Exhaustive research went into this production to insure its historical accuracy down to the smallest detail including the characters, costumes, dialogue and content. The committee consulted with the First Presidency, the Twelve and the Seventy of the church 12 times during a 6 month period. LDS church leaders gave advice and guidance as they created the script for the pageant. They even presented changes and additions to the script where needed. By March 2005 the script was approved and ready for final production.

The musical accompaniment is a beautiful blend of mostly hymn arrangements with a few dance numbers. Mose people are surprised to find out that there are 18 LDS hymns woven in to the background music of the pageant. They blend in so well that most people miss them. But the power of these great hymns bring a wonderful spirit to the production.

The Pageant was designed to follow the newly released advance copy of of the missionary manual "Preach My Gospel."  With oversight from many LDS Church leaders, the final script featured a story of a Scottish couple arriving in Nauvoo and of their experiences among the saints. It focuses on the simple truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that those early Saints sacrificed so much for in Nauvoo and that many continue to sacrifice for today.

Another unique feature of the pageant is the 20 performances offered each season. This is more than double the number of performances of any of the current pageants in the Church (Hill Cumorah Pageant has 7, the Mormon Miracle Pageant in Manti has 8, and the Mesa Easter Pageant has 9). One reason for this is that the small town of Nauvoo (just over 900 residents) would be overwhelmed with 15,000 visitors a night for 7 nights. There are not enough beds in Nauvoo to accommodate them. Instead, Nauvoo receives a larger economic advantage by having the performances spread out over 20 nights.

Having so many performances was a blessing to Nauvoo, but also posed a few challenges to cast members. With a cast of 200 volunteers on stage, and hundreds behind the scenes each night, it would be difficult to have them there for so long each summer. The solution was found in a rotating "family cast" with a 2 week committment and a Core group of 20 actors that would remain all summer.

The Pageant is divided into four separate performing family casts.  These families rotate for two weeks at a time through the Pageant and serve as supporting casts for the lead the Pageant and lead actors.  Each family cast performs one week on stage. The next cast practices its parts during its first week, and serves in the Nauvoo Country Fair.  The cast then takes its turn on stage for their last week of its service while the next cast is preparing. A fifth cast that serves in the Nauvoo Country Fair during the last week of the pageant then joins the performing cast on stage during the finale that features the real Temple as a backdrop each evening.

Each year this group of 20 Core cast actors are chosen from throughout the church through a rigorous audition process that begins months before the Pageant begins. These Core cast actors offer a live performance with microphones which is a very unique element for an LDS Pageant. They serve with the hundreds of supporting "family cast" members who represent the thousand of saints that came to Nauvoo. 

This group of core performers also presents historic vignettes around Nauvoo as well as an "Inspirational Broadway" type show that is not only performed in Nauvoo, but is shared in surrounding states in the form of a "Sunday Sociable: "Our Story Goes On." Make sure to plan around these wonderful presentations when visiting Nauvoo. See Vignette Schedule

"Button Spinning" During Nauvoo Country Fair  Activity

The Pageant's Frontier Country Fair is another inspired innovation. Instead of waiting hours for the pageant to begin, guests enjoy 20 different 1840's style games and activities hosted by family cast members dressed in period costumes. In 2007 a station was added with computers where guests can enter information to access genealogical connections to the main characters represented in the pageant such as Joseph, Emma & Hyrum Smith, Brigham Young, Parley P. Pratt & others.  More than half of the pageant guests are surprised to see they are related to one or more of the pageant characters. 
You can try it here

The Nauvoo Country Fair band consists of Family Cast members during their first week of service. The band performs favorite dance numbers that would have been popular in the 1840's. Guests join in with cast members in this popular family activity. The children play games & crafts also from the early Nauvoo era along with a puppet show, family tug-o-war, sack races, stilts, sack races, stickball & hoops & graces - all activities that would have been popular in old Nauvoo. Another favorite of the guests is the log sawing activity which is followed by a branding station that burns a souvenir Nauvoo temple logo on the wood cut from log sawing.

Just as the sun begins to set, a parade forms with hundreds of pageant guests leading to the pageant seating area. This parade is headed by the Nauvoo Pageant Bagpipers, drummers & flag bearers. Bagpipes are a significant feature of the Nauvoo Pageant and the theme of the main characters of the pageant having come to Nauvoo from Scotland. The Bagpipers perform all over Nauvoo and surrounding areas to the delight of thousands. The Frontier Country Fair starts at 7:00pm each night of the pageant which begins at 8:30pm.