HANDCART PAGEANT • Emily Goates and Tracy
Boswell appear as pioneers during the Mormon Handcart
Pageant.
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The Second Annual Mormon Handcart Pageant will be held
July 23, 24, 25, and 26 at the Juab County Fairgrounds in
the main arena.
The pageant will begin each of those nights at dusk,
which is at approximately 9:15 p.m. No tickets are needed
and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
"We have added seating this year, so we should not
have a problem with accommodating anyone who wants to see
the pageant," said Brent Boswell, pageant director.
The script for the pageant was written by Boswell
after he visited Rock Creek and Martins Cove in Wyoming.
"I wanted to bring the same spirit I felt there to
Nephi," he said.
He realized, Boswell said, that some could not take
advantage of making a trip to Rock Creek but could come and
learn and feel the pioneer spirit and sacrifice made by the
pioneers of the Willie and Martin Handcart Companies who
were caught in the blizzards of Wyoming as they made the
trek to Nephi.
"Some of the survivors of those companies pioneered in
Juab County once they made it to Utah," said Boswell.
Boswell said the pageant is a community effort with
volunteers, staff members, and cast members from Nephi,
Levan and Mona.
"However, some cast members come from as far as
Tooele, Alpine, American Fork, West Valley, and Gunnison,"
said Dixie Boswell, one of the organizers.
There are cast members with a wide variety of
occupations and interests but all have banded together to
bring the history of the handcart pioneers to life for those
who attend the pageant.
A local doctor, local dentist, other medical
professionals, lawyers, sheriff and deputy, ranchers,
farmers, teachers, construction worker, business people,
stake presidency counselors, and a county commissioner make
up some of the cast.
"We have a cast and staff of close to 200 people," she
said. "Our ages range from young babies to one gentleman who
is 80 years old."
In addition to the pageant each night, there are other
pioneer-style activities each night of the event.
There is a pioneer supper each night. Those who are
interested in attending should call Greenhollow Catering at
435-623-0656 as soon as possible. The meal will include slow
roasted pork, baked potato, green salad, rolls, lemonade and
cobbler. The supper will be served from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30
p.m.
"The pioneer supper is our main fundraiser for the
pageant," said Boswell.
Meal tickets are $7.50 per person if purchased in
advance or $9 the day of the show.
There will also be a nightly concession stand.
All proceeds go to help finance the pageant.
"All funding comes from fund raisers and donations,"
said Boswell. "We greatly need and appreciate those who
contribute to our continuing efforts."
Each evening there will be a craft show. Some special
features at the craft show will be book signings by some of
Utah's authors.
There will also be a mini family history library.
There will also be live entertainment in the
multi-purpose building at the fairgrounds prior to the
pageant each evening.
Those attending might also like to plan to visit the
local Daughter's of the Utah Pioneers' Museum as part of the
pioneer experience. The museum will be open 1 p.m. to 5
p.m.
The museum is located on Nephi's Main Street in the
historic former county building.
"We have received great community support," said Dixie
Boswell. "There were over 50 volunteers at the fair ground
to help us Monday morning. We feel like this pageant really
belongs to our community because of all the volunteers
coming forward to help us."
For more information contact www.
handcartpageant.com.
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