Serious dress up

Heather Struck

Behind the scenes at Laguna’s acclaimed Pageant of the Masters is

an active spot. Costume fitters helping actors into tight pants and

painted tops, makeup artists changing actors into Superman and gold

firefighters and plenty of other energized volunteers working to make

the show go on.

Linda Conder is volunteering for her sixth year at the pageant in

the men’s costume department. Although her day job is in

construction, which leaves little room to practice her costume

organizations skills, Conder, a Huntington Beach resident, has

continued coming back to volunteer at the pageant because “everybody

is so interesting and it’s a fun way to spend my summer evenings. I

find it a more enjoyable and creative job than what I do at work.”

The Pageant of the Masters is put together through the hard work

of several artists and hundreds of volunteers. It is this talent and

dedication that has made the show such a success.

“It’s really amazing how many people in the community work to

produce the show,” said Conder, “it is truly a community event.”

The talent and hard work that goes into the show combine to

transform actors into legendary characters, and a stage into the

background of a masterpiece. Conder was drawn to the pageant by her

interest in the way that people are able to “transform actors and the

stage into works of art through costumes and design.”

Volunteers at the pageant make up the majority of its staff,

allowing the show to contribute to Laguna’s talented and creative

community.

“Working in the costume department is incredible because I am able

to work with all the actors,” Conder said.

“They are all so different, some are experienced stage actors, and

some are people with regular day jobs. I see a lot of different

personalities.”

In addition to the varied personalities she sees, Conder likes

working the entire show.

Lending her time to the Pageant of the Masters gives Conder a way

to contribute to her community by allowing talented actors and

artists to express themselves, as well as making it possible for

hundreds of people to enjoy the show every night.

“I look forward to volunteering here every year,” she said.

“It’s a lot of fun, I feel like I’m contributing to my community,

and I have a good time.”

* HEATHER STRUCK is an intern for the Coastline Pilot. She write

features and gathers news information.