On August 26th, music legends Herb Alpert and Lani Hall performed during one of the most momentous nights of the summer art season: The Celebrity Benefit Concert and Pageant at the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts. Herb Alpert, Lani Hall and their band performed to nearly 3,000 fans on the Festival of Arts concert stage. “The concert was fantastic. Herb and Lani put on a fun and exciting concert that the audience loved,” said Special Events Director Susan Davis. Guests also enjoyed a private showing of the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show in its newly renovated facility, which debuted this summer as part of the Festival’s 85th anniversary celebration.
After the concert, guests proceeded to the Irvine Bowl to enjoy a special performance of the Pageant of the Masters hosted by acclaimed actor, writer, producer, director, and author Bryan Cranston. Cranston talked about his first visit to the Pageant with his wife nearly 30 years ago and how that first visit had him hooked. He also spoke about the Festival of Arts and said, “I also want to encourage you to participate in the Festival and not just from an appreciator of art, but also a participant. So when you’re looking at this art, realize that by supporting it, if you have the means to do that, please do buy the art. Support the local community. It goes so much deeper than just any one individual artist.”
After a brief introduction, Bryan Cranston then pulled the winning ticket the Festival’s summer-long raffle. The winner of 2018 Acura TLX was Norine Cusick from Laguna Woods, California. After the winner was announced, guests enjoyed a captivating performance of the critically acclaimed Pageant of the Masters production of “The Grand Tour.”
The gala event grossed over $270,000 for future arts programming and the Building Fund for improvements of the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters facility. Festival of Arts President Fred Sattler thanked the sponsors of the event and also the patrons. “Thanks to your continued support, we’re looking forward to a bright future here at the Festival and Pageant,” Sattler said. He also thanked the family of volunteers and said, “Their dedication to the Festival is an inspiration to us all.”
Also in attendance were many other celebrity guests including Shawn Christian, Lloyd Eisler, Vincent Guastaferro, Anne-Marie Johnson, Katherine Kelly Lang, Monica Lawson, Kate Linder, Erica Luttrell, Joe Mantegna, Heather McComb, Donna Mills, Esai Morales, John O’Hurley, French Stewart, Vanessa Claire Stewart, Joan Benedict Steiger, Kristy Swanson, David Tutera, Joan Van Ark, Larry Wilcox and Arianne Zucker.