Pageant of Our Lord
Encyclopedia
The Pageant of Our Lord is a living arts pageant produced by Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Rolling Hills Estates, California
. The pageant, started in 1986, presents the life of Christ
through living art accompanied with narration, a 60-voice choir, and a full orchestra every year for 17 performances in the weeks leading up to Easter
. Since its founding, the show is believed to have been seen by over 160,000 people.
Each year the pageant presents 14 works of art, and over the years the pageant has re-created over 40 art pieces that are stored and rotated through yearly to make the pageant different year after year. Famous works of art recreated in the pageant include Leonardo DaVinci's The Last Supper and Michelangelo's Pietà
which, due to popular demand, are included every year. Music to accompany the art includes famous works such as Handel
's Hallelujah Chorus, Modest Mussorgsky
's The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition
, and Martin Luther
's A Mighty Fortress is Our God
. The pageant is the creation of over 300 volunteers who help as models, make-up artists, actors, singers, musicians, carpenters, ushers, and technicians.
The pageant was founded by Producer and Music Director Dr. David Halverson and Art Director Rassie Harper who got the idea from Pageant of the Masters
in Laguna Beach, California
. The first production featured 6 works of art and man challenges to the founders of the pageant. Today, while Halverson remains the Producer and Music Director, the current Art Director is Brad Hicks. The pageant has gotten coverage from media in the South Bay area as well as internationally for it original presentation of the life of Christ and the depths to which it has stirred audiences.
Rolling Hills Estates, California
Rolling Hills Estates is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 8,067 at the 2010 census, up from 7,676 at the 2000 census....
. The pageant, started in 1986, presents the life of Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
through living art accompanied with narration, a 60-voice choir, and a full orchestra every year for 17 performances in the weeks leading up to Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
. Since its founding, the show is believed to have been seen by over 160,000 people.
Each year the pageant presents 14 works of art, and over the years the pageant has re-created over 40 art pieces that are stored and rotated through yearly to make the pageant different year after year. Famous works of art recreated in the pageant include Leonardo DaVinci's The Last Supper and Michelangelo's Pietà
Pietà
The Pietà is a subject in Christian art depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Jesus, most often found in sculpture. As such, it is a particular form of the Lamentation of Christ, a scene from the Passion of Christ found in cycles of the Life of Christ...
which, due to popular demand, are included every year. Music to accompany the art includes famous works such as Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Hallelujah Chorus, Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Mussorgsky
Modest Petrovich Mussorgsky was a Russian composer, one of the group known as 'The Five'. He was an innovator of Russian music in the romantic period...
's The Great Gate of Kiev from Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures at an Exhibition is a suite in ten movements composed for piano by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky in 1874.The suite is Mussorgsky's most famous piano composition, and has become a showpiece for virtuoso pianists...
, and Martin Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
's A Mighty Fortress is Our God
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
"A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is the best known of Martin Luther's hymns. Luther wrote the words and composed the melody sometime between 1527 and 1529. It has been translated into English at least seventy times and also into many other languages...
. The pageant is the creation of over 300 volunteers who help as models, make-up artists, actors, singers, musicians, carpenters, ushers, and technicians.
The pageant was founded by Producer and Music Director Dr. David Halverson and Art Director Rassie Harper who got the idea from Pageant of the Masters
Pageant of the Masters
The Pageant of the Masters is an annual festival held by the Festival of Arts in Laguna Beach, California. The event is known for its tableaux vivant or "living pictures" in which classical and contemporary works of art are recreated by real people who are made to look nearly identical to the...
in Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach, California
Laguna Beach is a seaside resort city and artist community located in southern Orange County, California, United States, approximately southwest of the county seat of Santa Ana...
. The first production featured 6 works of art and man challenges to the founders of the pageant. Today, while Halverson remains the Producer and Music Director, the current Art Director is Brad Hicks. The pageant has gotten coverage from media in the South Bay area as well as internationally for it original presentation of the life of Christ and the depths to which it has stirred audiences.