Full-scale replica of the Pilgrim’s Progress Moving Panorama

You can see a full-scale replica of the Pilgrim’s Progress Panorama in motion, with music and a riveting narration, just as the original was meant to be seen, if you are in Saco, Maine, in the USA, on several dates this summer.

If you can’t make it here, the next best thing will be a webcast of the August 31 show when the Saco Museum presents the third 21st century performance of the Moving Panorama of Pilgrim’s Progress. A crew of volunteers will be rolling 800 feet of beautiful images across the historic Saco City Hall stage. Professor Scott Marcoux will relate the epic story and pianist Jeff Rapsis will accompany the production.

For the first time the entire historic panorama - 800 feet of vibrantly painted muslin canvas, in four sections - is on view in two downtown locations, the Saco Museum and the historic Pepperell Mills. Live performances of a full-scale photographic replica recreate the historic experience of seeing a moving panorama in action, and a new web-based film animation has introduced the panorama to a global audience.

A full house of 200 loved the show and the backstage tour of the mechanism on August 3. Only one more show is scheduled. It will be on Sept. 21, when the show will be in conjunction with a symposium). $5 is a suggested donation at the door.

To view the webcast go to: http://www.sacomaine.org/news/councilvideo.shtml

The show will start at 5:30 pm New York time/ on Friday, August 31. That’s 10:30 pm in London, and 2:30 pm in Los Angeles.

The show lasts about one hour. The video production will be very basic.

Three more things:

- The organizers would like to invoke the worldwide web audience to attract a local audience. If you think you might watch, please send an email to Peter Morelli mailto:pmorelli2@gmail.comand he will mention your city (not your name) in the publicity.

- If you watch the performance, send an email during the performance to this address, or a text to 207-712-7105 and they may read it to both audiences after the performance.

There’s lot more information about the project, including pictures and video, at: www.sacomuseum.org/panorama.