About the People Behind the Show
Leann Swain
Krista Johannesmeyer
Leann Swain
Music Director leannswain@gmail.com
(801) 400-5265
I have loved music since I was a very young girl. I began playing the piano for my church when I was 11, and I have performed and taught music ever since. I also enjoy growing flowers and vegetables, reading, cooking, and being with my family.
I have been the music director for Cries of F
Music Director leannswain@gmail.com
(801) 400-5265
I have loved music since I was a very young girl. I began playing the piano for my church when I was 11, and I have performed and taught music ever since. I also enjoy growing flowers and vegetables, reading, cooking, and being with my family.
I have been the music director for Cries of Freedom since 2014. I have been called “Drama Mama” as I provide safety pins and band-aids, sew on buttons, find lost props, serve food, and take care of all the cast members’ needs during rehearsals and backstage. I love working with the young people in the show every year.
I married Scott in 1986, and we have seven children and five grandchildren. I feel it is important for me and my family to serve the community, to display a love of country, and to spread a message and a meaningful experience to others. We give credit to God for helping us through this undertaking every year. We give our best efforts, and God’s grace fills in the rest.
Scott Swain
Krista Johannesmeyer
Leann Swain
Event Producer scottpswain@gmail.com
(801) 836-3781
Before starting Roots of Freedom, I owned a mortgage company then sold it in 1997. The mortgage business failed to inspire me anymore, so I thought freedom would. It’s a great theme. I have been an entrepreneur my whole life and owned many businesses -- some profitable but most not -- fr
Event Producer scottpswain@gmail.com
(801) 836-3781
Before starting Roots of Freedom, I owned a mortgage company then sold it in 1997. The mortgage business failed to inspire me anymore, so I thought freedom would. It’s a great theme. I have been an entrepreneur my whole life and owned many businesses -- some profitable but most not -- from a shrimp and fishing business in Brazil to every crazy idea I could think up. However, I have come to the point of only doing things that inspire me, and so far Cries of Freedom still inspires me! I truly believe that people should only do what inspires them. Retire from the rat race and live!
I like to garden and take care of my chickens. I hope to do some serious traveling soon.
Krista Johannesmeyer
Krista Johannesmeyer
Krista Johannesmeyer
Director
Krista Johanesmeyer has done tremendous work as performer and as an assistant director for the last few years. With the retirement of Bonnie Busco in 2023, Krista has taken on the role of director.
Krista teaches drama at American Heritage in AF.
HONORARY TRIBUTES
Tribute to Bonnie Busco - Creator of Cries of Freedom
After 16 years of dedicated service (blood, sweat, and tears), Bonnie Busco announced her retirement from being the Director of Cries of Freedom, in 2023. Bonnie is forever loved by so many people who participated in Cries of Freedom. Here are some of her words about her experience creating and directing the show or as she calls it, "Bonnie Busco's Final Address":
Bonnie Busco's Final Address"
"In 2005 when I retired from my teaching career, unbeknown to me, did I know what lay before me or know of the wonderful people I would meet. It was at that time that I met Scott Swain, Roots of Freedom, President. As we explored together with what we wanted to do with the wonderful historical paintings that Scott had acquired and the research we had done on the cries of people throughout history, we were inspired from heaven above to write the musical, Cries of Freedom!
Our message of freedom, and the musical numbers we incorporated became a cry out for freedom for all people around the world.
In the scriptures, a foundation of our message, it reads:
D&C 98:5,8
(5) “And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me.”
(8) “I, the Lord God, make you free, therefore ye are free indeed; and the law also maketh you free.”
D&C 101: 79-80
(79) “Therefore, it is not right that any man should be in bondage one to another.”
(80) “And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of the land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up to this very purpose…”
D&C 109:54
(54) “Have mercy…O Lord, upon all the nations of the earth; have mercy upon the rulers of our land; may those principles, which were so honorably and nobly defended, namely the Constitution of our land, by our fathers, be established forever.”
I am grateful and have been truly blessed being a part of this experience, particularly the musical, Cries of Freedom. With the incredible people who sacrificed their time and their talents over the years, those who supported our event, namely Provo’s Freedom Festival, SCERA Center for the Arts and Orem City. I am forever grateful!
I was also pure joy watching the life changing moments with each cast member, each year, as they gave their all to the cause of freedom.
So grateful and thankful am I to my Heavenly Father for leading me down this path. It is an experience I will always treasure."
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