A year in review: Laguna’s performing arts and arts education
By MARRIE STONE
As the curtain closes on 2024, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on the past year and the many artistic feasts our town enjoyed. The Laguna Beach Arts Alliance (LBAA) partners with 30 arts organizations in town, promoting collaboration amongst artists and arts organizations. Stu News caught up with some of these organizations this season to hear their highlights.
This week, we’ll showcase the accomplishments of some of our performing arts and arts advocates’ venues. Next week, we’ll focus on some of our visual arts organizations – including galleries, festivals and the museum.
Even if you’re “in the know” in Laguna’s art scene, the depth and breadth of what’s offered around town might surprise you. It surprised us! We’re all extremely fortunate to live in a place that offers such diverse and immersive experiences all year long.
Take a look at what’s been happening around you these past 12 months.
Pageant of the Masters’ À la Mode show and FOA Community Engagement
The Pageant of the Masters, now entering their 92nd season, staged their first show dedicated exclusively to haute couture in À La Mode: The Art of Fashion. One of the most memorable moments featured a reinvention of Alexander McQueen’s iconic Angel Shoe from his 2010 Fall Collection. This larger-than-life shoe highlighted the fusion of art and fashion.
The Pageant also recreated John Singer Sargent’s Madam X. As the model adjusted her strap under the stage lights, it reminded the audience of the magic of living art.
2024 was also a year of partnerships and community-focused initiatives for the Festival of Arts (FOA). The Festival Runway Fashion Show marked its 15th anniversary with a collaboration with Working Wardrobes, encouraging attendees to donate gently used professional attire in exchange for free admission.
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Photo by Kyle Fierro
Former Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf (with scissors) cut the red ribbon at the opening of the 2024 Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters
The FOA collaborated with organizations like the Glennwood Housing Foundation and Canine Companions, ensuring the Festival remains an inclusive space for all. Through programs like the Junior Art Exhibit and Emerging Artists Exhibit, the FOA spotlighted young talent, encouraging the future of art.
In a meaningful collaboration with City of Hope Orange County and Yamaha, the Festival introduced “Music of Hope,” a powerful musical series celebrating the courage of the more than 18 million Americans who have triumphed over cancer, reminding everyone of music’s inspirational and healing power.
This summer, the Festival also rolled out the fun with interactive social media campaigns like “Backstage with Brian” and the crowd-favorite “Walk the Red Carpet.” Starting at Main Beach and popping up throughout the summer, the red carpet offered tourists and Festival patrons the chance to strut their Festival fashion and showcase their style.
Laguna College of Art + Design
Laguna College of Art + Design (LCAD) launched their Creativity Flow speaker series this fall. The monthly series featured c-suite creatives from the art and design world at the Rivian South Coast Theater. The series is complimentary for students, but open to the entire community. Audiences quickly swelled with industry professionals looking to glean insights on creative trends and inspired campaigns. Ticket sales support the LCAD Scholarship Fund, and the series was such a success that LCAD and their presenting partner, Group Y, have already announced a second season beginning in February 2025. Tickets are available by clicking here.
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Courtesy of LCAD
“Creativity Flow” is a monthly speaker series hosted in collaboration with LCAD, Rivian Theater and Group Y. Season 2 will kick off in February 2025.
In April, LCAD was invited by TEDx Laguna to give an insightful presentation on future-proofing education to address global issues of climate change and social inequity. LCAD President Steven Brittan, accompanied by a group of LCAD Senior Design students, presented their dynamic thesis projects to a sold-out audience.
LCAD partnered with physicists from the Caltech Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM) to adapt quantum theory and technology to the realm of gaming. In collaboration with Quantum Realm Games, the consortium hosted a week-long game jam that gave programmers the opportunity to create and design original games rooted in quantum theory.
In a boon to the 61-year-old college, Research.com awarded LCAD the “Most Popular Fine Arts Degree Programs Award in America” this September. This accolade highlights LCAD’s exceptional dedication to fine arts education and student satisfaction.
Additionally, the college founded a new board of governors, featuring an array of c-suite and creative leaders dedicated to providing strategic guidance and connections to industry. The college also announced an expansion of their board of trustees, nearly doubling their ranks.
Lastly, a reinvigorated focus on fundraising saw significant gifts in support of newly established scholarship funds designed to assist the most vulnerable students and in support of veterans’ initiatives. The school has big plans, including an expansion of their campus through the strategic acquisition of a new parcel of land adjacent to their Big Bend campus.
LOCA Arts Education
Since 1992, LOCA Arts Education has offered custom art classes, workshops and adventures for adults, kids and families, beginner to advanced. This year, the organization received increased support from the city of Laguna Beach and the FOA Foundation. This, in part, allowed LOCA to expand their partnership with the Angels Baseball Foundation and invite John Carpino, president of Angels Baseball, to attend a LOCA workshop at the Boys & Girls Club.
LOCA also hosted Family Art Days at Rivian on select Saturday mornings, showing videos from Crystal Cove State Park followed by an art class about local wildlife. And, this year, the organization initiated their first annual Artsgiving membership brunch, featuring a live Paint Around performance.
LOCA’s 2024 Year in the Arts Review
“LOCA designs programs to fit the age, ability and needs of the students at various locations. Our mobility allows us to teach at venues throughout Laguna Beach,” said LOCA Vice President Rich Fair. “The subjects and themes we teach are customized to complement the curriculum or mission of those we partner with. We’re always on the lookout for new collaborators.”
LOCA also launched the LOCA and Me digital magazine, capturing photos and quotes from students in classrooms and sharing what happens “behind the scenes” at each LOCA venue. These editions are archived on LOCA’s website (access by clicking here).
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Courtesy of LOCA
LOCA instructors offer a variety of art classes throughout the year across mediums and to participants of all skill levels
“I encourage everyone to come to LOCA Art Talks on January 16,” said LOCA’s Marketing Manager Mike Tauber. “It’s a rare chance to hear how Jayne Dion creates seasonal sculptures for South Coast Plaza. She has an uncommon career!”
Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center
The Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center (LBCAC) significantly expanded their event offerings and educational programming this year, enriching our local art scene. The 178 events they held included lectures, workshops, art walks, watch parties and nature walks.
LBCAC screened 72 films commemorating such things as Women’s History Month, the “Make Earth Cool Again” Film Festival, Juneteenth and Laguna’s Hippie History. The center also held 76 concerts, including their introduction of the Blues Legends Series, establishing a home in Orange County for nationally touring blues artists. It also hosted six themed art shows and staged five plays and musical productions.
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Photo by Marrie Stone
(L-R) Aerial photographer Tom Lamb and LBCAC Director Rick Conkey
In addition to a diverse range of events, LBCAC provided significant educational opportunities for our community including more than 200 dance classes offered by former Cirque du Soleil premier soloist Sandrine Mattei. Also, Ukrainian concert pianist Lyena Atonyicq, holder of four master’s degrees, joined as a new piano instructor. Plans are underway to offer classical guitar master classes with Eric Henderson in 2025.
LBCAC partnered with Rivian, Coast Film Festival, Skyloft & Ivan’s House and the Neighborhood Church. The organization also launched their first satellite event in San Juan Capistrano, celebrating the area’s art, culture and history.
The center also launched their first membership program and began offering gift certificates. A capital improvement campaign was initiated to raise funds for enhancing visitor experiences.
All these accomplishments underscore LBCAC’s commitment to fostering cultural enrichment and community engagement through diverse artistic and educational endeavors.
Laguna Playhouse
“It has been a great year onstage at Laguna Playhouse,” said Artistic Director David Ellenstein. “As we watched our audiences return, they were treated to a wide variety of different genres of plays performed and designed by some wonderful theater artists. From Holmes and Watson to Camelot, also Ain’t Misbehavin’, Don’t Dress For Dinner, A Shayna Maidel; topped off with Tartuffe and A View From The Bridge – it was truly a theater lover’s season.”
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Photo by Aaron Rumley
(L-R) Matthew Salazar-Thompson, Richard Baird and Steve Froehlich starred in Arthur Miller’s “A View from the Bridge” at the Laguna Playhouse last fall
Laguna Beach Sister Cities
One of the most notable milestones for the Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association (LBSCA) this year was establishing a Friendship City relationship with Fuji Five Lakes Resort Cities, Japan, a region celebrated for its natural beauty, cultural festivals and vibrant art scene. Approved by the Laguna Beach City Council in October, this partnership promises to foster cultural, educational and artistic exchanges between the two cities. Earlier in the year, exchange students from Fuji Five Lakes Resort Cities visited Laguna Beach, marking the start of what is expected to be a flourishing connection.
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Courtesy of LBSCA Photo Library
(L-R) Laguna Beach Councilmembers Mark Orgill, Bob Whalen and Former City Councilmember George Weiss; Former Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf; Governor of Yamanashi Prefecture Kotaro Nagasaki; Hiroshi Taska; Koichi Furuya; Hideyuki Saegusa; Daisuke Watanabe and Atsuya Nakagomi at the historic signing reception and ceremony
“This collaboration underscores LBSCA’s commitment to promoting global understanding and artistic collaboration, aligning perfectly with Laguna Beach’s rich cultural heritage and passion for the arts,” said Karyn Philippsen, founding president of LBSCA. “Additionally, the association’s 18th annual Fête de la Musique is on track to delight the community this upcoming June, showcasing the organization’s dedication to celebrating global culture through music and art.”
No Square Theatre
No Square Theatre’s (NST) Lagunatics was named the Best Arts Program by the LBAA in 2024. Knowing Laguna loves to laugh, long-time supporter and former Lagunatics cast member Jon Cobain left NST a heritage of hilarity. In March, Cobain offered the theater a $100,000 gift for the continuing support of Lagunatics. He required, however, that NST match the gift by October 31. Pledges exceeded expectations. The future of Lagunatics is now secure, thanks to the generosity of the Laguna Beach community.
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Photo by Jeff Rovner
The “Lagunatics” cast in October left everyone laughing
NST also presented the staged reading premiere of Sonder, a new musical with book music and lyrics by Raveena Khetarpal, as well as the OC premiere of Alice By Heart, with music by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater.
Legally Blonde played to sold out houses. She Loves Me, directed by Broadway veteran Lauren Elder and featuring lighting design by New York designer Jonathan Cottle, was a huge hit. Finally, after a few years writing and directing at other theaters, Joe Lauderdale was named interim artistic director.
Third Street Writers
Third Street Writers kicked 2024 off with a bang, bringing in noted author and editor Martha Frankel from New York.
The group continued their partnership with the FOA and created an impressive publication of Art Inscribed, the sales of which resulted in a generous donation to the Artists Fund. They also held numerous public readings and ended the year by presenting outgoing president, Amy Dechary, with a wreath of gratitude for her many years leading the organization.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Third Street Writers and Festival of Arts exhibitors came together for the 3rd Annual Art Inscribed event last August on the FOA grounds
Check back next week to see what our town offered in 2024 for the visual arts, including the Laguna Art Museum, Gallery Q, the FOA, the Honarkar Foundation and other venues. We’ll also be sharing what’s in store for 2025.
