“The Pursuit of Happiness,” the 2015 Pageant of the Masters – Laguna’s world-famous theatrical celebration of art in tableaux vivants – “living pictures” – is shaping up to be a big crowd pleaser this summer. It’s an exciting mix of classic Americana, vivid storytelling, wildly diverse international art and social history all presented in the outdoor splendor of the Festival of Arts’ Irvine Bowl, with live music, narration and dazzling theatrical illusions, effects and stage magic. It’s also exactly the sort of polished, professional entertainment Pageant audiences have come to expect from director Diane Challis Davy during her 20 years at the helm of this unprecedented production.
It was the fall of 1995 when Diane “Dee” Challis Davy assumed her role as director/producer of the Pageant of the Masters. In the two decades since, Challis Davy has proven herself to be a tireless risk-taker in her efforts to complement the show’s artful presentation of tableaux vivants with imaginative additions to the programs’ theatricality. During her tenure, the program has incorporated more seamless transitions, occasional use of live singers and dancers, special effects and video projection, even animal co-stars, all in a concerted effort to keep the Pageant theatrically vital.
But, of all her innovations, it is her assigning of different themes to her programs that has set her shows apart from the rest. In the process, her themes have had another beneficial effect: they encourage happy patrons and enthusiastic volunteers to keep coming back to see what she’ll do with her new themes year after year. And these days, Challis Davy especially enjoys watching as her themes seem to have a knack for unintentionally dovetailing with popular online social media memes.
After serving as assistant director for more than a decade, Challis Davy already had themes in mind when she took over as director. “The idea of doing a themed show was Don Williamson’s,” she said, referring to the Pageant’s director from 1964-1978.
Challis Davy was far more modest about her 20-year tenure, longer than any other director in Pageant history. “Our audiences expect a great night of theatre and music, and we want them to have a great time, tell their friends and want to come back. Same for my backstage artists and volunteers. Obviously, we can’t please everybody all the time. But, that doesn’t mean we aren’t going to give it our very best shot.”
Director Diane Challis Davy’s own “pursuit of happiness” seems to have led to right where she wants to be, directing the show she knows inside out and has loved for as long as she’s been at the Pageant.
ABOUT THE PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
Presented by the Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach
The Pageant of the Masters is arguably one of the most unique productions in the entire world. Audiences are amazed and enchanted by ninety minutes of tableaux vivants (“living pictures”), incredibly faithful re-creations of classical and contemporary works of art, with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces.
DATES & TIMES
July 8 – August 31, 2015
Performances Nightly at 8:30pm
TICKET INFORMATION
Advance Tickets $15 – $230
A Pageant Ticket also acts a season pass to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show
SPONSORS
The Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters are sponsored in part by Fidelity Investments, KOST Radio 103.5, the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, and Orange County Register.
LOCATION
Irvine Bowl at the Festival of Arts
650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
FOR INFORMATION & TICKETS
# # #
Sharbie Higuchi, Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Festival of Arts • 650 Laguna Canyon Road • Laguna Beach, CA 92651
