Welcome to the 2025 Mesa Easter Pageant!

About the Pageant

Scenes & Musical Numbers

Cast & Creative

Crew

Soundtrack

Holy Week

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About the Pageant

Jesus the Christ, the world-renowned Mesa Easter Pageant, is an outdoor musical spectacular depicting the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world with a cast of more than 450 and hundreds more volunteering behind the scenes. The Pageant is the cumulative work of many individuals over many years. At its heart are the life and mission of Jesus Christ.

Over the decades, the script and musical score has been revised and rewritten from time to time; however, its message has always remained the same: Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer of the world, and He invites all to come unto Him to receive life, light, healing and salvation.

Script and Score

The current soundtrack used in this spectacular production debuted in 2022 and was written and composed by Rob Gardner, who also wrote the script, adapting the text entirely from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

The poetic cadences and vivid imagery offered by the King James Version lend a depth and richness to the pageant’s portrayals of Jesus’ life and provide familiar anchors to the soaring and complex themes of the musical score. Combining the old with the new, the script and score convey a timeless message meant for all people in some of the most beautiful language ever written.

A Devoted Cast

The cast of the Pageant consists of volunteer performers who auditioned for their roles during the previous fall. They begin rehearsals just a few weeks before opening night.

What you see on stage is the result of hundreds of cast members generously giving many hours to express their love and gratitude for Jesus. We often refer to our cast members as “storytellers” and it truly is a beautiful process to watch them recreate the most intimate moments of the Savior’s life on a grand scale.

Behind the Scenes

Behind the scenes, the pageant is supported by a small army of volunteers whose collective contributions are essential to its successful presentation.

Thousands of volunteer hours go into producing the Mesa Easter Pageant. Visitors will be amazed by the cast of more than 400 volunteers who practice for weeks leading up to the pageant. What visitors will not see are the committees of volunteers who function separately behind the scenes and then bring their efforts into a beautifully unified effort to produce the pageant.

These include:

The creative directors who hold auditions, determine placement and movement of the cast on the stage, and work with choreographers and all of the designers and technicians to put together the beautiful, visual presentation.
The Costume Committee who begin making and altering hundreds of individual costumes in August of each year and finish in May.
The Makeup Committee who provide and apply beards, mustaches, and makeup for the huge cast.
The Stage Production Crew (small and large props) who spend countless hours building, assembling, and painting props and the stage for each year’s production and then maneuver silently around the stage each night placing props and scenery in their designed locations.
The Frontline Crew who provide order to parking, cleaning, and safety.
The Security Crew who provide security for everyone on, in front of and behind the stage.
The Host Committee who arrive early to welcome people to the Pageant and help people find available seats.
The Spanish Translation Team who provide live translation of the Pageant and hand out hundreds of headsets each night.
The ASL Team who provide ASL services for the hearing impaired.
The Lighting and Sound Crew who make the Pageant look and sound fantastic at each and every performance.

Suffice it to say, this amazing pageant could not go on without these consecrated and dedicated volunteers.

The History

In 1938, a group of young men and women from Mesa hosted a statewide convention for Easter weekend. The culminating event of this festive conference was an Easter Sunrise Service on the grounds of the Mesa Temple.

From that time on, the Sunrise Service became an annual event and a beloved community tradition, moving from sunrise to an evening production in 1977. It is now recognized as the largest annual outdoor Easter pageant in the world, drawing as many as 100,000 attendees in the two weeks leading up to Easter Sunday.

The Pageant Today

As a gift to our community, the Easter Pageant is an important reminder that there is more that unites us than divides us. We are all brothers and sisters in need of a Savior. The pageant gives us an opportunity to acknowledge together as a community that He is the way, the truth, the life and the light and that His great love extends to all of us, no matter what our religious affiliation, race, culture or economic circumstance might be.

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

— John 15:12-13

Scenes & Musical Numbers

The full lyrics and dialogue can be found on the Mesa Easter Pageant website here.

IN THE BEGINNING

John 1:1,4

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

“In the Beginning”

John, Peter, John the Baptist, Mary Magdalene, Daughter of Jairus, Woman of Faith, Woman Who Loved Much, Simon the Pharisee, Angels

ANNUNCIATION - Nazareth

Luke 1:26-27

“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.”

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
Be it unto me according to thy word.”

Young Mary, Joseph, Angel Gabriel

BIRTH - Bethlehem

Luke 2:4-6

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.”

“The light shineth in the darkness
And the darkness shall not overcome it.”

Young Mary, Joseph, Bethlehem Innkeepers, Ensemble, Angels

THE SHEPHERDS - Bethlehem

Luke 2:8-9

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them…”

“Gloria (At the Birth)”

“The Manger of Bethlehem”

“And the star rains its fire
While the beautiful sing
For the manger of Bethlehem
Cradles a King.”

Shepherd Father, Shepherd Boy, Shepherds, Wisemen and Followers, Angels

JOHN THE BAPTIST - River Jordan

Matthew 3:13-14

“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?”

“God So Loved the World”

“God so loved the world that He gave His Son…”

John the Baptist, Baptized Disciple, Jesus, Simon the Pharisee, Pharisees, Disciples

CALLING OF APOSTLES - Sea of Galilee

Matthew 4:19

“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

“Come Unto Him”

“I kneel upon the grass and pray;
An answer comes without a voice,
It takes my burden all away
And bids my aching heart to sing: Rejoice!”

Andrew, Peter, Jesus, James, John, Apostles

THE STORM - Sea of Galilee

Matthew 14:22,24

“And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves.”

“It matters not what may befall,
What threatening hand hangs over me;
He is my rampart through it all,
My refuge from mine enemy.”

Apostles, Jesus, Multitude

THE MAN BORN BLIND - Pool of Siloam, Jerusalem

John 9:1

“And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.”

Jesus, Peter, James, John, Blind Man

THE POOL OF BETHESDA - Jerusalem

John 5:2-4

“Now there is at Jerusalem a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.”

Infirm Woman, Kin to Infirm Woman, Lame Man, Jesus, Apostles, Caiaphas, Pharisees

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

Luke 10:30

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.”

“God Is Love”

“There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in his justice,
Far more kind than we dare dream.”

Jesus, Lawyer, Beaten Man, Levite, Priest, Samaritan, Innkeepers, Apostles, Disciples, Blind Man

MIRACLES - Capernaum

Luke 8:1

“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him.”

“Healing”

“But he,
He knows,
He must know,
For he casteth no one aside…”

“He Loves Me Too”

“He who sees the little sparrow,
Though she's small like me and you,
How he loves that little sparrow!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And I know he loves me too.”

Jesus, Jairus, Woman of Faith, Apostles, Kin to Jairus, Child Soloist, Wife of Jairus, Daughter of Jairus, Disciples

JESUS AND THE CHILDREN

Mark 10:14

“Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”

Jesus, Child Soloist, Children, Disciples

THE PHARISEES AND THE BLIND MAN - Jerusalem

John 9:8

“The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?”

Blind Man, Ruth, Ruth’s Friend, Caiaphas, Simon the Pharisee, Pharisees

THE WOMAN WHO LOVED MUCH - Home of Simon the Pharisee, Jerusalem

Luke 7:37

“And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.”

“God is Love (reprise)”

“For the love of God is broader
Than the measures of man's mind,
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderful and kind…”

Woman Who Loved Much, Simon the Pharisee, Jesus, Pharisees, Judas, Apostles

JUDAS’ BETRAYAL - Jerusalem

Matthew 26:14-15

“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?”

Caiaphas, Pharisees, Judas

WILL YE ALSO GO AWAY?

John 6:66-67

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?”

Jesus, Apostles

TRIUMPHAL ENTRY - Jerusalem

Luke 19:37

“And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;”

“Hosanna (Thy Savior Hath Come)”

“Hosanna! Hosanna! Thy Savior hath come,
O Israel, and blessed He’ll ever be called!
Hosanna! Hosanna! Sing praises to God,
For our Hope, our Deliv’rer, our All!”

Triumphal Entry Woman, Lame Man, Jesus, Blind Man, Caiaphas, Multitude

THE LAST SUPPER - Upper Room, Jerusalem

Matthew 26:18-19

“And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.”

“God Is Love (reprise)”

“God is Love: and he enfoldeth
All the world in one embrace;
With unfailing grasp he holdeth
Every child of every race.”

Jesus, Apostles

GETHSEMANE - Mount of Olives

Matthew 26:36

“Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.”

“Gethsemane”

Jesus, Apostles, Judas, Caiaphas, Pharisees, Mob, Mary the Mother of Jesus, John

TRIAL - Jerusalem

John 18:28-29

“Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?”

“Is This Not Enough?”

“Enough! Is this not enough?
Oh Lord, my God, have mercy on my son!
Has not thy will in this been done?”

Pilate, Jesus, Caiaphas, Pharisees, Mary the Mother of Jesus, John, Roman Soldiers, Mob

CRUCIFIXION - Golgotha

John 19:17-18

“And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: where they crucified him…”

“O Lord, when is it enough?
My breaking heart,
Though pierced and torn within,
I’ll keep my vigil here with him.”

Jesus, Mary the Mother of Jesus, Mary Magdalene, John, Thieves, Mourners

RESURRECTION - Garden Tomb / Upper Room, Jerusalem

John 20:1

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.”

“Gloria (My Savior Lives)”

“Lift up your eyes,
Look for the morning,
Wait, for the darkness is only the night!”

Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, Jesus, Angels, Apostles, Disciples

FINALE

Matthew 28:20

“And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world..”

“Finale (Come Unto Him)”

“Come unto him all ye depressed,
Ye erring souls whose eyes are dim,
Ye weary ones who long for rest.
Come unto him! Come unto him!”

Jesus, Angels, Ensemble

Creative Team

The creative team of the Pageant consists of volunteer artists, technicians, craftspeople, and professionals. All are volunteers and have devoted hundreds of hours and lifetimes of expertise to making this spectacular Easter tradition inspiring, entertaining, memorable and safe.

    
            Role
            Person

Cast

The cast of the Pageant consists of volunteer performers who auditioned for their roles and consists of both individuals and entire families. All have dedicated their time and talent as an expression of their love and gratitude for Jesus.

Listed in order of appearance

    
            Role
            Actor

Angels

Dancers

Multitude

Crew

Behind the scenes, the Pageant is supported by a small army of volunteers whose collective contributions are essential to its successful presentation. This includes designers, sewists, stylists, makeup artists, carpenters, interpreters, security and more. All volunteers and all dedicated to using their skill, craft and talent to share the wonderful story and message of Easter.

    
            Position
            Name

Soundtrack

The soundtrack to “Jesus the Christ: the Mesa Easter Pageant “ was recorded across continents in early 2022. First the the renowned London Symphony Orchestra recorded the score at LSO St. Luke’s in London. Then came a day-long session with the Spire Chorus at the beautiful Camelback Bible Church in Phoenix, AZ. Finally, the children’s chorus and actors were recorded at Talmage Studios in Gilbert AZ. The resulting soundtrack features lush orchestration and powerful choral and vocal performances that elevate the Pageant’s dramatic retelling of Christ’s life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection.

The full Pageant soundtrack Jesus the Christ: the Mesa Easter Pageant is available to stream on all major music streaming services.