It’s Coming Together
Thunderstorms Stall First Day of Rehearsals
The first full days of rehearsals started at the Hill Cumorah Pageant on Saturday. With just six days to pull the production together, directors pull their cast members to every available portion of stage and lawn. However, check out today’s video for how afternoon thunderstorms affected practices for two hours Saturday. Miraculously, directors reported that even with the lost practice time, their scenes are still on schedule to hit the stage Monday evening.








Casting Night
New York Welcomes Cast With Summer Thunderstorms
Cast Arrives to the 82nd Hill Cumorah Pageant
Only TWO More Years to See the Hill Cumorah Pageant
Hill Cumorah Pageant to End in 2020
Palmyra, NY (October
27, 2018) –The
famed Hill Cumorah Pageant will cease production after its 2020 season.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced on Oct. 27, 2018 the end or modification of several pageants produced by the Church, including its flagship pageant in Palmyra. Mindful of a growing, world-wide church, Church leadership made the decision after an extensive review of all pageants. Leaders said they took under consideration how to reduce the burden of church member time commitments, cost, security, impact to church sites and more in their decision.
According to the Church’s official
release, “The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints is growing across the earth. As this occurs, local Church
leaders and members are encouraged to focus on gospel learning in their homes
and to participate in Sabbath worship and the Church’s supporting programs for
children, youth, individuals and families. The goal of every activity in the
Church should be to increase faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and to share His
gospel message throughout the world. Local celebrations of culture and history
may be appropriate. Larger productions, such as pageants, are discouraged. As
it relates to existing pageants, conversations with local Church and community
leaders are underway to appropriately end, modify or continue these
productions.”
Pageant President Neil Pitts said
the staff of the Hill Cumorah Pageant is supportive of the decision.
“We had a wonderful run,” Pitts
said. “Our church has asked us to focus more on the family, and this is
certainly in line with that desire. We
have had a wonderful 81 years and will focus on making the next two years an
amazing experience for our cast, crew and audience.”
Pitts said right now, the focus of
pageant officials is to communicate with regional and community partners and
the pageant staff most affected by the announcement.
“We are sensitive to the fact that
this will affect our wonderful community partners,” Pitts said.
“We have been blessed by exceptional relationships with our friends in
Manchester and Palmyra. We thank those communities for their years of generous
support, and we will continue to work with them on future endeavors.”
The Hill Cumorah Pageant is staged annually in Manchester, NY by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Its 81st season wrapped in July 2018 with around 25,000 people attending the pageant. The 2019 season opens Thurs., July 11.
The production started as a humble reenactment of the Book of Mormon and Bible by local missionaries on makeshift stages lit by car headlamps. It has grown to be the largest outdoor theatrical event in North America and is a Western New York tradition attended by more than visitors from around the world. An all-volunteer cast of about 750 and 150 staff and technical crew work to stage the production annually. Local service groups in the Palmyra and Manchester areas provide concessions during the pageant, and it serves as those groups’ largest fund-raiser.