My experience in the production of "Savior of the World" in Salt Lake City. Warning: this is a LONG post :).
I don’t even know where to begin. This production was a
life-changing experience for me and I feel so blessed to have made so many
friends and had the spiritual uplifting moments that changed and blessed my
life in so many ways.
Last spring I felt very prompted that I should audition for
Savior of the World and as time got closer to August I felt again and again
that I needed to be a part of it this year. The several months prior to
auditioning for SOTW, I had been having some questions/doubts about the gospel
and my own testimony. I knew that my Heavenly Father wanted me to be a part of
this to help strengthen my testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ and of my own
divinity. I am also very grateful that Cade was on board and was very
supportive of me having this experience. I auditioned and from the moment I
stepped into that audition room, I felt loved and excited to be a part of it.
The production team were so loving and kind and wanted everyone to do and be
their very best. It was different than any other audition that I have been a
part of (except for Nauvoo) in that there wasn’t a feeling of being judged or
the competition between people auditioning. Just love.
I found out I made the role of Solome. I had no idea who
that was but was excited to be in it so of course I said “yes”! J Aside from Mary and
Mary Magdelene, there are only three other women who have speaking parts and
they are Joanna, Mary Mother of James, and Solome. I feel very blessed to have
played this part because I got to learn and discover what it may have felt to
mourn over the loss of a friend, companion and Savior and then to be a witness
of his resurrection and want to share that good news with the world. I had just
one tiny singing solo and some speaking lines in the second act.
Our very first rehearsals were music rehearsals with the
whole cast. Our first “working” or acting rehearsal with all who had lines in
the show was amazing. I am so grateful I had lines in the musical so I could be
a part of those rehearsals. We sat in a huge circle and did an entire run
through the whole show. It took about 2-3 hours of working through reading the
lines for the first time. But the thing that was amazing was the faith and
dedication of the people in that room. You could feel the testimonies and
spiritual strength from those people and knew that they all knew their Savior
in ways. I knew from that moment that the next 3 ½ months was about to change
my life. And it did. In so many ways.
One of my favorite things about rehearsals is that we always
opened up the scriptures and sometimes conference quotes/talks that went along
the scenes we were depicting. Our director, Melanie (whom I knew from the BYU
MDT program), would ask the most thought-provoking questions and we would
discuss what scriptures meant to us. We talked about Christ. We rejoiced in
Christ. We strengthened each other with thoughts on the words of Christ. I love
that it was a normal part of getting together and made me realize that I want
to be like that always. I want Christ to be a normal part of my every day
conversation. I want everyone around me to know that I know Him and that I love
Him.
I made friends with some incredible people. I learned from
Sadie Steel that relying on the strength of our Savior can make us so much more
than we could ever be on our own. I learned from Deb Hahn (Weed) that sometimes
we have to put aside our pride and just learn from the directors and take their
criticism and comments with stride. I learned from Melanie Arkoudas that being
a mother is one of the most joyous callings we could ever have in this life and
there is a lot of joy that can come when we put our children first. She has 10
children and three of her darlings girls were in it and I LOVED getting to know
them (Annalee, Emma & Mara). I learned from Rebecca and Mary that life has
it’s challenges and trials, but Heavenly Father will help you get through them
and give you strength. I learned from Steve and Amy that prior to the death of
their daughter, these spiritually uplifting experiences can change our path and
our lives for good. Their daughter was a part of SOTW the year before she got in
a car accident. But this show changed the course of her life and prepared her
to meet her Savior with confidence. I learned from Kallie Bahr (who I went to
high school with) that sometimes those with disabilities give so freely the
BEST hugs and smiles and ask nothing in return. I learned from Lorna Lee
Anderson that life is best with a smile on your face. No matter what happens we
can always look outside ourselves and serve others with a smile.
Some of my favorite
learning moments from the show:
I love in the show when Mary asks Joseph if he found
somewhere for them to stay in Bethlehem and Joseph replies that he found a
stable. But instead of being upset or sad about it Joseph’s line is, “When I
think the town’s been full for a week, Mary. His arm is stretched out over us.”
Now I’m not sure it that really happened but I imagine Mary and Joseph humbly
giving gratitude for the miracles along the way. And then someone in the cast
made a comment about how Mary and Joseph being alone in a stable was exactly what
Heavenly Father had planned. It took them away from all worldly things and
allowed them to focus on what mattered most. Do I do that in my own life? Do I
dismiss the worldly things and focus on what matters most in life? Do I put
myself in spiritual surroundings to allow God to give me a spiritual moment or
experience?
After the shepherds heard the angels and find where the
Savior had just been born, the young shepherd asks how he can make a difference
because afterall, they were “just shepherds”. And his father replies, “yes,
just shepherds. But tonight we are servants, servants of a king.” As simple as
we may seem at times and how easy it is to dismiss our potential or divinity,
the Lord can and will use us for good if we allow him to. We can do much good
in this world and in our lives if we do HIS will and let Him guide and use us.
In the end of the first act, Joseph and Mary are by
themselves on stage, but slowing the children come on to the stage and surround
them. This particular moment is so moving. But throughout the whole musical the
angels are up on the colonnade watching a reacting to all that is happening below.
It just made me realize evem more that there are so many angels and ancestors
cheering for me and my family. It also made me wonder if I was there singing to
the shepherds in the field, or watching the birth of our Savior. How many of
those events was I present for?
I love the teaching moment Peter has with Thomas
about faith. Thomas is upset that he did not see the Savior as the other disciples
did and wonders how can he be a witness of something he has not seen. Peter
replies, “You are a witness. Look, Thomas, we did see Him, but that is not
enough for any of us…plenty of people saw him in life, watched his miracles and
heard his teachings, and yet some of them were among those who condemned Him to
the cross. To see Him, Thomas —to see Him as He is, for who He is—we must look
with our hearts…it isn’t by flesh and blood that we know, but by what we feel.
And one day, when you do see Him, you will not know any better than you know
now that He lives, because you already feel— (pointing to Thomas’ heart)
—here.” That was a pivotal learning moment for me during this whole 4 months. I
have known it all along. I had just forgotten some key spiritual moments in my
life, but I have always known that my Savior lives and that this gospel of
Jesus Christ brings hope, peach and joy. I just had to be reminded that it’s in
my heart. It’s what I feel and the spirit is key in our lives of feeling and
knowing.
The ending of the musical was by far my favorite and I cried
every single night as we ended. We sang “Jesus once of humble birth, now in
glory comes to earth.” I loved that every night we got to look into their eyes testify
to the audience not as “Solome” but as Kellie. I love looking into others eyes
and testifying that I know those things are true. It strengthened my own
testimony every night.
Just a few pictures from rehearsals:
Me, Sadie & Deb
Our dress rehearsal that my parents, Cade and Emma and Reese were able to come to:
Stephanie, Kailee, Lexie, Melanie, Jennie & Me
Anna lee & I. She would always call me "Fairy Godmother" because of my angel robe. I was the only "special" one with a huge bow on it.
Jennie, Abby & I. We played the roles in the 2nd act of women who saw the resurrected Savior.
The Alleluia and Fruit Picking Scene women. We got super close. I sure love them all!
Jennie Cooper
Me, Sadie & Deb
Kallie Bahr. I went to high school with her and it was SO fun to be able to be in the show together! She gives the BEST hugs and brightens your day.
Sarah and Lindsey
Ashley
Melanie, Annlee and Mara Arkoudas. I fell in love with Melanie and want to learn from her. She has 10 children and seems like such an incredible mom.
Lorna Lee Anderson. She was my colonnade buddy. I loved interacting with her as angels.
Our closing night we went to the parking lot and had hot chocolate and cookies. It was sad to say bye but we get to see each other at our cast dinner on January 20th so we'll see each other soon!!!
