North Platte Post /Curtis Easter Pageant
CURTIS — For over 60 years, the Curtis Easter Pageant has been a annual event held at Medicine Valley High School in Curtis on Palm Sunday. Curtis is Nebraska's official Easter City after all, a designation in 1981 from the Nebraska legislature and then Nebraska Governor Charles Throne. The Living Picture Easter Pageant is this Sunday at 3pm at Medicine Valley High School gymnasium.
(Below is a photo of practice from 2022)
The first community Easter Pageant in Curtis was presented on April 4, 1958, at the University of Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis, under the director of the Rev. Frank Hainey and Mrs. Anne Nicklas. It was similar to Passion Plays in Germany and South Dakota.
In 1961 the format was changed to its present form of "Living Pictures." A narration was added to establish the mood and background of each scene and its accompanying choral numbers.
Children were added in 1971 to an additional scene that shows Jesus surrounded by children.
In 1997 three new metal crosses were erected to replace the original wooden cross that had stood on a hill south of Curtis for many years. The center cross is lighted each night during the Christmas and Easter seasons. It is visible for many miles. the crosses are a tribute to the Living Christ and a symbol of Christianity to all that see them.
The Pageant includes 17 scenes of familiar events, famous paintings and statuary. These include The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, Peter Paul Reubens’ Descent From The Cross and The Pieta by Michelangelo.
The crown of thorns used in the production comes from an original Crown of Thorns plant in Mexico. The helmet, chest plate and leather protector portion of the Roman Soldier uniforms were acquired from MGM Productions and were used in the movies Ben Hur, Julius Caesar and Quo Vadis.
All Scenes have been constructed and painted by local artists. The song "Kyrie" was written by David Cole while he was a student at Medicine Valley High School.