Nauvoo Pageant, Part 2 (Rehearsals)

Above: the exodus from Nauvoo. We're supposed to be cold!

The first week in Nauvoo, we meet daily at 8:00 a.m. at the stage for rehearsals (except for Sundays). Just to put this into perspective, here's our daily schedule:

8 am - Cast rehearsal on stage
Noon - Lunch
2 pm - Cast rehearsal in gym
4:30 - dinner, costumes, hair/makeup
6 pm - Cast meeting
6:30 pm - Arrive on-site for pre-show
7 pm - Pre-show begins
8:45 pm - Pageant begins
10 pm - Post show mingling
11 pm - Conclude mingling, lights out
Most days we actually got to bed between 11:30 and 12:30. Needless to say, arriving bright and early in the morning was challenging. Now factor in grumpy children and heat and humidity. It was crazy. But somehow, we did it and we loved it!

Dress Rehearsal
Our cast had dress rehearsal on Monday, August 4th. During our morning rehearsal that day,the heat index was dangerously high at 126 degrees. After the sun set, the heat dropped a little, but it was still over 100 degrees. We have never been so hot in our lives. The following pictures mostly show us sitting on the stage after the performance to listen to the directors.

What do you think? Do we look hot, tired and sweaty? After a week of this grueling schedule, we couldn't possibly be closer to worn out. We were having the time of our lives!
Just for fun, let's do a poll!

**All picture credit goes to Blaine Hofeling, a volunteer who took tens of thousands of pictures for the casts. Thanks, Blaine!