To be a fourth grader at McGaugh Elementary School in Seal Beach offers the opportunity to be part of an artistic tradition – the school’s Pageant of the Arts.
The tradition continues and history will be made when the school presents the 30th annual presentation of the pageant at 7p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 19 – 21 at the school at 1698 Bolsa Ave. in Seal Beach. There are many people, who grew up in Seal Beach that fondly remember participating in the event.
It began in 1982, when the Pageant of the Arts became an annual tradition at McGaugh. The Pageant is a performance in which fourth grade students portray famous artists such as Georges Seurat, Charles Russell, Faith Ringgold, and Norman Rockwell, each who introduce the audience to one of their famous masterpiece paintings.
The school enrolls the students in the entire production. Paintings are recreated and stage sets are created by McGaugh students.
Following that, fifth graders learn the dances with original choreography. The original music is provided by local musician Matt Cohn, to bring 11 paintings to life.
For many McGaugh students, being a part of the event affords them a chance to be a part of an evening of family entertainment and also to learn about art, theater and how to work as a team.
According to the current pageant committee, former pageant performers are invited to join in the “Henri Rousseau Dance” on Saturday night after attending an 11 a.m. morning rehearsal in the gymnasium to review and relearn the dance.
It be will be a homecoming for those who attended the school.
Former pageant participants will also be invited to make a sidewalk painting, view a 30-year Pageant compilation video, take photos with the sets of past paintings, etc., from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 21. That is when the pageant will present its 30th Gala event “Saturday Afternoon at La Grande McGaugh,” based on Georges Seurat’s painting “Sunday Afternoon at La Grande Jatte” which was the Pageant’s first painting performed in 1982.
For more information, call Sheri Kutz at (562) 799-4560, or by email at skutz @losal.org, for additional information.
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