You’ve likely heard about the Book of Mormon musical on Broadway, but have you heard about the largest outdoor theatrical event in the United States? It’s a Book of Mormon musical all its own.

Every year, the Hill Cumorah Pageant is presented free of charge for several nights (even parking is free!). The all-volunteer cast makes it possible (600-700 people participate in the cast each year.) The pageant re-enacts much of The Book of Mormon — its history, its people, its message. It reinforces the faith of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — a faith centered on the Savior.

The pageant is also quite the production — including dramatic special effects (volcanoes, earthquakes, heavenly visitations), elaborate costumes (about 1,400 of them), a massive set (seven levels, over the space of half a football field), professionally written script and score (script by Orson Scott Card, score by Crawford Gates), and more.

Why are we writing about this now, after the Hill Cumorah Pageant time has already passed for the year? We ran across an article written by someone not of our faith who had attended the pageant, and with her permission, we are going to share it here. (Thanks in advance to Danielle Tumminio for her kindness.)

Check in tomorrow….

In the meantime, here’s a New York Times article you can read about the pageant.

Or a Los Angeles Times article.

For more information about the pageant, see the pageant website.

And here’s a Church News article about the Hill Cumorah performance.