Actor Richard Doyle, a founding artist of the South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, will serve as narrator for this summer’s Pageant of the Masters, reading the script for “Only Make Believe,” director Diane Challis Davy announced last week.
Doyle takes over from Skip Conover, who ended his 17-year run, manning the microphone for nearly 1,000 performances. Longevity seems part of the job description as Conover succeeded Thurl Ravenscroft, who had been at it for 20 years himself.
Doyle has never attended a Pageant performance but is intrigued by the challenge of nightly live performances. “For me, after 25 years as a voice talent and being an actor for five decades, this is something new and exciting,” he said. “In the voice-over field, this is a prestigious job. It is a known art event in a very unique theatrical venue.”
Doyle has appeared in nearly 200 South Coast Rep productions, made many film and television appearances, and works is a voice-over actor in animation, video games and motion capture.
“For me, Richard was the obvious choice. I never had a second thought,” said Challis Davy, a fan who recalls having first Doyle performing in South Coast Rep’s original, little theatre space on Newport Boulevard back in the 1970s.
The production begins Thursday, July 7. For further info visit www.PageantTickets.com or call 949-497-6852.
