When the Masters competition of Laguna Beach announced hearings for this year’s program, Laguna Woods resident Carol Glenn decided to join the tests.
After all, Glenn has a training in theater: she has been an actor and director in the Old Pros Performance Group since 2008. She is also a Hollywood veteran. In the 1960s, she was “the queen of films B,” she said.
But the roles in the competition do not imply acting. In fact, the only skill required is to remain perfectly motionless for 90 seconds.
Annual production presents living paintings or living images, giving life on stage on stage of famous paintings and other works of art, each with a human integrated into the play.
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This year’s theme is “Gold Coast: Treasures of California”, presenting the rich history and artistic heritage of the State, with a collection of masterpieces of its most prestigious museums and emblematic monuments.
The auditions of the competition took place last month in Laguna Beach.
The show uses two casts of 150 people running every week. Volunteers, wearing costumes, makeup and headdresses, pose to recreate the work of art. The measurements are precise for each room and, beyond staying motionless as the curtains rise, are essential to obtain a specific part.
“People volunteer in the masters competition because it is more than being part of a production; It is a question of being part of a family, “said Sharbie Higuchi, spokesperson for the competition. “It is a chance to connect with the community, to celebrate art and history, and to contribute to a tradition that inspires thousands of people each year.”
Glenn spontaneously joined the important meeting on the Arts Festival to be interviewed, measured at around 37 places (head, neck, arms, torso, back and many others) and photographed by the competition staff.
With the apparently endless range, the experience reminded Glenn for its old days in the film industry: “Everything has always been” hurry up and wait, “she said. “I can surely hold another 90 seconds if that was what it takes.”
Glenn’s colorful actor’s career started when she was in high school. Known as Carolyn Brandt at the time, she danced in Reno, Nevada, at the old Mapes Hotel, before committing to Hollywood.
One of his most memorable films was “Rat Pfink a Boo Boo”, a humorous shipment by Batman and Robin, she said. Glenn played a rock star pressure which is sort of kidnapped but escapes, only to be caught by a gorilla.
As coincidence did, the arts festival has shown a giant King Kong replica. Glenn posed with the beast, reviving memories to work with Kogar the monkey in “Rat Pfink”.
“I have pictures of myself with Kogar,” she said. “He became both a family and family joke.”
Glenn was not the only resident of Laguna Woods in the running to be part of the living images.
Ray Rafla saw a competition show for the first time in 2018, then volunteered to work behind the scenes.
“I was a runner, putting people out of stage. Many volunteers are children who needed help, “he said. “During my first year, I did everything I could – helped with coffee, replaced by stage volunteers.”
This led to hang roles on stage.
“I was in a Norman Rockwell painting and in one of the” last paintings “,” he said. Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece traditionally puts production every year.
Reggie White was queuing to volunteer for the second consecutive year.
“Last year, I was in” Les Playboys de Bacongo “,” he said, referring to the 2008 work of the Italian Daniele Tamagni.
White, who was accompanied by his wife, Allison, said that he had seen the competition and attended the Arts Festival in front of the Pandemic, and had decided to return.
“I posed all the year last year and I was also another,” he said. “I had to stay a lot.”
René Andrews came with his wife, Robin. He recalled how he heard of the competition hearings for the first time of a client of Stater Brothers Grocery, although he went to a representation in 1975.
“It’s my second year, and it’s important to me,” he said. “Last year, I was” Spectator # 12 “during the fashion show segment and I was able to wear a big hat.”
Albert HSU, a 12-year-old resident from Laguna Woods, saw his first masters’ production competition in 1989. He volunteered in the competition for four years now, he said, and hoped a fifth time.
“Over the years, my deceased wife, Olivia, and I spent thousands of dollars on tickets for friends who came to watch the programs with us,” he said. “I have a friend who has been volunteering there for 30 years, and he inspired me to try myself.”
Julie Tang, who accompanied HSU, said that she had tried for the production for the first time a year ago.
“He introduced me to the competition 12 years ago and finally told me to try me,” she said. “You like people and preparations behind the scenes here. It’s amazing to see how they bring ideas to reality.
Teri Judd has seen the competition every year for 10 years. Nine years ago, she tried to be an actor or costume, she said, but did not receive a reminder.
“I always liked the costumes, going to the theater, looking at art,” she said, adding that she was working in the costume in the bay region before. “The competition is an excellent combination to be a part.”
This year, the hearing process was about the same as nine years ago, she said.
“I was surprised how meticulous the measurement process is: the size of your head, neck, torso, size and hips, leg length,” she said.
Residents of Laguna Wood Esther Spector and her friend Klara Manyak were also online to try – not for the scene but for the costume store or the makeup department.
“We are both from Ukraine and we went to the same schools, had worked in the same circles, the same costumes and fashion, but had never met,” said Spector.
Both had come volunteers for the first time.
As for Glenn, she said that she did not yet know if she had to get involved, if she is called, as a full -time member or substitute.
“It was a fun experience. Managers were the most beautiful people in the world, “she said. “I’m going to decide when it happens.”
“Gold Coast: Treasures of California” will take place every evening at 8:30 p.m. from July 5 to August 29. For more information and tickets, visit Foapom.com.
(The journalist from Orange County Register, Erika Ritchie, contributed to this report.)
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