Laguna Beach: The magic behind the pageant’s ‘living pictures’

The Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach marks its 80th year of re-creating artworks in “living pictures” on stage with this year’s show, titled “The Big Picture.” The show, which opened Sunday and continues until Aug. 31, gives a nod to famous paintings, sculptures and movie moments that inspired great Hollywood films. “The Love Letter” by Vermeer, an early film scene of re-creating Harold Lloyd’s hanging from a clock and Rome’s Trevi Fountain are all on the bill this year. How do they do it? Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how one volunteer became a Vermeer character. It’s the kind of magic that distinguishes the pageant from any other Southern California event.

--Mary Forgione