Here in Nauvoo a fireside or devotional is called a sociable. Every year the YPM's are called upon to prepare and deliver a sociable usually in July. This can be on any subject and is usually an hour long. It is another item on the checklist of things we don't have time for. For example the Young Single Sister Missionaries or YSM's plan and rehearse almost every night for two months in preparation for their sociable. Its a big deal out here.
This year we were assigned the 25th of July and Sister Camp was, as usual, all over it. She spent 2 weeks prayerfully preparing the script. This was after discussions with the YPM's on what they thought was the most important thing they had learned here so far. Unanimously the YPM's selected the theme of what it meant to be part of a Zion community. They had great thoughts and Ideas as to what it was to create and maintain a community of one. It was truly wonderful to hear their perspectives. S/Camp put together a terrific program utilizing all aspects of a the YPM's call mixing choral, solo, instrumental and the spoken word all together into a very spiritual message. Because of the heat we made the decision to move the program from the outdoor stage which seats 850 to the West Theater which only seats 240. This may seem like a trivial thing but at last year's YPM sociable we had over a 1000 people attend. With this in mind we scheduled 2 shows hoping that would suffice.
We had a whole 4 hours to block and rehearse before the performance on Sunday night, there was no other time to do it. The YPM's came prepared with most everything memorized and ready to work. In 5 hours (they sacrificed part of their dinner time) we blocked, rehearsed and set lights for the show then we turned over to the Lord.
I will just say this. The Lord blessed us. I have never been to anything more spiritual in my life. The Spirit was so strong and not once but twice. The Spirit stayed for both presentations as the YPM's bore the purest of testimonies.
Once again Nauvoo is showing itself as the best place on earth. What a privilege and honor it is to be serving here in this sacred and holy place.
E/Camp
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
100th Show
Today marks the 100th performances of two of our. Just Plain Anna Amanda our children's show and High Hopes and River Boats, our main-stage musical. All the stage YPM's perform in both shows of High Hopes 6 days a week. Both shows of Just Plain Anna Amanda are performed by either A or B cast. Is this just confusing or what? Don't get me started. Hard to believe we are winding down this summer season and hard to believe that we are wrapping up our second summer in Nauvoo.
I love this place and I love this people.
Sister Camp and I are waiting for family and friends that are coming to visit us here in the final remaining weeks. Now we will have to clean this house some time in the next few days. Ugh!
Well off to start another day in hot, humid and wonderful day.
I love this place and I love this people.
Sister Camp and I are waiting for family and friends that are coming to visit us here in the final remaining weeks. Now we will have to clean this house some time in the next few days. Ugh!
Well off to start another day in hot, humid and wonderful day.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Happy Fourth of July
Greetings from dear old Nauvoo.
It was as usual a wild and hectic week and this one proves to be no different. The YPM's haave for the last week and half spent 45 minutes in the morning learning the dance routines they will need to know for the Nauvoo Pageant. Tonight is final dress and they will add another show during their already packed day. After Sunset by the Mississippi is over at 8:00pm they will take 10 minutes to change wardrobe and then report to the Pageant site to visit with the guests for the 20 minutes before showtime at 8:30.They then dance int two of the larger production numbers and leave for home around 9:30pm to go to bed.
Meanwhile the band leaves early from Sunset to play over at the pageant for about 20 minutes after which open the show with the National anthem and then head home for the night at at around 8:45pm.
I can't begin to tell you how much I love this place and how much I enjoy and LOVE these young missionaries. They are amazing and teach me so much. They I am sure "old friends", brothers and sisters that S/Camp and I associated with in the pre-mortal life. Their spirits are so familiar to us.
The 4th here in Navoo is like any other day here with shows and band concerts as normal. Just a few more people in town in fact all the tickets for every show are gone. Full houses=good times for all.
I hope you all have a great holiday and know that the Camp's are well and very very tired.(but it is a good tired!)
Life is grand, the church is true and we love this little town called Nauvoo.
It was as usual a wild and hectic week and this one proves to be no different. The YPM's haave for the last week and half spent 45 minutes in the morning learning the dance routines they will need to know for the Nauvoo Pageant. Tonight is final dress and they will add another show during their already packed day. After Sunset by the Mississippi is over at 8:00pm they will take 10 minutes to change wardrobe and then report to the Pageant site to visit with the guests for the 20 minutes before showtime at 8:30.They then dance int two of the larger production numbers and leave for home around 9:30pm to go to bed.
Meanwhile the band leaves early from Sunset to play over at the pageant for about 20 minutes after which open the show with the National anthem and then head home for the night at at around 8:45pm.
I can't begin to tell you how much I love this place and how much I enjoy and LOVE these young missionaries. They are amazing and teach me so much. They I am sure "old friends", brothers and sisters that S/Camp and I associated with in the pre-mortal life. Their spirits are so familiar to us.
The 4th here in Navoo is like any other day here with shows and band concerts as normal. Just a few more people in town in fact all the tickets for every show are gone. Full houses=good times for all.
I hope you all have a great holiday and know that the Camp's are well and very very tired.(but it is a good tired!)
Life is grand, the church is true and we love this little town called Nauvoo.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Maintenance Mode?
Right now as I write this the Stage YPM's are performing their 39th performance of High Hopes and Riverboats. This is their first of 2 shows today. Half of this cast has already completed 2 shows of Just Plain Anna Amanda while the other half served as site missionaries. The energy expended here is amazing and Sister Camp and I just try to keep up. I am usually watching the shows and taking notes but we have a sold out house and their is no seat left for me to occupy.
The Band YPM's are by no means slackers here in Nauvoo. Elder and Sister Brague are responsible for the band. Elder Brague is the director and he has the Band doing some great things this year. They travel around Nauvoo during the day aboard a horse drawn wagon playing mini concerts as the go at various stops. They are really fun to watch and sound terrific. The Band also plays for Sunset by the Mississippi which is about the only time during the day both Stage and band get to perform together. They do this show along side the Senior missionaries and its really fun to watch.
I have already tested the YPM's with "minor changes". After the first week Sister Camp and I did not like the way the scenes were ordered in the second half of the show. So we changed it. The cast took it in stride and did not miss a beat. I would not of dared do that anywhere else but here. These young people know they can do anything asked of them here. They know they have additional spiritual help and they are not afraid to use it. In doing so they recognize that their talents have been given to them by a loving Father and they are exited to share it. They do it every single day here and they are truly inspiring to watch.
Well must be off...Thanks for all of your support and prayers in our behalf, we need it.
The Band YPM's are by no means slackers here in Nauvoo. Elder and Sister Brague are responsible for the band. Elder Brague is the director and he has the Band doing some great things this year. They travel around Nauvoo during the day aboard a horse drawn wagon playing mini concerts as the go at various stops. They are really fun to watch and sound terrific. The Band also plays for Sunset by the Mississippi which is about the only time during the day both Stage and band get to perform together. They do this show along side the Senior missionaries and its really fun to watch.
I have already tested the YPM's with "minor changes". After the first week Sister Camp and I did not like the way the scenes were ordered in the second half of the show. So we changed it. The cast took it in stride and did not miss a beat. I would not of dared do that anywhere else but here. These young people know they can do anything asked of them here. They know they have additional spiritual help and they are not afraid to use it. In doing so they recognize that their talents have been given to them by a loving Father and they are exited to share it. They do it every single day here and they are truly inspiring to watch.
Well must be off...Thanks for all of your support and prayers in our behalf, we need it.
Monday, May 30, 2011
We're Open
The shows are open. Saturday was the day and all went well. The Nauvoo Brass Band was on the wagon and filling the Nauvoo air with sweet sounds only they can play. The Stage Missionaries did two shows of Just Plain Anna Amanda with the Puppet show warm up, two shows of High Hopes and Riverboats, Sunset by the Mississippi and Jimmy and Marie. All in all a great day. It is a tough day for me because I enjoy the rehearsal process primarily because I get to spend 12-14 hours a day with such wonderful Elders and Sisters. Now we begin the summer schedule and Sister Camp and I take take care of maintaining the quality of the shows. Its very easy for these young people to get complacent and we strive to inspire and keep things fresh. Still loving Nauvoo and these wonderful young people.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
The Camps’ Nauvoo mission so far, by the numbers:
· 2000 miles added to the car’s odometer
· Two moves of apartments
· 40 Young Performing Missionaries, coming from 25+ states in the U.S.
· 11 full days of 14-hour rehearsals
· 28 vocal musical numbers harmonized
· 15 choreographed show numbers perfected
· A gazillion lines memorized
· Four musical shows blocked, rehearsed and close to performance-ready
· 25 band musical numbers memorized (at least) and another 20 performance ready
· Choreography and stage movement taught to more than 200 senior missionaries on the outdoor stage
· Two tours of the Carthage jail
· 3 testimony meetings
· 1 group wagon and 1 carriage ride
· Three district meetings (so far…)
· 15 haircuts for elders
· Two evening sociable (firesides)
· One ice cream sociable
· BBQ lunch with the mission president and his wife
· Shopping excursions in Keokuk
· 26 musical instruments
· 100+ props, benches and set pieces identified, repaired/built
· 64 show dresses
· 20 show pants hemmed
· 20 pair of suspenders buttoned up
· 26 white men’s show shirts unpicked and modified
· 60 additional show shirts fitted and pressed
· 17 band vests constructed and fitted
· 60+ show hats and bonnets repaired, cleaned and fitted
· Tons of petticoats, bloomers, suspenders, and dress shields
No wonder we’re exhausted!
But what a ride! These are among the best young people we’ve every had the privilege to work with – they are focused, dedicated, humble, and willing to work incredibly hard, both as performers and as missionaries. The only concern I’ve heard from any of them is how they can find time for personal and companion study when their days start at 8am and end at 10pm…
Tomorrow we finish blocking the last couple of scenes; the stage YPMs are supposed to be out of book tomorrow (have all their lines memorized for all four shows)…nothing short of miraculous when one considers they only started rehearsing their lines 10 days ago... This could never happen anywhere but in Nauvoo – these missionaries are sustained and quickened in very obvious and tangible ways – it’s very humbling to witness.
· 2000 miles added to the car’s odometer
· Two moves of apartments
· 40 Young Performing Missionaries, coming from 25+ states in the U.S.
· 11 full days of 14-hour rehearsals
· 28 vocal musical numbers harmonized
· 15 choreographed show numbers perfected
· A gazillion lines memorized
· Four musical shows blocked, rehearsed and close to performance-ready
· 25 band musical numbers memorized (at least) and another 20 performance ready
· Choreography and stage movement taught to more than 200 senior missionaries on the outdoor stage
· Two tours of the Carthage jail
· 3 testimony meetings
· 1 group wagon and 1 carriage ride
· Three district meetings (so far…)
· 15 haircuts for elders
· Two evening sociable (firesides)
· One ice cream sociable
· BBQ lunch with the mission president and his wife
· Shopping excursions in Keokuk
· 26 musical instruments
· 100+ props, benches and set pieces identified, repaired/built
· 64 show dresses
· 20 show pants hemmed
· 20 pair of suspenders buttoned up
· 26 white men’s show shirts unpicked and modified
· 60 additional show shirts fitted and pressed
· 17 band vests constructed and fitted
· 60+ show hats and bonnets repaired, cleaned and fitted
· Tons of petticoats, bloomers, suspenders, and dress shields
No wonder we’re exhausted!
But what a ride! These are among the best young people we’ve every had the privilege to work with – they are focused, dedicated, humble, and willing to work incredibly hard, both as performers and as missionaries. The only concern I’ve heard from any of them is how they can find time for personal and companion study when their days start at 8am and end at 10pm…
Tomorrow we finish blocking the last couple of scenes; the stage YPMs are supposed to be out of book tomorrow (have all their lines memorized for all four shows)…nothing short of miraculous when one considers they only started rehearsing their lines 10 days ago... This could never happen anywhere but in Nauvoo – these missionaries are sustained and quickened in very obvious and tangible ways – it’s very humbling to witness.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!
Well all the YPM"s arrived on May 6th and as usual all heck has broken loose. Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse is the name of the game with the stage YPM's rehearsing from 8:30am until 10:00pm most every night. That includes Sunday. What this means is that I am directing 5 shows in a very intense and grueling schedule. We all are exhausted. Chante Stutzneger is working on the clogging right now which gives me the brief opportunity to update the blog.
The YPM's this year are great. They are every one beautiful and talented and their faith and testimonies are incredible. S/Camp and I are in love with each and everyone. Both band and stage are utilizing their status as Missionaries and working very hard with a smile on their faces. We should be ready for opening day at the current rate. I'll now more tomorrow, it's their first day out of book. Usually the most painful of days...
Gotta run, I'm being called back to rehearsal.
The YPM's this year are great. They are every one beautiful and talented and their faith and testimonies are incredible. S/Camp and I are in love with each and everyone. Both band and stage are utilizing their status as Missionaries and working very hard with a smile on their faces. We should be ready for opening day at the current rate. I'll now more tomorrow, it's their first day out of book. Usually the most painful of days...
Gotta run, I'm being called back to rehearsal.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Waiting for the Bragues
Today we are waiting for the band director and his wife to arrive in their truck pulling a trailer. They are the brave ones this summer living out of fifth wheel for three and a half months. Not sure on their arrival time and they seem to be incommunicado at the moment.
As promised, I will give you some sort of idea how it all happens both before and after we arrive in Nauvoo. Sister Camp and I are called as the Executive Directors of Nauvoo Productions. This entails all the entertainment that goes on here during the summer except for the pageant. We are responsible for 5 shows and of those 5 one runs year round and is cast from the senior sisters and couples that are called to Nauvoo. That's right if you accept a mission call here, regardless of what it is you are required to be in Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo and Sunset by the Mississippi. Sunset runs in the summer months and the performers are both seniors and the YPM's.
The Young Performing Missionaries audition in the fall by DVD and we receive on average around 225 applications. Of that amount, all but 20 are women. Male performers are a rare and because of that the bar for the 200 women gets set very high. Out of all those applications, we select 40 (20 women and 20 men, if we have that many) to come to a call back audition held at the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Salt Lake the first Saturday in January. There the candidates will spend an entire day singing and dancing as soloists and in small groups. It's an exhausting day for all but spiritual and fun. From that 40 we select 10 men and 10 women to go to Nauvoo. I learned very early on that the Lord selects these young people. It is a truly an amazing and wonderful process to witness and be a part of. The 40 are then called as Service Missionaries for Nauvoo productions. They report to the Mission President and he treats them as full time missionaries companions and all. It is a very unique call to serve here for they are expected to live mission rules except while they are on stage where their allowed to dance and interact with the opposite sex. Once they leave the stage they are at arms length again and living mission rules.
The average day for a YPM in Nauvoo starts at 6:00am for personal prep time. By 7:00 they should be in companionship study. At 8:00 they attend the Mission prep meeting either at the Nauvoo visitor center of the Culteral hall. 8:15am they seperate into their "A" and "B" casts, one going Culteral hall to get ready for the Puppet show and Just Plain Anna Amanda. The puppet show is actually a 15 minute pre-show for JPAA which lasts about 35 minutes. They will do two 45 minute shows with their lunch break in between. The other cast reports to their assignments at the various historical sites in Nauvoo where they work side by side with the senior missionary couple and sisters. This is a wonderful opportunity for both these groups to get to know each other and it is really impressive the bond that created during this time. At 2:00pm both casts report to the Visitor Center where they prepare for two shows of High Hopes and river Boats. This show is a high energy full blown musical production that runs for about an hour. with about 30 minutes between shows. Directly after the second show of HHRB the YPM's go home to change and have dinner. They will then report to the outdoor stage just west of the Visitor Center for Sunset by the Mississippi. This is a one hour long variety style show done with all the senior missionaries. After this show they are sent home to go to bed. That is until July when the pageant comes to town. The YPM's perform as core dancers in the pageant during July and go from Sunset to the pageant stage and then home ending their day at around 10:00pm. It is to say the least exhausting.
These young people do not get a head start on the script or the music. Casting isn't done until they arrive in Nauvoo. They get a first look at the scripts on the bus ride from the airport this Friday May 6. They will then be in rehearsals everyday from 8:00am until 10:00pm. On Saturday May 28, our shows open to the Memorial day crowds and will continue 6 days a week until August 16. Three and a half months of intense performances living as missionaries and receiving all the blessings they can possibly handle for it is only in Nauvoo that this could happen. Life changing is an understatement for these young people and it is truly a blessing and privilege to witness and be a part of.
In the next couple of days I will cover the band and our terrific tech YPM's
Take care and God bless,
Elder Camp
As promised, I will give you some sort of idea how it all happens both before and after we arrive in Nauvoo. Sister Camp and I are called as the Executive Directors of Nauvoo Productions. This entails all the entertainment that goes on here during the summer except for the pageant. We are responsible for 5 shows and of those 5 one runs year round and is cast from the senior sisters and couples that are called to Nauvoo. That's right if you accept a mission call here, regardless of what it is you are required to be in Rendezvous in Old Nauvoo and Sunset by the Mississippi. Sunset runs in the summer months and the performers are both seniors and the YPM's.
The Young Performing Missionaries audition in the fall by DVD and we receive on average around 225 applications. Of that amount, all but 20 are women. Male performers are a rare and because of that the bar for the 200 women gets set very high. Out of all those applications, we select 40 (20 women and 20 men, if we have that many) to come to a call back audition held at the Joseph Smith Memorial building in Salt Lake the first Saturday in January. There the candidates will spend an entire day singing and dancing as soloists and in small groups. It's an exhausting day for all but spiritual and fun. From that 40 we select 10 men and 10 women to go to Nauvoo. I learned very early on that the Lord selects these young people. It is a truly an amazing and wonderful process to witness and be a part of. The 40 are then called as Service Missionaries for Nauvoo productions. They report to the Mission President and he treats them as full time missionaries companions and all. It is a very unique call to serve here for they are expected to live mission rules except while they are on stage where their allowed to dance and interact with the opposite sex. Once they leave the stage they are at arms length again and living mission rules.
The average day for a YPM in Nauvoo starts at 6:00am for personal prep time. By 7:00 they should be in companionship study. At 8:00 they attend the Mission prep meeting either at the Nauvoo visitor center of the Culteral hall. 8:15am they seperate into their "A" and "B" casts, one going Culteral hall to get ready for the Puppet show and Just Plain Anna Amanda. The puppet show is actually a 15 minute pre-show for JPAA which lasts about 35 minutes. They will do two 45 minute shows with their lunch break in between. The other cast reports to their assignments at the various historical sites in Nauvoo where they work side by side with the senior missionary couple and sisters. This is a wonderful opportunity for both these groups to get to know each other and it is really impressive the bond that created during this time. At 2:00pm both casts report to the Visitor Center where they prepare for two shows of High Hopes and river Boats. This show is a high energy full blown musical production that runs for about an hour. with about 30 minutes between shows. Directly after the second show of HHRB the YPM's go home to change and have dinner. They will then report to the outdoor stage just west of the Visitor Center for Sunset by the Mississippi. This is a one hour long variety style show done with all the senior missionaries. After this show they are sent home to go to bed. That is until July when the pageant comes to town. The YPM's perform as core dancers in the pageant during July and go from Sunset to the pageant stage and then home ending their day at around 10:00pm. It is to say the least exhausting.
These young people do not get a head start on the script or the music. Casting isn't done until they arrive in Nauvoo. They get a first look at the scripts on the bus ride from the airport this Friday May 6. They will then be in rehearsals everyday from 8:00am until 10:00pm. On Saturday May 28, our shows open to the Memorial day crowds and will continue 6 days a week until August 16. Three and a half months of intense performances living as missionaries and receiving all the blessings they can possibly handle for it is only in Nauvoo that this could happen. Life changing is an understatement for these young people and it is truly a blessing and privilege to witness and be a part of.
In the next couple of days I will cover the band and our terrific tech YPM's
Take care and God bless,
Elder Camp
Monday, May 2, 2011
Monday 5/2
I'm here. Nauvoo is green and cool. I arrived Friday after a delightful little plane ride from St. Louis to Quincy Ill. A little Cessna 280 (two piston engines, 8 passenger plane) flew me and 5 others at an altitude of 6000 feet and a blistering speed of 220 knots. Great ride for an aviation buff. You can watch the pilots fly the plane and enjoy the great scenery.
Upon arrival at Quincy, I was warmly greeted by President and Sister Ludwig. They were gracious enough to transpor me the 47 miles to Nauvoo and home for the next 3 months. We had a delightful chat as we drove and got caught up on everything that has transpired in our lives since we last saw each other in January. I love the Ludwig's and am sorry that this will be their last summer here in Nauvoo.
Upon arrival, my first task was to move us from our apartment to our new place. We have been living up on the hill at the Cambry house which is only a half a block from the Nauvoo temple. Pretty sweet view. Because the band sisters number 12 and our tech missionaries are Sisters this year. And because our apartment has two bedrooms and is attached to the band house we had no choice but to vacate and move to make room for the additional sisters. We now have a house down on the flats. It is the Samuel Smith home built sometime in the mid 1840's and comes with all the creeks and groans that are part of living in an old house. I love it, it reminds me of the house I grew up in, in Salt Lake.
Bill and Debbie Murset have arrived from Arizona. They are this years YPM Coordinators and they are terrific people. The YPM's are going to love them. The three of us spent the morning with Sister Light going through and inspecting all of the houses that the YPM's will be staying in this summer. The houses have never looked better. Sister Light and the folks at NRI have done an outstanding job.
Tonight I am attending a performance of Rendezvous on Old Nauvoo. I will introduce myself to the new missionaries in this cast and give everyone a pep talk for the summer. The senior missionaries are wonderful and do such a fine job with this show but as soon as Friday hits all my attention will be on the YPM's and their shows for the summer.
Tomorrow or the next day I'll write about all of the shows and the casting and rehearsal process that happen all before the Memorial day weekend.
Until then take care and God bless,
Elder Camp
Upon arrival at Quincy, I was warmly greeted by President and Sister Ludwig. They were gracious enough to transpor me the 47 miles to Nauvoo and home for the next 3 months. We had a delightful chat as we drove and got caught up on everything that has transpired in our lives since we last saw each other in January. I love the Ludwig's and am sorry that this will be their last summer here in Nauvoo.
Upon arrival, my first task was to move us from our apartment to our new place. We have been living up on the hill at the Cambry house which is only a half a block from the Nauvoo temple. Pretty sweet view. Because the band sisters number 12 and our tech missionaries are Sisters this year. And because our apartment has two bedrooms and is attached to the band house we had no choice but to vacate and move to make room for the additional sisters. We now have a house down on the flats. It is the Samuel Smith home built sometime in the mid 1840's and comes with all the creeks and groans that are part of living in an old house. I love it, it reminds me of the house I grew up in, in Salt Lake.
Bill and Debbie Murset have arrived from Arizona. They are this years YPM Coordinators and they are terrific people. The YPM's are going to love them. The three of us spent the morning with Sister Light going through and inspecting all of the houses that the YPM's will be staying in this summer. The houses have never looked better. Sister Light and the folks at NRI have done an outstanding job.
Tonight I am attending a performance of Rendezvous on Old Nauvoo. I will introduce myself to the new missionaries in this cast and give everyone a pep talk for the summer. The senior missionaries are wonderful and do such a fine job with this show but as soon as Friday hits all my attention will be on the YPM's and their shows for the summer.
Tomorrow or the next day I'll write about all of the shows and the casting and rehearsal process that happen all before the Memorial day weekend.
Until then take care and God bless,
Elder Camp
Friday, April 29, 2011
Departure Day
I cannot believe it. I'm here at the airport waiting for my flight. Another season officially begins for me today. Sister Camp leaves next Friday. She has to stay in town for work (has to get the College of Humanities convocation going and then she can leave.)
We have a great bunch of young people going again this year. They really have no idea how hard they are going to work and they really have no idea just yet how much they are going to rely on the Lord to get them through this summer. It will be life changing experience.
Please feel free to comment on this blog and ask questions if you have any.
E. Camp
From my iPhone in Salt Lake City.
We have a great bunch of young people going again this year. They really have no idea how hard they are going to work and they really have no idea just yet how much they are going to rely on the Lord to get them through this summer. It will be life changing experience.
Please feel free to comment on this blog and ask questions if you have any.
E. Camp
From my iPhone in Salt Lake City.
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