Covenant News
Living Portraits Tell the Easter Story
ROLLING HILLS ESTATES, CA (March 17, 2005) - The Pageant of Our Lord presentation is celebrating its 20th anniversary at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, with 16 performances scheduled through March 25.The pageant is the featured cover story in the March edition of The Covenant Companion. The pageant has drawn more than 150,000 people over the past 20 years. Following is an edited version of a feature story written by Brian Peterson that takes a closer look at this complex production.
By Brian Peterson
Each Easter season for the past 20 years, Rolling Hills Covenant Church has celebrated the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with the majestic Pageant of Our Lord. More than 150,000 people have experienced the wonder of the Pageant and the Easter message during the presentation's tremendous run.
Inspired by the world-famous Pageant of the Masters in Laguna Beach,
California, and the Oberammergau Passion Play in Germany, the Pageant of
Our Lord - using live models posing motionless to bring to life
classical works of Christian art - has become a cultural institution in
southern California.
"The pageant is a year-round project," says pageant producer and music director Dr. David Halverson, who also serves as worship pastor at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, located approximately 20 miles south of Los Angeles. "I have visited art museums in many countries of the world searching for art that would fit the theme of the pageant and that would be feasible to recreate in life-size dimensions. It is difficult to find art - sculpture, paintings, ceramics - that is done in a style and has the dimensions that our pageant can use."
The pageant, which began its performances March 11, will be presented a total of 16 times (remaining performances are noted later). Under the art direction of local plein aire artist Brad Hicks, the 2005 pageant incorporates 16 sacred masterpieces, including a new piece "Doubting Thomas," a Sixteenth Century sculpture by Andrea Del Verrocchio.
"This is my way to serve the Lord," says Hicks, who believes his artistic talent is a gift from God. "The pageant is a beautiful way to show God's love for humanity and to share with others the salvation we have in Christ."
"God's Faithfulness" is the theme for the 20th anniversary production. Karen Forest is the drama director and her husband, Guy, wrote an original script that is accompanied by music performed by a 60-voice choir and a full orchestra. More than 300 local volunteers are used to assemble the artwork, paint the models, participate in the drama and perform the musical score.
During the Pageant's 20 years, more than 40 works of art have been created. Some of the legendary pieces include Da Vinci's "The Last Supper;" Michelangelo's "Pieta," the South German bronze sculpture "Calvary" by DeKeyser from the 1600s, the Fourteenth Century sculpture "Well of Moses" that features six Old Testament prophets by Claus Sleuter, the Seventeenth Century relief "The Sacrifice of Isaac" by Jaeger, "Jesus with Mary and Martha" by Jan Vermeer, "The Baptism of Christ" reproduced from a statuary group in the Sala dei Misteri, and "Daniel in the Lion's Den," a black and white etching by Dore. The only artistic renditions to appear in every show over the years are "The Last Supper" and "Pieta."
"Performing in the pageant changed my life," says one of the models in
the "The Crucifixion" piece following a recent performance. "I was going
through personal and business difficulties at the time. I felt the whole
world was on my shoulders and I was looking for answers. The turning
point was the first dress rehearsal. As I climbed up the painting and
positioned myself, and the lights and the music began, I was actually
there watching Jesus be crucified. I felt forgiveness in my heart. God's
only Son died for me, and He forgave me. I finally had peace in my life,
and that's because I cast all those burdens on God and learned to forgive."
The musical score that accompanies the artwork is equally impressive, including works from legendary composers such as Mozart, Beethoven, Handel and Tchaikovsky. Some of the music being used for the 20th anniversary include Great is Thy Faithfulness, Intermezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana, On Eagles Wings/Theme from Symphony No. 6 by Tchaikovsky, Gabriel's Oboe, Theme from Schindler's List, Ave Maria and A Mighty Fortress.
The idea to create the Pageant of Our Lord originated with Halverson and Stephanie MacKay in 1985. Rassie Harper, a retired local fireman with no formal art training, served as the artistic director during the presentation's first 17 years. Nancy Calkins penned the original script that featured just six works of art and played to a total of 3,000 people during five performances.
The superb quality of the pageant has been highly acclaimed locally and internationally in newspapers and on television. People who have attended the presentation have described it as breathtaking, exhilarating, glorious, amazing, incredible, inspiring, moving and awesome.
"I remember playing Mary in 'Pieta' for the first time," says a former pageant actress. "Rehearsal, makeup and lights led to a concentrated study of the pose - and finally the time for the presentation to begin. I was excited and ready to stand motionless for the minutes it took the orchestra to play. Suddenly, I was overwhelmed with emotion. How had Mary, the mother of Jesus, felt while holding her crucified son in her arms? Tears flowed down my cheeks, sadness overcame me and the 'marbled' makeup ran down my face."
A typical performance is divided equally between classical paintings and sculptures. One or two new pieces are created each year. A small army of artists is used to apply body paint, specially formulated for the show, to the models. It's like applying paint to a canvas. Highlighting and shading are key elements to create the illusion necessary to enmesh a person into a work of art.
When the makeup is finished, the models are skillfully positioned into a
set that has been crafted to duplicate every aspect of the classic work
of art. For example, "The Wise Men" - an heirloom Faberge-style egg by
Aline Becker of Springfield, Missouri - had to use junior high boys
because the piece could only stand 17 feet high. Adults would have made
the piece 25 feet high. Safety also is very important. Footrests,
handrails, safety belts and harnesses are used to ensure that the
models, who often are placed in demanding positions for lengths of time,
can perform without distractions.
The Pageant of Our Lord is a monumental undertaking each year, and is revered for good reason. Not only has it provided tremendous entertainment and exposed a variety of cultures to art, but it also has struck a spiritual cord in the hearts of everyone who sees it.
Remaining performances include the following:
- Thursday, March 17, 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 18, 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday, March 19, 10:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday, March 20, 1:00, 4:00, & 7:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 23, 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday, March 24, 8:00 p.m.
- Friday, March 25, 5:00 & 8:00 p.m.
Tickets may be purchased at Rolling Hills Covenant Church on the day of each presentation, subject to availability, or by calling 310-521-2520. Ticket prices range from $16-20 for adults and $5-10 for children, depending on seat selection.
(Editor's note: Brian Peterson recently served as communications director for Rolling Hills Covenant Church.)
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