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Monday, July 20, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
LA Times "MY WAY" Review
Review: "My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra" at Laguna Playhouse
By Charles McNulty
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 2:30pm
Death has a way of putting the kibosh on immortal longings, but as Michael Jackson’s recent passing makes clear, legends ultimately belong to their fans. And “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” which opened Saturday at the Laguna Playhouse, is a groupie’s dream.
Conceived by Todd Olson and the show’s director and choreographer, David Grapes, this revue, performed by a cast of two men and two women, pays homage to America’s all-time coolest crooner by trotting out a few dozen of the more than 1,300 songs Ol' Blue Eyes recorded in his unbelievably prolific career.
Conceding that Sinatra's mighty trumpet of a voice and gift for naturally taking ownership of lyrics are inimitable, the singers shy away from impersonation. Of the four performers, John Fredo (Man No. 1) is the most similar, but even he can only vaguely approximate the seemingly effortless magic of the Chairman of the Board’s belting a tune with the alacrity of a saloon dweller throwing back a scotch.
So instead of imitation, we get two hours of genial flattery. Sinatra die-hards, easily singled out by their undulating shoulders, lapped it up like yummy tapioca pudding. For the rest of us, there was an extensive (maybe too extensive) offering of old standards to enjoy.
True, the production, marked by crisscrossing couples and church-social amiability, occasionally invoked the strolling banality of “The Lawrence Welk Show." But who could complain about a treasure-trove of hits that includes such Sinatra signatures as “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” and “Fly Me to the Moon"?
Fittingly, the set, designed by Bruce Goodrich, situates us in a nightclub, with a bar on the left, a jazzy trio on a raised platform in the middle and an intimate booth on the right for a little cozy serenading. Biographical details (concerning Sinatra’s origins, storied romances and all-important likes and dislikes) are sprinkled throughout, but the overarching narrative is about saluting an icon.
"My Way" seems pitched, reasonably enough, to a graying demographic. After the group performs “Strangers in the Night,” Casey Erin Clark (Woman No. 1) observes, “I bet everyone in this audience has a memory associated with that song.” Hard to imagine those words being spoken at a Black Eyed Peas concert, but if there’s anything to the notion that “half the U.S. population over 40 was conceived while their parents were listening to the music of Frank Sinatra,” the younger generation may owe Sinatra more than it realizes.
The quartet harmonizes pleasantly. Clark has a seductive high range and a sophisticated air that contrasts nicely with Fredo’s guyish charmer. His snappy deep voice and tap dancing panache are the liveliest elements of the show; her torch-song sound is the most haunting.
Karen Jeffreys, as the bubbly ingenue (Woman No. 2), and Jason Watson, as the energetic fellow raring to reap adulthood’s rewards (Man No. 2), offer glimpses of Sinatra’s early years. They seem less seasoned than their counterparts, but they provide endearing, if less distinctive, company.
Theatrically speaking, however, this visit to the Sinatra shrine doesn't amount to much more than a breezy musical survey. In fact, there are moments when it felt as though the show could be unfolding in a hotel lobby bar, albeit one with a first-rate band. (James Leary on bass and Drew Henwall on drums both thrive under pianist and musical director Vince Di Mura’s passionate conducting.)
Drama isn't part of the equation. Like Jackson’ recent memorial at the Staples Center, there’s a willful innocence to this endeavor that would prefer to deflect dicey realities. Apparently, Sinatra liked dry martinis and leggy broads the way Jackson liked Peter Pan and Ferris wheels. If there’s a dark side, it gets glossed over by the extolling script.
As Watson explains, “For those of you who followed Sinatra’s career, you know that there were as many ‘Franks’ as there are states in the union. There was the husband, the father, the jilted lover, the skinny Dorsey crooner, the gutsy Capital swinger, the lion in winter, the life-liver, the rat-packer, the drinker, the guy’s guy. The only man in America who could wear a tuxedo the way John Wayne wore chaps.”
We should all be so lucky to have our earthly legacies so winningly summed up. But then this is a portrait in music that is meant to be adulatory, a thank-you to the man who, as Clark’s father told her, “had sung the soundtrack to his life.”
A hat-tipping finale of “My Way” along with (what else?) a reprise of the theme from “New York, New York” reseals the myth of an undeniable master.
-- Charles McNulty
"My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra," Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. (Call for exceptions.) Ends: Aug. 23. $40-$70. (949) 497-2787. Running time: 2 hours
Follow Charles McNulty and other LA Times Art writers on Twitter @culturemonster
By Charles McNulty
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at 2:30pm
Death has a way of putting the kibosh on immortal longings, but as Michael Jackson’s recent passing makes clear, legends ultimately belong to their fans. And “My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra,” which opened Saturday at the Laguna Playhouse, is a groupie’s dream.Conceived by Todd Olson and the show’s director and choreographer, David Grapes, this revue, performed by a cast of two men and two women, pays homage to America’s all-time coolest crooner by trotting out a few dozen of the more than 1,300 songs Ol' Blue Eyes recorded in his unbelievably prolific career.
Conceding that Sinatra's mighty trumpet of a voice and gift for naturally taking ownership of lyrics are inimitable, the singers shy away from impersonation. Of the four performers, John Fredo (Man No. 1) is the most similar, but even he can only vaguely approximate the seemingly effortless magic of the Chairman of the Board’s belting a tune with the alacrity of a saloon dweller throwing back a scotch.
So instead of imitation, we get two hours of genial flattery. Sinatra die-hards, easily singled out by their undulating shoulders, lapped it up like yummy tapioca pudding. For the rest of us, there was an extensive (maybe too extensive) offering of old standards to enjoy.
True, the production, marked by crisscrossing couples and church-social amiability, occasionally invoked the strolling banality of “The Lawrence Welk Show." But who could complain about a treasure-trove of hits that includes such Sinatra signatures as “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” and “Fly Me to the Moon"?
Fittingly, the set, designed by Bruce Goodrich, situates us in a nightclub, with a bar on the left, a jazzy trio on a raised platform in the middle and an intimate booth on the right for a little cozy serenading. Biographical details (concerning Sinatra’s origins, storied romances and all-important likes and dislikes) are sprinkled throughout, but the overarching narrative is about saluting an icon.
"My Way" seems pitched, reasonably enough, to a graying demographic. After the group performs “Strangers in the Night,” Casey Erin Clark (Woman No. 1) observes, “I bet everyone in this audience has a memory associated with that song.” Hard to imagine those words being spoken at a Black Eyed Peas concert, but if there’s anything to the notion that “half the U.S. population over 40 was conceived while their parents were listening to the music of Frank Sinatra,” the younger generation may owe Sinatra more than it realizes.
The quartet harmonizes pleasantly. Clark has a seductive high range and a sophisticated air that contrasts nicely with Fredo’s guyish charmer. His snappy deep voice and tap dancing panache are the liveliest elements of the show; her torch-song sound is the most haunting.
Karen Jeffreys, as the bubbly ingenue (Woman No. 2), and Jason Watson, as the energetic fellow raring to reap adulthood’s rewards (Man No. 2), offer glimpses of Sinatra’s early years. They seem less seasoned than their counterparts, but they provide endearing, if less distinctive, company.
Theatrically speaking, however, this visit to the Sinatra shrine doesn't amount to much more than a breezy musical survey. In fact, there are moments when it felt as though the show could be unfolding in a hotel lobby bar, albeit one with a first-rate band. (James Leary on bass and Drew Henwall on drums both thrive under pianist and musical director Vince Di Mura’s passionate conducting.)
Drama isn't part of the equation. Like Jackson’ recent memorial at the Staples Center, there’s a willful innocence to this endeavor that would prefer to deflect dicey realities. Apparently, Sinatra liked dry martinis and leggy broads the way Jackson liked Peter Pan and Ferris wheels. If there’s a dark side, it gets glossed over by the extolling script.
As Watson explains, “For those of you who followed Sinatra’s career, you know that there were as many ‘Franks’ as there are states in the union. There was the husband, the father, the jilted lover, the skinny Dorsey crooner, the gutsy Capital swinger, the lion in winter, the life-liver, the rat-packer, the drinker, the guy’s guy. The only man in America who could wear a tuxedo the way John Wayne wore chaps.”
We should all be so lucky to have our earthly legacies so winningly summed up. But then this is a portrait in music that is meant to be adulatory, a thank-you to the man who, as Clark’s father told her, “had sung the soundtrack to his life.”
A hat-tipping finale of “My Way” along with (what else?) a reprise of the theme from “New York, New York” reseals the myth of an undeniable master.
-- Charles McNulty
"My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra," Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. (Call for exceptions.) Ends: Aug. 23. $40-$70. (949) 497-2787. Running time: 2 hours
Follow Charles McNulty and other LA Times Art writers on Twitter @culturemonster
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
My Way Review- Broadway World
Sinatra Their Way: At the Moulton Theatre at Laguna Playhouse Through 8/23
My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra created by David Grapes & Todd Olson directed by David Grapes Moulton Theatre at Laguna Playhouse through August 23.
Frank Sinatra has been impersonated in The Rat Pack and in various night club settings. Some actors do him very well, such as Stephen Triffitt in The Rat Pack Live at the Sands; others do not even begin to do him justice as in Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, so maybe it's just as well that we do not get this treatment in My Way at the Laguna Playhouse. Although, somehow, when I saw the graphic advertisement for the show, that's what I expected. No, indeed, this is a revue of his music, neatly packaged and tied up with a bow. Four super-talented artists sing and chat about ole' blue eyes, quoting him a bit and telling a little story now and again about his womanizing or philosophy of fast living.
David Grapes has put together a slick piece that is high on entertainment, but hardly cutting edge. The performers are all good...with music that is... inspirational. It lingers for all time. As Sinatra himself once said about the key to his success: SING GOOD SONGS! Of course, the Italian immigrant who became a band singer, movie star and a great legend, was never humble for a second. He hoped that people lived to be 100 and that the last voice they heard would be his.
Moving around the spacious bar set (Bruce Goodrich) with the ease and poise that made Sinatra a demigod, Casey Erin Clark, John Fredo, Karen Jefferys and Jason Watson entertain for 2 hours, singing individually, in couples and all together... favorite standards such as "My Funny Valentine", "All of Me", "High Hopes", "New York, New York", "The Tender Trap", "That Old Black Magic", "Witchcraft", "All the Way", "That's Life" and of course, "My Way". The songs are divided into categories like: Songs for Survivors, a Losers Medley, a Moon Medley (Remember Sinatra's concept album in the 60s to coincide with Earth's moonwalk?), Young Love, Love and Marriage, and a Broadway/Film Medley.
There's even an encore - which Sinatra never did -"I'll Be Seeing You". It's a nice celebration of the spirit of Sinatra who gave us a song for every mood, every emotion.
The second act is more reflective than the first with each performer drinking alone: "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry", "One for My Baby" and "It Was a Very Good Year". The last was a favorite of mine at a very early age; I guess I was old before I was young and understood life as Sinatra obviously did when he sang about it.
Costumes here in black (Lou Bird) are elegant, particularly the ladies' dresses with a touch of either blue or mauve. Great musical accompaniment from: Vince Di Mura at the piano, Drew Hemwall on drums and James Leary on bass. They never stop cookin'!
Overall, a great dinner theatre or cruise ship evening full of beautiful music but low on surprises. Go for the foursome: I particularly loved Fredo's terrific tapping and Clark's clean and sultry vocal stylings.
Monday, July 13, 2009; Posted: 07:07 PM
My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra created by David Grapes & Todd Olson directed by David Grapes Moulton Theatre at Laguna Playhouse through August 23.Frank Sinatra has been impersonated in The Rat Pack and in various night club settings. Some actors do him very well, such as Stephen Triffitt in The Rat Pack Live at the Sands; others do not even begin to do him justice as in Louis & Keely Live at the Sahara, so maybe it's just as well that we do not get this treatment in My Way at the Laguna Playhouse. Although, somehow, when I saw the graphic advertisement for the show, that's what I expected. No, indeed, this is a revue of his music, neatly packaged and tied up with a bow. Four super-talented artists sing and chat about ole' blue eyes, quoting him a bit and telling a little story now and again about his womanizing or philosophy of fast living.
David Grapes has put together a slick piece that is high on entertainment, but hardly cutting edge. The performers are all good...with music that is... inspirational. It lingers for all time. As Sinatra himself once said about the key to his success: SING GOOD SONGS! Of course, the Italian immigrant who became a band singer, movie star and a great legend, was never humble for a second. He hoped that people lived to be 100 and that the last voice they heard would be his.
Moving around the spacious bar set (Bruce Goodrich) with the ease and poise that made Sinatra a demigod, Casey Erin Clark, John Fredo, Karen Jefferys and Jason Watson entertain for 2 hours, singing individually, in couples and all together... favorite standards such as "My Funny Valentine", "All of Me", "High Hopes", "New York, New York", "The Tender Trap", "That Old Black Magic", "Witchcraft", "All the Way", "That's Life" and of course, "My Way". The songs are divided into categories like: Songs for Survivors, a Losers Medley, a Moon Medley (Remember Sinatra's concept album in the 60s to coincide with Earth's moonwalk?), Young Love, Love and Marriage, and a Broadway/Film Medley.
There's even an encore - which Sinatra never did -"I'll Be Seeing You". It's a nice celebration of the spirit of Sinatra who gave us a song for every mood, every emotion.
The second act is more reflective than the first with each performer drinking alone: "Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry", "One for My Baby" and "It Was a Very Good Year". The last was a favorite of mine at a very early age; I guess I was old before I was young and understood life as Sinatra obviously did when he sang about it.
Costumes here in black (Lou Bird) are elegant, particularly the ladies' dresses with a touch of either blue or mauve. Great musical accompaniment from: Vince Di Mura at the piano, Drew Hemwall on drums and James Leary on bass. They never stop cookin'!
Overall, a great dinner theatre or cruise ship evening full of beautiful music but low on surprises. Go for the foursome: I particularly loved Fredo's terrific tapping and Clark's clean and sultry vocal stylings.
Friday, July 10, 2009
My Way Production Photos
Production Photos by David Grapes
My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra
Laguna Playhouse
Laguna Playhouse
July 7- August 23, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Upcoming 2009-2010 Season
We're pleased to announce our 2009-2010 Season! Full of music and laughs, these productions are sure to entertain! Single tickets are available for all performances, or you can save money by purchasing either a Full or Design-Your-Own subscription. You can visit the website http://www.lagunaplayhouse.com/tickets/subscriptions/full/ for more information on the plays and purchasing tickets.
My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra
July 7 – August 23, 2009
Conceived by David Grapes and Todd Olson
Book by Todd Olson
Directed by David Grapes
Frank Sinatra. He’s the icon of cool – from classic elegance to contemporary “fedora” hipster. My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra celebrates the pivotal moments of Sinatra’s life which would solidify his legendary status. This musical song review will take you from his early beginnings in New York during the 1940’s swing era, to the bright lights of Las Vegas with the Rat Pack in the 1960s, and to his final performances in the 1990s as “Chairman of the Board.” As Stephen Holden wrote for the 1983 Rolling Stone Record Guide: “Frank Sinatra's voice is pop music history.” Come hear the songs that his voice made history.
Moonlight and Magnolias
October 6 – November 1, 2009
By Ron Hutchinson
Directed by Andrew Barnicle
Making movie history is not easy! Just ask film producer David O. Selznick, who stops the filming of Gone with the Wind three weeks into production because he wants a rewrite of the unwieldy script. He hires playwright Ben Hecht to do the job—in only five days! Only one problem: Hecht has never even read the novel. So, Selznick summons Hecht and Gone With the Wind director Victor Fleming to his office, locks the doors and closes the shades. Subsisting on a diet of bananas and peanuts, the three men spend five days crafting a screenplay that will become the blueprint for one of the most successful films of all time. This wildly funny and engaging tale illuminates the behind-the-scenes business of movie-making during the golden age of Hollywood.
October 6 – November 1, 2009By Ron Hutchinson
Directed by Andrew Barnicle
Making movie history is not easy! Just ask film producer David O. Selznick, who stops the filming of Gone with the Wind three weeks into production because he wants a rewrite of the unwieldy script. He hires playwright Ben Hecht to do the job—in only five days! Only one problem: Hecht has never even read the novel. So, Selznick summons Hecht and Gone With the Wind director Victor Fleming to his office, locks the doors and closes the shades. Subsisting on a diet of bananas and peanuts, the three men spend five days crafting a screenplay that will become the blueprint for one of the most successful films of all time. This wildly funny and engaging tale illuminates the behind-the-scenes business of movie-making during the golden age of Hollywood.
Winter Wonderettes
November 23 – December 20, 2009
By Roger Bean
Directed by Roger Bean
The Wonderettes are back! Set six months after the end of The Marvelous Wonderettes, this seasonal sequel finds the girls returning to their hometown for a Holiday celebration with their family and friends, complete with great Wonderette renditions of ‘60s holiday tunes. Wonderette member Betty Jean is in charge of her company’s Christmas party, so naturally the Wonderettes are the logical choice for the entertainment. But when Santa turns up missing, the girls must use their talent and creative ingenuity, plus some great holiday tunes such as “Little Saint Nick” and “It’s a Marshmallow World,” to rectify their holiday party without the jolly big guy in red. The result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and entertaining show is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages.
November 23 – December 20, 2009By Roger Bean
Directed by Roger Bean
The Wonderettes are back! Set six months after the end of The Marvelous Wonderettes, this seasonal sequel finds the girls returning to their hometown for a Holiday celebration with their family and friends, complete with great Wonderette renditions of ‘60s holiday tunes. Wonderette member Betty Jean is in charge of her company’s Christmas party, so naturally the Wonderettes are the logical choice for the entertainment. But when Santa turns up missing, the girls must use their talent and creative ingenuity, plus some great holiday tunes such as “Little Saint Nick” and “It’s a Marshmallow World,” to rectify their holiday party without the jolly big guy in red. The result is, of course, marvelous! This energetic and entertaining show is guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages.
Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone
January 12 – February 7, 2010
Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Directed by Joel Zwick
Book by Hershey Felder
Internationally acclaimed Hershey Felder personifies “America's Composer” and renders an intimate portrait of musical legend, George Gershwin. This multi-award-winning production of Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone is a musical event for all to experience and ignites an entirely new inside perspective of the historic composer's early background, personal life and artistic genius. With sold out performances around the globe, this is a musical sensation not to be missed!
January 12 – February 7, 2010Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Directed by Joel Zwick
Book by Hershey Felder
Internationally acclaimed Hershey Felder personifies “America's Composer” and renders an intimate portrait of musical legend, George Gershwin. This multi-award-winning production of Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone is a musical event for all to experience and ignites an entirely new inside perspective of the historic composer's early background, personal life and artistic genius. With sold out performances around the globe, this is a musical sensation not to be missed!
Play #5 – The Second City: Can you be More Pacific?
March 16- April 11, 2009
Directed by Andrew Barnicle
March 16- April 11, 2009
Directed by Andrew Barnicle
The internationally acclaimed sketch-comedy company, The Second City, has custom crafted a production for The Laguna Playhouse to lampoon our beloved Laguna Beach and Orange County. This show promises to deliver an avalanche of laughs that will highlight the most comedic and relevant elements of what it means to be behind the Orange Curtain.If you have lived in Orange County for any length of time, you will see yourself, your neighbor or your favorite plastic surgeon highlighted on stage for a good ribbing. From real housewives to finding sand in all the wrong places, this California adventure is a comedy ride that can’t be missed and won’t require a toll road.
Friday, June 26, 2009
"My Way: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra"
THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE KICKS OFF ITS 2009 – 2010 SEASON THIS JULY WITH
MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA
Musical Revue runs July 7 – August 23 and features
Four Singers and 60 Sinatra Songs
MY WAY: A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANK SINATRA
Musical Revue runs July 7 – August 23 and features
Four Singers and 60 Sinatra Songs
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – May 26, 2009 – Someone once asked Frank Sinatra how he became so successful. His response: “Sing good songs!”Thanks to his skilled vocals and gift as a storyteller, Sinatra turned the good songs he sang into timeless treasures. Nearly 60 of those songs can be heard during the musical revue My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra that runs July 7 – August 23 at The Laguna Playhouse. The show is directed by David Grapes, who conceived the revue along with Todd Olson.
My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra celebrates the pivotal moments of Sinatra’s life which solidified his legendary status, and recalls the essence of the man through the glorious music he sang. Four singers (two women and two men) croon Sinatra tunes on a nightclub-style set—a suitable ambiance for songs from the man who always dubbed himself “a saloon singer.”
From his early big band beginnings in the 1940s on through his glory days in Las Vegas with the Rat Pack in the 1960s and ending with his final performances in the 1990s as “The Chairman of the Board,” My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra is packed with the swingin’ songs that made Sinatra the hip prince of popular music. Whether he exuded classic elegance or contemporary casual, Frank Sinatra was – and still is – the ultimate icon of cool.
Performance & Ticket Information:
Ticket Prices:
Preview performances: $35 to $55
Opening Night Gala: $101 to $116
Regular performances: $40 to $70
Previews:
July 7 - 10, 2009
Opening Night Gala:
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Regular Performances
July 12 – August 23
Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Thursday matinees July 9 & 23 / August 20 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday evening July 19 at 7:30 p.m.
(Dates and times subject to change)
FOR INFORMATION & TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
CALL: 949.497.ARTS (2787) - GROUP SALES: 949.497.2787 ext. 229
VISIT: www.LagunaPlayhouse.com
MOULTON THEATRE: 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Laguna Beach Summer Festivals
There's a lot going on in Laguna Beach this summer! If you're coming into town to see "MY WAY: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra," you might want to stop by these great festivals as well!
Sawdust Art Festival
http://www.sawdustartfestival.org/
Dates: June 26- August 30, 2009
Times: Open 10am- 10pm Daily
Prices: Adults $7.50, Seniors $6.00, Children (6-12) $3.00
About: The Sawdust Art Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting the art created in Laguna Beach.
Classes, workshops, and fun summer entertainment for the whole family! Over 200 exhibitors made up of Laguna Beach's finest artists in various medias including ceramics, copper, glass, jewelry, leather, painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, wood and more.
Art-a-Fair
http://www.art-a-fair.com/
Dates: June 26- August 30, 2009
Times: Open Sunday- Thursday 10am- 9pm
Friday- Saturday 10am-10pm
Prices: Adults $7.00, Seniors/Students/Military: $3.50, Children under 12 free with adult
About: View and buy art directly from the exhibitors! Great variety of two and three dimensional art is represented including oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics, drawings, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry glassworks, pottery, and furniture. Events, performers, lectures, and workshops are listed on the festivals website.
Festival of the Arts
http://foapom.com/
Dates: July 5- August 30, 2009
Times: Daily 10am- 11:30pm
Prices: Adults $7.00, Seniors/Students: $4.00, Children under 12 free with adult
About: Over 140 premiere artists gather for one of Southern California's finest art events! Artwork includes paintings, sculpture, pastels, drawings, serigraphs, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, etched and stained glass, fiber arts, handcrafted furniture and even scrimshaw. On top of the artist exhibitions, Festival of the Arts offers many daily events and lectures which can be found on their event calendar. Also home to the world famous Pageant of the Masters which runs every night at 8:30pm. Tickets should be bought in advanced.
Interested in all three festivals?
Best deal in town, check out the Passport to the Arts. Get unlimited admission to three of the biggest art festivals in California all summer for only $19! Also, selected retailers and merchants throughout Laguna Beach are offering added discounts. If you're coming into town, definitely check out the Passport to the Arts.
Sawdust Art Festival
http://www.sawdustartfestival.org/
Dates: June 26- August 30, 2009Times: Open 10am- 10pm Daily
Prices: Adults $7.50, Seniors $6.00, Children (6-12) $3.00
About: The Sawdust Art Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating the public and promoting the art created in Laguna Beach.
Classes, workshops, and fun summer entertainment for the whole family! Over 200 exhibitors made up of Laguna Beach's finest artists in various medias including ceramics, copper, glass, jewelry, leather, painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, wood and more.
Art-a-Fair
http://www.art-a-fair.com/
Dates: June 26- August 30, 2009Times: Open Sunday- Thursday 10am- 9pm
Friday- Saturday 10am-10pm
Prices: Adults $7.00, Seniors/Students/Military: $3.50, Children under 12 free with adult
About: View and buy art directly from the exhibitors! Great variety of two and three dimensional art is represented including oils, watercolors, pastels, acrylics, drawings, mixed media, photography, sculpture, jewelry glassworks, pottery, and furniture. Events, performers, lectures, and workshops are listed on the festivals website.
Festival of the Arts
http://foapom.com/
Dates: July 5- August 30, 2009Times: Daily 10am- 11:30pm
Prices: Adults $7.00, Seniors/Students: $4.00, Children under 12 free with adult
About: Over 140 premiere artists gather for one of Southern California's finest art events! Artwork includes paintings, sculpture, pastels, drawings, serigraphs, photographs, ceramics, jewelry, etched and stained glass, fiber arts, handcrafted furniture and even scrimshaw. On top of the artist exhibitions, Festival of the Arts offers many daily events and lectures which can be found on their event calendar. Also home to the world famous Pageant of the Masters which runs every night at 8:30pm. Tickets should be bought in advanced.
Interested in all three festivals?
Best deal in town, check out the Passport to the Arts. Get unlimited admission to three of the biggest art festivals in California all summer for only $19! Also, selected retailers and merchants throughout Laguna Beach are offering added discounts. If you're coming into town, definitely check out the Passport to the Arts.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Critics Rave About "Empty Plate"
"The ensemble cast is strong on all fronts, proving their comedic as well as dramatic chops." - OC Register http://www.ocregister.com/articles/victor-one-life-2435669-claude-antoine
"EMPTY PLATE is a thoughtful, surprisingly emotional comedy that's easy to digest & appreciate" - Showmag.com
http://ow.ly/fNoQ
"...Hollinger's witty dénouement adds the final frosting to the theatrical cake." - Backstage http://ow.ly/dKZi
EMPTY PLATE is "a tangy comedic soufflé." - StageSceneLA
http://tinyurl.com/qw2k2a
"Hollinger’s comedy is highly original & largely unpredictable. I only predict that you’ll laugh- a lot"- The Examiner
http://ow.ly/aKrk
"EMPTY PLATE is a thoughtful, surprisingly emotional comedy that's easy to digest & appreciate" - Showmag.com
http://ow.ly/fNoQ
"...Hollinger's witty dénouement adds the final frosting to the theatrical cake." - Backstage http://ow.ly/dKZi
EMPTY PLATE is "a tangy comedic soufflé." - StageSceneLA
http://tinyurl.com/qw2k2a
"Hollinger’s comedy is highly original & largely unpredictable. I only predict that you’ll laugh- a lot"- The Examiner
http://ow.ly/aKrk
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Pictures from "An Empty Plate in the Cafe Du Grand Boeuf"
See additional press pictures at http://lagunaplayhouse.com/press/photos/EmptyPlatePressPhotos.php
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
"Empty Plate at the Cafe du Grand Boeuf"
LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE PRESENTS THE WEST COAST PREMIERE OF
AN EMPTY PLATE IN THE CAFÉ DU GRAND BOEUF
MAY 26– JUNE 28, 2009
AN EMPTY PLATE IN THE CAFÉ DU GRAND BOEUF
MAY 26– JUNE 28, 2009
LAGUNA BEACH, CA – May 7, 2009 – Looking for something to fill your theatrical plate? Whet your appetite with the West Coast Premiere of An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf, running May 26 – June 28 at The Laguna Playhouse. An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf is written by Michael Hollinger and directed by Andrew Barnicle. It stars Adrian Sparks, Jeff Marlowe, Stasha Surdyke, Marc Cardiff, Graham Miller, and Amy Kay Raymond.Victor, a wealthy American expatriate living in Paris in 1961, owns the fabulous Café du Grand Boeuf, the world's greatest restaurant reserved solely for his private dining pleasure. He arrives one summer evening after a trip to Madrid in a very bleak mood—his idol Ernest Hemingway has just committed suicide, and Victor’s doomed love affair has finally ended. As his fastidious French staff fusses over him, he announces his decision to starve himself to death! The staff attempts to dissuade Victor by seducing him with a lavish seven course menu filled with decadent culinary delights, but they find that the way to a man’s heart may not be through his stomach. This dark comedy that the Philadelphia Evening Bulletin calls “a humorous dish of witty wordplay” celebrates the joys of cooking, sex, bullfighting, and the works of Hemingway in a funny yet bittersweet tale of the absurdities and contradictions inherent in being human.
“Hollinger has a deep respect for the human condition, including its frailties, so regardless of the absurdity of some of the situations his characters are in, they always respond in a distinctly human way,” notes Barnicle, who thinks audiences won’t really know what the play is all about until the end. “That is a very good thing, by the way.Nobody should be sitting around waiting for the ending because they already know what it’s going to be. Hollinger is a master of the unexpected.”
Barnicle says he’s had to overcome a number of obstacles in bring this play to life, including obtaining the services of a professional bullfighting consultant and a tuba teacher, and making sure the numerous French phrases in the script are properly pronounced. But that’s not all.
“The main challenge will be in drawing the audience into a world that is somewhat askew from our reality,” explains Barnicle. “The plot features a wealthy man who owns a restaurant that serves nobody but him. Sounds whacked. But then again, Howard Hughes took up an entire floor of a hotel in Las Vegas for years and never came out. The trick is to make the weirdness plausible within the world of the play.”
“Another challenge is that the play deals with rather deep philosophical issues,” adds Barnicle. “I’m calling it ‘romantic existentialism.’ I have no idea what that means. The staging should be right in our wheelhouse: single location, elegantly appointed. Casting is always the most important element of the production. There is a character who plays the tuba, and that posed a slight problem. But it will be worth it--we all know that a tuba is funny and French horn is not. That’s a basic rule of comedy.”
Performance & Ticket Information:
Ticket Prices:
Preview performances: $25 to $45
Opening Night Gala: $115
Regular performances: $30 to $65
Previews:
May 26 – 29, 2009
Opening Night Gala:
Saturday, May 30, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
Regular Performances
May 31 – June 28
Tuesday – Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.
Thursday matinees May 28 & June 11 at 2:00 p.m.
Sunday evening June 21 at 7:00 p.m.
FOR INFORMATION & TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
CALL: 949.497.ARTS (2787) - GROUP SALES: 949.497.2787 ext. 229
VISIT: www.LagunaPlayhouse.com
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