This
is Kirtland!
Those
who visit Historic Kirtland this summer during “pageant season”
(June 30 – July 24) are in for a special treat. For the second
year running, a talented cast and crew will perform the specially-commissioned
musical theater production, “This is Kirtland!”
What
is the show about? “We look in-depth at a few of the experiences
of early church members in the Kirtland area,” says director Polly
K. Dunn. “The stories we tell are poignant, inspiring, positive.
Most of all, we have fun!” The opening scene follows the conversions
of local members and the gathering of converts from other regions.
Young Kirtland-area resident Mary Elizabeth Rollins searches earnestly
for a copy of the Book of Mormon.
Eliza
R. Snow and her schoolchildren
The
School of the Prophets and Eliza Snow’s schools for young ladies
and children meet onstage, with sometimes comic results. Parley
Pratt experiences several miraculous reversals of fortune within
a short time that enable him to serve a mission. He and other
men leave to preach the gospel, and the women left behind care
for their families together.
Joseph
Smith sings a love song to his wife Emma, the lyrics for which
were taken from his letters to her. The compassion and generosity
of early Saints reveals itself through acts of kindness and sacrifice.
Newel and Elizabeth Whitney host a feast for the poor that ends
in a rousing dance number. The show culminates in the building
and dedication of the Kirtland temple by hard-working local members.
Sidney
Rigdon
These
stories are woven together by narrator Christopher Crary,
a character based on a man by that name who wrote firsthand observations
of those who settled the area. “Crary
was never a member of the LDS church,” explains script writer
Sunny Morton. “He lived here before the church came and stayed
long after it left. He’s a natural storyteller, and he offers
a slightly detached but often sympathetic perspective.”
The
hour-long production was written last year by a team that pooled
years of professional experience in musical performance and theater,
choreography, historical research, writing, costuming, set design,
and construction. Polly Dunn brought over 20 years of professional
theater experience and training to This is Kirtland! Her creative vision of the
show guided composer Sheri McMurtrey,
who penned the original score, and writer and researcher Sunny
McClellan Morton, who led a team of writers in bringing to life
these stories of early Kirtland saints. About 3000 people attended
last year’s show.
Joseph
and Emma Smith greet Phoebe and Sidney Rigdon
An
experienced pit orchestra provides live music again this year
under the leadership of music director Nick Komen.
He works closely with returning pianist and music educator Nancy
Tuttle, who offers a unique perspective on the production. Nancy
had been a member of the church for only a month when she joined
the orchestra last year. When asked how it affected her testimony
to dive right into Church history this way, she responds with
great feeling, describing a scene when Joseph Smith sings the
passage from the 76th section of the Doctrine and Covenants
proclaiming that the Savior lives. “At first, Joseph is singing
alone. Then Sidney Rigdon steps into the light and adds his voice to Joseph’s.
By the end of the song you have this phalanx of people all singing
their testimonies ‘that He lives!’ That is really what the Church
is about, why they did what they did in Kirtland and why we still
do everything we do today—because the Savior lives!”
This
year’s production runs on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between
June 30 – July 23. Curtain time is 7:30 pm. Performances
are held at the beautiful Kirtland stake center, a short distance
up the street from Historic Kirtland on State Route 306. Admission
is free and there is ample parking. Overnight accommodations and
restaurants are available within a mile. Reservations are requested
for groups of 20 or more; several youth conferences and tour groups
have already reserved seats for this year. For reservations, directions,
or more information, please call Historic Kirtland at 440-256-9805.
