Where Art Comes to Life!

Directors Blog

Diane Challis Davy is now in her nineteenth season as director/producer of Pageant of the Masters. A Laguna Beach High School alumna and co-valedictorian, she was awarded a Festival of Arts scholarship in art and drama, and while in college volunteered to be a Pageant cast member. Her B.FA. in theatre is from California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, where she studied set and costume design. Challis Davy began her professional association with the Pageant in 1980 in its costume department. Demonstrating her talents as a scenic painter and designer, she was promoted to Assistant Pageant Director. In 2008 she received the Art Star Artist of the Year Award from the Laguna Beach Arts Alliance

Read Behind-the-Scenes notes straight from the Pageant Director.

3/31/15 – Pageant Video Shoot

Part One: Getting ready for a video shoot. Part of the Pageant Director’s job is planning for the video shoots that we produce backstage. This year we were inspired to create a video sequence by a victorian era painting of a young bride on her wedding day. The painting is called “Changing Homes” and will [...]

2016-11-22T19:42:08-08:00Mar 31, 2015|Directors Blog, Pageant of the Masters|
Read More

05/16/14 – From the Archives

A 1978  Pageant of the Masters recreation of the Egyptian Temple of Ramses at Abu Simbel. Don and Doug Williamson designed and built the set. What a magnificent job they did! This monumental sculpture is also a part of 2014 Pageant line-up. Apropos of this year’s theme 'the Art Detective', Technical Director/Designer Richard Hill and [...]

2016-11-22T19:34:37-08:00May 16, 2014|Directors Blog|
Read More

05/09/14 – Detective Set

This is a rough sketch I made for a set design for our opening credits video for "THE ART DETECTIVE." It's how I communicate my ideas to Richard Hill (Technical Director). Richard (Butch) Hill had a faux brick wall constructed in our studios and then over several weeks I “dressed” the set using furniture, books [...]

2016-11-22T19:34:45-08:00May 09, 2014|Directors Blog|
Read More

05/02/2014 – A Novel Inspiration

Recently read Mildred Pierce by James M. Cain. Wonderful story! Also a great movie with Joan Crawford. His work is mentioned in this year’s Pageant “The ART Detective.” He must have spent some time in Laguna Beach as the main character in Mildred Pierce operates a restaurant here. Also mentioned in the novel is Victor [...]

2016-11-22T19:27:20-08:00May 02, 2014|Directors Blog|
Read More