State Of The Festival Of Arts Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—Festival of Arts Laguna Beach held its annual meeting outside on a chilly Tuesday evening. President David Perry revealed how shockingly close the novel coronavirus came to shuttering the festival and Pageant of the Masters for good.

But before he went into detail, Perry acknowledged the recent passing of board member Bob Moffett, "a gentle soul and great listener."

When the inevitable decision to cancel 2020 happened, Perry explained, the festival had already sold $3 million in tickets. As the refund requests poured in, the fear grew. All that money had been spent in preparing for the summer festival and the Made In America-themed pageant. The management team recovered from the shock and dug in.

Every single ticket holder was called or emailed. As treasurer Fred Sattler later confirmed that $1.2 million was refunded, $2 million rolled over to 2021 tickets and the rest donated to the Festival of Arts for its survival of the shutdown. Applications were made for every grant or government rescue program available. Virtual exhibits and concerts were held. The annual fundraiser went online and raised an astonishing $300,000.

Of course, continued Perry, they still didn't know if the 2021 festival would be able to happen. So they prepared cautiously and again spent the money to prepare.

The City was helpful every step of the way, with one police officer tasked with monitoring the shifting COVID-19 protocols for in-person events.

On a lighter note, artistic director Diane Challis Davy had to make some casting changes because younger volunteers had shot up in height 18 months since the first cast. The orchestra was made smaller.

But, as we all know, the 2021 festival happened. Art sales did well. And the held-over American theme from 2020's pageant was particularly poignant.

Sattler declared the Festival of Arts is currently debt-free, with a reserve of more than $2 million.

Perry claimed the government funds for shuttered venues truly saved so many arts organizations in Laguna Beach.

"I believe the worst is behind us now," he concluded, after thanking the entire community of volunteers, government agencies, staff and patrons for their resiliency.

Then it was on to the fun stuff:

Plaques were bestowed on seven volunteers with 15 summers under their belts. Decades of service by staff members were recognized with tantalizingly wrapped gifts.

Lifetime membership was awarded to Pat Sparkuhl by unanimous vote of the board—meant to be presented at 2020's annual meeting—which was gratefully accepted. He has been integral to the Festival of Arts for 40 years as an exhibitor, educator and specialist in the permanent collection.

Next, onward to 2022, when the production theme will be: "Wonderful World."

After a slideshow of artworks that will be recreated in the Irvine Bowl, Challis Davy said to expect "17 countries in 90 minutes." Her inspiration was Nellie Bly, who attempted to "go around the world in 80 days" a la Jules Verne back in the 19th century.

Thailand, Egypt, China, Africa and Japan are just a few of the stops. Humans will become lithographs, recycled metal, murals, book covers, woodblock prints, concrete and marble thanks to the magic of pageant makeup and lighting artists.

Patch was concerned there may be no opportunity for confetti fireworks, but was relieved to see the first act will culminate in "A World's Fair." Think global dance party gone wild.

Dan Duling will be back to write the script that Richard Doyle will narrate.

And perhaps it is a wish that someday soon we'll travel freely once again.

Tickets go on sale on December 1, 2021.

As a reward for reading all the way down to the end, here's a heads up. The Festival of Arts is having a yard sale the Saturday after Thanksgiving called Bizarre Bazaar. Prices range from $1 to $1,500 for artifacts and assorted ephemera collected over decades of pageants and art shows.

"Wonderful World" opens July 7, 2022. Just after fireworks celebrating the Fourth of July.