Rolling Hills Covenant offered hopeful ‘Pageant of Our Lord’ 

Matt Baca portrayed Jesus in Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” in the Pageant of Our Lord. To his left is Pageant art director Brad Hicks. Photo by Jared Felt

Baylee Harris, 6, one of the youngest models in this year’s Pageant with Colin Basile, 17, in the “Come Unto Me” sculpture. Photo by Jared Felt

by Elka Worner and Mia Felt

In a year of plague, war and devastation of Biblical proportions, the Pageant of Our Lord shared Christian stories of hope, with live models portraying classical, religious art. After a two-year hiatus, the popular production was resurrected at the  Rolling Hills Covenant Church.

“People have lost loved ones, homes, jobs,” pageant director Jeannie Halverson said. “We want people to know that there is still hope in the midst of these horrible circumstances.”

This year’s show centered around 12 classic Christian paintings and sculptures, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” and Michelangelo’s “Pieta.” All were recreated by live models. Narrators introduced each piece, and related the Biblical story behind it. A heady mixture of orchestral music, and a 60-voice choir enhanced the experience.

“We want to show how events that happened 2000 years ago are relevant today,” Halverson said.

Busloads of ticket holders from Nevada, Arizona and Northern California made the pilgrimage to the church, but the Pageant also appealed to non-believers who related to the artistic depictions of the Gospel.

Three hundred people, including set designers, make-up artists, and models, were involved in the production, which was inspired by the long-running Laguna Beach Pageant of the Masters.

“I thought maybe we could make that work for us with stories of the Bible,” said Pageant of Our Lord producer David Halverson, who staged the first production in 1987. He has traveled to museums in France, Germany and Italy to research art for the pageant.

Art director Brad Hicks, a former Disney artist, built the elaborate sets, which reached 18 feet in height. The challenge, he said, was to make three-dimensional figures look flat, like they do in paintings. Lighting to eliminate shadows was the key, he said.

“The magic is being able to move people’s hearts toward a deeper realization of who Christ is,” Hicks said.

“Jesus Meets Nicodemus,” “Michael Casting the Devil into Hell,” “Angel Telling Mary She is Going to Have a Baby,” and “Descent from the Cross” were some of the scenes depicted in this year’s pageant.

“The Woman at the Well.” Photo courtesy of Rolling Hills Covenant Church

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the pageant’s usual three-week run was limited to one weekend, with seven presentations. The models, who ranged in age from three to 84, weren’t intimidated by the grueling production schedule, and were eager to share their faith.

“These people wait all year to be a part of this family,” Jeannie Halverson said. “I was dumbfounded when everyone said, ‘It’s going to be hard, but let’s do it.’”

For some models scoring a role in the Pageant is like nabbing a Broadway lead.

Fifteen-year-old James Pinner of Rolling Hills Estates has been performing in the pageant since he was six years old, and says it offers him a unique way of showing off his faith.

“We’re not just loud sermons and giving 10 percent of our money,” Pinner said. “We can do cool stuff.”

This year he portrayed Jesus in the “Woman at the Well.” He wore full body paint for the role, and like the other models, held  his pose for three minutes.

For him, the show is a family tradition. His grandfather first discovered the play, calling it a “slice of heaven.” His mother, LeeAnne Pinner, played Queen Esther, and the Virgin Mary in previous productions.

“Pageant is the essence of the church,” she said. “It’s such an ensemble effort, all done to glorify Jesus, and to tell the story of his promise to us.”

Six-year-old Baylee Harris of Rancho Palos Verdes was one of the youngest models. This year was  her first performance. She portrayed the little girl at the foot of Jesus in the sculpture “Come unto Me.” Her body was spray painted “smurf blue,” which under the lights looks bronze. 

“I have to stay still and do all the poses in the dark,” she said. “I get to honor God.”

Her 5-year-old twin sisters Emmy and Addy sang “Jesus Loves Me.”

Most people who have seen the show are deeply moved and sometimes leave the theater in tears.

“It’s an emotional roller coaster, and very powerful,” Jeannie Halverson said. “That’s the power of art.” ER

 

Comments:

comments so far. Comments posted to EasyReaderNews.com may be reprinted in the Easy Reader print edition, which is published each Thursday.