Faith, hope and courage were attributes in no short supply by those who made a 1,300 mile trek across the plains to find freedom of religion.

Stories from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who made the journey pulling handcarts from Iowa City to Salt Lake City, Utah during the bitter winter of 1856, will be portrayed on stage beginning July 12.

"(The play) is about two families that come across from Liverpool [England] that have this testimony of this gospel," said Janene Goubert, co-director for the Broadway style play. "One family comes with the handcart company that makes it pretty easily. The other family, they have the most serious difficulties and yet through it all they know that they would do it again."

A full orchestra, over 70 cast members and additional crew will perform the musical titled "1856". The majority of those involved are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints living in the Parker area, but others, including Town of Parker Mayor David Casiano, will also have a part in telling the story.

"I am honored to be a participant in this production and I assure those of you who come to it, you will be enhanced by the beauty of the voices, the energy illustrated on stage, and the love demonstrated among the cast," Casiano said.

Tickets are $3 or $15 for families of five or more. Performances will be held at 7 p.m. on July 12-14, and a matinee performance will be held at 3 p.m. on the 14 th at Grandview High School, 20550 E. Arapahoe Road, Aurora. Those interested can contact Nancy Baumgartner at 303-841-1011.

Parker resident and lead in the play David Osborn said he hopes people will come away with a better understanding of what these people had the faith to do.

"I want (the audience) to be connected to the pioneers and I want to do justice to their legacy," Osborn said. "I want them to know that our church has a rich history and it's come at a great cost. We're essentially standing on the shoulders of these men and women who braved the elements - the snowstorms, and the cholera, and the disease and death."

Goubert also pointed out that all of us can relate to the heart of the story.

"We all have these 'plains experiences'," Goubert said. "We may not be pulling handcarts, but we have these experiences. Where it absolutely feels like we are pulling these handcarts. When we feel like we are pushed to our limits and can't do any more."

The story chosen for the play was picked in part because of a pioneer trek that the youth from area Church congregations will take the week following the play. The youth, ages 14 to 18, will travel to Martin's Cove, Wyoming, to pull handcarts like those the pioneers used, dressed in period clothing.