This year's theme is The Art Detective.
The Festival of Art’s world famous theatrical celebration of art in tableaux vivants – “living pictures” – will reveal how lost treasures were discovered, where crimes of passion were uncovered (or covered up) and how creative riddles were unraveled, with a gallery of the world’s great masterpieces providing the clues!
GOING BEHIND THE SCENES
The evening started out with a short introduction, and opportunities to meet with artists Anteje Campbell, Nancy Holly, and Mark Jacobucci as well as previewing their exhibits.
We all then peaked into the studios of Pageant scenic artists while they were putting final touches on Pageant sets. The artists included Davide Cooke, Judith Parker, David Rymar, Shane Daley, and Randy Robinson.
In the backstage tour, volunteers were getting make-up, hair, and wardrobe. They did an incredible job don't you think?
WOW!!
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| Children volunteers for the Pageant. |
TABLEAUX VIVANTS aka "LIVING PICTURES"
Close-by they arranged for live demonstrations of how the volunteers become a part of their masterpieces. As they paused for pictures, we were all in amazement. We saw three back stage, they were:
(1) Rembrant's The Night Watch
(2) Edwin Landseer's Windsor Castle: Queen Victoria
(3) In Johannes Vermeer's The Concert, I'm sharing what it looked like before and after the volunteers.
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| Photo Courtesy of Pageant of the Masters. |
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| Photo Courtesy of Pageant of the Masters |
What is Pageant of the Masters?
It's 90 minutes of “living pictures” in art re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces.
Who is “the Art Detective”?
Pageant Director Diane Challis Davy explains, “Anyone who suffers from a case of curiosity, who’s driven to ask who, what, where, when and why.” She added, “Who doesn't love to solve a mystery or enjoy a good scandal or a ‘ripping yarn’?” Inspired by television shows like The History Detectives and the Connections series, as well as from her love of Sherlock Holmes stories, this year's theme will feature great masterpieces of art. Challis Davy also reveals a few highlights from her list, “We’ll feature Manet’s Olympia, Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, Botticelli’s Primavera and Madame X by John Singer Sargent”. “The Art Detective will be beautiful, fun, enlightening and mysterious. And through the art of storytelling, we’ll shed light on true and sensational art history.”
As with last year’s tribute to movies and masterpieces, The Art Detective will have its share of theatrical surprises and exciting revelations, and an all-new score written by its contributing composers and performed each night by the Pageant’s world-class orchestra under the direction of conductor John Elg. Returning to the narrator’s booth for his fourth year at the Pageant is Richard Doyle.
FUN FACTS
- Around 1,200 people (volunteers) try out to be in the show. Approximately 500 are either cast or work behind the scenes. They contribute more than 60,000 hours. Youngest cast member 4 years old; Oldest cast member late 80s.
- The 2nd Festival of Arts in 1933 ran only 8 days. Today the Pageant has 53 performances.
- Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper was first presented as the traditional finale in 1936. Since then, there have only been 3 years that da Vinci's The Last Supper was not re-created in the show.
- The Pageant has rained out only twice in its entire history!
From early July through the end of August, the Festival of Arts opens its doors daily for visitors to not only enjoy the award-winning work of exhibited artists, but also demonstrations and art workshops, daily art tours, live music, special events, on-site restaurants and much more.
Disclosure: We were invited to a media preview for reviewing purposes. All opinions are our own. All images are by LetsPlayOC.com unless where indicated.
We think you'll agree that the Pageant of the Masters is a wonderful theatrical experience for art lovers! Thanks for including us in the media preview!
PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
July 9 – August 30, 2014
Performances Nightly at 8:30pm
TICKET INFORMATION
Advance Tickets: $15 - $220
Advance Tickets: $15 - $220
*A Pageant ticket also acts as a season pass to the Festival fine art show.*
THE FESTIVAL OF FINE ART SHOW
July 6 thru August 31, 2014
July 6 thru August 31, 2014
Open daily 10 am – 11:30 pm
(Early closing July 6 at 6 pm and August 23 at 3:30 pm)
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