STAGES OF LIFE

BY WENDY SIEGEL LEMLIN

EVERY SUMMER IN LAGUNA BEACH, THE PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS TRANSFORMS PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES AND FIGURINES INTO LIFE-SIZED WORKS OF ART.

Actors pose on stage for the
re-creation of El Jaleo at
Pageant of the Masters
ON A BREEZY Southern California summer evening, stars twinkle above 2,600 people seated in the outdoor amphitheater. th e orchestra begins, the stage curtain opens, and the rapt audience breaks into applause at the pure white Wedgewood porcelain figures of Apollo and the Nine Muses that are revealed against the signature blue background. But wait, did Apollo move slightly? Did one of the Muses blink?

CALL IT TABLEAUX VIVANT, living pictures or just plain magic, the Pageant of the Masters—the premiere attraction of Laguna Beach, CA’s famous Festival of the Arts—is an awe-inspiring celebration where art comes alive. Cast members are transformed into life-sized re-creations of sculptures, paintings and figurines, to the accompaniment of narration and original orchestral scores.

the art pieces are painstakingly copied on intricate sets, oft en in huge proportions; some “paintings” are as large as 14-feet high and 30-feet long. Well-hidden stands, footholds and handles support the cast, who are placed in the scene aft er meticulous makeup and costume sessions. As the curtain rises, each actor must hold a pose. th e eff ect is spellbinding, and has made the Pageant of the Masters, now celebrating its 75th year, a sold-out event almost every night of its seven-week run.

Much credit for the show’s success is due to director Diane Challis Davy, who’s been at the helm for 13 years. “It defies logic to stage a ‘moving’ show comprised of static scenes and keep it surprising and entertaining,” she says. “th e fantastic family of volunteers and staff make it possible.” Natali Galt of Escondido, CA, is one such volunteer. A Muse this season, Galt has previously played a Fate on a bronze sundial, a grape-covered woman in a vintage wine poster and a racy dancer on a Follies Begère poster. And, in the five years that she has been a cast member, she has learned to stand very, very still.

“It’s totally worth it, to be part of the magic,” Galt says. “To hear the gasp of the audience as the curtain rises, to see the transformation of the sets, costumes, lighting… is amazing.”

Laguna Beach, a seaside town, is a little over an hour’s drive from both San Diego and Los Angeles. It is the jewel of Orange County, with a scenic coastline, beautiful resorts, quaint hotels, excellent restaurants and a reputation as an artists’ colony that extends back to the early 1900s. Its beauty has inspired artists, and artists, in turn, have helped develop the town’s gallery-lined streets.

So it’s no surprise that, in 1932, local artists organized the first Festival of the Arts, a weeklong outdoor exhibition to lure tourists in the midst of the Great Depression. th e idea for the Pageant of the Masters came about a year later when the artists staged a parade with costumed characters of famous works of art in order to publicize the festival.

In 1935, it was transformed into the full production with music, narration and painted backdrops that it is today. Except during the years of World War II, the festival and pageant have been held every summer since.

But the Pageant of the Masters is only one facet of the festival, which has become a prestigious juried art show where about 150 of Orange County’s most renowned artists display and sell original works. Widely recognized as one of the top art festivals in the US, it’s California’s longest running outdoor fine arts exhibition.

But the Pageant of the Masters is a huge draw—and the numbers don’t lie: Attendance has grown from 2,200 at its inception to about 250,000 annually. For the 500 volunteers, participation is a labor of love. “All of the volunteers become one big, summer family and many return year aft er year,” Galt says. Maybe you will, too.

ART ABOUNDS

Laguna Beach’s art festivals are just short walks from each other, so there’s no reason not to see them all. Take advantage of the free shuttle bus, which runs from 10am to 11:30pm.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS

July 6 through August 30 www.lagunafestivalofarts.org

This daily festival offers visitors a variety of special events, like creative demonstrations, musical performances, free art workshops and much more.

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS

July 6 through August 30 www.lagunafestivalofarts.org

This daily festival offers visitors a variety of special events, like creative demonstrations, musical performances, free art workshops and much more.

SAWDUST ART FESTIVAL

More than 200 local artists and craftsmen will exhibit at the 42nd annual show. Also check out daily art projects, classes, demonstrations and live entertainment.

ART-A-FAIR

Through August 31 www.art-a-fair.com

Featuring 125 juried artists and master craftsmen, Art-A-Fair is the city’s only international art festival. This year, stroll the Venetian-themed streets of Palazzo Laguna.