeling when you walk into that room - the spirit is overwhelming when you see these beautiful photos. Here's a link to an article about it in the Beehive paper. Click HERE to see behind the scenes footage on youtube. I am particularly partial to the 10 virgins footage (can't imagine why?) & to the Manger scene footage. Although, I am a little partial to the Savior shown HERE - the man that plays the Savior now & is in these photos is truly remarkable. He has a remarkable spirit about him that is much needed to portray this very important role. And even though I tear up at the sight of him in his costume - it's still not the same as my awesome Dad who had that role for 11 years. (That's who was in the picture if you didn't know.) Anyway, in the spirit of the Pageant & my tremendous love for it I will be adding stories over the next few weeks that are dear to me. May not be interesting to some, but Pageant has always been such an important part of my life that I can't help but share the fun I've had. So, be ready...