How I Lead in the Nauvoo Pageant | An Interview with Cynthia Collier and Amy Robinson

Cynthia Collier grew up in Salt Lake City in a family that enjoyed
the performing arts. She studied philosophy, English, and music at
Brigham Young University, and has taught music and theater in
schools. Over the past 25 years she has been involved in writing
and directing live productions for the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, including Savior of the World at the Conference
Center Theater in Salt Lake City, and the Nauvoo and British
pageants in Nauvoo, Illinois. She has served in the Church as a
teacher, in various music callings, and in presidencies in wards
and stakes. She most recently served with her husband as a branch
minister at the University of Utah and Huntsman Hospitals in Salt
Lake City. She is married to Eric Collier and is a mother and
grandmother. Amy Robinson graduated from Brigham Young University
in Humanities and Modern dance, and was thrilled to be part of the
BYU International Folk dance team and Modern Dance team. She
believes her greatest educational opportunities came from touring
with those companies to many amazing places including China, India,
and Europe. This may be where she gained her nomadic spirit—she and
her husband Nathan have moved 27 times in 20 years of marriage! In
London, England, in 2013, Amy had the opportunity to create the
choreography for the first British Pageant. It was a life-changing
experience to see the miracles that came to the participants of
that show and audience. In 2015, Amy enjoyed helping set the
British pageant on the Nauvoo stage and returned to help family
casts learn choreography for the pageants in 2022 and 2024. She
considers it her dream job to "move with joy" with the casts in
England and then Nauvoo. Amy has also been part of the Arts in
Education program in Utah through Tanner Dance, teaching dancers of
all ages in elementary schools, and teaches folk dance at American
Heritage School in Salt Lake City. Amy and Nathan are the parents
of six children and her greatest joy is time spent with
them—dancing in the kitchen and singing in the car—and serving in
the Church, especially with youth and children. Links Share your
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14-day access to the Core Leader Library Highlights This episode
focuses on the leadership and organization behind the Nauvoo
Pageant, highlighting the unique structure of the pageant, which
features a rotating cast of family participants who rehearse for a
week and perform the following week, allowing for a diverse range
of individuals to engage in the production. Cynthia and Amy
emphasize the importance of creating a joyful and supportive
environment for participants, many of whom arrive feeling nervous
and unsure of their abilities. The leadership style of the pageant
focuses on fostering a sense of community and collaboration, where
mistakes are seen as opportunities for growth rather than failures.
They share inspiring stories of participants who have experienced
personal miracles during their time in the pageant, illustrating
the transformative power of faith and community. They also discuss
the significance of teaching children and families to embrace the
unpredictability of performances, highlighting the importance of
love and acceptance in the rehearsal process. As the conversation
progresses, they share valuable leadership principles, such as the
"good fruit principle," which encourages individuals to focus on
sharing positivity and blessings rather than complaints. This
principle has been instrumental in creating a spirit of Zion among
participants and volunteers. The episode concludes with practical
advice for primary presidencies and leaders in church settings,
emphasizing the need for patience, understanding, and a focus on
the greater purpose of building relationships and fostering joy
within the community. 07:29 - Guest Introductions: Amy Robinson
10:11 - Guest Introductions: Cynthia Collier