Shows 2012 Review

“We think so much, and yet others are often left from our thoughts. We decide to act without considering the bigger picture. Yet our actions have consequences for all.”           -Conclave 2012 Show

Each year, Conclave features two shows as one of the main attractions of the program. An “Opening show” Friday night begins Conclave, and a “Theme show” Saturday evening concludes the program.

We interviewed the director of the 2012 Conclave Show to learn a little more about what goes on behind the curtain with regards to a Conclave show. What we learned surprised us. Check it out for yourself:

What was the show about?

A group of characters learns of the impending end of the world. They try to save themselves, but end up not cooperating as a team, and ultimately failing. The world ends dramatically on their failure, and the audience is challenged: What if you had one more day to fix their mistakes? Time is reversed, and the audience is returned to 24 hours before the end of the world. The next 24 hours (which encompasses the Saturday of Conclave) is spent learning how to work as a team, and how to support one another. In the final hour before the end of the world (the Saturday night show), the four characters again learn of the impending end of the world. They try to save each other, this time succeeding because they work as a team. The world ends again, but the characters have survived: they learned how to be Firm Bound in Brotherhood.

What goes into making a Conclave show?

Actually, quite a bit. Conclave 2012 featured what is known as a “multimedia narrative”. That is a fancy way to say that the shows told a story through a mix of live-acting and prerecorded videos. Each 3 minute video took about 2 hours to film, and an additional 4 to 6 hours of editing. With a total of 9 videos across the two shows that is about 65 hours of work on the pre-recorded components alone. As for the live acting, the actors had to rehearse, and the sets had to be created and then constructed.

How many people were involved in putting on the show?

Total, about 20 people worked to put on the show. That includes actors (live and prerecorded), drivers, a cinematographer (filming guy), the technical crew (for sound and lighting) and a few assistants. Oh, and the director of course!

What was the hardest part of putting on the shows?

The hardest part was when we first arrived at Conclave on Friday night. I got there a half-hour late, only to find out that I was the first one out of the entire shows staff to arrive! Apparently the car that held most of the actors, as well as the trailer filled with the set materials and equipment was stuck with a flat tire somewhere on the side of the road! That was a very stressful two hours! The show was a bit late, but I was proud of my staff for completely setting everything up in only 45 minutes! It was close, but in the end we made it!

What will be different in the 2013 Conclave shows?

Well, I can’t say much in that regard… I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise! But there are a few things I can say:

First of all, the show for the past couple of years has focused on telling a story that explained the theme and message of Conclave. Rather than telling a story per say, the show will be evolving to more of an actual stage show rather than a theater-type performance.

Secondly, the show will be more of a part of the program. In years past, we have seen a real disconnect between the shows and the rest of Conclave. This year we will be taking a new approach, all with the goal in mind of tying the shows more into the rest of the Conclave experience.

Finally, this will be a year NOT TO MISS!!! We have a whole new approach to shows now… an approach radically different from the 2010, 2011, and 2012 Conclaves. 

For a complete copy of the Conclave 2012 Shows Script, check out: 

More details about the show and other parts of Conclave will be released shortly after registration opens! Be sure to check back in the week following March 9th!