EXECUTIVE BRIEFCASE
Festival of Arts, Pageant of Masters
Laguna Beach, festival 10 a.m.-11:30 p.m. daily through Sept. 1; Pageant nightly at 8:30 through Aug. 30; festival admission $3/$5; children under 12 and Laguna Beach residents free; Pageant tickets $15/$65.
A 70-year tradition, the Festival of Arts and Pageant of Masters has consistently managed to retool itself for the times, and this year is no exception. Festival grounds were redesigned for a more elegant look. The 140 professional artists and 150 junior artists from OC schools remain the heart of the show, but there’s been the addition of kids’ art education programs, wine and jazz evenings, docent tours and Sunday music,and the gift shop has been expanded. This year’s Pageant theme, Heroes and Heroines, was chosen before Sept. 11, but its emphasis on courage through the ages is obviously more poignant in the wake of the terrorist attacks. From Greek goddess Europa to Superman, Betsy Ross and Lincoln to modern-day firefighters, the living picture portrayals remind us of human traits admired through the ages. The tribute to FDNY,obviously a post-Sept. 11 adjustment to the program,left few dry eyes in the house. The Pageant has sold out its full run, so if you haven’t already gotten tickets you’ll probably need to buy them from a broker or scalper,and have to pay considerably more than their face price.
RATING: FOUR BRIEFCASES (out of four)
-Sandi Cain
Disney’s Rockin’ The Bay at California Adventure
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim; summer music series of two shows daily through Aug. 23 at Paradise Pier; free with park admission.
Stars of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s add an energetic element to Paradise Pier, a classic boardwalk area featuring rides and games. Concerts (in 45-minute sets) are set on a huge stage at the edge of a lagoon, providing maximum viewing for park patrons,a good thing since seating is limited (lines formed early on the inaugural weekend featuring the Beach Boys). Other scheduled artists include the Village People, Kool & the Gang and series-closer the Monkees starring Davy Jones.
RATING: THREE BRIEFCASES (out of four)
