The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel Hotel and Resort in Dana Point to Reveal 'The Big Picture' at Festival of the Arts

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is proud to present two Pageant of the Masters packages for the 2013 season. Pageant of the Masters celebrates its 80th birthday of "living pictures" - the original "freeze frame" - at the Festival of Arts. This year's theme is The Big Picture, which adds a cinematic spin to its world-class presentation with classic masterpieces that inspired legendary filmmakers.

Guests can feel the excitement and wonder of how this grand production comes together behind the curtain and peek into the mystery of how art comes to life. Because of the resort's partnership with Pageant of the Masters it is able to provide the Behind the Velvet Rope experience, an exclusive offer where guests can rub elbows with fine artists on a guided docent tour and then experience the thrill of being back stage just before show time.

The Big Picture experience starts at $645 per night and includes:

• Overnight accommodations in a pool/garden view guestroom, including resort fee
• Welcome amenity and Pageant Program
• Two premium seat tickets to the Pageant of the Masters stage performance
• Admission for two to Festival of Arts

For the experienced Pageant goer, the Behind the Velvet Rope experience starts at $1,475 per night and includes:

• Ritz-Carlton Ocean View Club Level accommodations, including resort fee
• Ritz-Carlton preferred seating for two for the Pageant of the Masters stage performance
• Guided docent tour of the Festival of Arts at 5 p.m.
• Backstage tour of the Pageant of Masters at 7:30 p.m.
• 1 p.m. late check out
• Pageant Program and welcome amenity

Packages are on sale now for travel through August 31, 2013. Reservations for Behind the Velvet Rope and The Big Picture experiences can be made at http://www.ritzcarlton.com/LagunaPageant.

Pageant of the Masters is ninety minutes of living pictures - incredibly faithful art re-creations of many classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces. Presented in an outdoor amphitheater, with the combination of a live orchestra, Pageant of the Masters has been recognized as the best stage presentation of its kind. The Festival of Arts is a beautiful outdoor gallery nestled in the canyon and only a few blocks from the ocean in Laguna Beach. The Festival's prestigious juried art show includes a wide variety of media such as paintings, photography, printmaking, sculpture, jewelry, handcrafted wood and furniture, ceramics, glass and more - all by more than 140 of "The O.C.'s" finest artists.

About The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Located halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego, The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel sits on a 150-foot bluff with panoramic white-water views of the Pacific Ocean and two-miles of sandy beach. The resort is a re-imagined surfside retreat that awakens guests' senses with its unique ocean-front setting and remarkable service heritage. As the premiere destination for travelers who desire a playful approach to Southern California luxury, the resort has been the recipient of many awards over the years. For more information or reservations call 800-241-3333, the hotel directly at 949-240-2000, a travel professional or visit the web site at http://www.ritzcarlton.com/LagunaNiguel.

About The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. of Chevy Chase, Md., currently operates 80 hotels in the Americas, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. More than 30 hotel and residential projects are under development around the globe. The Ritz-Carlton is the only service company to have twice earned the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award which recognizes outstanding customer service. For more information, or reservations, contact a travel professional, call toll free in the U.S. 1-800-241-3333, or visit the company website at http://www.ritzcarlton.com. The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Marriott International, Inc.