EXPERIENCE CFAC 2023 WINNERS JUDY SCHNEBLY
Judy Schnebly | Essay 3rd Place
Media Arts |Theatre & Media Arts
“As a future theatre educator, I will be working with people of various ages, backgrounds and experience levels, under strict time constraints and on a budget. Working on the pageant provided opportunities to encounter these future realities firsthand. The masterful work of my professor and other high caliber professionals provided me with fresh ideas and a newfound zeal for working with young thespians.”
The fresh layer of sawdust resting on the edge of the second story railing was a testament to the living, breathing nature of the production before us. Every inch of the massive tent-turned-theatre was a veritable workshop — drills buzzing, sewing machines racing, paintbrushes flying, not to mention the ever-present stage manager’s pencil filling page after page with important notes. Despite the pressure of an opening night only days away, the cacophony of the present scene was marked by a certain peace. This was no ordinary theatrical production.
For the third time in its history, the British Pageant was coming to the county of Lancashire, the very place where its story began. In the shadow of the Preston, England temple, actors portraying the first Latter-day Saints of the British Isles take center stage to share their legacy of faith. As a descendant of early British converts, I was especially grateful to play my part in sharing their story.
Thanks to the generosity of the TMA Student Grant Committee, I relished in this experience to learn alongside one of my BYU professors, Alexandra Mackenzie Johns, in her role as artistic director. As a production assistant, I worked closely with the producers, directors, choreographers and other technical personnel. Each day something new was needed, whether it was creating documents, sweeping the stage, organizing props, helping with microphones, or occasional dramaturgical research. Unexpectedly, the directors even needed me to play a small part onstage! Through this wide variety of tasks, I learned invaluable on-the-job lessons about stagecraft, communication, directing and ensemble building.
With a few hundred cast members and a team of volunteers 500 strong, the sheer scale of this production was unlike anything I have experienced in a university setting. It proved to be the valuable professional experience I was hoping for and more. Beyond rehearsals and performances with the cast and crew, I was also an active participant in collaborative production meetings with the artistic team. I took careful note of the practical functions of these gatherings, as well as the inherent lessons in leadership on display.
As a future theatre educator, I will be working with people of various ages, backgrounds and experience levels, under strict time constraints and on a budget. Working on the pageant provided opportunities to encounter these future realities firsthand. The masterful work of my professor and other high caliber professionals provided me with fresh ideas and a newfound zeal for working with young thespians.
In addition to the hands-on theatrical experience I gained, I recognize the profound blessing it was to work with talented theatre practitioners who are also committed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who combine faith and excellency in the arts inspire me to improve not only my craft but also my discipleship.
As I served alongside fellow saints in the pageant, I felt my faith strengthen, my heart expand, my discipleship deepen and my desire to live a life of service solidify. I also felt the connection to my own ancestors increase. Outside of our 12 to 15 hour rehearsal days, we had the opportunity to visit nearby sites that were integral to the history of the church. I was inspired to also visit the hometowns of my ancestors in central England. In connection with the pageant, these visits were spiritually defining moments for me that I will cherish forever.
I feel that working on the pageant can serve as a springboard to the rest of my career, particularly in how it relates to the theatre I will create as a disciple of Christ. While I hope to work on more church productions in the future, my career will likely include a variety of settings, from public schools to work in the community. No matter the scenario, this experience has inspired me to direct all productions in a higher and holier way.
I come away from this experience lighter and brighter, with a newfound appreciation for those who came before me and a desire to learn even more about them. As I swept the stage one final time, the sawdust of that first day now replaced by celebratory closing-night confetti, nothing but gratitude filled my heart.
