Pageant sees 75 years

The glowing sense of excitement this year at the Festival of the Arts/Pageant of the Masters media preview Monday night was palpable.

“This is a very significant year for us because this is the 75th birthday of the Pageant of the Masters,” festival President Wayne Baglin said.

“It’s hard to say that we could outdo ourselves, but it’s going to be absolutely incredible,” board member Anita Mangels said.

This year’s theme, “All the World’s a Stage,” pays tribute to the performing arts, with nearly every tableau containing a stage element.

“It’s so appropriate for the anniversary of the pageant itself,” show choreographer Richard Gray said.

Hundreds of volunteers work to put the pageant together, from makeup and costume mistresses to actors who freeze onstage for 90 seconds a night.

For many local high school students, the pageant offers a more-than-tolerable way to rack up community-service hours — or brownie points for future endeavors.

“It looks good on a college application,” said Amber Millan, 16.

She stars in Everett Shin’s 1912 oil, “Footlight Flirtation.”

“It’s really fun, and the people are really nice,” said Ava Nelson, 15, a sophomore at Newport Harbor High School whose mother works on the makeup crew.

Nelson portrays a commedia dell’arte porcelain figure.

Backstage, costume and wardrobe staff and volunteers explained the intricacies required in making each costume and headdress.

They explained they had to think outside the box, but inside the picture frame.

Most costumes are made of muslin or canvas, and painted to blend in with the background.

At the end of each summer season, they’ve been worn about 60 times each, so the grand majority are retired.

Baglin described the history of tableaux vivants, or living pictures, beginning with their naissance in the Middle Ages.

He also talked about the Festival of Arts, which has experienced a surge of new blood, with 25 brand new artists scheduled to exhibit this year.

“They’re a very exciting, diverse group of artists,” Baglin said.

“It’s one of the most desirable venues for a fine art exhibitor to show in,” Mangels said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters

WHEN: Festival: 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. July 6 to Aug. 30. Pageant: Nightly at 8:30 July 9 to Aug. 30 (closed for gala Aug. 23).

WHERE: 650 Laguna Canyon Road

COST: Festival: Season pass $7; $4 seniors and students; children 12 and younger, Laguna residents and military personnel free. Admission 75 cents after 7:50 p.m. daily. Pageant: $20 to $90; includes season festival pass.

INFORMATION: (949) 494-1145 or foapom.com.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.