Savior of the World

Our stake is performing "Savior of the World", a wonderful production on the birth and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For Easter, we are only performing the 2nd act. At Christmas we will do the 1st act. This is the same production the Church did when the Olympics were in Salt Lake. The Church has made the music and script available online for Stakes to do and it has been performed, I understand, several times in different parts of the country.

 Our Stake Presidency asked that each of us participating read either Jesus the Christ, or The Four Gospels. I'm reading the Four Gospels. Each rehearsal begins with a prayer and spiritual thought. I was asked to be the assistant music director. That was fine. I figured I could help out when needed, but wouldn't really be taking a major role. I helped with the try-outs. Then our music director got a major part in the play (Cleopas). So...

 I was bemoaning the fact that we had so few bases to Mark. I must've caught him in a weak moment because he agreed to come and sing! Then when he got there he was talked into being one of the twelve apostles (Philip). He was okay with that because he didn't think there were any speaking lines. Then he found out he has two lines. He moaned about it for awhile, but in the end he's been a trouper and goes to rehearsals every Saturday plus choir rehearsals on Sunday.

All the men have been asked to grow out their beards.  Some, like Mark won't because of their jobs.  However, one in particular is enjoying this--Connor Workman, our youngest apostle is still in high school.  So this is cool for him.

We are using taped music. It is almost impossible to hear when the choir or small ensembles sing. I will be responsible to sit (somewhere, it hasn't been figured out yet) with ear phones directing those choral and small ensemble numbers. One of the directors told the choir: "Trust Sister Berry"! I've got to know every single nuance of this music inside and out so I can direct it. I'm so loving this! What a great challenge and neat experience this has been.