CASTLE DALE, Utah — The Castle Valley Pageant is best known for being performed in an authentic pioneer-like setting with log cabins, a dugout, Indian tepees, rock buildings and live animals where true stories of the valley's settling are portrayed.
Four new families joined the cast as pioneers this year.
Unique to the Castle Valley Pageant are the 32 horses, one donkey and one milk cow, which are considered cast members.
During one of the performances it was discovered at the last minute that a horse could not be hitched to a wagon because of a broken part on the wagon. The two young cast members had to make a quick decision. After considering several possibilities, Rhett Swasey, a recently returned missionary, flung his sister, Alexis, onto the horse. He then carefully led the horse into the spotlights and down the hill without the audience detecting the improvisation.
The 2005 pageant was led by a new presidency of Mark Justice, president; Bryant Anderson, first counselor; and Jay Howell, second counselor. Ron Sanders directed the pageant for his second year.
Improvements to the hillside stage include excavation of the backstage area and the leveling of a section for corrals where draft horses are stabled.
