Creating a 'Tableaux Vivant'

One of the biggest attractions at the annual Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach is the tableaux vivants -- a series of notable paintings and sculptures brought to life by actors in costume and make-up.

Times photographer Lori Shepler recently went behind the scenes for "All the World's a Stage" to document the preparation that goes into mounting this visually arresting production.

This year, actors assembled to re-create works by Edgar Degas, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, John Sloan, Leonardo Da Vinci and more.

For Sloan's 1907 oil painting "The Haymarket," actors were dressed to resemble the patrons of a notoriously shady concert hall of early-20th century New York.

Daniel Maclise's 1842 watercolor painting "The Play Scene in 'Hamlet'" features actors dressed as the royal Danish court observing the theater troupe performing "The Mousetrap" in Act III of Shakespeare's play.

The Pageant of the Masters continues through Aug. 30. Performances of "All the World's a Stage" take place nightly at 8:30 p.m. at 650 Laguna Canyon Rd.