On Aug, 26, 2023 marks the most exciting event of Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters. A Night of Magic Gala is a red carpet event celebrating the Pageant of the Masters’ 90th anniversary where attendees, VIPs and celebrities walked the red carpet. The night was magical where three world-class magicians: Johnny Ace Palmer, World Champion Magician; Jon Armstrong and the Mystifying Tiny Plunger; and Joe Skilton, magician and mentalist entertained attendees. Le Petit Cirque astonished guests with their acrobatic moves. Three-time Grammy Award winner and Oscar-nominated songwriter Sergio Mendes serenaded the audience with his classic hits such as “Never Gonna Let you Go”. Celebrities walked the red carpet like Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Linda Lavin (Alice) and Award winning artist Paula Abdul headlined the festival.
On the Red Carpet
Anita Mangels, 2023 Festival of Arts Board Member
Anita Mangels, a four-term past president of Festival of the Arts who’s committed to preserving the festival’s traditions was the first one to walk on the red carpet. Mangels expressed her excitement for the festival’s 90th anniversary, “We are thrilled to have Paula Abdul. It’s wrapping up another wonderful season and it’s a big anniversary for us, 90th! This show is the best ever but then I think that every year, and I believe it’s true. And I would like to throw in a huge thank you to our volunteers without whom the pageant would not be possible at all. And our exhibitors who work year round getting their work ready to show here. All in all, everybody involved in the pageant. The festival of arts are amazing and I’m proud to be here with them.”
Jon Armstrong, Magician
Jon Armstrong, a magician mentioned that it was his first time to be at the Festival of Arts. He remarked, “Amazing people here as much as the art”.
David Stryker, Mentalist/Magician
David Stryker is an award-winning mentalist and magician was also at the red carpet and said, “I’ve been here but I’ve never performed before. The vibe is great. We are by the beach. It’s warm out here but we’re all dressed up in this amazing place. It’s gonna be incredible!”
Joe Mantegna
Joe Mantegna best known for the starring role of “David Rossi” on the CBS hit series Criminal Minds. Joe has been a regular supporter of Festival of Arts and mentioned that he has been watching Pageant of the Masters since 1983. But what makes him see the festival for 40 years? “If I can explain it I would. It’s unexplainable. it’s a unique thing that’s unlike anything else can see. Nothing in the US or probably nothing in the world. As much as I try to explain it all you can say is ‘oh yeah they create live art on stage, with music, lights… and no matter how you explain it, it’s not until you see it then you go ‘Oh My God!'”
Paula Abdul, TV Personality, professional dancer and award-winning music artist
This year’s gala was headlined by a global music icon, dancer, renowned choreographer, and TV personality, Ms. Paula Abdul. One of the original judges on American Idol. Abdul has sold 60 million records and earned numerous awards and recognitions including seventeen MTV Video Music Awards nominations with five wins, two Grammy Awards, three American Music Awards, and many more. On the red carpet, I asked Ms. Abdul her thoughts about the 90th year of Pageant of the Masters, “I’ve been going for three and a half decades. Every year I come, it’s memorable, it’s magical. And I love not being told too much about what’s in each show ….the new show. I know a few things that are happening tonight but I like to be surprised.” Abdul explained about her headlining this year’s Festival of Arts, “It’s an honor to be here. I feel like my very first experience when I first came. I love bringing new people to come experience how magical it is.”
We can’t wait to see the next season theme of Festival of Arts/Pageant of the Masters, “À La Mode: The Art of Fashion,” a captivating journey through history’s grandest spectacles and fashion trends. For more info about this one of a kind art festival, click here.
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