By 
Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Beach’s world-famous theatrical celebration of art through the magic of tableaux vivants (“living pictures”), is pleased to announce the 2022 theme is “Wonderful World.” In summer 2022’s show, a kaleidoscope of international art becomes a passport to distant lands, cultural celebrations, and fascinating history.
Pageant of the Masters Tickets for 2022 can be purchased online at www.PageantTickets.com or by calling (800) 487-3378.
Production plans for the 2022 Pageant of the Masters are already under way and Pageant Director Challis Davy is once again working with veteran Pageant scriptwriter Dan Duling and Pageant narrator Richard Doyle.
“One of my favorite heroines who provided inspiration for next year’s Pageant is the intrepid American journalist: Nellie Bly,” Challis Davy said. “In the 1890’s, she attempted to travel round the world in fewer than 80-days, the challenge imagined in Jules Verne’s fictional classic Around the World in 80 Days. We’re researching her travel logs, diaries and ephemera related to her ambitious solo journey. Did she accomplish her mission? You’ll have to see the show!”
Tickets to Pageant of the Masters 2022
The 2022 Pageant of the Masters production “Wonderful World” is July 7 – September 3, 2022 with advance tickets on sale December 1, 2021 starting $25 per person. To stay up to date on all things Pageant of the Masters and Festival of Arts, follow the Festival on social media at @FestivalPageant and visit www.foapom.com.
The 2022 Pageant production of “Wonderful World” will include live re-creations of art from all over the world including works of art by Swedish painter Carl Larsson, Italian painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, French artist Jean Béraud, Edvard Eriksen from Denmark, Japanese woodblock artist Toyohara Chikanobu, and many more.
“There are so many great artworks to recreate,” Challis Davy said. “I especially like our selections of African art, and our recreations of works by Swedish painter Carl Larsson. There is a beautiful painting of a Venice canal with carnival revelers by Tiepolo. And we’ll end the first act with a fantastic world dance party!”
“We’ll visit 17 countries in 90 minutes…. That’s what I call a ‘Bon Voyage!’” added Challis Davy. “I hope world travel and experiencing life in other countries will become easy again. In the meantime, we are going to celebrate – through living pictures, music, and dance – here in the Irvine Bowl. And our professional composers and orchestra will fill the Bowl with original and authentic music from around the world.”
Donate Tickets
The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach is once again providing the opportunity for patrons to donate Pageant of the Masters tickets to local nonprofits through its Masters at Giving program. These tickets are only $40 each, located in the Director’s Tier side section of the Irvine Bowl, and will also admit the non-profit group to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show all summer long.
Give the gift of living pictures and an unforgettable experience to the 2022 performance of “Wonderful World” today by visiting www.foapom.com/support/masters-at-giving/.
Since 2011, the Masters at Giving program has donated over 14,000 Pageant tickets to charitable and non-profit organizations in the Southern California area. Through the Masters at Giving program, Pageant tickets have been given to frontline responders, senior centers, at-risk youth, veterans groups, art students, outreach organizations, military families, food banks, mentoring programs and many more.
About Pageant of the Masters
The Pageant of the Masters has been a Laguna Beach tradition since the 1930’s and now attracts over 225,000 patrons every summer. In preparation for “Wonderful World”, Challis Davy is once again summoning her creative energies and inspiring her talented team of theatrical artists as they breathe life into this one-of-a-kind entertainment. Eighty-nine years after its first humble incarnation at the 1933 Festival of Arts, the Pageant remains a celebration of art featuring live, original music and narration, and breathtaking theatrical illusions performed in the Irvine Bowl.
As always, Challis Davy and her team of artists and technicians realize the Pageant wouldn’t be possible without its dedicated volunteers who return year after year.
Celebrating 90 Years of Influential Women
This summer, on July 5, 2022, the world-renowned Festival of Arts will open its doors to celebrate the nonprofit’s 90-year anniversary, welcoming thousands of patrons to relish in one of the nation’s top fine art festivals.
In celebration of this 90th anniversary milestone year, the Festival of Arts has cracked open its archives to highlight some major historical moments from its timeline. From the first artwork sold to current times, women have always played an important role in the Festival of Arts. Thousands of female artists have showcased their artwork at the Festival of Arts since its inception and thousands more have helped behind-the-scenes as volunteers, staff and board members to mold the organization into the cultural phenomena that it is today.
On opening day of the Festival of Arts in 1932, artist Virginia Wooley’s painting The Flower Market was one of the first pieces sold. Virginia was an active participant in the creation and growth of the Festival, helping to establish exhibitor policies for the art show and contributing to the children’s art program. She served on the Festival’s first board of directors, alongside four other women, including Marie Ropp, who helped to shape the Pageant into what it is today.
In the mid 1930’s, Marie Ropp and her husband Roy took the Pageant from a sideshow attraction to a full theatrical production. Marie researched and wrote the narration, selected music, created costumes and oversaw many production details for the early Pageant performances. Thanks to her efforts, the Pageant became a theatrical phenomenon attracting audiences from around the world to see what Marie Ropp would later describe as “Art That Lives and Breathes.”
These women’s contributions to the Festival of Arts paved the way for more female artists as the organization grew.
Artists Monica Dunham, Anne England and Mada Leach created countless opportunities for creativity and inspiration through their passion for the arts. They helped to expand arts education at the Festival of Arts and beyond through teaching classes, establishing exhibit tours, and creating programs to support local artists. Their contributions to the art community are as numerous as the artists’ lives they’ve touched.
In 1957, the Festival of Arts established its scholarship program and awarded the very first scholarship to Sally Dunn Reed, a senior graduating from Laguna Beach High. Since then, over $3 million dollars has been awarded to local students in the areas of film, performing arts, visual arts and writing. One of those recipients would later go on to be the first female director of the Pageant of the Masters.
In 1996, Diane Challis Davy was named Pageant Director and she has spearheaded the curation, theme, and production of each Pageant performance for the last 26-years, including this summer’s production of Wonderful World. In 2019, Diane was named one of the Top 10 Female Industry Innovators by Advanced Imaging Society for her innovative use of technology to enhance art and storytelling. Also under her leadership, the Pageant received the prestigious Thea Classic Award from the Themed Entertainment Association, recognizing outstanding attractions from around the world.
Steeped in history, countless women have helped to shape the Festival of Arts into what it is today, an organization that appreciates, encourages, and values creative people.
2022 FESTIVAL OF ARTS FINE ART SHOW & PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS
This summer the Festival of Arts is celebrating a major milestone: its 90th anniversary. On Saturday, August 13th, 1932 the Festival of Arts opened its doors for the very first time as two dozen artists hung their paintings on fences, trees, and buildings along Laguna’s main street hoping to lure tourists to the first Festival of Arts. This summer, on Tuesday July 5th, 2022, the world-renowned Festival of Arts Fine Art Show will open its doors to celebrate 90 years of art, welcoming hundreds of patrons to relish in one of the nation’s top fine art festivals.
In celebration of its 90th anniversary, the Festival of Arts will host 120 award-winning artists from July 5th through September 2nd. This professionally juried fine art show features a diverse selection of artwork including paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and more from artists around Orange County. Since opening in 1932, thousands have shown and sold their artwork at the Festival and many have their work featured in the private collections of leading art collectors, celebrities, and museums around the world. For a full list of the 2021 participating artists, please visit www.foapom.com/exhibitor-gallery.
Festival of Arts Fine Art Show
July 5 – September 2, 2022
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org
(949) 494-1145
Join the Festival of Arts in celebrating 90 years of art! Set in a beautiful open-air gallery, this highly acclaimed juried fine art show features the work of over 100 award-winning Orange County artists. From paintings, glass, ceramics, photography and more, the Festival showcases a variety of mediums and artwork styles for avid collectors and festivalgoers to browse and purchase directly from the artists. In addition to the artwork on display, visitors can enjoy art demonstrations, live music performances on select days, opportunities to meet the artists and more.
General Admission: Weekdays $10, Weekends $15; Students & Seniors: Weekdays $7, Weekends $11; Children 6-12: $5; Free Admission for Children 5 and under, Military, and Laguna Beach Residents.
ART TOURS
Free art tours are held Monday through Thursday at 4:30 pm and Friday through Sunday at 12 noon and 4:30 pm. Meet the artists and learn firsthand about their techniques through discussions and artist demos.
Pageant of the Masters “Wonderful World”
July 7 – September 2, 2022
Shows Nightly at 8:30pm
650 Laguna Canyon Road
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Buy Pageant of the Masters tickets at: www.pageanttickets.com
(949) 497-6582 | (800) 487-3378
The Pageant of the Masters is a unique production unduplicated around the entire world. Each evening during the summer season, classic and contemporary works of art are faithfully re-created with theatrical illusion and real people posing as living pictures. Enjoy art that comes to life under the stars in the Pageant’s outdoor amphitheater.
A kaleidoscope of international art becomes your passport to distant lands, cultural celebrations and fascinating history in the 2022 production of Wonderful World. Transported through the theatrical art of living pictures, the Pageant sets sail in pursuit of seasonal festivities, ancient and modern, promising new surprises at every turn. Prepare to be amazed by the Pageant’s intoxicating blend of original music, storytelling and stage illusions. Wonderful World is a love letter to our common humanity, and the countless ways in which artists have asked the eternal question: “Why are we here?”
Pageant of the Masters tickets start at $25 per person (Includes season pass to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show).
Where to Stay for Pageant of the Masters
Traveling to Pageant of the Masters or just want somewhere fun to stay afterwards to make a night of it? Here are a few hotel suggestions all less than a mile from the Pageant of the Masters:
Pacific Edge Hotel on Laguna Beach
Booking.com Pageant of the Masters
What do you think?