Laguna Playhouse Announces 90th Anniversary 2010/11 Season

The Laguna Playhouse recently announced their upcoming 2010-2011 season, which marks the company's 90th anniversary. The 2010-2011 season begins July 6 with the award-winning hit musical Life Could Be a Dream. Other sensational shows on the season schedule include the World Premiere of the poignant dramatic comedy I Loved Lucy, the World Premiere co-production of the romantic musical Daddy Long Legs, Hershey Felder in MAESTRO: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, and the classic Noel Coward comedy Private Lives.

According to Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle, "Our 90th anniversary season is filled with the types of plays that our audiences really enjoy. This year we have three distinct musicals, one of which is a World Premiere co-production. And, by popular demand, Hershey Felder returns to The Laguna Playhouse with an amazing one-man musical about the legendary Leonard Bernstein. We also have a World Premiere about the great comedienne Lucille Ball, and I'll be directing Noel Coward's classic comedy, Private Lives, to close out our season. It's a great way to salute The Laguna Playhouse on its 90th anniversary."

"Our current season (2009-2010) was created with the community and the economy in mind. The enthusiastic response we received from our audience motivated us to continue and expand the accessible programming for our celebratory 90th Anniversary Season," adds Managing Director Karen Wood. "I invite you to join us as a subscriber for our exciting five play season, and then enjoy even more evenings with us as we expand our offerings to include entertainment such as big bands, an author's series, comedians, and a spectacular surprise event on New Year's Eve! We're also delighted to be hosting a number of local art organizations during our 90th Anniversary Season. This is a new era at your Laguna Playhouse. Come join us!"

Life Could Be A Dream
July 6 - August 29, 2010
Written and Directed by Roger Bean

SH-BOOM! From the "marvelous" mind of creator Roger Bean, comes the Crooning Crabcakes, the boy group banned from the Springfield High School prom which made it possible for The Marvelous Wonderettes to perform. The guys get one more chance at fame and fortune as Denny, Eugene, Skip and Wally form a singing group to enter and win the local radio contest and realize their dreams of making it to the big time! Will these delightfully goofy guys be able to pull it together and win the contest? Featuring such classic songs as "Stay" (Just a Little Bit Longer)," "Runaround Sue," "The Great Pretender," "Tears On My Pillow," "Unchained Melody," "Earth Angel," "Little Darlin'," and of course the title song, Life Could Be A Dream is another musical trip down memory lane that will leave audiences laughing, singing and cheering. Winner of multiple Ovation Awards, LA Drama Critics Circle Awards, and LA Weekly Awards.

I Loved Lucy
October 5 - 31, 2010
Written by Lee Tannin

Few people knew America's comic sweetheart, Lucille Ball, the way Lee Tannin did. Though distantly related, and 40 years apart in age, Lucy and Lee became the nearest and dearest of friends during the last decade of her life. Get a front and center look at Lucy-the personal side of her very public persona from someone who spent the last of her years beside her while out of the spotlight and around a backgammon table. See what is was like to be her friend, and understand how she was so like and unlike her TV alter ego. Re-live life with Lucy - the stories and shenanigans Lee shared with her - and discover a Lucy like you've never known. It's a funny, irreverent, and bitter-sweet portrait that will only add to the love of a great legend.

Daddy Long Legs
November 30 - December 26, 2010
Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon
Book by John Caird
Based on the Novel by Jean Webster
Directed by John Caird
A Co-Production with Rubicon Theatre Company, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park,
TheatreWorks, David Elzer and Michael Jackowitz

World Premiere musical by Tony and Olivier Award-Winner John Caird (Nicholas Nickleby, Les Miserables) and Tony nominee Paul Gordon (Jane Eyre). Set in the early 1900s, this moving story is the vivid account of a young orphan girl as she blossoms into a beautiful, intelligent and vivacious woman. A trustee of the John Grier Orphanage offers a proper education to the 18-year-old Jerusha. The benefactor's only requirements are that Jerusha never know his identity, and that she write him monthly (though he will not respond). She sees him once in shadows and invents a nickname for her mysterious patron-Daddy Long Legs. Her letters to him paint a moving portrait of her lonely life in the orphanage, and the development of her mind and spirit.

Hershey Felder in MAESTRO: The Art of Leonard Bernstein
January 4 - February 6, 2011
Book by Hershey Felder
Directed by Joel Zwick

Hershey Felder returns to The Laguna Playhouse in MAESTRO: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, a new work from the creators of George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin and Beethoven, As I Knew Him. With a story spanning the entire twentieth century, Leonard Bernstein, America's greatest musician, broke through every artistic ceiling possible to become the world's musical ambassador. Conductor, composer, pianist, author, teacher, librettist, television star... for Leonard Bernstein, boundaries simply did not exist. Join us on this fascinating journey as Hershey Felder brings the composer of West Side Story, Candide, Mass and more to life.

Private Lives
March 15 - April 10, 2011
Written by Noel Coward
Directed by Andrew Barnicle

Passion, anger, love, laughter and romance all shaped by Noel Coward's wit and comic genius sets the stage for perpetually dueling lovers Amanda and Elyot. In Coward's most celebrated comedy, the two divorcees unwittingly book adjoining rooms while honeymooning with their new spouses, and quickly realize the folly of their new marriages. Impulsively and in the dead of night, they flee only to be caught days later by their jilted spouses while in a most uncompromising situation. Don't miss Noël Coward's stylish, savvy comedy about modern romance and the people we can't live with-or without.

Tickets for any of the Laguna Playhouse productions range in price from $30 to $115 and can be purchased by phone at 949-497-2787 ext. 1 (group tickets ext. 229), online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com, or by visiting the box office. The box office is open daily (except Mondays) from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on performance days).

Laguna Beach is a popular destination year round. On weekends, holidays and during the summer months we strongly encourage theatre patrons who are driving to the theatre to allow plenty of extra time for parking. A small private parking lot located behind The Laguna Playhouse is available for a modest fee. Additional parking is located across the street in a municipal parking lot. During the summer, The Playhouse lot is not available. For a nominal fee, patrons may opt to park at the ACT V parking lot, located a mile from the theatre up Laguna Canyon Road with a free trolley service that runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Laguna Beach Visitors and Conference Bureau at (949) 497-9229.

Founded in 1920 and celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2010, The Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating theatres on the West Coast. The Laguna Playhouse 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. In addition to employing Equity actors, 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. Its continued artistic excellence, audience popularity and critical acclaim have helped make The Playhouse one of Southern California's most important nonprofit theatre companies. The Playhouse has produced national tours of The Belle of Amherst (with Julie Harris) and Copenhagen, and has presented numerous world, national and regional premieres.

Over the years, the Laguna Playhouse has garnered numerous awards from LA Drama Critics Circle, NAACP, Backstage, OC Weekly, and many more, and was named Best Arts Organization by ArtsOC. notable names that have performed at The Laguna Playhouse include Bette Davis, Harrison Ford, Marlo Thomas, Roddy McDowell, and Sally Struthers,

The Laguna Playhouse is noted for its Youth Theater, Education and Outreach programs. In 1989, its Youth Theater was recognized as "Outstanding Children's Theatre" by the American Alliance for Theatre and Education. The theater's touring production, TheatreReach, brings books to life on stage for elementary school children throughout southern California.

For more information, visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.

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