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Living Portraits Tell the Easter Story
ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA (March 17, 2005) - The Pageant of Our Lord
presentation is celebrating its 20th anniversary at Rolling Hills
Covenant Church, with 16 performances scheduled through March 25.
The pageant is the featured cover story in the March edition of The
Covenant Companion. The pageant has drawn more than 150,000 people
over the past 20 years. Following is an edited version of a feature
story written by Brian Peterson that takes a closer look at this complex
production.
By Brian Peterson
Each Easter season for the past 20 years, Rolling Hills Covenant Church
has celebrated the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with the
majestic Pageant of Our Lord. More than 150,000 people have experienced
the wonder of the Pageant and the Easter message during the
presentation's tremendous run.
Inspired by the world-famous Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach,
California, and the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, the Pageant of
Our Lord - using live models posing motionless to bring to life
classical works of Christian art - has become a cultural institution in
southern California.
"The pageant is a year-round project," says pageant producer and music
director Dr. David Halverson, who also serves as worship pastor at
Rolling Hills Covenant Church, located approximately 20 miles south of
Los Angeles. "I have visited art museums in many countries of the world
searching for art that would fit the theme of the pageant and that would
be feasible to recreate in life-size dimensions. It is difficult to find
art - sculpture, paintings, ceramics - that is done in a style and has
the dimensions that our pageant can use."
The pageant, which began its performances March 11, will be presented a
total of 16 times (remaining performances are noted later). Under the
art direction of local plein aire artist Brad Hicks, the 2005 pageant
incorporates 16 sacred masterpieces, including a new piece "Doubting
Thomas," a Sixteenth Century sculpture by Andrea Del Verrocchio.
"This is my way to serve the Lord," says Hicks, who believes his
artistic talent is a gift from God. "The pageant is a beautiful way to
show God's love for humanity and to share with others the salvation we
have in Christ."
"God's Faithfulness" is the theme for the 20th anniversary production.
Karen Forest is the drama director and her husband, Guy, wrote an
original script that is accompanied by music performed by a 60-voice
choir and a full orchestra. More than 300 local volunteers are used to
assemble the artwork, paint the models, participate in the drama and
perform the musical score.
During the Pageant's 20 years, more than 40 works of art have been
created. Some of the legendary pieces include Da Vinci's "The Last
Supper;" Michelangelo's "Pieta," the South German bronze sculpture
"Calvary" by DeKeyser from the 1600s, the Fourteenth Century sculpture
"Well of Moses" that features six Old Testament prophets by Claus
Sleuter, the Seventeenth Century relief "The Sacrifice of Isaac" by
Jaeger, "Jesus with Mary and Martha" by Jan Vermeer, "The Baptism of
Christ" reproduced from a statuary group in the Sala dei Misteri, and
"Daniel in the Lion's Den," a black and white etching by Dore. The only
artistic renditions to appear in every show over the years are "The Last
Supper" and "Pieta."
"Performing in the pageant changed my life," says one of the models in
the "The Crucifixion" piece following a recent performance. "I was going
through personal and business difficulties at the time. I felt the whole
world was on my shoulders and I was looking for answers. The turning
point was the first dress rehearsal. As I climbed up the painting and
positioned myself, and the lights and the music began, I was actually
there watching Jesus be crucified. I felt forgiveness in my heart. God's
only Son died for me, and He forgave me. I finally had peace in my life,
and that's because I cast all those burdens on God and learned to forgive."
The musical score that accompanies the artwork is equally impressive,
including works from legendary composers such as Mozart, Beethoven,
Handel and Tchaikovsky. Some of the music being used for the 20th
anniversary include Great is Thy Faithfulness, Intermezzo from Cavaleria
Rusticana, On Eagles Wings/Theme from Symphony No. 6 by Tchaikovsky,
Gabriel's Oboe, Theme from Schindler's List, Ave Maria and A Mighty
Fortress.
The idea to create the Pageant of Our Lord originated with Halverson and
Stephanie MacKay in 1985. Rassie Harper, a retired local fireman with no
formal art training, served as the artistic director during the
presentation's first 17 years. Nancy Calkins penned the original script
that featured just six works of art and played to a total of 3,000
people during five performances.
The superb quality of the pageant has been highly acclaimed locally and
internationally in newspapers and on television. People who have
attended the presentation have described it as breathtaking,
exhilarating, glorious, amazing, incredible, inspiring, moving and awesome.
"I remember playing Mary in 'Pieta' for the first time," says a former
pageant actress. "Rehearsal, makeup and lights led to a concentrated
study of the pose - and finally the time for the presentation to begin.
I was excited and ready to stand motionless for the minutes it took the
orchestra to play. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with emotion. How had
Mary, the mother of Jesus, felt while holding her crucified son in her
arms? Tears flowed down my cheeks, sadness overcame me and the 'marbled'
makeup ran down my face."
A typical performance is divided equally between classical paintings and
sculptures.
One or two new pieces are created each year. A small army of artists is
used to apply body paint, specially formulated for the show, to the
models. It's like applying paint to a canvas. Highlighting and shading
are key elements to create the illusion necessary to enmesh a person
into a work of art.
When the makeup is finished, the models are skillfully positioned into a
set that has been crafted to duplicate every aspect of the classic work
of art. For example, "The Wise Men" - an heirloom Faberge-style egg by
Aline Becker of Springfield, Missouri - had to use junior high boys
because the piece could only stand 17 feet high. Adults would have made
the piece 25 feet high. Safety also is very important. Footrests,
handrails, safety belts and harnesses are used to ensure that the
models, who often are placed in demanding positions for lengths of time,
can perform without distractions.
The Pageant of Our Lord is a monumental undertaking each year, and is
revered for good reason. Not only has it provided tremendous
entertainment and exposed a variety of cultures to art, but it also has
struck a spiritual cord in the hearts of everyone who sees it.
Remaining performances include the following:
- Thursday, March 17, 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 18, 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 19, 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday, March 20, 1:00, 4:00, & 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 23, 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 24, 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 25, 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased at Rolling Hills Covenant Church on the day of
each presentation, subject to availability, or by calling 310-521-2520.
Ticket prices range from $16-20 for adults and $5-10 for children,
depending on seat selection.
(Editor's note: Brian Peterson recently served as communications
director for Rolling Hills Covenant Church.)
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
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