A little taste of Pageant of the Masters’ ‘Happiness’

What is happiness? Philosophers have tried to answer that question for centuries, and at the Festival of Arts’ annual meeting Wednesday, Diane Challis Davy gave a few concrete examples.

“Happiness is youth, exuberance, recess, playing in a fountain, a sweetheart, your wedding day and a brand-new kitchen,” the pageant director said to a crowded Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts grounds, describing next summer’s Pageant of the Masters show, “The Pursuit of Happiness.”

She added a perfect cup of coffee, freedom, having hope for tomorrow and gratitude to her list.

The artworks that will be recreated as “living pictures” next summer appeared in a slideshow. Images from an 1868 Currier and Ives lithograph, “Youth: Season of Love,” to Norman Rockwell’s 1960 “The Window Washer” flashed on a screen.

Included was a bronze statue of George Washington, an oil painting of Betsy Ross presenting the American flag and various marble sculptures in the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.

And, of course, the show will end with the traditional finale.

“We must have ‘The Last Supper,’” Challis Davy said to applause.

Laguna Beach Mayor Elizabeth Pearson was unable to attend the meeting, but City Councilman Steve Dicterow said he views the festival as one of the city’s core organizations.

“There’s no organization in town closer to my heart than Festival of Arts,” Dicterow said. “The relationship between the city and Festival of Arts has never been better.”

He explained that the board is forward-thinking, and the city knows to get out of the way and let the Festival of Arts run its programs.

Festival President Fred Sattler spoke about the plans for a new entrance.

The $3.5-million project will include a revamped facade made primarily of recycled materials, such as copper and zinc, in grays and greens. The plan also calls for a landscaped pedestrian promenade designed as a gathering place with seats. The promenade would replace a 13-space public parking lot in front of the grounds.

“The design is still in progress,” Sattler said. “We are fine-tuning it over the next months.”

The facade replacement was designed by Bauer Architects, a Newport Beach-based architectural firm that was recognized by the Orange County chapter of the American Institute of Architects for the work.

Treasurer Anita Mangels reported that the festival concluded its 2014 season solidly in the black. It brought in more than $9 million in revenue, predominantly in Pageant of the Masters ticket sales, while $8.4 million went into producing the pageant and fine art exhibit, she said.

Mangels noted there were two fewer days in the pageant this year because of the need to adhere to the school calendar.

“We are totally dependent on our volunteers,” Mangels said, referring to many of the children who participate in or help out at the pageant during the summer.

Mangels reported that the festival has more than $14 million in assets, but added that the organization is putting money into the grounds.

“We owe our success to the volunteers, the artists, staff, sponsors and members,” Mangels said. “This is something we can be proud of and extremely grateful for.”

Volunteers were presented with Life Membership Awards for lending their time and talents to the pageant for at least 15 years. Among the honored were volunteers from the makeup department — as well as “Jesus.” Anthony Loesch, who plays the central figure of Christianity, has donned Christ’s attire and frozen for 90 seconds during the show’s conclusion: Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.” This year marked his 15th year playing the part.

Members expressed enthusiasm for next year’s pageant.

Lenore Riechlin, who has been a Festival of Arts member for 37 years and is a painter, sculptor and jewelry designer, said she plans to sit in the front row for next summer’s production.

A friend told her she had seen the show once and didn’t need to visit a second or third time.

“It’s like a sunset,” Riechlin said. “How you can say, ‘I saw that once?’ This is living art that turns into magic.”