Christopher Cross
A NIGHT WITH THE STARS UNDER THE STARS AT THE PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS SATURDAY, AUGUST 25TH
Christopher Cross Concert, Pageant hosted by Marcia Gay Harden and One Lucky Person Will Win A Brand New 2013 ACURA RDX and $5,000 cash!
Laguna Beach, CA — On August 25th, five-time Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe award-winner Christopher Cross will perform during the most momentous night of the summer art season: The Acura Celebrity Event, Concert and Pageant at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts. All summer long, Festival of Arts visitors have been purchasing raffle tickets for a chance to win a 2013 Acura RDX AWD with Tech Package plus $5,000 cash (valued at nearly $50,000), and on this night the winning ticket will be pulled by Marcia Gay Harden.
Marcia Gay Harden
The evening will be one to remember, beginning at 5 pm when anticipated attending celebrities will walk the red carpet at the Festival of Arts entrance, including Barry Bostwick (COUGAR TOWN & SPIN CITY), David Chokachi, (SOUL SURFER & BAY WATCH), Seamus Dever (CASTLE), Joely Fisher (‘TIL DEATH), Kate Flannery (THE OFFICE), Jennifer Hall (UP ALL NIGHT), Robert David Hall (CSI), Richard Karn (HOME IMPROVEMENT), Cloris Leachman, Jerry Mathers (LEAVE IT TO BEAVER), Donna Mills, Connie Stevens, Patrick Warburton (RULES OF ENGAGEMENT) and many others.
At 6pm, in the intimate ambiance of the Festival of Arts, guests will be treated to a rare performance by Christopher Cross. Cross was by far the biggest new star of 1980, virtually defining adult contemporary radio with a series of smoothly sophisticated ballads including the #1 hit, “Sailing.” His 1980 self-titled debut album with the lead single “Ride Like the Wind” rocketed to the #2 spot; the massive success of the second single “Sailing” made Cross a superstar, and in the wake of two more Top 20 hits, “Never Be the Same” and “Say You’ll Be Mine,” he walked off with an unprecedented and record-setting five Grammys in 1981, including Best New Artist and Song of the Year for “Sailing.” He soon scored a second #1, as well as an Academy Award, with “Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do),” which he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Peter Allen for the smash Dudley Moore film comedy Arthur. With a string of post-megahit albums from the mid-1980s to the present represents, Cross has remained a unique artist, replete with that confounding blend of sensitivity, determination and conviction of his own artistry.
At 8:15pm on Saturday evening, Marica Gay Harden will pull the winning ticket for the 2013 Acura RDX AWD with Tech Package plus $5,000 cash, up until which time tickets will continue to be sold ($5 for one ticket, $20 for five tickets – the winning ticketholder need not be present to win). The funds raised will benefit the Festival of Arts programming and Building Fund for improvements and renovations. Following the pulling of the ticket, the evening will conclude with a captivating performance of the critically acclaimed Pageant of the Masters production of “The Genius.”
“It’s the most anticipated night of the season,” said Sharbie Higuchi, director of marketing and PR for the Festival of Arts. “Acura has been incredibly generous and they deserve a great amount of recognition for their dedication to the arts. We also appreciate KOST Radio 103.5, which has shown tremendous support for the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters. We can’t wait to welcome Christopher Cross and Marcia Gay Harden, our other celebrity friends and most of all, the Pageant fans who will have a fabulous time at this special event!”
Tickets for the Christopher Cross concert and Pageant event are $40 – $250. Acura and KOST Radio 103.5 sponsor this event. To purchase tickets, go online to www.PageantTickets.com or call 1-800-487-3378.
The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Acura, Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Cox Communications and the Orange County Register. The Festival of Arts is a non-profit organization that produces The Festival of Arts–California’s Premier Fine Art Show and the Pageant of the Masters–Where Art Comes to Life. The event is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California. Proceeds support the arts and art education in and about Laguna Beach.
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Pageant of the Masters
Where Art Comes To Life! 
July 7 – August 31, 2012, Each night during the summer season at 8:30 the Festival of Arts presents its most famous attraction; the Pageant of the Masters.
“The Last Supper” at the Pageant of the Masters
What is it? Ninety minutes of “living pictures” – incredibly faithful art re-creations of classical and contemporary workNinety minutes of “living pictures” – incredibly faithful art re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. An outdoor amphitheater, professional orchestra, original score, live narration, intricate sets, sophisticated lighting, expert staff, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers have won recognition for the Pageant as the best presentation of its kind.s with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. An outdoor amphitheater, professional orchestra, original score, live narration, intricate sets, sophisticated lighting, expert staff, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers have won recognition for the Pageant as the best presentation of its kind. MISSION STATEMENT: The 2012 Pageant of the Masters Theme is:
Eureka! It’sThe Genius Find out more about this season’s Pageant Program.
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2012 PAGEANT HONORS THE MASTERS IN “THE GENIUS”
Laguna Beach, California – The king of trial and error Thomas Edison once famously said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and 99% perspiration.” Few people are more aware of the amount of time and effort that will be required to turn her inspiration into the 2012 Pageant of the Masters than its director Diane Challis Davy. But, even as she finalizes her selections of artworks for next summer’s world-famous theatrical celebration of art in “living pictures” – tableaux vivants – Challis Davy is excited about the possibilities inherent in its theme, The Genius.
“The theme actually originated back in 2009 when we produced The Muse,” Challis Davy explained. “That show examined women’s roles in making and inspiring art, and was selected from a feminine point of view. I thought it would be interesting to craft a ‘companion’ show, one with a masculine sensibility, focusing on the power, strength and intelligence inherent in masterful works of art.”
Challis Davy has also chosen a secondary theme for The Genius, the relationship between art and advances in science and technology. “I’m curious about the materials and techniques used by the old masters,” Challis Davy said. “One hundred fifty years ago, artists had to make their own paints! You almost had to be a chemist or alchemist. And I’m fascinated by the huge roles played by developments in optics and photography in painting realistic works.” She was quick to add, “But, you won’t have to be a rocket scientist to enjoy The Genius.”
Clearly, the 2012 Pageant will be very different from the whimsical escapism of last summer’s Only Make Believe. Tributes to the lives and masterpieces of extraordinary artists whose works have withstood the test of time will be in the forefront of the 2012 Pageant, including Michelangelo, Vincent van Gogh and the Dutch Masters, to name a few. Legendary composers will be feted in series of artworks dedicated to the “Maestros of Music,” and scientific innovation will be highlighted in “The Stars of Astronomy.” And Pageant traditionalists will no doubt welcome the return of the Renaissance master, Leonardo da Vinci, whose “The Last Supper” has been the Pageant finale, with rare exceptions, since 1936.
“‘The Last Supper,’ is arguably the most recognizable masterwork of all time,” Challis Davy observed, “and Leonardo da Vinci was a genius for the ages, no question. He was not afraid to experiment and take chances,” she said.
Longtime Pageant scriptwriter Dan Duling, already busy researching the narration for the show, added, “Genius exists in every field of endeavor, and it’s a fantastic source for moving stories of triumph, tragedy and courage. If you’re looking for inspiration, this show is going to dare you to think big.”
When asked about what surprises might be in store for 2012 in terms of music or special effects, Challis Davy, preparing for her 17th year as Pageant director, noted there are plans for some advances in sound design and digital projection, and hopes for some “unexpected light effects.” Laughing, she added, “Sorry, no 3-D glasses.”
With its ambitious selection of acknowledged masterpieces, The Genius will certainly be an exciting centerpiece for the Festival of Art’s celebration of its 80th anniversary. The Pageant’s annual open casting calls will take place in January where volunteers sign up, get their photos and measurements on file and then wait to hear if they’ll be a part of the upcoming Pageant. Last year, more than 1,100 people turned out. Everyone associated with the production understands the Pageant wouldn’t be possible without that spirit of volunteer dedication. As Challis Davy acknowledges, their dedication and loyalty are the remarkable engines that sustain the Pageant.
“I love art AND theatre,” Challis Davy said, “and I’m lucky to be surrounded by people who love the hard work it takes to produce a very elaborate show. I get inspiration from my scriptwriter, my staff, my composers, and from the scores of enthusiastic research volunteers who come up with great suggestions!”
The Pageant of the Masters will be performed nightly from Saturday, July 7, through Friday, August 31, 2012. Tickets for The Genius, the 2012 Pageant of the Masters, are currently on sale to Festival of Arts members, and may be purchased by the general public at www.PageantTickets.com, beginning December 1st. Tickets start at $15. For further information, call 949-497-6852, or toll free 800-487-3378.
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Meghan Perez
