Pageant of the Masters Brings Art to Life Pageant of the Masters Brings Art to Life

Pageant of the Masters is a one-of-a-kind theatrical performance art show that brings famous works of art to life. Held outside at the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach, California, the Pageant combines live performances and stunning visual arts, recreating famous masterpieces using real people as living paintings, sculptures and other works of art.

The 2023 theme was “Art Colony: In the Company of Artists.” The 2024 theme is A La Mode: The Art of Fashion, taking us on a journey from the Paris Fashion House through Fabulous Footwear to the Last Supper.

Pageant of the Masters - makeup being applied — Makeup application before the show. Photo credit: Ron Azevedo

At the Art Colony show, the performers are carefully costumed and made up to look exactly like their counterparts in the original works. Most of the time I could not tell the difference, even with binoculars (bring your own or rent a pair at the venue).

The result is truly magical.

Pageant of the Masters - Backstage, readying recreation of The Sketchers by John Singer Sargent. — Backstage, readying recreation of The Sketchers by John Singer Sargent. Photo credit: Ron Azevedo

In addition to the tableaux vivants (“living pictures”), the Pageant also features a live orchestra, original music, and a narration that provides context for each piece. I do not know art history so the narration was key for me as the show took us from Monet through the more contemporary works of art of the Harlem Renaissance, and closed with DaVinci’s “The Last Supper.”

Midway through the show, the audience got a behind-the-scenes look at how the living pictures are created and that was fascinating.

This festival of performing art is celebrating its 90th anniversary, is 90 minutes long and is performed nightly from July to September.

In short: the Pageant of the Masters is worth it. It’s a must-see, unique and unforgettable experience that I can’t stop talking about. Can’t wait to see what next year’s show will be.

Local Artist Participation

While the primary focus of the Pageant of the Masters is on the reenactment of artworks, local artists may be involved as actors, costume and makeup designers, set designers, prop creation, artistic direction, and exhibition. A pageant of this scale takes a village.

Pageant of the Masters - Recreation of Oyster Gatherers Of Cancale by John Singer Sargent. — Recreation of Oyster Gatherers Of Cancale by John Singer Sargent. Photo credit: VICTORIA ELDER (Festival of Arts)

Tips for the Best Pageant of the Masters Experience

Buy your pageant tickets early. This Laguna art show is a popular event and tickets sell out quickly. Check Groupon for special pricing.
Be prepared for any weather. This annual event, held in an outdoor amphitheater, is performed rain or shine, so check the forecast before you go and tuck a rain poncho into your purse.
Dress comfortably. Because the show is held outdoors, it gets cool at night. Bring a jacket and a blanket. Blankets are available for purchase.
Rent or bring binoculars and seat cushions. We had great seats, but it’s fun to see the amazing detail in each piece of living art. Plus with binoculars, you worry less about where you sit. I rented binoculars for Act 2 and what a difference!
Bring the kids. The Pageant is family-friendly. Kids 4+ are welcome.
Arrive early. There is a lot to see! The junior art exhibit is fantastic, featuring artists from grades 1-12. The showroom inside is packed full of all kinds of art.
Bring your own food and drinks. Personal snacks and beverages are allowed (coolers, picnic baskets, or any other containers should be no larger than 14”x14”x14”). You can bring your own booze, too, if you’re age 21 or older. Note, though, that glass bottles and containers are not allowed and intoxication is not tolerated.
Drinks are sold there. Terra, Intermission, and the Wine Bar on the Festival of Arts grounds sell food, alcohol, snacks and drinks.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Go past the first bar to the concession stands for reasonably priced snacks and drinks.

Pageant of the Masters - Recreation of Jane Avril by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. — Recreation of Jane Avril by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec. Photo credit: VICTORIA ELDER (Festival of Arts)

Pageant of the Masters Details

Accessible seating areas are available.
The show starts promptly at 8:30pm, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to find your seats and get settled in.
Intermission is 15 minutes.
There are a number of restrooms located throughout the amphitheater.
No photography or audio/video recording of any kind is permitted during the Pageant.
Performances are nightly through September 1, 2023.

Getting There

The Irvine Bowl is located at 650 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA 92651.

There is a parking lot located next to the amphitheater, but it can fill up quickly. If you’re planning on driving, I recommend arriving early to secure a spot. Free trolleys are available to shuttle people to downtown Laguna and to distant parking lots.

Laguna Beach is 50 miles (1-1.5 hours) from Los Angeles, 85 miles (1.5-2 hours) from San Diego and 400 miles from San Francisco (6-7 hours).

If you aren’t driving, there are several transportation options depending on your starting location and preferences:

By Air: The closest major airport is John Wayne Airport (SNA) Santa Ana in Orange County. From there, it’s about a 15-mile ride via car rental, taxi, ride-share service or shuttle.
By Train: You can take Amtrak and Metrolink to the nearby cities of Irvine or Anaheim and then take a cab or ride-share to Irvine Bowl.
By Bus: Various bus services operate within California, such as Greyhound and Megabus, which can take you to nearby cities like Santa Ana or Irvine. From there, you can take a cab or ride-share to the Pageant.