The border vidette., 1927-10-22
SECOND STATE PAeeNT NOV. q


Bringing back again all the
glamour and romance of Arizona
past, the second annual Arizona
State Pagent at the historic Casa
Grande ruins will be given the
first weekend of next month
November 4, 5 and 6. Already
the set is nearing completion
casting has been finished-re.
hearsals are in progress-en.
larged seating accommodations
and parking grounds are being
laid out, and preparations OF the
Arizona Pageantry Association
for it's second mammoth specta-
Gle are going forward rapidly.
Mention, of the pageant will
instantly recall to Producer read
ers the production that the asso.
citation presented at the Casa
Grande Ruins just q year ago,
which drew a record crowd of
more than $4,000 people and in.
stantly obtained recognition as
one Of the Southwest's great
est tourist entertainments. This
years spectacle will be even
greater, and naturally an even
greater attendance is in prospect
Although the pageant this
year will be much similar to the
last in location and general pre-.
sentation, it will be entirely new
production. For it a new play
has been written; a complete
new set, larger than last years,
is being built; story, costuming,
direction, lighting, and to q
great extent the cast itself, will
all be new. The story the pa.
geant will tell against the allur.
ing background of the Arizona
desert sky will be a particularly
appealing one, with the same
thread running through the
three episodes in which the pre-.
historic dwellers of the Casa
Grande, the swash buckling gal.
lants and undaunted monks Of
the Spanish explorations, and
the hardy pioneers of early
American days will again walk
the ground they walked decades
and centuries ago.
The pageant this year was
written and is being directed by
Conrad Seller, a widely known
playwright and stage director
who has directed California's
famous Mission Play for the past
several years. The first episode
is based upon the story by K. V.
Byrne which won the pageant
associations manuscript contest,
and Mr.. Seller will be assisted
in his direction by Mrs. Seller, q
we'll known English actress.
Leading dramatic artists of
Phoenix and Tucson also are
aiding in the work, and many of
them will take part in the pro.
duction, which will include com.
plete cast from Phoenix, Tucson
Florence-Casa Grand. The Uni.
versity of Arizona in particular
takes active part in the pageant.
Mrs. Katherine V. McRae,
guiding spirit of the pageantry
association, is again a leading
figure in preparations for this
years huge production. and is
receiving the hearty support Of
civic bodies throughout the
state. Wide outside advertising
is being given the pageant by
the Southern Pacific railroad,
the Arizona Industrial Congress
and the Los Angeles Chamber
of Commerce; the state highway
department and state prison also
are doing valiant work in con.
struction at the grounds and in
road Improvement.
All in all, the Arizona State
Pageant this year-will be one OF
the most vivid, most colorful
and most spectacular entertain.
ments ever given in the South.
west. Which serve as a re.
minder to keep one, date open on
November 4. 5 or 6 to visit the
famed ruins ard see the famed
play that symbolizes all of Ari.
zona. Producer.