BYU-Idaho’s Theater Department is performing the play “As it is in Heaven.”
Jennie Pardoe, a BYU-Idaho Theater Department faculty member, is directing the show. This is the third play she is directing at BYU-Idaho.
Pardoe became interested in theater in 5th grade. She didn’t want to go home and clean her room one day after school, so she decided to go to auditions for her school play instead. She was shy as a kid, and surprisingly got a lead role. She now works at BYU-Idaho.
“As it is in Heaven” is about a Shaker community in 1830. It includes an all women cast and explores the concept of receiving revelation from heaven. In the play, a woman questions her faith when she doesn’t receive revelations when other women are receiving them.
Pardoe hopes the audience learns you don’t have to reach a certain level in this world in order to receive revelation. She also hopes they understand the gift of being simple.
“The gift of being simple is the gift of not worrying, of not overthinking, of all of your actions leading towards something,” Pardoe said. “True simplicity means – not being plain or boring – but instead it means being purpose driven.”
Pardoe has spent time preparing by studying about the Shakers and by preparing herself spiritually. The cast incorporated a warm-up based on Shaker traditions such as singing a hymn at the beginning of every rehearsal and “holding each other in Christ.” As the cast practices “holding each other in Christ,” they take a moment of silence and try to feel the love of God for the people in the room.
“We take that moment at the beginning of every rehearsal and quietly think about each other and feel Heavenly Father's love for each other, which is a bonding experience. It also helps create the spirit in the rehearsal space that we need,” Pardoe said.
“As It is in Heaven” has its opening night on Feb. 15 and runs through Feb. 25. To buy tickets, visit: www.byui.edu/tickets.