What began as a local community’s depiction of the events of Easter week, the Marion Easter Pageant has grown into a world renowned religious festival. Begun in 1937 as a project for inter-church youth groups, the Pageant has become a production involving the talents and services of more than 2000 people. This would not have been possible without the dedication and vision of the leaders in the community.

Each year, during the Lenten season, the Marion community and the surrounding areas look forward to renewing acquaintances and meeting new workers who have come to be in the "Pageant." Although many in the cast have been with the Pageant for several years, with some of the members dating from the very first Pageant, there is a turnover of about one-third of the participants each year.

Anyone can become involved in the Pageant. New people in Marion community are invited to share in the production whether it is by seeing it or helping to present it.
 

The Pageant is the rare experience where no one is all-important and yet each individual is very important. Men, and women, and children of all ages, in all walks of life come to share their talents in presenting this Passion play. Each person is anonymous - no names are mentioned, no salaries are paid. Despite this, or rather because of this, the Pageant has become the over-all driving force of Marion’s Easter season as well as the message of Easter for millions of radio listeners and the thousands of travelers to come from many states and countries to see the Pageant.

This nonprofit corporation receives guidance from a Board of Directors, which is composed of 26 members. These men and women represent the leadership of the community. Working with the Board of Directors is an Executive Secretary who is responsible for the administration and coordination of the many and varied activities that come under the name of "Pageant." The Pageant is people; made up of people giving of their free time to work as electricians, cast and crew members, costume designers musicians and scenery builders. The Pageant is not sponsored or financed by any one organization; rather it is truly a community effort dependent upon the generosity and concern of churches, businesses, industries and individuals who have felt a closeness to the Pageant. Donations are more than just money. Time, storage space, use of facilities and much of the actual equipment are all significant contributions to each year's production.