Rolling Hills Covenant offers hopeful ‘Pageant of Our Lord’

by Elka Worner and Mia Felt

In a year of plague, war and devastation of Biblical proportions, the Pageant of Our Lord shares Christian stories of hope, with live models portraying religious works of art. The popular production, in its 35th year at the Rolling Hills Covenant Church, will run this weekend Friday, April 1 through Sunday, April 3.

“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 centers around 12 classic Christian works of art, including Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” and Michelangelo’s “Pieta.” All are recreated by live models. Narrators introduce each piece, and the Biblical story behind it. A heady mixture of orchestral music and a 60-voice choir enhance the experience.

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

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

Three hundred people, including set designers, make-up artists, and models, are involved in the production, which was inspired by the 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, builds the elaborate sets, which can reach 18 feet in height. The challenge, he said, is to make three-dimensional figures look flat, like they do in paintings. To eliminate shadows, lighting is key, he said.

Baylee Harris (left) portrays a little girl at the foot of Jesus in the “Come Unto Me” sculpture in the Pageant of Our Lord.

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

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

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the pageant’s usual three-week run has been condensed into one weekend, with seven presentations. The models, who range in age from three to 84, aren’t intimidated by the grueling production schedule and are 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’ll be portraying Jesus in the “Woman at the Well.” He gets full body paint for the role, and like the other models will have to hold 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 that is all done to glorify Jesus, and to tell the story of his promise to us.”

Six-year-old Baylee Harris of Rancho Palos Verdes is one of the youngest models. This year will be her first performance. She will portray the little girl at the foot of Jesus in the sculpture “Come unto Me.” Her body will be 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 will be singing “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. It moves you.”

Shows are Friday, Saturday and Sunday, April 1, 2 and 3. For more information, call (310) 521-2520.

Tickets can be purchased online at PageantOfOurLord.com.