THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE

PRESENTS
TRANCED
BY BOB CLYMAN
January 1 – February 3, 2008

WORLD PREMIERE PRODUCTION IS DIRECTED BY JESSICA KUBZANSKY

The Laguna Playhouse is pleased to present the World Premiere of Tranced by Bob Clyman, running January 1 through February 3, 2008 in The Playhouse’s Moulton Theatre in Laguna Beach. The production is directed by Jessica Kubzansky.

In this fast-paced, suspense-filled thriller by the author of The Laguna Playhouse hit drama, The Secret Order, an African graduate student (Azmera) comes to Dr. Philip Malaad, a respected psychiatrist and renowned specialist in clinical hypnosis, seeking relief from her panic attacks which began shortly after she observed a violent incident in her native country. After ‘trancing’ her, Dr. Malaad begins to suspect whatever she believes she witnessed may actually be concealing a repressed memory, one with profound consequences for many thousands of people unless someone quickly intervenes. Caught between his professional ethics and this large moral obligation, Malaad is soon pulled into a vortex of high-level political intrigue and forced to examine as never before the slippery nature of truth.

“It’s easier for me to write about mental health because I am a psychologist as well as a playwright. It gives me a leg up as far as authenticity,” notes Clyman. “I know about hypnotherapy, and I talked to a hypnotherapist who works in this manner. It’s not abracadabra. They sit across from you and create paradoxes which will alter your relationship with reality, and without knowing it you’ll be much more open to suggestion. And despite the serious subject there’s also a lot of humor in the play, although it’s all character based comedy. I don’t write laugh lines. You need good comic actors for this role, actors who understand rhythm and language, someone with an ear. You need the right person that understands how to capture the mood and maximize the comic pop. I do not write actor proof plays. I leave a tremendous amount of responsibility to directors and actors.”

Tranced features four Los Angeles-based actors: Eriza Tazel (Azmera), Thomas Fiscella (Dr. Philip Malaad), Ashley West Leonard (Beth, a journalist) and Andrew Norba (Logan, Director of African Affairs).

Bob Clyman’s plays have been performed Off-Broadway and at regional theaters, including The Laguna Playhouse, Denver Center Theatre, George Street Playhouse, Williamstown Theater Company, Colony Studio Theatre, Missouri Repertory Theater, Playwrights Theater of New Jersey, and Philadelphia Festival Theater. Subsequent to its performance at Laguna Playhouse, his play Secret Order was recently produced at Merrimack Repertory Theatre and opened Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theatre in November of 2007. He has also been awarded a number of national prizes, including a Eugene O’Neill Summer Conference Fellowship, New Jersey State Arts Council Award, Geraldine Dodge Fellowship, Berilla-Kerr Foundation Award, Edward Albee Foundation Fellowship, Djerassi Foundation Fellowship, Shenandoah Valley Playwrights Fellowship, Playwrights First Award and Theater in the Works Fellowship. He was a member of the Circle Rep Lab in New York, where four of his plays were produced.

Jessica Kubzansky is an award-winning director who was awarded the 2004 LA Drama Critics Circle Margaret Hanford Award for Sustained Excellence in Theatre. New works are a passion for Kubzansky, whose recent forays include: the world premiere and Ovation Award-winning production of Bryan Davidson's War Music for the Playwrights' Arena/Echo Theatre at LATC which went on to play at The Geffen Playhouse; the world premiere of Cold/Tender for The Theater @ Boston Court; the critically-acclaimed West Coast premiere of Sheila Callaghan's Kate Crackernuts at the 24th Street Theatre; the multiple award-winning Toys in the Attic at The Colony; and the award-winning new musical Moscow, by Nick Salamone. Kubzansky's work out of town includes Julia Cho's BFE for Portland Center Stage's JAW West Festival, David Gow's Bea's Niece for MetroStage in Washington, D.C., Pirates of Penzance for The Publick Theatre (Boston), Tony Kushner's The Illusion for the American Stage Co. (Florida), Twelfth Night for the Grand Canyon Shakespeare Festival (Arizona), and Macbeth at Greyfriars Kirkyard (Edinburgh). Kubzansky is blessed to indulge her wildly eclectic theatrical tastes in Southern California, with productions as diverse as Measure for Measure for A Noise Within, Amy's View (with Carol Lawrence and Susan Egan) as well as A Servant to Two Masters for International City Theatre, world premieres for the Mark Taper Forum New Works (plays by Diana Son, Paula Weston Solano, et al), Moon for the Misbegotten at the Laguna Playhouse, Wedekind/Peter Barnes' Lulu for Pacific Resident Theatre, Dancing at Lughansa for McCoy-Rigby/La Mirada, Vaclav Havel's The Memorandum for the Odyssey Theatre, The House of Blue Leaves for West Coast Ensemble, Heartbreak House for the Colony Theatre, Arthur Schnitzler's Anatol for the Buffalo Nights, the world premiere of Carol Wolf's The Thousandth Night (Monsieur Shaherazad) with Ron Campbell, which has played London's Old Red Lion and toured the world; and many more. Kubzansky and her productions have received numerous theatre honors, including the Scotsman's Fringe First, London Fringe, Los Angeles Drama Critics' Circle, LA Weekly, Drama-Logue, Backstage West Garland, OC Weekly, and Robby Awards. Kubzansky has an M.F.A. from California Institute of the Arts, a creative writing degree from Johns Hopkins University, was a V.U.S. at Harvard University, and teaches at UCLA.

TRANCED - Performance & Ticket Information:

Ticket Prices: $25 to $65

Previews:
Tuesday – Friday, January 1 – 4: 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 3: 2:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Regular Performances
January 6 – February 3, 2008
Tuesday – Saturday evenings: 8:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday matinees: 2:00 p.m.
Sunday, January 27: 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.

FOR INFORMATION & TO PURCHASE TICKETS:
CALL: 949.497.ARTS (2787) - GROUP SALES: 949.497.2787 ext. 229
www.LagunaPlayhouse.com

MOULTON THEATRE: 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, California

2008 World Festival of Sacred Music – Los Angeles

September 20 to October 4 -- 2008

1,000 artists perform in Los Angeles’ largest and most diverse citywide festival with forty sacred events of music and movement – crossing neighborhoods, cultural, religious and ideological boundaries in the spirit of world peace

With the success of the 1999, 2002 and 2005 World Festivals of Sacred Music – Los Angeles, a powerful coalition of arts, faith, cultural, community, and environmental groups are announcing that the fourth citywide event will take place in September 20 to October 4, 2008.

The fifteen-day, 40 event multidisciplinary Festival will share music and movement in places large and small, sacred and secular, public and private -- crossing neighborhoods, cultural, religious, and ideological boundaries. Through music each person in the audience can expand their definition of who they are as members of this city, go beyond the familiar, and explore the potential of intercultural and interfaith collaboration.

Artists, organizers, and the audience realize the community-building intention of the Festival through their participation.

The World Festival of Sacred Music—Los Angeles is made possible through the shared commitment of its Festival partners, which produces this event by contributing in-kind assistance and volunteer time. In 1999, 2002 and 2005 this non-commercial, community oriented, citywide Festival had a combined estimated attendance of 120,000 people, and is the area’s largest and most diverse festival. With the fourth 2008 WFSM-LA the Festival establishes itself as an on-going part of the cultural life of this community.

The Festival is currently reaching out to the community, as it has for the previous Festivals, for participants – performers, venues, presenters, and volunteers. Applications are due January 4, 2008.

On December 3, 5, and 6 there will be three community meetings where all interested in the Festival can learn about the application process; this is also a gathering of fellow artists, presenters, and staff to kick off the Festival.

www.festivalofsacredmusic.org or call 310-825-0507.

The World Festival of Sacred Music-Los Angeles is a project of Foundation for World Arts, EarthWays Foundation and UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance. The 2008 WFSM-LA is funded in part by The James Irvine Foundation, The Annenberg Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts, Ford Foundation, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Arts Commission.

About the 2008 World Festival of Sacred Music – Los Angeles

Working under a broad definition of “sacred,” the Festival is founded on the belief that sacred music has the ability to bring forth our shared human values of peace, understanding, and respect for all living things. Offering an alternative, community-oriented model to the corporate values that dominate the entertainment culture of Los Angeles, the Festival provides opportunities for people to come together and investigate issues of tolerance and diversity within our complex, urban environment.

As Festival director Judy Mitoma said, “Through music, each person in the audience can expand their definition of who they are as members of this city, go beyond the familiar, and explore the potential of intercultural and interfaith collaboration.”

The first Festival was initiated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1999 to mark the millennium with a message of peace, cultural understanding, and spirituality: the goal was to present the Festival on four continents.

“As in 2005,” Mitoma said, “we are continually trying to build performances that encourage collaboration between artists who normally work independently. We seek to highlight artists from around the world, as well as provide meaningful contexts for local artists who work tirelessly in our own city. We are building the forty events in the Festival – and our goal is for many to be an invitation for seemingly unconventional partnerships between religious and arts organizations, professional artists and community performers, and traditionalists and experimental artists to encourage community building that transcends borders.”

ALMOST, MAINE

Written by John Cariani and Directed by Steph N. Davis

THE ORANGE CURTAIN presents:
ALMOST, MAINE
Written by John Cariani and directed by Steph N. Davis.

Almost is a small town in far Northern Maine. On a cold December Friday night, under a big sky, the residents of Almost are falling in and out of love at an alarming rate. Hearts are broken, and mended, during this evening of romantic revelations. These vignettes are full of magical and wonderful surprises, and nothing is at all what it seems. This play is all about one moment in time and what can happen in a heartbeat.

Starring: Albert Bohorquez from San Juan Capistrano; Sean J. Marchant from Dana Point; Bettina Marlaine Saam from Tustin; and Sherryl Wynne from Vista.

Friday and Saturday – December 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday – December 2,9,and 16 at 3:00 p.m.

The Orange Curtain Theatre
31776 El Camino Real
San Juan Capistrano,
ADMISSION: $18.00

info@theorangecurtaintheatre.org

Camino Real Playhouse
Presents
“It’s A Wonderful Life”

By James W. Rodgers, Frank Capra and Philip Van Doren Stern

Directed by Nick Charles

The Camino Real Playhouse presents this heartwarming Christmas saga about George Bailey, the everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of adventure have been quashed by family obligation. His guardian angel, Clarence, has to descend on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to remind him by showing him what the world would have been like had he never been born that his has been, after all, a wonderful life. This is the perfect holiday show for the entire family. Nick Charles of Rancho Santa Margarita directs Mathew Dodd of Cypress, Noah Canty of Dove Canyon, Lindsey Martensen of Huntington Beach, Jennifer Hartline of Irvine, Stacey Newton and Christopher Veal of Ladera Ranch, Michael Ellis of Laguna Hills, Brooke Steuckrath, Ryan Stickles, Bill Goff, Brandee Proctor, Frank Aranda and Ginger Griffith of Laguna Niguel, Katherine Allen of Mission Viejo, Walter Ruskin of San Clemente, Casey Corbett of San Juan Capistrano and Steve Saatjian of Tustin.
Kathleen Penn of San Clemente is Stage Manager and Christy Mapes of North Tustin is Assistant Stage Manager.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:

Sunday Matinees December 9 and 16 at 2:00 PM
Thursdays December 6 and 13 at 8:00 PM December 7 and 14 at 8:00 PM
Saturdays December 1, 8 and 15 at 8:00 PM

ADMISSION:
$19
Purchase tickets online at www.caminorealplayhouse.org or
by calling the Box Office Voicemail at (949) 489-8082.

CAMINO REAL PLAYHOUSE
31776 El Camino Real
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Box Office Voice Mail: (949) 489-8082
boxoffice@caminorealplayhouse.org
www.caminorealplayhouse.org

ShowOff! 2008

Only three weekends!

Opens January 4th, Gala night on January 5th

Enjoy seven 10 - minute plays directed by seven different directors! You will love this fast paced event with comedy, mystery, drama and intrigue...and you get to vote on the winning plays! Always an audience favorite. Our International Playwriting Festival was sold out every performance last year so get your tickets early!

There will be adult content, so please leave the little ones at home!

Performance dates:
January 4**, 5*, 6, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19 & 20
Fri, Sat at 8PM and Sun matinee at 2PM
Tickets: $19.00 - **Preview $15.00 - *Gala $30.00
Gala night doors open at 6:30 for buffet dinner, curtain is at 8PM

PARKING:
There is free parking available in the parking structure on Verdugo next to the Capistrano Train Depot. It's less than a two minute walk to the playhouse at
31776 El Camino Real.
DIRECTIONS TO PARKING:
From the 5 freeway exit Ortega Highway west and stay in your right hand lane. Proceed past El Camino Real and the Mission then turn left on Camino Capistrano. Almost immediately turn right on Verdugo. The parking structure will be on your left in the cul-de-sac.

KAREN WOOD NAMED LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE MANAGING DIRECTOR

Following an extensive, six month nationwide search, The Laguna Playhouse announced today that Karen Wood has been appointed as The Playhouse’s managing director. Wood, who was previously managing director of the San Diego Repertory Theatre for seven years, will assume her duties at The Playhouse on February 4, 2008. She succeeds Richard Stein, who resigned as executive director in June 2007.

The announcement was made by Andrew Donchak, president of The Laguna Playhouse board of directors.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I am very pleased to welcome Karen Wood to the Laguna Playhouse,” said Donchak. “We interviewed many fine candidates from across the country and were tremendously impressed by Karen’s experience, talent and passion for theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has developed an enviable reputation as one of the leading professional nonprofit theatres in the U.S. We are confident that Karen will help lead the Playhouse to new heights in the years to come.”

Executive search firm services were provided by Jessica Andrews and Jim Volz of Consultants for the Arts, who helped select and evaluate numerous candidates along with Laguna Playhouse Search Committee Chair Richard Schweickert, Andrew Donchak, board members Sindi Schwarz and Laura Rohl, and Playhouse artistic director Andrew Barnicle.

Barnicle commented: “I am thrilled to be able to partner with Karen as we enter an era of new growth at the Laguna Playhouse. Her experience and personality make her an ideal choice for this position. She has proven in all of her endeavors to be a distinguished administrator who also understands and loves artists and the art of theatre. During the search process, the word most often used in connection with her was ‘integrity.’”

Prior to her tenure with the San Diego Repertory Theatre, Wood’s career in the arts included serving as managing director of The Music Center Education Division in Los Angeles, general manager of the John Anson Ford Theatre through the County Arts Commission of Los Angeles, and general manager of the Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles.

"I am delighted to be joining in the leadership of The Laguna Playhouse,” said Wood. “Andy Barnicle's depth of experience and strong creative spirit, coupled with the board of directors’ scope of knowledge and passion for The Playhouse, are inspiring. In this new collaboration, it will be my heartfelt desire and joy to help build on the heritage of this cultural treasure. Together with the board, I look forward to the process of exploring and creating a path for growth that will deepen our service to the local and regional community and continue our commitment to the enhancement of the field nationally. I am so pleased to have this opportunity to join the extraordinary team at The Laguna Playhouse and the lovely community of Laguna Beach."

ABOUT LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
Founded in 1920, the Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating theatres on the West Coast, and has evolved from an amateur theater into a professional venue that is now a member of League of Resident Theatres (LORT), a prestigious body of the nation's largest non-profit professional theatres. The Playhouse is also a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group, the national organization of American professional theatre.

More than 100,000 theatergoers annually attend performances at the Laguna Playhouse. Noted for its Youth Theater, Education and Community Outreach programs, the Playhouse’s continued growth, expansion, artistic excellence, audience popularity and critical acclaim have helped make it one of Southern California's most important nonprofit theatre companies. Annual budget now stands at more than $6 million.

The Magic Flute

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder

Four performances only – January 23, 27, 31, February 2, 2008 Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center Nicole Cabell as Pamina Chad Shelton as Tamino Luz del Alba as Queen of the Night Rod Gilfry as Papageno

Conducted by John DeMain Directed by Michael Hampe

Opera Pacific, led by Artistic Director John DeMain, presents Mozart’s The Magic Flute at Segerstrom Hall of Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Fantasy and delight reign supreme in this eye-popping, colorful production of Mozart’s masterpiece! Visually and aurally stunning, this Magic Flute leads the audience on a thrilling journey through the darkest night (always illuminated with sparkling stars) into a dawn of daylight and love. Wonderful arias – including the Queen of the Night’s gasp-inducing coloratura showcase – highlight the enchanting proceedings. Sung in German with English translation projected above the stage.

An incredible international cast gathers at Opera Pacific for Mozart’s enchanting The Magic Flute. The 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World, Nicole Cabell will join the company as Pamina. Chad Shelton joins the cast of The Magic Flute after singing the role Don Jose in Opera Pacific’s Carmen last February. Uruguyan soprano Luz del Alba reprises her Queen of the Night after making her European debut in the role in 1999 at the Summerfestival in Frankfurt and Mainz. Southern California local turned international star, Rod Gilfry, sings Papageno.

Singing the role of Tamino is tenor Chad Shelton who began the 2006-07 season with L’Opera de Nancy as Guido Bardi in Zemlinsky’s A Florentine Tragedy. Later that season he sang Alfredo in La Traviata with Utah Opera and Central City Opera and performed Handel’s Messiah with the Virginia Symphony. Among his engagements in future seasons is a return to L’Opera de Nancy for Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and both Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Grand Théatre de Genëve.

Hailed by Opera News for his unfailing ability to tackle “high-flying tessitura without even a flicker of strain” as well as having a “convincing line and technical finesse,” tenor Chad Shelton garners acclaim for his characterizations of leading roles on national and international stages. A frequent leading presence with Houston Grand Opera, Shelton’s other roles with the company include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Captain Vere in Billy Budd, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, and Camille in The Merry Widow. Known for his commitment to contemporary works, Shelton created the role of Laurie in Mark Adamo’s Little Women with Houston Grand Opera, a performance of which was telecast on PBS and commercially recorded on the Ondine label.

Soprano Nicole Cabell sings the role of Pamina. Cabell, the 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World Competition in Cardiff and exclusive DECCA recording artist, is fast becoming one of the most sought-after lyric sopranos of today. Miss Cabell’s 2006/2007 season included many exciting debuts, most notably with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Eudoxie in concert performances of La Juive, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall in Poulenc’s Gloria, the Santa Fe Opera as Musetta in La Bohème, the Opéra de Montpellier as Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore and with Opera Rara in a recording and concert performance of the title-role of Donizetti’s Imelda de’ Lambertazzi.

Other notable concert appearances included Carmina Burana and Honey and Rue with the Oslo Philharmonic and Andre Previn, an all-Bernstein evening at Harvard with Judith Clurman, the Gorecki 3rd Symphony with the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä, Messiah with the San Diego Symphony and a return to the Indianapolis Symphony for a concert of Opera Arias with Mario Venzago.

Uruguyan soprano Luz del Alba appears as the Queen of the Night after her Opera Pacifid debut in last September’s Opera Under the Stars concert at the Irvine Bowl. Luz del Alba made her European debut in 1999 at the Summerfestival in Frankfurt and Mainz, as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.

She has performed as Musetta in La Boheme, at the Teatro di Regio di Parma and Teatro Solis in Montevideo, Gilda in Rigoletto (in over 20 productions) in Italy, Switzerland, and in the States, Orlando and New York City Opera. She also sang Lucia de Lammermoor and Adina in L’Elisir d' Amore in Rome and San Gemignano. As Verdi’s Violetta she has performed at the Vienna Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Bruxelles, Liege, Ghent, Rome, San Gemignano, Uruguay, and in the states, Orlando and Gibraltar Opera House for its re-opening after 50 years.

At the invitation of Placido Domingo and Washington Opera she made her American debut performing as a flower maiden in Parsifal and Antonia & Guiletta in Tales of Hoffman. Since then she has performed the title role in Lakme at the Baltimore Opera, Olympia in Tales of Hoffman at the West Palm Beach Opera and Antonia in Tales of Hoffman at the Cleveland Opera. In 2004 she sang Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro in Trapani, Italy. In the next season she debuted as Rosina in The Barber of Seville at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires and debuted as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in Lecce, Italy. Her most recent engagements included singing Rosina in The Barber of Seville at the Ercolano Festival in Naples, performing in a La Fenice production of La Traviata in Beijing and Rigoletto in Jesi, Italy.

Singing the pivotal role of Papageno is baritone Rod Gilfry, who was brought to worldwide attention when he created the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1998 premiere of André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire with the San Francisco Opera.

This production, conducted by the composer, was televised nationwide on PBS; a live recording was released by Deutsche Grammophon and DVD and VHS versions have subsequently been issued. He has also recorded on EMI, Erato, Philips, Telarc and Teldec. His live video performances of the Mozart/Da Ponte operas are available on DG/Archiv. With the addition of his assumption of the role of

Nathan in the 2002 Covent Garden premiere of Nicholas Maw’s Sophie’s Choice and the 2003 Los Angeles Opera premiere as Tsar Nicholas II in Nicholas & Alexandra, Mr. Gilfry has become many composer’s baritone of choice for romantic lead roles in new operas.

Opera Pacific Prologue

An Opera Pacific prologue on The Magic Flute will be held at Bowers Museum on Sunday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m. Opera Pacific’s Prologues provide an introduction to the opera for all audiences and are designed to provide information for those new to opera, as well as those who have been lifelong fans of the art form. Prologue speaker Ron Shaheen lends his insight into the history, music and plot intricacies as intended by the composer. Presented in two parts with refreshments at intermission. Prologues also provide audience members an opportunity to ask questions in discussions with the guest speaker, and hear excerpts from the upcoming productions performed by mainstage cast members.

22nd Season of Opera Pacific

Celebrating its 22nd Season, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's main stage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for Southern California. More than 670,000 people have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.

In addition to the "grand opera" repertory, Opera Pacific has responded to the need for strong, professional productions of classic American musical theatre and European operetta. Under the baton and dedication of John DeMain, opera is an event with the honest communication of the stories and musical values of the works, combined with exciting singers, and major opera house scale productions.

Tickets for The Magic Flute

Tickets for The Magic Flute are priced from $27 to $191 and are available by calling 1-800-34-OPERA, online at www.operapacific.org, or by visiting the Orange County Performing Arts Center Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For information, go to www.operapacific.org. For groups, call (714) 830-6361.