Art Comes to Life at the Pageant of the Masters

in Beautiful Laguna Beach

Pageant of the Masters is Where Art Comes to Life Laguna Beach is synonymous with art. In the summer, it’s even more evident as visitors and locals alike enjoy the Festival of Arts, California's longest-running outdoor fine art exhibition. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. from July 1 – August 31 and is a real part of summer. But, the most famous and renowned attraction that really generates excitement is the Pageant of the Masters, performed nightly in the Festival of Arts amphitheater from July 7 – August 31.   

The Pageant of the Masters is ninety spectacular minutes of "living pictures," faithful art re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. Costumed players recreate works of art by masters, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Claude Monet, Thomas Hart Benton, and Norman Rockwell, to name a few. In a starlit amphitheater, a full orchestra, live narration, original score, sophisticated lighting, intricate sets, hundreds of dedicated volunteers and artistic wizardry unite to create a magical experience.

Celebrating its 75th year, the 2007 Pageant of the Master’s theme is Young at Heart. From the carefree games and richly-illustrated fantasies of childhood to the wistful nostalgia of middle age and the imaginative reinventions of the "golden years," this summer’s celebration of "art that lives and breathes" pays tribute to the many ways in which artists in every era and culture have encouraged us to never lose sight of our universal love of creative play. Whatever your age, you and your family will find plenty of fun-filled theatrical magic and inspirational artistry on display in Young at Heart.

How it All Began

Since the first painting was created in Laguna Beach in 1878, the exquisite natural beauty of this seaside community has been a magnet for artists. Artists flourished in the small village, supporting themselves through sales to tourists who flocked to the beach for vacation. By the early 1900s, the village had gained a reputation as an art colony, and in 1918, with the entire population numbering only 300 residents, the community established the Laguna Art Association to promote and support the fine arts.

The small seaside village took great pride in its cultural establishment, which attracted visitors from all around. However, when the Depression swept the land, tourists had little money to spend and Laguna's residents struggled. As a means to draw much-needed business back to the art colony, the Art Association struck on the idea of a summer art festival, to be held the week following the1932 Los Angeles Olympics in hopes that visitors would travel south to Laguna Beach before journeying home.

The whole town pitched in to make the 1932 festival a resounding success, in effect transforming Laguna Beach into one enormous art gallery for the week. The festival featured art exhibitions, community plays, outdoor pageants, a parade, street market, spectacle of lights, costume ball, and tours of artists’ studios and local residents’ gardens. Artists set up booths sponsored by individual society matrons, and downtown stores displayed the artists’ work in their front windows. It was the birth of the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts, where artists could showcase their talent and make a profit.

A smash hit at the festival was the Living Pictures show created by artist and vaudevillian Lolita Perine. She dressed local residents in costume and seated them behind a makeshift frame. These paintings that came to life fascinated viewers of all ages.

In 1935 Roy Ropp, a local construction worker, realtor and amateur artist, expanded Perine’s concept and developed the performance into its present-day format. Ropp renamed the new and improved event "The Spirit of the Masters." In 1936, the production was renamed yet again, for the last time, the "Pageant of the Masters."

From its humble beginnings as a means of promoting and sustaining the fine arts in Laguna Beach, the Festival of Arts has matured into a world-renowned cultural institution drawing visitors from far and wide. The Festival is a non-profit organization that has shares its success, awarding millions of dollars in scholarships to art students and grants to art and cultural organizations, and hosting cultural events on the grounds throughout the year. The Festival of Arts and the City of Laguna Beach have grown up together, becoming inseparable in the eyes of residents and of the many patrons who return year after year.

Tickets for Heart, the 2007 Pageant of the Masters are $20 - $90 (depending on seat location and night of the week). Pageant of the Masters ticket holders may present their stub at the Festival of Arts front gate for free admission. The Pageant’s Celebrity Gala Benefit Performance to be held on Saturday, August 25. The event is held at the Festival of Arts Grounds, located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. For further information about the Festival, the Pageant of the Masters or the Pageant’s Celebrity Gala Benefit Performance on Saturday, August 25, call 949.497.6852, 800.487.3378 or visit www.LagunaFestivalofArts.com.