Warming Up for the Big Freeze on Stage
When the stage lights glow at the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach, visions of golden angels and marble Greek gods unfold. To the audience, the pageant, popular for its realistic re-creations of famous works of art, seems sublime.
Backstage at the Irvine Bowl is quite a different scene. Performers scurry around in flip-flops while technicians duck between props. Artists brush quick touch-ups on elaborate sets, and directors holler cues at the cast.
Attention to minute details is crucial. Cast members must be positioned perfectly and then hold their poses for up to a minute. Heavy makeup accentuates wrinkles and shadows precisely, and folds in fabric are exacting.
The volunteers will bring to life this year’s grand theme, “California Dreamers: Artists, Explorers, Innovators and Visionaries.” Works include J. Henry Sandham’s painting, “Toll for Sunrise Mass,” the Serra Chapel Altar of Mission San Juan Capistrano and a mural by Maxine Albro titled “California Abundance.”
The pageant begins July 7 and runs through Aug. 31 in Laguna Beach.
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