TONY® AND EMMY AWARD®-WINNER

TO PERFORM AT KODAK THEATRE
AT HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND CENTER
ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY!
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2 at 8 pm

Broadway’s master songman, Mandy Patinkin, accompanied by Paul Ford on piano, will bring his critically acclaimed theatre concert to Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center for one performance only on Saturday, February 2 at 8 pm.

Tony® and Emmy Award®-winner Mandy Patinkin has an extensive list of theatre credits that include Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater. He won a Tony Award for his 1980 Broadway debut as Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita and was again nominated in 1984 for his starring role in the Pulitzer Prize winning musical Sunday in the Park With George.

He returned to Broadway in the Tony Award®-winning musical The Secret Garden (1991), appeared as Marvin in Falsettos (1992) and in 1997 played a sold-out engagement of his one-man concert, Mandy Patinkin in Concert, with all profits benefiting five charitable organizations. Mandy’s other solo concerts, Celebrating Sondheim and Mamaloshen have been presented on Broadway, Off-Broadway and have toured the United States. His other stage credits include The Wild Party (Tony® and Drama Desk nominations), The Winter’s Tale, The Knife (Drama Desk nomination), Leave it to Beaver is Dead, Rebel Women, Hamlet, Trelawney of the ‘Wells,” The Shadow Box and Henry IV, Part I.

Mandy won a 1995 Emmy Award® for his critically acclaimed performance in the CBS series ”Chicago Hope,” and recently starred in the CBS series “Criminal Minds” as FBI profiler Jason Gideon and in the Showtime Original Series “Dead Like Me” as the reaper Rube Sofer.

His other television appearances include the role of Kenneth Duberstein in the Showtime film “Strange Justice,” playing Quasimodo opposite Richard Harris in the TNT film presentation of “The Hunchback,” and a film version of Arthur Miller's “Broken Glass” for BBC/WGBH-Boston.

Feature film credits include: Everyone’s Hero, Choking Man, Pinero, Elmo In Grouchland, Men with Guns, Lulu on the Bridge, The Princess Bride, Yentl, The Music of Chance, Daniel, Ragtime, Impromptu, The Doctor, Alien Nation, Dick Tracy, The House on Carroll Street, True Colors, Maxie, and Squanto: Indian Warrior.

Mr. Patinkin’s live performances have received wide critical acclaim. Pamela Sommers of the Washington Post wrote, “The most arresting thing about Patinkin is the conversational, often impassioned quality of his singing…you find yourself listening like you’ve never listened before.” Clive Barnes of the New York Post called Mandy “the greatest entertainer on Broadway today – period.” In the New York Daily News, Howard Kissel called his performance, “the most exciting time I’ve had in the theatre in ages. He could single-handedly revive the American musical theatre.” And the London Evening Standard called him, “a master entertainer of a type once thought to be extinct.”

In 1989, Mandy began his concert career at Joseph Papp's Public Theater. This coincided with the release of his first solo album entitled Mandy Patinkin. Since then he has toured extensively, appearing to sold-out audiences across the United States, Canada, London and Australia, performing songs from writers including Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Randy Newman, Adam Guettel and Harry Chapin, among others. In 1990 he released his second solo album entitled Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Dress Casual on CBS Records.

His 1994 recording, Experiment, on the Nonesuch label, features songs from nine decades of popular music from Irving Berlin to Alan Menken. Also recorded on the Nonesuch label is Oscar & Steve and Leonard Bernstein's New York. In 1998 he debuted his most personal project, Mamaloshen, a collection of traditional, classic and contemporary songs sung entirely in Yiddish. The recording of Mamaloshen won the Deutschen Schallplattenpreis (Germany’s equivalent of the Grammy Award). In 2001, Nonesuch Records released Kidults, a collection of beloved songs, designed – as the title suggests – for the kid in every adult. And, in 2002, Nonesuch Records released Mandy Patinkin Sings Sondheim, a figurative journey through Sondheim’s music and lyrics.

Paul Ford was the original pianist for the Broadway productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Passion, Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George, the Off-Broadway production of Assassins, and most recently the revival of Pacific Overtures and the Tony award winning revival of Assassins. His other Broadway credits include Curtains, 110 in the Shade (revival), Tom Sawyer, High Society, The Rink, Rags, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine, The Secret Garden and Falsettos.

Mr. Ford was the pianist for a number of concerts under the baton of Paul Gemignani including: the acclaimed Follies concert at Lincoln Center; the Carnegie Hall concert performances of A Sondheim Tribute, Anyone Can Whistle and South Pacific with Reba McEntire; A Little Night Music with the Philadelphia Symphony; Gypsy with Patti LuPone and the Chicago Symphony; and episodes of PBS’ “My Favorite Broadway.” He accompanied Mr. Patinkin in Mandy Patinkin: Dress Casual at the Public Theater and on Broadway, both the Broadway and Off-Broadway engagements of Mamaloshen, and continues to work with him on all of his recordings and national/international tours.

About Kodak Theatre -- Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood & Highland Center located in the heart of historic Hollywood. The 3,400 seat theatre opened in November 2001 and soon thereafter became known to more than one billion people across the globe as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards®. As a first class live entertainment venue, Kodak Theatre has hosted a range of prestigious artists and events including Alicia Keys, Celine Dion, Prince, Elvis Costello, Barry Manilow, Stevie Wonder, Harry Connick, Jr., Melissa Etheridge, Dixie Chicks, Tyler Perry, American Ballet Theatre and various touring Broadway productions. Notable television and awards events at Kodak Theatre have included the American Idol finals, AFI Lifetime Achievement Awards to Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, and George Lucas, Latin GRAMMY® Awards, ESPY Awards and BET Awards.

Kodak Theatre is operated by TheatreDreams. TheatreDreams and its affiliated companies are led by Tony Award®-winning principals Lawrence J. Wilker, Jill Wilker, Joan A. Alper, William W. Becker and Michael Alper. Formed in 2001, TheatreDreams has co-produced three hit Broadway productions: Urinetown: The Musical, winner of three 2002 Tony Awards®; Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods starring Vanessa Williams and winner of the 2002 Tony Award® for Best Musical Revival; and Neil Simon’s The Dinner Party starring Henry Winkler and the late John Ritter.

This concert event is present by TheatreDreams and Kodak Theatre. Tickets, priced at $65, are available at the Kodak Theatre Box Office, 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, through KodakTheatre.com, by phone at 213-480-3232, and at all Ticketmaster outlets. For groups of 15 or more call 323-308-6333.

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 Artscenter
Nicole Cabell as Pamina
Chad Shelton as Tamino
Luz del Alba Rubio as Queen of the Night
Rod Gilfry as Papageno
Morris Robinson as Sarastro

Conducted by John DeMain
Directed by Dr. Michael Hampe

Costumes designed by Zandra Rhodes for San Diego Opera
Sets designed by Dr. Michael Hampe and Alberto Andreis for San Diego Opera Sets for The Magic Flute executed by San Diego Opera
Scenic Studio Costumes for The Magic Flute executed by San Diego Opera Costume Shop

Opera Pacific presents Mozart’s The Magic Flute, led by Artistic Director and Principal Conductor John DeMain, at Segerstrom Hall of Orange County Performing Artscenter. The production will be conducted by John DeMain, and directed by Dr. Michael Hampe. Dr. Michael Hampe and Alberto Andreis designed the sets for the San Diego Opera. Costumes are executed by San Diego Opera Costume Shop and designed by Zandra Rhodes.

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.

Opera Pacific continues its 22^nd season with this production of Mozart’s final opera. The Magic Flute opened in 1791. The opera was produced as a commission for librettist Emmanuel Schikaneder’s failing theater company, Theater auf der Wieden. The critical success of the original production (which also starred Schikaneder as Papageno) brought new life to the theater and simultaneously reached out to a new audience.

Noted for its fairy tale influences and classic symbols of good versus evil, The Magic Flute follows the love story of the young prince Tamino (Chad Shelton) and princess Pamina (Nicole Cabell) - the beautiful daughter of the Queen of the Night (Luz de Alba Rubio), Tamino attempts to rescue Pamina after learning of her kidnapping by the high priest Sarastro. The Queen of the Night gives Tamino a magic flute for protection, and then sends him and Papageno (a bird catcher sung by Rod Gilfry) to find her daughter. It is not until after both men face tests of extreme elements that Tamino and Pamina are united. The Magic Flute ranges from the ultra dramatic to the highly comic. Presented in the form of Singspiel, it includes both singing and spoken dialogue.

Described by the North County Times as “an ideal introduction to opera for children“ this production was first seen in San Diego in 2001, and again in 2006, with costumes by renowned British textile designer Zandra Rhodes. Known for her bright pink hair, dramatic designs, and past work with clients such as Sir Elton John and Princess Diana, Rhodes’ colorful costumes heighten the magical setting and help “conjure a primal realm, somewhere between sleep and wakefulness, and darkness and light, in which hopes, fears and desires present themselves to human consciousness and conscience” (Sign on San Diego). It was due to Rhodes’ theatrical style that she was approached for this project. It was beginning of Rhodes work for the stage. Most recently, she designed the English National Opera’s 2007 production of Aïda.

Dr. Michael Hampe is directing this production as well as having been a part of the set design team with Alberto Andreis, having worked on the San Diego Opera’s The Magic Flute in both 2001 and 2006. He has worked on productions throughout the world including Milan's Teatro alla Scala, Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, San Francisco Opera, Los Angeles Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper, Munich, the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Opera Australia, the Edinburgh Festival, Florence's Maggio Musicale, the Schwetzingen Festspiele, and the Pesaro Rossini Festival. In addition, Dr. Michael Hampe works as a professor at the Cologne Music Academy and is also an expert in international theatre construction. Hampe has also published several books, including Alles Theater, a collection of essays on various aspects of theatre and opera.

An incredible international cast gathers at Opera Pacific for The Magic Flute. The 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World, Nicole Cabell will join the company as Pamina. Chad Shelton also joins the cast of The Magic Flute after singing the role Don José in Opera Pacific’s Carmen last February. Uruguyan soprano Luz del Alba Rubio 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 was last seen with Opera Pacific as Don Jose in 2006’s Carmen. He 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 makes her debut with Opera Pacific singing 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 3^rd 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 Rubio appears as the Queen of the Night after her Opera Pacific debut in last September’s Opera Under the Stars concert at the Irvine Bowl. Luz del Alba Rubio 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 & Guilietta 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
The Opera Pacific Prologue on The Magic Flute will be held at Bowers Museum on Sunday, January 6 at 2:00 pm with director Dr. Michael Hampe and Prologue speaker Ron Shaheen. 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. 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.

Pre-Performance Lecture

An overview of the performance, story synopsis, historical and composer connections, and personal insights with Opera Pacific’s Chorus Master Henri Venanzi is held one hour prior to each performance in Segerstrom Hall.

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 mainstage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for all of 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.

Strike A Pose!

PAGEANT OF THE MASTERS CASTING CALL 2008

Ever wanted to be in pictures? Here's an opportunity to be in “living pictures.” The Pageant of the Masters is looking for men, women and children to volunteer for next summer's show, All the World's a Stage. People of all sizes and ages are needed to be cast members in the world's most famous presentation of tableaux vivants (living pictures) which is staged nightly during the summer at the Irvine Bowl in Laguna Beach.

Casting call will be held at the following times: Saturday, January 5 from 7 p.m. -
9 p.m., Sunday, January 6 from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. and Thursday, January 10 from 7p.m. - 9 p.m. The exact location is backstage at the Irvine Bowl, 650 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Please call (949) 494-3663 for additional information after January 2.

Casting call is a fun experience for all involved. Prospective volunteers will be measured and photographed, enjoy refreshments and meet the behind-the-scenes Pageant staff. No theater experience is necessary. The only requirement is the ability to stand still and have fun.

In addition to needing volunteers to pose in the Pageant, volunteers are needed for positions in the wardrobe, make up, and headdress departments, as well as cast area coordinators and refreshment servers, among other positions.

Pageant director Diane Challis Davy has this to say about the volunteers, "They are the most important aspect of the Pageant - without them there wouldn't even be a show!"

Many volunteers come back year after year because they have so much fun over the course of the summer. It is common to have several generations of the same family volunteering for different aspects of the show. By volunteering for the Pageant, students can earn credit towards community service requirements.

The 2008 Pageant of the Masters, All the World's a Stage, will be staged July 9 through August 30. The tenth gala benefit performance will be held on August 23, 2008. Tickets are on sale now; call 1-800-487-3378. The Festival of Arts is a nonprofit organization whose proceeds go to support the arts.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS NOW ACCEPTING ARTISTS' APPLICATIONS FOR ITS SUMMER 2008 FINE ART EXHIBITION
Festival's Jurying Process Goes Digital - Free Seminar January 15

The Festival of Arts - California's Premier Fine Art Show is now accepting artists' applications for its summer 2008 exhibition in Laguna Beach. This year the Festival, a regional exhibit, expanded its outreach to artists living in the cities of Coto de Caza, Huntington Beach, Ladera Ranch, Modjeska Canyon, Portola Hills, Ranch Santa Margarita, Silverado Canyon. These cities are in addition to Aliso Viejo, Balboa, Balboa Island, Capistrano Beach, Corona del Mar, Costa Mesa, Dana Point, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest (El Toro), Mission Viejo, Monarch Beach, Newport Beach, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano. Artists must be able to show that they have resided in one of the aforementioned cities for at least one year.

The selection process is made up of two phases. During phase one, the Festival now requires submission of digital images of the artist's work instead of the 35mm slides. These images will be processed through ZAPP™.

ZAPP™ enables individual artists to apply online to multiple art shows, either through a central web site, www.zapplication.org or through the Web sites of specific art shows. The online application process also allows artists to directly upload digital images of their artwork for jury review. The result is that all artwork in the system is in a consistent, high quality, digital format. The digital images are presented to the jurors of each show, and the system allows them to score online. The seven jurors will score the images on a Yes-No System.

Application deadline is February 15, 2008 at midnight PST. Application fees are $40 per medium submitted. To apply, go directly to ZAPPlication.org and search “participating shows” by show name: Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach. It is free to artists to register with ZAPP™.

Artists accepted in this first phase will be notified by mail and invited to submit three finished art pieces to a physical jurying in Laguna Beach on Saturday, March 22, 2008. According to Jack Archer, exhibit and artist activities director, "The art must be original, meaning done by the applicant and not reproduced, and meticulously crafted."


FREE SEMINAR FOR ARTISTS - JANUARY 15, 2008
Artists who would like to learn more about ZAPP™, the Festival of Arts jurying process, and how to photograph artwork effectively for submission to art shows, are invited to attend a FREE SEMINAR on January 15, 2008 (7 pm - 9:30 pm) at the Forum Theatre on the Festival of Arts grounds. Limited seating, first come first served.

“We encourage artists applying to attend this very informative seminar,” said Archer.

The Festival of Arts-California's Premier Fine Art Show will run from July 6 - August 30, 2008 in Laguna Beach. Artists and craftsmen of the area may display and sell only ORIGINAL works of art during this prestigious show. For general information, please call 949-464-4234 or visit the website at www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org.

The Festival of Arts is a non-profit organization whose proceeds go to support the arts in Orange County. The Festival was launched in 1932 by struggling local artists hoping to lure visitors from the Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The Festival of Arts became a nonprofit corporation in 1934 with the goal to “encourage and promote all appropriate activities conducive to the artistic and cultural development of the community in and about the City of Laguna Beach, California.”

Prestigious awards and achievements are plentiful among the Festival's artists. Their artworks enrich the private collections of many celebrities, leading art collectors and museums around the world. Many Festival artists have Laguna Beach roots that reach as far and wide as the Festival of Arts itself. And each time they do, it reinforces the reputation of Laguna Beach as an arts capital in Southern California.

FESTIVAL OF ARTS OFFERS
FREE PHOTOGRAPHY AND JURYING SEMINAR
ON JANUARY 15, 2008

As a service to south-county communities, the Festival of Arts will conduct a free seminar for artists on how to best photograph artwork effectively for submission to art shows. The seminar will be held on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts grounds at 650 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The two and one-half hour session will also focus on the Festival of Arts jurying process, how to select digital images for art shows, and how ZAPP™ (an on-line application process where artists will upload their images for submission to the show) works. The Festival of Arts is currently accepting artists' applications for showing in this summer's fine art festival. (Application deadline is February 15, 2008.) The seminar is open to all and highly recommended to anyone applying to the Festival.

Festival of Arts exhibitor and educator Pat Sparkuhl, who's work has won national acclaim, will lead the seminar along with Festival of Arts exhibitor Tom Lamb, an accomplished photographer and instructor at Saddleback College. As project director for the US/China Environmental Fund, Lamb is acutely aware of the importance of quality photographic communication.

“This upcoming seminar is a must for those who are interested in applying to the Festival of Arts exhibit,” presenter Sparkuhl commented. “Included will be organization of the application process, pitfalls in photographing artwork, clear and concise ways of effectively photographing artwork, resources, and to complete the program, a helpful question and answer session.”

Festival of Arts exhibit director Jack Archer said, “It is a free opportunity to address the mysteries of submitting to the Festival exhibit or any art show.”

For more information, please call 949-464-4234 or visit www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org. The Festival of Arts is a non-profit organization whose proceeds go to support the arts in Orange County.

TEEN FILMMAKERS WANTED!
2008 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES CALL FOR TEEN FILM ENTRIES
Volcom Embraces Creativity of Young Filmmakers with Sponsorship of Youth Film Event

The Newport Beach Film Festival is proud to announce Call for Entries for its 2008 Youth Film Showcase presented by Volcom. The Festival is currently accepting film submissions from student filmmakers for its annual spring youth cinema event. The free event will spotlight films produced by filmmakers 18 years-old and younger. Through the exhibition of youth created media, the event will provide young people a forum for creativity and freedom of expression.

For the fourth year in a row the event will be sponsored by Volcom, one of Orange County’s hottest action sports brands and maker of cutting edge snow, surf, and skateboard wear and videos. As presenters of the showcase, Volcom will present filmmaker cash awards recognizing artistic excellence in filmmaking. "The Youth Film Showcase is an exciting and important part of the Festival and we are proud to be involved in it,” stated Volcom’s President and CEO Richard Woolcott.

The competition is open to U.S. and international filmmakers 18 years and younger. Filmmakers can submit live action or animated short films of all genres, including drama, romance, comedy, documentary, action sports, experimental, musical and science fiction. Individual filmmakers, film groups or school classes may enter their films. Filmmakers can submit through www.withoutabox.com or by downloading an entry form on the Festival’s web site. Deadline for entries is January 25, 2008. Visit http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/youth_division/ for information about the Youth Film Showcase presented by Volcom.

Films will screen at the Regency Lido Theater and at Edwards Island Cinema in Fashion Island in Newport Beach. The event will feature a Volcom Awards ceremony, a question and answer session with student filmmakers and a Volcom post-screening celebration. The ninth annual Newport Beach Film Festival will run April 24^th through May 1^st, 2008 and will spotlight over 350 films from over 35 countries. Visit www.newportbeachfilmfest.com.

Winter Stone Carving Workshop Begins January 12th

Learn the techniques of this time-honored art form using a variety of tools and stone. The stone carving classes are taught by master stone carvers, Marvin Johnson and Joseph Sovella, and held at Laguna College of Art & Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. This 10-week workshop takes place on Saturdays, beginning January 12 through March 15 from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Work outside amidst the magnificent scenery of Laguna Canyon. Ample free parking is available.

No prior experience is necessary. This class is open to all skill levels ranging from beginners to advanced. Enjoy working outdoors sculpting stone into forms of almost any size or shape. Superior technical skills are taught as part of the art process as both Joe and Marv pass on years of knowledge to their students. Sovella has taught at Laguna College since 1986 and Johnson since 1992.

Joseph Sovella and Marvin Johnson have been Laguna residents for more than 20 years. “Laguna is where my artistic energy is constantly stimulated,” says Sovella who has had an interest in stone since childhood. This interest has taken him to the far corners of the world, including Pietra Santa, Italy, where he has worked with some of the great sculptors of the world. He has also exhibited in Europe since 1990 and has just completed an exhibit in Nice, France and Kealakekua, Hawaii. Joseph has combined his education and experience in geology, engineering and stone sculpting to develop a unique blend of artistry that relies on both technical and creative ability to compose various styles of sculpture in alabaster, soapstone and marble.

Marv Johnson holds an MFA in sculpture and studied at the Boston Museum School as well as receiving his B.A. in philosophy from Whittier College. Marv was a foundry pattern maker in the mid-60’s and designed parts for Barbie Dolls; sculpted civil war soldiers for diorama in Gettysburg; was a Clay modeler at General Motors; and developed a line of Jewelry made of tropical hardwood. Marv’s work has been widely exhibited including New England Sculptor’s Association, Boston; National Orange Show; Bahrum B. Gallery in Laguna Beach as well as in private collections throughout California.

Cost for the 10-week workshop is $300 and includes all tools and a sample stone. An additional selection of specialty stone is available for purchase onsite. To register or receive additional information: jdaniels@lagunacollege.edu

Images: Stone sculpture students at work.