Each year, people travel from throughout the world to Mesa Arizona to experience the beautiful and spirit-filled production of the world’s largest outdoor Easter pageant, entitled “Jesus The Christ”.
This 65 minute open-air pageant presents the life, ministry, and mission of Jesus Christ through music, dance, and drama on an impressive four-story multi-tiered stage which takes 3 weeks to assemble and is disassembled after each Easter season. The production is a work of love and tireless dedication by hundreds of unpaid volunteers. The cast comprises over 450 men, women and children who go through a highly competitive audition process all for the opportunity to participate as volunteers. The backstage crew also number in the hundreds, and are also all volunteer. Hosted by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on their Mesa Temple Grounds, this presentation is offered free to the public as a community celebration of Easter, designed for all religions, ages, and cultures. The pageant traces its humble beginnings from 1928, when it was a simple sunrise service performed on top of a cotton wagon. Today it is considered the largest annual outdoor Easter Pageant in the world.
“Jesus the Christ” is not a passion play focusing on the crucifixion, but rather a celebration of the resurrection of the Savior.
This video shows beautiful excerpts of the annual pageant and features interviews of cast members.
Latter-day Soprano 
I’m in Utah visiting until after the Conf. Week. I will miss seeing the Easter Pageant and hope all my Arizona Children and Grand-Children will take the opportunity to go and feel the spirit. Since my children were very small we had made the Sat. before Easter when we did all the basket of goodies and egg hunts and then when they woke up on Easter Sunday they were then focused on the Savior.
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What a lovely tradition! I hope I can see this pageant someday in person.
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I traveled to Mesa to see this wonderful pageant and it really touched my heart. I have seen it many times over, and each time I am taught something new. Thanks to all those who through their endeavors bring this emotional and wonderful pageant to us. I can just imagine the number of hours dedicated to such an awesome production.
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