Participate in Pageant

The core cast consists of over twenty actors who represent major historical figures, including Joseph Smith, Emma Smith, and Parley P. Pratt. The core cast actors perform in both the Nauvoo and British pageants live each night for the duration of the pageant as well as present short historical vignettes during the day.

The family cast provides families the opportunity to perform in the pageant and host the preshow activities for visitors.

The bagpipe band shares music with Nauvoo visitors throughout the day. The band performs before the daytime historical vignettes, marches in a parade down Mulholland Street, plays at the front gates for the preshow activities, marches attendees to their seats, begins the show, and performs in a pageant scene. In addition to their pageant responsibilities, the bagpipe band also performs in several outreach programs in neighboring towns throughout the summer.

The work crew assists with technical support of the pageant, including the stage, props, lighting, site, and preshow activities. Work crew members will work closely with pageant staff and cast members.

The costuming team provides a key visual element to the pageants in the form of the costumes that participants wear during the performances. All costumers will assist in fitting and altering costumes for incoming casts. Costume assistants do laundry, repair costumes, maintain dressing rooms for the cast, assist with hair and makeup for core cast performers, and construct costumes as needed.

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 preshow activities, and assist families 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.

The food services team works to arrange for and provide food for the cast members and volunteers who sign up for the meal program. Team members will scan bar codes as pageant participants enter the food services serving line and assist with cleaning and maintaining the pageant building.

The security and maintenance team helps to ensure the safety of cast members, volunteers, and audience members throughout the rehearsals and performances. Members of the pageant security team 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. Security shifts will include late-night and all-night surveillance of pageant areas. 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 application requirements vary depending on the position. For more information about each position, please check the section above.

The length of time expected for those who volunteer with the Nauvoo Pageants varies depending on the team and the nature of the assignment. The 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.

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 and 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 because 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 Office has information about a number of lodging options. Click here to visit their website.
  
• 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 are 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.