Volunteer Support

The costuming team provides a key visual element to the pageants in the form of the costumes that participants wear during the performances. Costume assistants should have experience with clothing construction and be able to follow typical pattern instructions. All costumers will assist in fitting and altering costumes for incoming casts. On subsequent days, costume assistants will do laundry, repair costumes, maintain dressing rooms for the cast, assist with hair and makeup for core cast performers, and construct costumes as needed. Costumers will need to bring their own sewing machines and, if possible, sergers.

The Family Support Team assists the pageant’s leadership team in providing spiritual and meaningful activities and opportunities that will help Primary-age children connect gospel principles with their participation in the Nauvoo Pageants. During the first week the Family Support Team will conduct daily children’s activities and teaching moments, attend rehearsals and performances to assist with children of all ages (infants through age 11), host country fair activities, and assist in gathering missionary referrals before and after the pageant. During the second week of volunteer service there will be some time spent with the children in rehearsals and performances, but there will be additional time to visit historic sites, participate in temple service, and enjoy other cast activities such as a talent show and a testimony meeting. Family Support Team volunteers should be free from personal family responsibilities and have their own transportation. (Refer to “Family Cast”—Information, “Physical Requirements,” and “Rehearsal Schedule” for more details.) Applicants should be 21 years old and older to apply.

The Food Services Team works to arrange for and provide food for the cast members and volunteers who sign up for the meal program. Single adults and/or couples are needed to assist with the meal program and work under the direction of the Food Service directors. Team members will scan bar codes as pageant participants enter the food services serving line (familiarity with spreadsheets is helpful but not required). Food services personnel may be asked to operate a pageant snack store after all evening rehearsals and performances.

The Security and Maintenance team helps to ensure the safety of cast members, volunteers, and audience members throughout the rehearsals and performances. Mature adults are needed on the pageant security team to monitor crowds, secure backstage areas, assist with pageant parking, respond to emergencies, assist with general cleaning, and help with late-night laundering of cast costumes. These individuals should be slow to anger and should not be easily provoked or drawn into confrontations. They will also need a positive, caring approach in assisting audience members. Security team members need to be in good physical condition to handle large amounts of time walking or standing outdoors in the Nauvoo heat and humidity. Security shifts will include late-night and all-night surveillance of pageant areas. It is expected that all security team members will serve for the entire time of their requested schedule. If you have experience in carpentry, mechanics, welding, or similar skills, you might be asked to assist in the area of your skill.

The medical team cares for the safety and well-being of cast members, volunteers, and audience members. They provide support to the on-site first aid station, monitor lost-and-found items, and help reconnect children and parents. Volunteers also help ensure that there is always water and ice available for all participants on the pageant site. Team members are present for every rehearsal so that they are available to help with possible injuries.

The Nauvoo Pageant Bagpipe Band shares music with audience members throughout the day in Nauvoo. The band consists of a group of bagpipers who come together to perform prior to the vignettes that are performed daily during the pageant run. They also march daily in a parade down Mulholland Street. During the parade the band makes a stop at Zions Mercantile for a short concert and photos. In the evening, the band plays at the front gates for the country fair, held prior to each pageant performance. At the end of the country fair, the band marches the attendees in a parade to their seats. The band then continues up onto the stage to begin the pageant. Each pageant also includes a scene with a few bagpipers. Throughout the summer the bagpipe band performs in several outreach programs in neighboring towns. Inviting guests to the pageant and building community friendships are important aspects of these performances.

The work crew helps to set up the stage and support rehearsals and performances and the country fair activities. Work crew members are ages 17-23.

To serve in Nauvoo during the pageant season, volunteers must be 21 years or older and may apply as individuals or couples. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation, housing, and meals. Participants may choose to participate in the pageant food program. Housing options are available to accepted participants, or volunteers may make their own arrangements. More details are below.

Time commitments for volunteers are flexible depending on the area in which they serve and may be adjusted on a case-by-case basis if volunteers have family members participating in the pageant cast or on other volunteer support teams.

Physical requirements vary based on the volunteer assignment. Some groups spend much of the day indoors, while other groups work outside most of the time. It is important to remember that the weather in Nauvoo during the summer typically ranges from 80 to 100 degrees with 70–90 percent humidity.

All volunteers are responsible for their own transportation. The Nauvoo & British Pageants Headquarters Building (PHQ) is located approximately three miles east of Nauvoo, at 885 East Hwy 96, Nauvoo, IL. Many of the pageant activities take place there. Each individual or family will be required to have their own personal transportation in Nauvoo during their pageant participation. If flying to an airport near Nauvoo, you will need to make arrangements for your own transportation, as the pageant isn’t able to operate any shuttle service.

Pageant volunteers are responsible for their own housing. The majority of participants are able to find convenient housing options in Nauvoo when arrangements are made just after they receive notice of acceptance. For housing options in Nauvoo, please refer to the following websites:

• The Nauvoo Tourism site: www.beautifulnauvoo.com; click on Stay. You may also call 1-877-628-8661.
• Pageant participants may request space at the Nauvoo RV Park. Full electrical, water, and sewer hookups are available. A shower house and laundry facilities are also available for park residents. No soft-sided tents are permitted and no animals allowed. RV sites are available on a first-come-first-served basis and must be reserved through the pageant office. Cost per day is $15.00.

Pageant participants have the option of participating in the pageant meal program. Lunches and dinners are served cafeteria-style by a contracted caterer. Participants may select any combinations of meals (lunch only, dinner only, or both lunch and dinner) per week for the duration of their stay. Meal selections cannot be changed during pageant participation. To participate in the pageant meal program, a deposit totaling 50 percent of the cost will be due by March 15 of the current year. The remaining balance will be due by May 1 of the current year.

Your service is deeply appreciated and very valuable to the Nauvoo Pageants; however, we are unable to accommodate your pets. We sincerely hope you will be able to find accommodations for your pet during your service time in Nauvoo. Thank you for your cooperation.

The length of time expected for those who volunteer with the Nauvoo Pageants varies depending on the team and the nature of the assignment. Pageant season can extend over six weeks; however, very few people are there that long. Typically the expected length of service is two to three weeks.