Saturday's Warrior
Encyclopedia
Saturday's Warrior is a Latter-day Saint (Mormon
) musical written by Douglas Stewart and Lex de Azevedo
. It was first performed in California
in 1973 as a college project.
In 1989, Bob Williams made a video version of the musical, keeping it true to the original play, and setting it on a stage as opposed to giving the movie a more naturalistic look. It is among the first popular LDS films
to not be made or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Brigham Young University
.
However, finding themselves on earth, living a mortal life, no one remembers the promises they made before they were born. Julie finds herself desperately in love with Wally Kestler, who is now leaving to serve a two-year mission
. Julie promises she'll wait for him ("Will I Wait For You?"). Jimmy, because of the influence of the other teenagers he is often in the company of, is upset when he learns his parents are going to have another baby (Emily). Jimmy is a typical confused teenager, influenced by peer pressure
and rebellious against his parents. Pam, Jimmy's twin sister, who has medical problems and can't walk, talks to Jimmy and tries to help him sort things out ("Line Upon Line"). Jimmy is still confused and leaves home to live with his friends. But when Jimmy gets a phone call from his family telling him Pam has died, he begins some serious personal reflection ("Brace Me Up"). He decides to return to his family.
Meanwhile, Julie gets engaged to another man (named Peter), and writes a "Dear John letter
" to Wally while he's still on his mission ("He's Just a Friend/Dear John"). Wally is devastated, but his companion, Elder Green, convinces him to "shape up" and keep preaching the gospel.("Humble Way") Though the two companions have not had much success proselyting, they find Tod, who has been searching for answers ("Paper Dream"). Julie decides she doesn't want to marry Peter after all, but when Wally comes home from his mission, he brings Tod with him, and Julie realizes he's the man she's been searching for all her life ("Feelings of Forever").
At the climax of the movie, Emily is born, and the main title song, "Saturday's Warrior", is played as a finale.
, it is not well known in the rest of the world. The themes of Saturday's Warrior resound with many Latter-day Saints—that everyone is a literal child of God, and in remembering this, they will be better able to hold on to their morals and beliefs as they are increasingly criticized and ridiculed especially now, in what is called "the last days" (hence the title, Saturday's Warrior -- Saturday being the last day of the week, and this being the last days.) It also emphasizes the belief though their morals may seem restrictive, these morals actually give them more freedom. At the same time, Saturday's Warrior is notable for being a popular source of unofficial and unsanctioned doctrine such as pre-existence-founded romantic relationships reaching fruition during mortality.
Mormonism
Mormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself...
) musical written by Douglas Stewart and Lex de Azevedo
Lex de Azevedo
Alexis "Lex" de Azevedo is an American Mormon composer, song writer, pianist and singer known primarily for his film scores and his work on the LDS musical Saturday's Warrior.-Biography:...
. It was first performed in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1973 as a college project.
In 1989, Bob Williams made a video version of the musical, keeping it true to the original play, and setting it on a stage as opposed to giving the movie a more naturalistic look. It is among the first popular LDS films
LDS cinema
LDS or Mormon cinema typically refers to films with themes relevant to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though the terminology has also been used to refer to films that do not necessarily reflect Mormon themes but have been made by Mormon filmmakers...
to not be made or sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
Plot synopsis
While waiting to be born in the pre-existence, a family of eight children promise each other that they will always be there for each other ("Pullin' Together"). The youngest, Emily, is afraid when her turn to be born comes around, their parents will be tired of having kids, and she won't be born into their family. The oldest, Jimmy, promises Emily he will personally see to it she will be born into their family. Julie, the second-oldest daughter, and Tod, another spirit in the pre-existence, promise each other that, while on earth, they will somehow find each other and get married ("Circle of Our Love").However, finding themselves on earth, living a mortal life, no one remembers the promises they made before they were born. Julie finds herself desperately in love with Wally Kestler, who is now leaving to serve a two-year mission
Missionary (LDS Church)
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
. Julie promises she'll wait for him ("Will I Wait For You?"). Jimmy, because of the influence of the other teenagers he is often in the company of, is upset when he learns his parents are going to have another baby (Emily). Jimmy is a typical confused teenager, influenced by peer pressure
Peer pressure
Peer pressure refers to the influence exerted by a peer group in encouraging a person to change his or her attitudes, values, or behavior in order to conform to group norms. Social groups affected include membership groups, when the individual is "formally" a member , or a social clique...
and rebellious against his parents. Pam, Jimmy's twin sister, who has medical problems and can't walk, talks to Jimmy and tries to help him sort things out ("Line Upon Line"). Jimmy is still confused and leaves home to live with his friends. But when Jimmy gets a phone call from his family telling him Pam has died, he begins some serious personal reflection ("Brace Me Up"). He decides to return to his family.
Meanwhile, Julie gets engaged to another man (named Peter), and writes a "Dear John letter
Dear John letter
A "Dear John letter" is a letter written to a husband or boyfriend by his wife or girlfriend to inform him their relationship is over, usually because the author has found another lover. Dear John Letters are often written out of an inability or unwillingness to inform the person face to face...
" to Wally while he's still on his mission ("He's Just a Friend/Dear John"). Wally is devastated, but his companion, Elder Green, convinces him to "shape up" and keep preaching the gospel.("Humble Way") Though the two companions have not had much success proselyting, they find Tod, who has been searching for answers ("Paper Dream"). Julie decides she doesn't want to marry Peter after all, but when Wally comes home from his mission, he brings Tod with him, and Julie realizes he's the man she's been searching for all her life ("Feelings of Forever").
At the climax of the movie, Emily is born, and the main title song, "Saturday's Warrior", is played as a finale.
Musical numbers
Musical Numbers, as included in the Original Play Soundtrack:- Saturday's Warrior
- Circle of Our Love
- Pullin' Together
- Humble Way
- Sailing On
- Will I Wait For You?
- Daddy's Nose
- Zero Population
- Didn't We Love Him?
- Line Upon Line
- He's Just a Friend/Dear John
- Humble Way Reprise (film version only)
- Paper Dream
- Summer of Fair Weather
- Saturday's Warrior Reprise (stage version only)
- Voices (stage version only)
- Brace Me Up
- Brace Me Up Production Number
- Paper Dream Reprise I
- Paper Dream Reprise II (film version only)
- Feelings of Forever
- Saturday's Warrior Finale
Reception
Although Saturday's Warrior is considered a classic in the Mormon community, particularly in the Mormon CorridorMormon Corridor
The Mormon Corridor is a term for the areas of Western North America that were settled between 1850 and approximately 1890 by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , who are commonly known as Mormons....
, it is not well known in the rest of the world. The themes of Saturday's Warrior resound with many Latter-day Saints—that everyone is a literal child of God, and in remembering this, they will be better able to hold on to their morals and beliefs as they are increasingly criticized and ridiculed especially now, in what is called "the last days" (hence the title, Saturday's Warrior -- Saturday being the last day of the week, and this being the last days.) It also emphasizes the belief though their morals may seem restrictive, these morals actually give them more freedom. At the same time, Saturday's Warrior is notable for being a popular source of unofficial and unsanctioned doctrine such as pre-existence-founded romantic relationships reaching fruition during mortality.