Hooray! THE Ever-Amazing Pageant of the Masters/Festival of Art -2014: July 9-thru-August 30 "The Art Detective"- & 140 Fine Local Festival Artists

Event Reviews: Patch Entertainment Events Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, Cypress, Long Beach, Belmont Shore, Naples... Pageant of the Masters/Festival of Art -2014: July 9-thru-August 30 "The Art Detective"- & 140 Fine Local Festival Artists By: Joseph Sirota, Entertainment Reviewer Ah! It must be summer soon cause' the unique Laguna Pageant of the Masters & Festival of fine current local artists is near. Each Year, the Living Art’s Pageant team cleverly chooses a year’s “theme”. Then starts the creative challenge of wisely selecting witty, entertaining, and strikingly amazing works of varied art types (Paintings, Sculptures, Posters, Monuments, and works of Games, Magazines...Jewelry...) to delightfully fill the artistic theme. "WOW-ing" packed audiences in the Laguna outstanding hillside arena, has become not only recreating the art pieces themselves, but also finely narrating tales of each work of art, with who, why, when & how's of the magnificent artworks. As if that wasn't enough to knock us off our seats--a fine exceptional live orchestra further carries us joyfully and heavenly all evening (some song/dance/fun, too.) It's a Winner! (since Depression Days). Tickets are always very popular indeed, so hurry! (season July 9-Aug 30). The theme for 2014’s Laguna Beach 81st anniversary Pageant is "The Art Detective". Several art works center directly on fictional detective tales, like Britain's Sherlock Holmes, & 2 Whodunit 1940's USA Movies' Posters of classic Double Indemnity & The Dark Corner. But many examples of outstanding works of "Live Art" center on dangers of theft of sky value works of art. Some strong arts had protection against wars(trying dearly to protect, or hide most beloved works of art), in fear of having top, a country's arts of their heroes being "TAKEN AWAY" by enemy countries demanding to take the incredible art values as "spoils of war". A giant example is one of the world's favorites, the brilliant Dutch Rembrandt's THE NIGHT WATCH, you'll hear with heart, how Holland tried to protect such immeasurable works of art like this by the genius artists such as Rembrandt. Also protected were Dutch works by the brilliant Vermeer, de Hooch & Jan van Eyck from daring loss to the power of Germany in WWII. Yet another "core" of detecting mysteries over art are several very touching works of extreme people in power central to history, whose lives, loves, and "rivals" put them into "mysteries" of their own, (without fictitious detectives). You will see Bigger-Than-Life, deeply moving and captivating leaders including: Cleopatra, Nefertari, Ramses, Tutankhamun, Olympia, Medusa, Queen Victoria, & Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. Each "BIG" Persona being portrayed and equally brought to intense Living Art. The Pageant has become a worldwide classic, drawing visitors from afar plus many faithful OC/LA/SD residents returning year after year (like me) because it’s not only a just tradition, but also an ever changing, surprising & dazzling open-air entertainment hardly met by others. A few weeks ago a Proview was shown to Reviewers/Press, & once again, it spelled out excellent sharp entertainment, beauty, & creativity. It also showed the most impressive painstaking hard work by an army of dedicated near citizens who give weeks and weeks of time in the recreating of artistic people who will be thoroughly "prepared" in every looks, clothes & hair, etc to become the stars on the star (hours of daily work--for minutes of each Living Art few minutes, (& then "cleaning-up") - all for audience delight, nightly all summer. The whole family of little & big actors, has to boldly adjust their season's timings. A noble army of the creative backstage people who make the people & ART all come together to perfection, are about as fine, talent, worker-bees, you'd ever pray for if you had a business to run. This "gotta" be love!! Bravo! For these enlightening peeks, got to see. As amazing as I have always found a BRAVO! for the pageant (decades). It never fails to amaze both new and Olde-Time devoted audiences. And when you see a little cute little kidlet getting ready for being a 300 year old --other world character & suddenly see the same little guy "perfectly" portraying the boy in the golden Giant Frame of the Art...Well-you'll laff &Sigh. Though the legendary Living-Art Pageant is recognized as the main, unusual evening event, don’t underrate the adjacent Festival of Arts from local artists. The 140 fine creative artists' offerings, are remarkably diverse, excellent in quality & expands artistic expressions. You're bound to find some remarkable works new to you (from powerfully intense, to lightly whimsical, to opening your thoughts & feelings to new ideas). A walk, (& perhaps purchase) are worth seeing, & the artists worth meeting & maybe buying a "special" piece that wins you over (most items displayed are for sale, so you can likely "get" a piece "you just gotta' have"). For a truly special emotional/fun experience within the Local Arts walk-through don’t miss the ever-inspiring Young-Artists section. It lovingly spans from Kindergarten to High School Snr artists. Think they've got Pizzazz? In ever year I've smiled & pondered thru the young new artistes... & Every year I felt I found a new Dali ! Separate Festival-only admission is available, but Pageant tickets include the fine arts festival (for a tasty/thrift combo). ____________________________________________________________ . …The Pageant of the Masters-Living pictures Nightly @ 8:30pm-With Festival of Arts starts Nightly @ 4:00pm @ 650 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. July 9-Thru-Aug 30. Tickets: $25-up. Pageant tickets include Festival of Arts..Info-Call: (949) 494-1145 or (800) 487-3378. www.PageantoftheMasters.org Laguna’s Pageant of the Masters/Festival of Arts is unique and "a true must-see".