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You've Never
Seen Anything Like The Light of the World
by
Melanie Bridge
The
immensity of space is depicted by NASA images projected in the Conference
Center auditorium.
Light. It fills
up the Conference Center and the hearts of the volunteers that are
participating in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints'
Olympic production Light of the World.
While its official
opening date is February 7th, Light of the World
has already opened to rave reviews by friends and families of the
cast members and the Church's Olympic volunteers.
"It was amazing,"
"the lighting is absolutely spectacular," "I loved all the dancing
and the flying," were just some of the things the volunteers had
to say about the production.
The Light
of the World uses the stories of Olympic athletes, such as Alma
Richards, to portray the theme that we each go through different
stages in life including adversity, and we overcome by finding the
light within," co-director Randy Boothe said.
Performers, soaring as high as 70 feet above the stage, portray
the constant interaction between heaven and earth.
Boothe said
the emphasis of the story is how these people, in the crux of their
challenges, found the light.
John Featherstone,
who is in charge of the lighting for the production, said in a news
release, that the lighting itself should enhance the message and
show the light of Jesus Christ as well as the light within each
individual.
Others involved
in the production were more effusive with their praise of how much
the lighting is a key element of the production.
"People who
go into the Conference Center are going to see something totally
different than they've ever seen before," said Ed Austin, artistic
director for one of the participating groups, the BYU International
Folk Dance Ensemble.
Some of the
General Authorities voiced similar feelings about the entire production
after their preview. All of the Twelve Apostles attended one of
the rehearsals to preview the show, and after the show they came
down and spoke with the cast.
It was silent
and the spirit was strong while they were walking to the front of
the Conference Center, Austin said.
The Light of the World cast represents a variety of nations with
its authentic costumes and colorful flags.
Cast member
Channy La'ulu said that both Elders Packer and Haight voiced their
opinions. Elder Packer said, "I've never seen anything like this
before — it really made me feel the spirit," and Elder Haight
echoed a ditto.
The First Presidency
reviewed the production on Jan. 30 and President Hinckley told the
group this will really help advance the work of the Lord, La'ulu
said.
A Great Collaboration
"I've never seen anything like this before," is also a common
theme that those helping with the production use when speaking of
all the volunteers involved, whether they be cast members, costumers
or production designers.
"I've never
worked on a production where there have been this many people putting
all their ideas on the table," Boothe said.
One of the people
behind the ideas is costume designer Janet Swenson. Before Light
of the World ends its run Swenson will have created between
1,500 and 2,000 costumes, including 50 pioneer dresses with hand
sewn pioneer quilt patterns in the skirts, and she will do all this
as a volunteer.
Swenson has
previously created costumes for the Utah Shakespeare Festival and
several BYU productions, Boothe said. Her list of credentials is
mind-boggling and that's what makes her contribution all the more
valuable.
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and other cast members sing the Light
of the World Anthem atop the 130-foot domed stage in the Conference
Center.
"While she could
be doing things for pay, she is doing this because she wants to
help the church," Boothe said.
"It's that kind
of commitment that brings a different quality to the work, every
one is feeling very clearly what their role is and what they can
bring to the production," Boothe said.
Janielle Christiansen,
director of the BYU Living Legends, said much of the casting and
bringing good people into the production, such as Swenson, was a
matter of amazing circumstances. Many times different members would
say "I was supposed to be doing this or this circumstance changed
so now I'm available," and so the major players were brought into
place.
This is the
biggest collaboration of artists, choreographers, performers, directors,
etc. that the Church has ever put together, Austin said. He explained
that each one of these people is used to being the only one with
their talent in shows, so it could have been a clash having so many
work together on one project.
A pioneer dancer celebrates her arrival to the Salt Lake Valley.
Looking at
Things in a New Way
However what happened, Austin said, is that it became a humbling
experience, a way to look at the things we're doing in a new way.
"You do things
you wouldn't normally do if it was your show, but you do it with
a trust that it will all work because sometimes we just have to
go by faith," Austin said.
The performers
also agree that it has been a humbling, learning experience to donate
so much of their time to the production. In the last weeks before
Light of the World opened the performers were practicing
6 to 11 pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 9 am to 5 pm on
Saturday.
La'ulu said
all the time she was growing up, she had heard that one should use
her talents to bless the lives of others, but she wondered, how
can I do more than merely entertain with dancing? However, with
this opportunity she has seen that there was a reason she has been
dancing all these years.
"Never again
can I make this big of an impact," La'ulu said.
Members of the
production crew have already felt some of that impact. Christiansen
said that some of the tech crew are used to being on the road with
big name pop and rock groups. When Christiansen mentioned to them
that being involved with a big production must be rather ordinary
they had a very interesting reply.
"This experience
is anything but ordinary for us. The energy we feel in this overwhelming
hall is truly unique for us," Christiansen said of the tech crews'
reply.
Young Tenley Albright discovers talents that later make her an Olympic
gold medal ice skater.
That is the
experience that the entire crew and cast hopes every person who
comes in contact with the production will have. Whether it's the
flying cast members, IMAX magnifications, or watching dancers on
a stage shaped like a globe, Boothe hopes each one comes away with
the same message.
It's the spirit
of volunteerism the sense that we're all in this together, and the
offering up of all the years of talents as a gift to brighten and
fill our world with light, Boothe said.
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