A musical celebration, Our Story Goes On, was recently performed for a large and enthusiastic crowd as a gift to the local community in Dublin, Ireland at the Dublin Ireland Stake (diocese) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
“This is a celebration of family life that chronicles the key events and emotions that connect us all through the familiar songs from the musicals,” says Terry McKenna, the Church’s National Communication Director for Ireland. It was performed by volunteers throughout the UK and Ireland including some members of the British Pageant, the musical celebration about early British and Irish Latter-day Saints.
Our Story Goes On originated in the USA and was part of a ‘Sunday sociable’ that the cast of the Nauvoo pageant would take on tour to the communities of the Midwest to meet and invite people to visit historical Nauvoo, Illinois.
Working with musical theatre graduates from Brigham Young University, USA, the original script was written by a cultural arts team at Church offices in Utah.
For the British/Irish audience, the music and script have been adapted with the inclusion of some contemporary pieces such as ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and the concluding instrumental number, ‘Danny Boy.’
The cast and leadership team are volunteers with many of them involved as performers or with the creative leadership teams for the British Pageant. Derek Black, Denise O'Farrell and Isaac Johns are three Irish Latter-day Saints in the 2023 Pageant core cast. Denise O’Farrell is also involved with Our Story Goes On along with Jake Munday and Leah Lynch.
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- Denise-OFarrell,-cast-member-of-Our-Story-Goes-On-in-Dublin,-Ireland
- Cast-of-Our-Story-Goes-On-in-Dublin,-Ireland
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Rachael Pratt from Limerick is the Production Manager for the British Pageant as well as producer/director for Our Story Goes On with co-director Charly Burridge-Jones.
Reflecting on her experience in Ireland with the musical presentation, Charly Burridge-Jones said, “It was amazing. I was blown away by the joyful welcome given to us by the diverse Irish audience.”
Though volunteering means travelling, giving up full weekends, and lengthy rehearsals, the cast and production members willingly give of their time and means. “They do this,” says Terry McKenna, “because they love the arts and the message of hope Our Story Goes On portrays.”