Laguna Live! launches a brand-new children’s program this fall
Led by Teaching Artist & Program Leader Morea Nahani, Music Moves adds the element of dance, bringing music and movement together through rhythm and creative participation. Children are encouraged to move, listen, explore and express themselves while discovering the joy of music and movement.
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Photos courtesy of Laguna Live!
Morea Nahani singing at the Sawdust Festival
Building on the success of Live! Music Matters, Laguna Live!’s free weekly program at the Laguna Beach Library, Laguna Live! Music Moves has been created for children age 4 and above and brings the fun to the weekend!
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The new program begins in October at the Rivian South Coast Theater, on the first Saturday of the month at 4 p.m.
Laguna Beach Live! is grateful to the city of Laguna Beach, the Assistance League and the FOA Foundation for helping make these programs possible, and to Rivian for generously hosting.
To secure a place, click here.
Laguna Beach Live! continues 25th anniversary celebration with fall events
As Laguna Beach Live! celebrates their 25th anniversary, the nonprofit invites audiences to two exceptional fall concerts that showcase the breadth of their programming – from live music and film to contemporary Americana.
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Courtesy of Laguna Live!
The Zelter String Quartet will perform on September 24
The first event is on Thursday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m., when the Zelter String Quartet joins musician and composer Steve Wood and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Greg MacGillivray for Music in Motion, an evening of live music, film and conversation at the Rivian South Coast Theater. Featuring specially curated film clips from MacGillivray’s acclaimed archive, the program explores the creative partnership between music and moving images.
The Zelter String Quartet is a distinguished ensemble dedicated to the rich tradition and evolving future of chamber music. Known for their expressive performances and thoughtful interpretations, they bring a deep commitment to musical dialogue, artistic integrity and collaborative exploration.
From classical masterworks to contemporary compositions, they craft programs that resonate with audiences across concert halls, festivals and intimate venues alike.
Well-known local musician Steve Wood has scored 30 films for Greg MacGillivray and became the most awarded IMAX documentary film composer, working with George Harrison, Sting (two Oscar nominations), Crosby, Stills and Nash, Paul McCartney, Dave Matthews Band, Queen and many others.
Further information will follow on the October 28 event.
Both concerts are $25 in celebration of Laguna Beach Live!’s 25th anniversary, reflecting Laguna Beach Live!’s ongoing commitment to presenting outstanding live music that is accessible, affordable and intimate.
For tickets and more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org.
Laguna Playhouse announces casting for world premiere of Wild Child
Laguna Playhouse (Adele Adkins, Managing Director) announced the complete cast for the World Premiere of Wild Child, the bold new musical that launches the 2026-2027 season. Previews are set to begin on Wednesday, Sept. 9 in advance of a Saturday, Sept. 12 opening. The production will run through October 4. Wild Child is produced in association with The Breathe Project.
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Photos courtesy of Laguna Playhouse
Salima Gangani plays Rina in the production of “Wild Child”
Wild Child is a contemporary, pop-driven musical about connection, belonging and the transformative power of the natural world. Set against a backdrop of a wilderness therapy program in Northern Utah, Wild Child tells the story of an unlikely friendship that develops between two troubled teens, Rina and Darin, who are forced out of their digital-age comfort zones and into the great outdoors. Side-splitting and heartbreaking, but ultimately life-affirming, this new musical invites audiences to “Stay Wild!”
Under the direction of John Simpkins, the cast features (in alphabetical order) Amanda Angeles, Davide Costa, Gabby Dahlen, Chad Doreck, Matthew Fedorek, Salima Gangani, Jennifer Noble, Yana Perrault, Brian Whitehill and Jacob Zelonky. Understudies in the production are Tim Frangos, Lielle Kaidar, Grace Sardar and Clayton Michael Walker.
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The role of Darin is played by Davide Costa
Wild Child has book and lyrics by Dan Marshall and music by Julianne Wick Davis, an award-winning composer and a Jonathan Larson Award and Billie Burke Ziegfeld Award recipient.
Scenic design is by Michael Schweikardt, costume design by Alex Jaeger, co-lighting and projections by Nathan Scheuer and C at Wilson with sound design by Eric Backus and Rai Feltmann is props supervisor. In addition, musical direction is by Noah Landis, Ryan O’Connell is associate music director and choreography is by Trent Soyster.
Phil Gold serves as production stage manager with Lauren Buangan as assistant stage manager. Casting director is Michael Donovan with Geoff Josselson serving as additional NY casting.
Tickets and performance schedule are available online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com, or in person at the Laguna Playhouse Theater Box Office at 606 Laguna Canyon Road. Box Office hours are Monday-Friday from 12-4 p.m. The box office also opens two hours before all showtimes.
Hop on the bus: No Square’s Priscilla Queen of the Desert brightens Laguna stage with singing, dancing and costumes galore
By THERESA KEEGAN
No Square may be a small theater, but it is performing a huge, fun play this summer and director Joe Lauderdale could not be more thrilled.
“You have to be creative and use up every space possible,” he said of No Square’s production of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. “It’s been quite a ride, and I don’t mean just for the bus.”
The musical about two drag queens and a trans woman traveling through Australia on a bus (Priscilla) to do a show in a remote area is filled with plot twists, revelations, music, dancing and costumes. So many costumes.
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Photo by Elana Harnack
The elaborate costumes in “Priscilla” enhance the role of lead actors (L-R) Sawyer Reece Maier, Jason Pascual and Christopher Vournas, wearing the infamous flip-flop dress
The original production won a Tony as well as Drama Desk, Outer Critics and the Laurence Olivier awards for best costume design. With colorful and outlandish outfits that complement the toe-tapping, far-reaching disco songs, the show is a major undertaking. The show’s large cast is involved in almost 20 different dance scenes, most with costume changes.
Brigitte Harper, who has been the costume designer with No Square since 2015, is both challenged and energized with this production.
“There is a lot of fantasy and creativity and over the top costumes,” she said. Harper, somehow casually, ticks off a list of items she’s working on including platform shoes, a flip-flop dress, hats that swoosh, skirts that sway and sleeves that, when lifted, reveal puppets. And not some tiny sock puppets. These are full-bodied almost dolls, complete with fist-sized breasts that Harper created.
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Photo by Theresa Keegan
Brigitte Harper has three different sewing machines that are being actively used while creating the many costumes needed for No Square’s production of “Priscilla”
“Those are the fun challenges,” she said of the sewing she’s undertaken for the show. “I wake up in the morning and think what else can I do? My head is constantly spinning.”
Adding to her trials are the fact that she is 5’1” and most of the characters are over six feet tall, so making sure the outfits work as planned is hard to anticipate.
“You have to rethink yourself into a costume, then rethink yourself into the performance,” she said. Harper has even created a full costume book for the show, sampling outfits from past shows and sometimes even sketching out her own ideas.
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Photo by Theresa Keegan
Costumer Brigitte Harper created her own book to keep track of the many costumes needed throughout the show
Lately, she has been buried in the theater’s costume room from morning until well into night, with a microwave, coffee maker and her little Maltipoo Bentley at her side. Two different volunteers are at the ready, quietly stitching along and accepting whatever fabric needs attention at the time.
“It’s so nice to have helpers who really know how to sew,” said Harper.
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Photo by Theresa Keegan
In addition to creating the costumes, Brigitte Harper is also very mindful of supplies. Here, she shows how fabric from a skirt that was too long was cut off as one piece and is now being repurposed for another use
The supportive community feel permeates this show, said actor Christopher Vournas who is thrilled to be back acting after a recent stint as a flight attendant.
“This is my first show being home and it feels great,” he said. “It feels like family and that’s what I missed when not acting.”
The Laguna Hills resident portrays Tick, the drag queen who initiates the tumultuous trip with the dual mission of also meeting his son from an earlier marriage.
“A lot of the performers can relate to the struggles because they’ve lived it themselves,” said Vournas. His favorite scene is when the three leads have a wonderful time in a bar with the locals, only to leave and discover Priscilla, their bus, has been vandalized. They sing a mournful version of Cindy Lauper’s “True Colors.”
“It’s my favorite sequence in the show,” said Vournas. “It’s very touching.”
Throughout this dancing, singing, joyful journey the characters learn about each other – and themselves. The 2006 musical is an adaptation of a 1994 film. It has earned an international, almost cult-like following with its fun music, outlandish costumes and touching plot.
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Photo by Theresa Keegan
A dress made from flip-flops is one of many costume challenges in the show. Brigitte Harper painted each shoe top black, then punched holes in the shoes, put rings through them to connect to each other and the dress chains. The finished product is so heavy it’s hard to hold but fits easily on the tall actor.
“I just wanted fun entertainment,” said Lauderdale. “The decision was made in March or April of last year that we’d do this show.” However, recent events targeting drag performers have made it more poignant for him.
“Drag is being demonized and made into something it’s not,” said Lauderdale. “We’ve been laughing at drag since Milton Berle (in the last 1940s television)…This show is very heartwarming, plus the music is joyous. I’m so glad we’re getting to share it.”
He proudly explains this is the first community theater in Orange County to even tackle this far-ranging show.
“It’s a bit of a No Square branding, we’re doing something different, that other people don’t do,” said Lauderdale. “And in the end, every time you do a show, you’re creating a new community…and I think that’s the appeal for this show – for the actors and the audience.”
Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, runs from July 17-August 2. For tickets and more information click here.
Laguna Beach – A Look Back: The origins of Art-A-Fair
By Dr. Gregg DeNicola
This installment of A Look Back explores the origin of the trilogy of our art festivals. A few weeks ago, we saw the entrance to the Sawdust in 1971, and then the entrance to the Festival of Arts in the same time frame.
To know the history of the Art-A-Fair, the backstory of conceiving the three festivals brings the three legends into clear focus.
Courtesy of Dr. Gregg DeNicola from his personal collection
The outside of Art-A-Fair, circa 1970
Our tale begins 60 years ago, in 1966. A group of artists felt they were excluded from the juried selection system at the Festival of Arts. To continue exhibiting, they staged an open exhibition on a vacant lot at the corner of Glenneyre Street and Park Avenue. In 1968, a (somewhat) friendly rift divided the founders of the newly formed Laguna Artists and Gallery Owners Association. This rift separated the artists into two distinct camps:
1. The Traditionalists, who focused on classic and structured standards of work.
2. The Avant-Garde, aka the “Hippies,” who embraced a liberal, unstructured approach to include crafts and multimedia.
The Avant Garde secured a three-acre parcel in the canyon that begat the Sawdust Festival.
About 30 Traditionalists bolted, calling themselves the “Sawdust Splinters,” and in 1969 adopted the name Art-A-Fair for their festival. The site moved several times until 1973, when they established a long-term home at 595 S. Coast Highway, approximately where the Laguna Village/Cliff restaurant is located.
In 1988, Art-A-Fair settled into their current location at 777 Laguna Canyon Road, right in the heart of the summer festival district. Soon after, both camps patched over their differences and became permanent neighbors in the canyon.
This 1973 photo is from the first year the Art-A-Fair set up on South Coast Highway. The wooden exterior facade with lowercase typography was typical of the mid-1970s. In 2016, the name was officially changed to the “Laguna Art-A-Fair” to commemorate the 50th anniversary.
Unlike the Festival of Arts, Art-A-Fair operates as an artist-owned co-op. Unlike the Sawdust, not all artists need to be from Laguna Beach.
All three festivals are among the state’s best-known fine art festivals, featuring artists working in painting, sculpture, jewelry, ceramics, photography, glass, wood and multimedia. They are open through the summer and are literally next door to each other.
Together, these three festivals are one of the main reasons Laguna Beach is widely recognized as California’s premier arts colony. They are a continuation of the artist community that formed the foundation of Laguna Beach more than a century ago.
Sawdust Festival opens their 60th anniversary season
Photos by Mary Hurlbut
Founded in 1966 by a group of Laguna Beach artists seeking an independent venue to showcase their work, the Sawdust Art Festival has grown into one of Southern California’s most celebrated summer art festivals.
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Now marking its 60th year, the festival features more than 180 Laguna Beach artists, live music, art demonstrations, hands-on classes and a welcoming atmosphere that has made it a cherished community tradition for generations
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Sawdust President Jay Grant welcomed everyone to the 60th year beneath a “stained glass” windmill just inside the entrance
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Mayor Mark Orgill cuts the ribbon as the Sawdust Board of Directors looks on
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Councilmember Bob Whalen chatting with jeweler Rachel Goberman
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A few of the Sawdust artists gathered for a quick group shot before welcoming visitors into the show
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Photographer Mary Church poses in her summer cottage
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Artist Lovisa Kjerrgren in her booth awaits festival opening
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A visitor admires Jesse Bartel’s tile work
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Artists Lisa and Tessa Mansour in their cottage-themed booth
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Dr. Neon’s retro space-themed booth attracted attention from visitors
For more information about the Sawdust Festival, go to www.sawdustfestival.org.
For Love of the Sea: LAM celebrates dean of painters and his waves of inspiration
By JILL HECHT
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Courtesy of Eric Stoner and LAM
Frank Cuprien’s “Rolling Waves,” is part of an exhibition on the painter’s life and art at Laguna Art Museum through September 7
If painters are meant to travel the world searching for the perfect place of beauty, inspiration and natural light, Frank Cuprien is one who found it, and it’s here in Laguna Beach.
The exhibition, Frank Cuprien: For the Love of the Sea is at Laguna Art Museum (LAM) through September 7.
Executive Director Julie Perlin Lee said the show celebrates a hometown hero, “and also shines some light on an artist that hasn’t received as much recognition as others.”
Cuprien arrived in Laguna Beach in 1912. During those early days of the art colony, painters usually came for a season of work, and left town once the weather turned.
“Frank Cuprien comes here and he never really leaves,” Lee said. “He settled into this beautiful stretch of land here.” He became an active member of the art colony and a Man About Town, important to the community if not necessarily to the art world.
“He is a relatively unknown artist,” Lee said, making a living with brushes and paints without attracting much attention from collectors or gallery owners.
“He doesn’t achieve the same gravitas as some of the other artists,” of his period, Lee said. “He had an almost singular focus on the ocean.”
Not content to isolate himself working long hours alone in a studio, Cuprien was active in the community, raising money for local causes and speaking up at meetings about local concerns. He was recognizable working at his easel at the coast or hitchhiking around Laguna.
“He was very important to the whole town,” Lee said. “He would sing for special occasions. He played Santa Claus at the holidays.” Tall and tanned with a thick white beard, Cuprien often wore a beret and paint-spattered clothes around town.
“He really leaned into the look, feel and role of artist,” Lee said.
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Courtesy of Eric Stoner and LAM
“Out My Hotel Window – The Isle of Skye,” a painting by Frank Cuprien from 1902, is included in the exhibition at Laguna Art Museum through September 7
LAM’s exhibition includes Cuprien’s paintings and sketches, as well as photos, personal papers and other ephemera of an artist’s life. A palette, handwritten poems and mentions in the Log Book of the Laguna Beach Art Association, provide details from his time here.
“The museum has a very deep and rich archive of archival materials,” Lee said. Including these objects in the exhibit expands the story it tells. “It’s not just paintings on the wall. It helps to humanize him.”
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Laguna Dance announces new annual live dance performance series: 2026 Summer Stage – WE The People
Laguna Dance announces a new live dance performance series, the inaugural Laguna Dance Summer Stage: WE The People, on August 6-9, across multiple venues in Laguna Beach. The four-night event will feature both free and ticketed performances highlighting collaborations with professional dancers.
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Photo by Hiromi Platt/Courtesy of Cincinnati Ballet
Jodie Gates’ choreography features dancer Melissa Gelfin
The inaugural series explores themes of unity, nature and collective creativity, bringing together artists of varying experience levels in a shared process of training, creation and performance. In conjunction with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the program reflects on national identity, resilience and artistic expression. All venues for WE The People are presented in collaboration with community partners, including the Laguna Beach Unified School District, city of Laguna Beach, Laguna Art Museum and Laguna Playhouse.
“Experience dance in ways you’ve never seen before, on the beach, in a museum, on stage, and in the heart of the community,” said Jodie Gates, founder of Laguna Dance.
“WE The People is a first-of-its-kind experience: A celebration of community, creativity and collaboration that connects local beauty with global artistry.”
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Photo by Drew Dizzy Graham
Guest artist Peter Chu will perform on August 9 at the Laguna Playhouse
Summer Stage Schedule
Thursday, Aug. 6 – MOVE with US!
Main Beach Cobblestones, Laguna Canyon Road/Beach Street at Coast Highway, Laguna Beach.
The performance starts at 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
Versa-Style Street Dance Company was founded in 2005 by Los Angeles natives Jackie Lopez and Leigh Foaad. Versa-Style was created to promote and celebrate the artistry of hip-hop and street dance culture. Named LA Weekly’s “Best Dance Troupe for Hip Hop Empowerment” and Red Bull Magazine’s “Heroes of the Year” in 2019, the company brings together highly skilled street dance artists reflecting the beauty and diversity of Los Angeles. An audience participation segment will follow the performance.
Thursday, August 6 – MOVE with US!
Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach.
Performance starts at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
The evening continues at the Laguna Art Museum with a special performance by the Chinese Dance Company of Southern California, which was co-founded in 2019 by the South Coast Chinese Cultural Center and Pan America Chinese Dance Alliance, with a mission to provide performance opportunities for dance lovers throughout the region.
Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8 – Rennie Harris Puremovement American Street Dance Theatre: Nuttin’ But A World
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.
The performance starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are: $78 general, $25 students.
Founded in 1992 by Philadelphia native Lorenzo “Rennie” Harris, Rennie Harris Puremovement is widely credited with pioneering the genre of Street Dance Theater, bringing hip-hop from the street corner to the concert stage. Harris is a Guggenheim Fellow and recipient of three Bessie Awards, the Herb Alpert Award and the Doris Duke Artist Award.
Sunday, Aug. 9 – Voices Unbound (World Premiere)
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.
The performance starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are: $78 general, $25 students.
The evening production will feature a world premiere by acclaimed choreographer Peter Chu, known for work that combines athletic movement with emotional storytelling, alongside a newly reimagined piece by Jodie Gates, a contemporary ballet choreographer recognized for blending classical technique with contemporary movement.
Gates received an Innovation Grant from the city of Laguna Beach, which helped launch the Summer Stage series, WE The People, and includes stunning film excerpts by award-winning director Greg MacGillivray. More than 150 dancers auditioned for the inaugural program, with more than 30 performers selected to participate.
Tickets and series information are available here.
For more information about Laguna Dance, visit www.lagunadance.org.
The greatest summer yet: Festival of Arts Fine Art Show opens July 7 and Pageant of the Masters debuts all-new The Greatest of All Time production July 9
Nearly two months of world-class art, entertainment and unforgettable experiences kick off this July in Laguna Beach as the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show and Pageant of the Masters launch their 2026 summer season. The Festival of Arts Fine Art Show opens Tuesday, July 7, featuring more than 100 exhibiting artists, daily live music, hands-on art experiences, and an expanded line-up of special events. Then, on Thursday, July 9, the curtain rises on the 2026 Pageant of the Masters production, The Greatest of All Time, bringing legendary works of art to life through the Pageant’s iconic living pictures. The 2026 season is sponsored in part by Volvo Cars, City of Hope Orange County, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club and KOST Radio 103.5
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Photo by Kyle Fierro
Patrons looking at art at the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show
“This season is one of our most exciting yet,” said Sharbie Higuchi, director of marketing and public relations for the Festival of Arts and Pageant of the Masters. “From more than 100 incredible artists and daily live music to new special events and a Pageant celebrating history’s greatest artistic icons, every visit offers something new to discover. We invite guests to spend the day exploring the Festival and stay for an unforgettable evening at the Pageant. It’s the perfect way to experience everything our summer season has to offer.”
From July 7 through September 3, the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show will showcase more than 100 of Orange County’s most accomplished visual artists in a juried exhibition featuring original paintings, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass, jewelry and more. Guests can meet the artists, watch live demonstrations, purchase one-of-a-kind artwork and experience the very best of Southern California’s thriving arts community.
Beyond the fine art exhibition, guests can enjoy daily live music, hands-on art workshops and classes at the Festival Art Center sponsored by Bank of America, and a full calendar of special events throughout the summer. The season kicks off with the beloved Family Art Day on July 12 before introducing the Festival’s brand-new Cultural Arts Day on July 19. Returning favorites include the imaginative Festival Runway Fashion Show on August 9 and Battle of the Arts on August 23 – back after its overwhelmingly successful debut last summer. Daily themed live music series, sponsored by City of Hope Orange County and Yamaha, fill the Festival grounds with entertainment every afternoon and evening, making each visit a unique experience. This summer also marks the return of the iconic Blue Hope Piano, bringing inspiring live performances to the heart of the Festival.
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Courtesy of FOA
Pageant of the Masters re-creation of “Snap the Whip” by Winslow Homer for the 2026 production of “The Greatest of All Time”
Then, beginning July 9, audiences can experience the all-new Pageant of the Masters production, The Greatest of All Time. This year’s spectacular production celebrates many of history’s most influential artists: from Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Vermeer, Van Gogh, Monet and Picasso to Frida Kahlo, Norman Rockwell and more, as their iconic masterpieces come to life on stage through the Pageant’s breathtaking living pictures.
Adding an exciting new element this year, audiences will also meet live-action portrayals of legendary artists throughout the performance, bringing history’s greatest creative minds to life in a fresh and engaging way while complementing the Pageant’s signature theatrical illusions, original music and live narration.
A Pageant ticket also serves as a season pass to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, giving guests unlimited admission to the Festival throughout the summer.
Named one of the nation’s best art festivals by USA Today, the Festival of Arts invites guests to experience an unforgettable summer of art, entertainment and special events in the heart of Laguna Beach. The 2026 Pageant of the Masters production The Greatest of All Time will run nightly from July 7 through September 4. A Pageant ticket also serves as a season pass to the 2026 Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, taking place from July 7 through September 3.
For tickets, event details, and the latest updates, visit www.foapom.com.
Artist Joan Gladstone takes you on a journey on iconic Route 66 at Susi Q
Take a nostalgic journey down Route 66 with artist Joan Gladstone as she shares stories and photographs from the road trip that inspired her vibrant oil painting series ROUTE 66: An Artist’s Journey on Tuesday, July 14 from 2-3 p.m. The event is free.
Discover the creative process behind bringing America’s iconic roadside signs and memories back to life through art, history and storytelling. To register, click here.
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Courtesy of Susi Q
An example of Joan Gladstone’s Route 66 series
A longtime educator as well as an accomplished artist, Gladstone has taught painting workshops that encourage artists to develop their own creative voice while exploring composition, color and storytelling through art. Her work has been exhibited throughout California and is held in private collections, reflecting her passion for preserving iconic places and the memories they inspire. Through both her paintings and her teaching, Gladstone invites viewers to see familiar destinations with fresh appreciation and imagination.
Beaux-Arts architecture inspires storefront at the Sawdust Art Festival
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Courtesy of Candice Brokenshire
Visitors to the Sawdust Art Festival will find an unexpected storefront at Booth 411. Conceived by artists Katlin Evans and Candice Brokenshire, “A Summer Gathering at 411” transforms a festival booth into a Beaux-Arts-inspired environment that draws upon the historic haberdasheries and draperies of the Gilded Age. The project emerged from Brokenshire’s ongoing exploration of a modern matriarchy and the ways women have historically shared knowledge, skills, stories and ideas across generations. Haberdasheries and draperies were more than places of commerce – they were gathering places where these exchanges occurred.
Opera Laguna presents The Student Prince for one night only at the Laguna Playhouse on July 3
Opera Laguna presents a one-night-only, semi-staged concert of The Student Prince on Friday, July 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Laguna Playhouse. Directed by Josh Shaw and starring tenor Arnold Livingston Geis as Prince Karl Franz, the operetta tells the story of a prince who must ultimately choose between his devotion to Kathie, a commoner, and the royal duties that require him to become king and marry Princess Margaret.
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Courtesy of Opera Laguna
Arnold Livingston Geis and Oriana Geis Falla star in a one-night-only production of “The Student Prince” on July 3
“We feel a very special connection to this show, and the stage where it will be performed,” said co-founder of Opera Laguna, Oriana Geis Falla, who recently won Artist of the Year at the 2026 Laguna Beach Arts Alliance Art Star Awards together with co-founder Arnold Livingston Geis. “Not only did Arnold’s birth father sing it at Heidelberg Castle where the story takes place, but the Laguna Playhouse opened its first permanent theater the same year that The Student Prince opened on Broadway. We’re excited to have the rare opportunity to showcase opera in Laguna Beach and to embark on what we know will be a beautiful partnership with Opera Laguna and the Laguna Playhouse and we look forward to continuing to provide our audiences an experience to have ‘a day at the beach, a night at the opera!’”
Debuting on Broadway in 1924, The Student Prince was the most-performed and longest-running Broadway show of the 1920s.
The cast of The Student Prince includes: tenor Arnold Livingston Geis as Prince Karl Franz; baritone Kevin Blickfeldt as Dr. Engel; soprano Oriana Geis Falla as Kathie; soprano Lily Prado as Princess Margaret; tenor Alex McKissick as Count Hugo Detlef; tenor Ricardo Garcia as Von Asterberg; baritone Sergio Manzo as Lucas; baritone Roberto Gomez as Ruder; soprano Alexys Tiscareno as Gretchen; mezzo-soprano Allegra DeVita as Kathie’s Friend, and tenor Felipe Prado as Captain Tarnitz. Brian Holman conducts this production directed by Josh Shaw.
Tickets are $35-$250 and are available here. Moulton Theatre, Laguna Playhouse is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.
Festival of Arts unveils 2026 summer music line–up featuring three new weekly music series
The Festival of Arts of Laguna Beach’s annual Fine Art Show is setting the soundtrack for summer in Laguna Beach with the return of their popular outdoor music series, sponsored by City of Hope Orange County and Yamaha. With live performances daily from July 7 through September 3, this season’s line-up will bring everything from nostalgic throwback hits and Broadway-inspired performances to tribute concerts, jazz nights and Southern-inspired sounds to the Festival grounds, continuing one of Orange County’s most distinctive open-air arts and entertainment traditions.
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Photos courtesy of FOA
City of Hope Orange County’s blue “Music of Hope” piano will return this year to FOA
New for 2026, the Festival will debut three new weekly music series: Flashback Fridays, Showstopper Saturdays and Southern Songbook Sundays. Returning this summer, City of Hope Orange County’s symbolic blue “Music of Hope” piano will once again be featured on the Festival grounds, honoring everyone whose lives have been touched by cancer while celebrating the healing power of music and community.
“Music has always been an important part of the Festival experience, creating an atmosphere where guests can relax, explore art and enjoy live performances in a beautiful outdoor setting,” said Christine Georgantas, director of exhibits and events at the Festival of Arts. “This summer’s line-up is especially exciting because we’re bringing back fan-favorite performers and adding a few exciting new talents, making every night and weekend afternoons at the Festival an experience of great art, music and community.”
During its two-month summer season, audiences can enjoy daily live concerts as well as six distinctive weekly concert series. Wednesday nights will come alive with Tribute Wednesdays, running July 8 through September 2, featuring some of Southern California’s most popular tribute bands. Audiences can look forward to energetic performances by Pretzel Logic celebrating the music of Steely Dan, Gypsy Dreams paying tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Savor honoring Santana and Missus Jones paying tribute to Amy Winehouse.
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Missus Jones paying tribute to Amy Winehouse on July 15
On Thursdays, the Festival’s beloved Art, Jazz, Wine & Chocolate series returns July 9 through September 3. Sponsored by Charles Schwab and La Crema Wines, this evening series blends live jazz with gourmet chocolate and La Crema wine pairings for a multi-sensory experience. Guests can enjoy smooth sounds from artists like Billie Valentine, Scott Wilkie and Spencer Day while sipping curated wine flights and indulging in decadent treats (additional fee applies).
Festivalgoers in search of toe-tapping rhythms and heartfelt performances will enjoy the new Flashback Fridays taking place Friday evenings from July 10 through August 29. This series is packed with talented performers re-creating the hits of favorite artists from the past, perfect for singing along, dancing and reliving the classics. Highlights include performances by ABBA LA, Surf City Allstars and Wild Night – A Tribute to Van Morrison.
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Wild Night – A Tribute to Van Morrison on July 10
Saturday afternoons from July 11 through August 29 come alive with the highly anticipated Concerts on the Green, a vibrant afternoon series showcasing award-winning jazz and funk performances on the Festival’s picturesque outdoor stage, surrounded by art and ocean breezes. Returning by popular demand are celebrated and award-winning performers such as Poncho Sanchez, Grace Kelly and Brian Simpson, who will deliver an unmatched concert experience.
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Pageant of the Masters expands access to the arts through Masters at Giving program
For generations, the Pageant of the Masters has created unforgettable summer evenings in Laguna Beach. Yet, for many in the community, attending the Pageant would not be possible without the generosity of supporters. The Festival of Arts invites individuals and businesses to help expand access to the arts through their Masters at Giving program, which allows donors to provide Director’s Tier tickets to local nonprofits, offering underserved communities a chance to experience this unique cultural event.
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Courtesy of FOA
Help connect local nonprofits and charity organizations to the magic of the living pictures and award-winning Fine Arts Show
“Masters at Giving is a cornerstone of our mission to make the arts accessible to everyone,” said David Perry, president of the Festival of Arts. “Through the generosity of our donors, we can welcome those who might never otherwise experience the magic of the Pageant and the Fine Art Show. It’s inspiring to see our community come together to share this one-of-a-kind experience.”
Donors can sponsor tickets in any quantity, from a single Director’s Tier ticket to a group of 100, at $50 each. Each ticket also includes season-long access to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, where recipients can explore original artwork, enjoy live demonstrations, and attend concerts and special events throughout the 2026 season. Donations to the Masters at Giving program are 100% tax-deductible, directly fund tickets without overhead or administrative costs, and benefit non–profit organizations serving at-risk children and families, military members, seniors, and arts and mentoring programs. Supporters who contribute by May 15, will be recognized in this year’s Pageant of the Masters collectible souvenir program. Contributions can be made here, or by contacting the box office at 800.487.3378.
Since its inception in 2011, Masters at Giving has provided nearly 19,500 tickets to charitable organizations across Southern California, benefiting first responders, at-risk youth, veterans and military families, seniors, art students and mentoring programs. Participating organizations have included the American Legion, Camp Pendleton, OC Fire Authority, Alzheimer’s Orange County, Families Forward and domestic violence shelters throughout the region.
“The Masters at Giving program gave the veterans of American Legion Post 277 in Placentia an evening we will never forget,” shared Laurie Arroyo of American Legion Post 277. “Watching these magnificent works of art come to life was both humbling and healing, and for those of us who have seen the worst the world has to offer, it was a powerful reminder of what we fought to protect. Being welcomed and honored in this way by our community means everything. We left inspired, grateful and proud, and we are deeply thankful for this incredible program.”
An experience unique to Laguna Beach, the 2026 Pageant of the Masters production, The Greatest of All Time, will bring history’s most iconic artists and masterpieces to life. Masters at Giving helps local nonprofits bring this extraordinary event to individuals and communities who rarely get the chance, giving them the magic of living art firsthand.
The Festival of Arts is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, recognized by the IRS under Tax ID 95-1964772. To stay up to date on all things Pageant of the Masters and Fine Arts Show, visit www.foapom.com. To support the Festival of Arts, visit www.foapom.com/supportnow.
Circus Bella bedazzles multi-generational crowd at Bluebird Park
By THERESA KEEGAN
The joy of a Saturday in the park was center stage when Circus Bella arrived in Bluebird Park recently. Friends were gathering together, setting up chairs and placing blankets on the ground as kids climbed, ran, swung and laughed, and when it was announced the show was about to begin, all scurried to their seats and silence enveloped the normally noisy recreation area.
As the circus band began to play its foot-tapping booming melody, it was evident everyone was in for a treat.
For the next 60 minutes, people young and old sat awestruck while hula hoops were twirled, bowling pins were juggled, trapeze artists soared and flipped, chairs were stacked and climbed upon, tables were kept aloft by someone’s running feet, bowls landed on heads, a contortionist contorted and numerous other physically defying feats were performed.
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Photos by Theresa Keegan
Ringmaster Abigail Munn in her pink top hat ensures that teamwork is embraced in all aspects of Circus Bella, both behind the stage and on, as seen in this cast-wide juggling performance
“Because it’s in the park people think it’s not going to be that high caliber of a show, so I try and prove them wrong,” said Abigail Munn, Circus Bella’s executive director and ringmaster.
“You’re going to see the same acts you see at Cirque de Soleil, but you’re in your neighborhood park,” she explained.
Indeed, the show mesmerized (think seeing a woman, Chloe Somers, in a glittery warrior-type red & gold outfit twirling an ever-increasing number of hula hoops, sometimes even standing on one leg, until her body has almost a dozen hoops on various appendages) and terrified (what was Garret Allen thinking when he decided it would be entertaining to stack chairs and climb upon them? But when he was soaring above the crowd, arms clenched in victory with almost 20 chairs below him, it was obvious he was onto something.)
“It’s extraordinary persons doing amazing feats,” said Munn. “I love…we can all go on this amazing journey together.”
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The plot of this year’s Circus Bella show, “Ah Ha,” is for the colorful clown Tristan Cunningham to get back her laughter, which is trapped in the blue box
This summer’s show, “Ah Ha,” follows the travails of a clown who has lost her ability to laugh and spends time searching for a box that she thinks holds it. Every time it appears, the children in Bluebird Park shrieked, letting her know it was nearby. At the end, she finds the box, but its empty and she discovers the laughter was in herself all along.
“We celebrate that human connection,” said Munn. “We’re curious creatures. We do things that stretch our imagination and see what’s possible.”
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Laguna welcomes summer with 19th Fête de la Musique
Photos by Mary Hurlbut
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(L-R) Erik Venier, Karyn Philippsen, Maggie Hempen, Justin Myers, Pat Kollenda and Ed Postal celebrate the day. Fete de la Musique is a worldwide music festival celebrating the start of summer. The festival is held annually in more than 1,000 cities in 100 countries. Laguna’s event is hosted by Laguna Beach Sister Cities Association.
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Laguna Community JaZz Band started the festivities off at 11 a.m. on the cobblestones at Main Beach
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The Student Showcase was featured at the Presbyterian Church Garden
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Singer and songwriter Lenelle entertained passersby on Forest Avenue
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Seagrass kept the tunes coming at the Lumberyard patio
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The Long View Band, all siblings, made music a family affair at City Hall
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Los de Alla, an Argentina folk band, performed at the Water District grounds
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Black Dog, a Led Zeppelin tribute band, kept the hard rock and blues sounds coming at Zinc Cafe
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Shelton Taylor captivated the crowds in front of the Rivian South Coast Theater
Pageant of the Masters opens next month with The Greatest of All Time, a limited-time summer celebration of art’s most iconic masterpieces
In less than one month, audiences will once again witness one of the most extraordinary theatrical experiences in the world as the Pageant of the Masters returns to Laguna Beach’s Festival of Arts with its highly anticipated 2026 production of The Greatest of All Time.
Running nightly from July 9 through September 4, the Pageant of the Masters will transform famous works of art into breathtaking living pictures, with real people posed on stage to re-create masterpieces with astonishing accuracy. This year’s production celebrates some of the most iconic artists, artworks and creative achievements in history, inviting audiences to explore the stories, innovations and enduring influence behind the world’s greatest artistic accomplishments.
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Courtesy of POM
Pageant of the Masters’ re-creation of “Trevi Fountain”
“This year’s production celebrates the artists and artworks that have stood the test of time and continue to inspire generations,” said Diane Challis Davy, director of the Pageant of the Masters. “Whether you’re an art lover, a first-time visitor, or someone who has attended for decades, The Greatest of All Time offers a chance to experience these masterpieces in an entirely new way.”
Audiences will be astonished as iconic masterpieces and monumental works of art are transformed into living pictures before their eyes including Rome’s Trevi Fountain, designed by architect Nicola Salvi, and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., featuring Daniel Chester French’s monumental sculpture of Abraham Lincoln. The production also brings to life celebrated works by legendary artists including Claude Monet, Johannes Vermeer, Norman Rockwell, Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso and more showcasing the creativity, innovation and vision that have shaped the art world for generations. More than a celebration of art history, The Greatest of All Time invites audiences to consider their own picks for the G.O.A.T.s of the art world as they experience some of history’s most influential works brought to life on stage.
Admission to the Pageant of the Masters also includes entry to the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, recently named one of the top 10 Art Festivals in the nation by USA Today. Before the Pageant performance, visitors can spend the day exploring artwork from more than 100 award-winning Orange County artists, enjoying live music, watching demonstrations, taking art classes and discovering one-of-a-kind pieces available for purchase directly from the artists.
Jennifer Mason, Pageant volunteer from Orange, Calif. added, “Being part of the Pageant is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. For a few moments each night, you become part of a masterpiece and part of a tradition that has inspired audiences for generations. There’s something incredibly special about knowing that people travel from around the world to experience this show, and that you’re helping bring art to life right before their eyes.”
Presented for just eight weeks each summer, the Pageant of the Masters remains one of California’s most beloved cultural traditions and a truly limited-time experience. Once the curtain closes on September 4, this production will never be performed again.
The Greatest of All Time will run nightly July 9-September 4. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.foapom.com, or call 800.487.3378. To stay up to date on all things Pageant of the Masters and Fine Arts Show visit www.foapom.com. To support the Festival of Arts, visit www.foapom.com/supportnow.
The Festival of Arts is sponsored in part by Volvo Cars, City of Hope Orange County, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club, and KOST Radio 103.5. A separate ticket is required to attend the Pageant of the Masters and may be purchased at https://pageanttickets.com/.
Sawdust at 60: A variety of new artists brings their own festival history and memories to the show this summer
By THERESA KEEGAN
In California, in 1966, Ronald Reagan was elected governor, the Black Panther Party formed and a group of artists gathered in Laguna Beach to sell their work. Originally setting up in a parking lot near Coast Highway, the group soon leased a three-acre site in the canyon and an annual festival, where art and good times could be enjoyed by all, was created.
Today, the Sawdust continues on, not only reinventing itself to stay relevant, but also staying true to its original tenants.
And this summer, the tradition passes on to new generations. A few of the selected new artists to show this year not only admire the Sawdust Festival, they grew up here.
“It’s interesting to create for the Sawdust,” said printmaker Cassie Jones. “It feels good.”
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Courtesy of Cassie Jones
Printmaker Cassie Jones is using presses from two Sawdust artists while making pieces for this summer’s show
During her formative years she was a security guard at the Sawdust.
“Almost a rite of passage for every Laguna Beach kid,” she said of the job that she recalls mostly entailed walking around the grounds and talking with people.
The Laguna Beach native left town for college, studying printmaking at Cal State Long Beach and earning an MFA in Missouri. She has shown in museums and galleries, but this is the first time she’s exhibiting long-term and having her art for sale in such a setting.
“I look forward to seeing other people’s reactions to my work,” said Jones. “It’s a big step.” She’s preparing for the show by generating work inspired by her own experiences in Laguna, particularly around surf culture.
“I kept it Laguna specific, as something accessible for visitors,” she said of the pieces she’ll be showing at the Sawdust. And she also has some good karma while creating her work – two of the print presses she uses in her studio are from Sawdust artists – Julita Jones and Heddy Buzan.
“I think about the history of art in Laguna when I’m making my art,” she said. “It’s almost like the passing of the baton or something. I’m hoping the festival kicks off a successful, professional career in the arts for me.”
In keeping with generational milestones two of this year’s new festival artists will be spending time directly with family members.
Amanda Kisiel is venturing back to familiar ground when she brings her whimsical ceramics to the Sawdust this summer. As a senior at Laguna Beach High School, she won a scholarship to show at the festival for the summer.
While she appreciated that opportunity, she was already familiar with the grounds.
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Courtesy of Amanda Kisiel
Ceramicist Amanda Kisiel is not worried her distinctive artwork will be confused with her parents’ art, even though all three will share one booth this summer
“I basically grew up at the Sawdust,” she said. Both her parents, Sue and Mark Winner, are long-time artists. The three of them will be sharing a booth throughout this summer.
“They’re as excited as I am,” said Kisiel.
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Greatness Re-Imagined: Art-to-Go exhibition channels the masters
By JILL HECHT
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Photos courtesy of Festival of Art
“Greatness in the Everyday,” a painting by Veronica Schmitt, is part of the preview exhibition for Art-to-Go now at Laguna Beach City Hall
A collection of new works inspired by the world’s great artists is on exhibition at the 2026 Art-to-Go preview at Laguna Beach City Hall.
Nearly 50 paintings, sculptures and photographs by Festival of Arts (FOA) exhibitors are available to view and to purchase, in an early version of the show benefiting FOA’s Artists Fund.
Curator Mike Tauber said this year artists took inspiration from the past, with motivation derived from the 2026 Pageant of the Masters.
“The pageant theme is Greatest of All Time,” he said. “We wanted to twist it and called ours Greatness Re-imagined.”
Contributors are all FOA exhibitors for summer 2026. Works in the show draw from some of history’s most accomplished artists, from Renaissance painters to Picasso to Ansel Adams.
Tauber praised the modern spin on the classic techniques and subject matter.
“It’s really neat to see what they did,” Tauber said of the show’s artists, many of whom participate in Art-to-Go year after year. “I think they were very successful.”
Anthony Salvo’s Cherry Pie evokes still life paintings from the Renaissance period. “Some of the Italian masters painted desserts very tight,” Tauber said. “His style is sloppy, spilled over, kind of irreverent. It’s very Southern California.”
Elizabeth McGhee traded her usual palette of bright paint for colored pencils for a seascape inspired by Frank Cuprien, the Laguna Beach artist whose work is currently on exhibition at Laguna Art Museum. The piece is titled, Heisler Park Morning.
Newport Beach painter Isabelle Alessandra said this year’s show was great creative fun. “This year I loved the challenge,” she said.
An abstract painter in her fifth year as an FOA exhibitor, she has two paintings in Art-to-Go.
Her Starry Little Night is bright, dreamy and inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s famous Starry Night. Alessandra’s goal was “to capture in my style the luminosity of Van Gogh, she said. “I had a lot of fun with it.”
Her second painting, Meditation Lines and Shapes, features color blocking and geometric tension inspired by Dutch painter Piet Mondrian and Ukrainian Russian artist Kazimir Malevich.
“I love abstract painters,” she said, admitting Malevich is the more obscure of the two artists.
“One is known for tension and order, and the other for containing the geometric shapes,” Alessandra said. “So, I played with that.”
Becky Ryan’s “Venetian Gold,” a work inspired by the watercolor paintings of John Singer Sargent, is part of the Art-to-Go exhibition benefiting FOA’s Artists Fund
Becky Ryan is in her third year as an FOA exhibitor. Her watercolor, Sea Foam Study references a place rather than any single master painter. “A little bit of a different take,” she said of her painting, which takes its inspiration from “a city instead of an artist.”
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Sawdust Art Festival receives $3,000 grant from FOA Foundation to support art enrichment programs
Sawdust Art Festival has received a $3,000 grant from the FOA Foundation to support the Sawdust Art Enrichment Fund (SAEF), a community outreach initiative that provides professionally led art classes and creative experiences to underserved populations throughout Orange County. The funding comes as the non-profit festival celebrates their 60th anniversary this summer.
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Courtesy of Sawdust
Visitors stroll among the booths at the Sawdust Art Festival
The grant will help fund program planning, art materials, transportation, instructor fees and take-home art kits that bring the Sawdust experience beyond their Laguna Beach campus and directly into the community.
Founded in 2012, SAEF expands access to the arts through hands-on classes led primarily by Laguna Beach artists who are members of the Sawdust Art Festival. The program serves a wide range of organizations and populations, including foster youth, low-income families, seniors, military families, first responders and local students.
“As we celebrate 60 years of championing artists and creativity in Laguna Beach, we’re proud to invest in the next generation of artists and art enthusiasts through the Sawdust Art Enrichment Fund,” said Tom Hartmann, general manager of Sawdust Art Festival. “This support from the FOA Foundation will help us bring transformative art experiences to people who may not otherwise have access to them, while also creating meaningful opportunities for local artists to share their talents and inspire others.”
In addition to benefiting community participants, SAEF supports Laguna Beach’s artist community by providing stipends to professional artists who lead classes and workshops, helping preserve the city’s rich artistic heritage while creating meaningful educational experiences.
Since 1965, Sawdust Art Festival has served as a cornerstone of Laguna Beach’s creative identity through artist-driven programming, arts education and community engagement. The 2026 summer festival runs June 26 through September 6, and will feature more than 180 local artists, live music, art demonstrations and handcrafted works across a variety of mediums.
For more information, visit www.sawdustartfestival.org.
Learn alcohol inks at LOCA workshop on June 24
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Courtesy of LOCA
On Wednesday June 24 from 1:30-4:30 p.m. at the Laguna Beach Community Center, Joy Vansell teaches how to use dye-based inks to create fluid abstract designs on special papers. Visitors $50/$25 LOCA members. LB Community Center, 380 Third St., free parking in garage. To register, click here.
Friends of the Laguna Beach Library celebrate winners of 28th Annual John Gardiner Poetry Contest
The Friends of the Laguna Beach Library have announced the winners of the 28th Annual John Gardiner Poetry Contest, themed “Unexpected Encounters.” Winning poems were celebrated at a public reading on Saturday, June 6 at the Laguna Beach Library, with Mike Sprake of the Laguna Poetry Workshop serving as Master of Ceremonies.
The contest, named in memory of beloved Laguna Beach poet and community figure John Abbot Gardiner, drew entries from writers across five age categories ranging from preschool through adult.
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Photos by Luis Pena
Winners of the 28th Annual John Gardiner Poetry Contest gather with Laguna Beach Library Branch Manager Nadya Hickam and emcee Mike Sprake
This Year’s Winners:
Adult: Hridoy Kundu, first place (Night Shift, Parking Deck C); Kendra Stansbury, second place (Morning Run); Teresa McKinney, third place (Spicy Seoul).
9th-12th Grade: Ava Hulett, first place (Unexpected Yet Not Unwelcome); Skylar DiMaggio, second place (A Moment You Have Met); Abbey Chez, third place (Rain, Hear My Cry).
6th-8th Grade: Emilee Sung, first place (Little Me); Lucas Chien, second place (Patrick the Penguin); Natalie Harb, third place (My Heart is a Crowded Hallway).
3rd-5th Grade: Malia Mason, first place (The Way of the Ocean); Annistan Lin, second place (The Tiny White Flash); Xin-Yang Saoirse Chen, third place (An Attacker Turns into Prey).
Preschool–2nd Grade: Asha Saffouri, first place (Snacking); Wesley Beutin, second place (Snake with the Shakes); Luka Mannarino and Kai Mason, tied for third place (Cheetah, Cheetah and Nature in my Eyes, respectively).
The contest theme proved to be a powerful spark for students and teachers alike. Mary Blanton of El Morro Elementary School, whose student was among the winners, shared: “I encouraged kids to be observant of the world around them. They had the best time with it! ‘Unexpected Encounters’ came to mean unexpected surprises, unexpected touchdowns [and] unexpected creatures.”
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(L-R) Emcee Mike Sprake presents Lucas Chien with his award at the 28th Annual John Gardiner Poetry Contest
A special note of recognition goes to 6th-8th grade second place winner Lucas Chien, who impressed the audience by reciting his poem Patrick the Penguin entirely from memory. The contest also welcomed its share of first-time participants, with parents expressing deep gratitude for the opportunity the program provided their young poets.
The Annual John Gardiner Poetry Contest honors the memory of John Abbot Gardiner, a poet, actor, teacher and long-time leader of the Laguna Poets Workshop who emceed the library’s poetry contest for many years before his passing in 2017.
Looking ahead, the 29th annual contest will carry the theme, “A Hundred-Year Message,” commemorating the centennial of the city of Laguna Beach in 2027. This contest is just one example of the programs the Friends of the Laguna Beach Library work to bring to the community each year.
To get involved or learn more, visit www.friendsofthelagunabeachlibrary.org.
LAM offers From Street to Studio on June 21
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Courtesy of LAM
On Sunday, June 21 from 2-3 p.m., explore the evolution of street art through a dynamic program featuring a talk, live demonstration, and artmaking inspired by graffiti, pop art and contemporary urban expression, along with a hands-on studio workshop where you’ll learn foundational techniques and create your own artwork. Materials will be provided and all levels are welcome. Advance tickets recommended. Museum members: $35, non-members: $45. Click here for tickets.
Fresh Faces 2026 offers sneak peek of artwork by first-time FOA exhibitors, now through June 22
As anticipation builds for the July 7 opening of the Festival of Arts Fine Art Show, recently voted one of the “Top 10 Best Arts Festivals” in the nation by USA Today, art enthusiasts can enjoy an exclusive preview of the Festival’s newest talent at their annual Fresh Faces exhibition. Admission is free to the public.
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Photos courtesy of FOA
“Girl in White” (2025) by artist and first-time Festival of Arts exhibitor Leslie Smith
Fresh Faces 2026, now on view at the Festival’s satellite gallery foaSOUTH through June 22, showcases the artistic innovation of 11 of the 13 first-time exhibitors, presenting a diverse array of mediums, including painting, sculpture, photography, ceramics, glass, drawing and mixed media.” Fresh Faces introduces visitors to the artists making their Festival debut this summer,” said Christine Georgantas, director of exhibits. “They bring fresh perspectives and unique voices, complementing the incredible work of our returning artists when the full Festival opens.”
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“Lincoln Logs” by artist Gabrielle McLean is on display at foaSouth
Featured artists and mediums presented include – Ceramics: Torii Cooper, Glass: John Glass, Adam Whobrey, Sculpture: Dylan Howard
Drawing: Kayla Janes, Mixed Media: Marie Lavallée, Painting: Gabrielle McLean, Marjan Rajaei, Veronica Schmitt, Renae Wang and
Photography: Leslie Smith.
Since their founding in 1932, the Festival of Arts has been a cornerstone of artistic expression, offering artists a platform to connect with the community and share their work.
Georgantas concludes, “These artists represent the next generation of the Festival’s legacy. Their work signals an exciting new chapter for Laguna Beach, and seeing it gathered here at foaSOUTH provides the perfect prologue to our main event this July.”
Fresh Faces 2026 is open daily 9 a.m.-8 p.m., now through June 22 at the Festival of Arts satellite gallery foaSOUTH, located inside Active Culture at 1006 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach To learn more information, visit www.foapom.com. To support the Festival of Arts, visit
Fête de la Musique links Laguna Beach to worldwide festival
By JILL HECHT
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Photo by Haley Rovner
(L-R) Laguna Beach former Mayor Alex Rounaghi, LBSCA Founding President Karyn Philippsen, and LouLou and François Ross of Perfect Blend at a previous Fête de la Musique
There’s no better way to enjoy a summer weekend than an afternoon of free, live music in parks, plazas and street corner stages in Downtown Laguna Beach.
That’s the premise of Fête de la Musique, a one-day global music festival set for June 20.
Also known as World Music Day, the international party transforms sidewalks, parks and transit stations into open-air concert venues. Performances are always free and attract both amateur and professional musicians for a day of creative expression.
This year, the worldwide Fête de la Musique unites 750 cities across 200 countries, according to Laguna Beach Sister Cities, the organization coordinating the local event.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
South Laguna Garden Band will return to Fête de la Musique with live music from 1:30-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 20 near Hotel Laguna
According to LBSCA Founding President and Board Member Karyn Philippsen, what started in France in 1982 now reaches across multiple languages and cultures.
“It’s the thread of music that goes all around the world,” Philippsen said. “And it’s free.” With no tickets to buy, the music is accessible to everyone.
A wide range of performers come out to play in Laguna. Many are friends or family that already get together to play music on their own time, while others may play paid gigs and have built a local following. A few may be impromptu jam sessions. What unites them is the joy of sharing their songs.
“They play because that’s what they want to do that day,” Philippsen said.
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Photo by Mary Hurlbut
Laguna Community JaZz Band is the opening act every year at Fête de la Musique starting at 11 a.m. on the Main Stage, located near the cobblestones at Main Beach
This year marks the 19th anniversary of the Fête in Laguna Beach. The fun begins at 11 a.m. with the Laguna Community JaZz Band performing on the Main Beach stage and cobblestones. The 18-piece big band plays swing, Latin, blues and pop tunes.
“They’ve been our opening act from the very beginning,” Philippsen said.
A brief opening ceremony at 1 p.m. at Main Beach welcomes visitors and acknowledges the event’s many sponsors. What follows is three hours of outdoor music throughout Downtown Laguna Beach.
Performers will set up at 32 different locations on the blocks between South Coast Highway and Forest Avenue, and from Ocean Avenue to Legion Street. Sites include Downtown plazas, street corners and garden areas. The melodies continue until about 4 p.m.
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Ambition vs. art: Painter Mark Rothko portrayed in Red at Laguna Playhouse
By JILL HECHT
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Photos courtesy of Laguna Playhouse
“Red,” a Tony award-winning play about art, ambition and the risk of commercial success, opens June 14 at Laguna Playhouse
An intense, thought-provoking play coming to Laguna Playhouse explores what it means to make art, sell art and how achieving a lifelong ambition can still feel like selling out.
Red, winner of six Tony Awards during its 2010 Broadway run, poses tough questions during a verbal battle between abstract expressionist artist Mark Rothko and his young assistant Ken.
Set during the 1950s, the story revolves around Rothko at work on the most lucrative commission of his career: $30,000 for a series of large paintings for the Four Seasons restaurant in New York City.
At the time, the promised payment was a fortune. Once Rothko set to work, however, he considered what accepting the contract meant for his career, and for his artistic legacy.
Director J. Scott Lapp said the two-character play is not a memoir exactly. Instead, Red captures the moment a master artist wrestles with integrity and fame.
“At its heart, it’s not just a play about painting, but about why we create in the first place,” Lapp said.
The play by John Logan is the final production of Laguna Playhouse’s 2025-26 season. Previews start June 10 ahead of the play’s official opening June 14. The production runs through June 28.
Schedules, information and advance tickets are available by clicking here.
Rothko was known for large scale geometric designs intended to overwhelm the viewer. It wasn’t enough for a painting to be a picture of an emotion or experience. For Rothko, the painting was the experience itself.
Director J. Scott Lapp said the Laguna Playhouse production of “Red,” brings the audience into abstract artist Mark Rothko’s studio at the peak of his fame
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Celter Skelter brings Sunset Serenade Series to a close in style
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Photos by Gerson Seise
The final Sunset Serenade of the season brought another memorable evening to Heisler Park as Celter Skelter, a Celtic Irish Beatles cover band, entertained a crowd of locals and visitors alike. Families and friends gathered with picnic blankets and lawn chairs, enjoying great music, dancing, conversation and one of Laguna Beach’s beautiful June evenings.
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While it is bittersweet to see the Sunset Serenade series come to an end, excitement is building as the summer season ramps up. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this year’s concerts such a success. This program of the Arts Commission is funded by the lodging establishments and city of Laguna Beach.
Laguna Live! presents internationally renowned violinist So Jin Kim and cellist Francisco Vila on June 7
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Courtesy of Laguna Live!
(L-R) Violinist Jin Kim and cellist Francisco Vila will perform on June 7 at Laguna Live! at the Museum
Join Laguna Beach Live! for an afternoon of music for violin and cello on Sunday, June 7 from 1-2 p.m., as the Laguna Live! at the Museum series continues with internationally acclaimed violinist So Jin Kim and cellist Francisco Vila.
Both artists enjoy distinguished international careers as soloists and chamber musicians. Kim has performed with major orchestras throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and currently serves as associate concertmaster of the Munich Radio Orchestra. Vila has appeared as a soloist with orchestras including the Houston Symphony, the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra, the Liège Royal Philharmonic, and has collaborated with renowned artists such as Gary Hoffman, Nobuko Imai and Cho-Liang Lin.
Their program features celebrated works for solo violin, solo cello and string duo, including Bach’s monumental Chaconne, Cassadó’s Suite for Solo Cello, Glière’s Duo for Violin and Cello and Halvorsen’s dazzling Passacaglia.
Admission is free for Laguna Beach Live! and Laguna Art Museum members and $14 for non-members. For tickets and information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org, or call 949.715.9713.
Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach.
This concert is partially funded by the lodging establishments and the city of Laguna Beach.
Susi Q’s Gallery Q receives $2,000 grant from Festival of Arts Foundation
Laguna Beach Seniors at the Susi Q is honored to receive a $2,000 grant from the Festival of Arts Foundation in support of Gallery Q’s 2026 five exhibitions in 2026.
The funding will help sustain Gallery Q’s mission of bringing accessible arts experiences to older adults and the broader Laguna Beach community through free exhibitions, artist receptions and creative programming throughout the year.
“The arts have a unique ability to bring people together, spark conversation, and support emotional well-being,” said Nadia Babayi, executive director of Laguna Beach Seniors at the Susi Q. “We are incredibly thankful to the Festival of Arts Foundation for investing in programs that encourage creativity, connection and lifelong learning.”
Since 2009 Gallery Q has become a welcoming community gathering space where artists and visitors can engage through shared creative experiences. The gallery regularly features local and regional artists working across a variety of mediums and styles, with exhibitions designed to inspire curiosity, reflection and social interaction.
Located at the Susi Q Community Center in Laguna Beach, Gallery Q welcomes visitors Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
For more information about Gallery Q and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.thesusiq.org.
Laguna Beach Live! presents: Bluegrass & BBQ with John Jorgenson Bluegrass on June 14
Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist John Jorgenson –known for his work with Elton John, Bob Dylan and Bonnie Raitt –takes center stage at Laguna Beach Live!’s Bluegrass & BBQ with the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band for a standout afternoon of live music. Blending virtuosity with authentic bluegrass energy, this is a performance not to be missed.
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Courtesy of Laguna Live!
John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band will perform on June 14
Join Laguna Beach Live! on Sunday, June 14 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. on the beautiful grounds of Laguna College of Art + Design for an afternoon of outstanding music, great food and relaxed outdoor fun. A perfect outing for all ages, this family-friendly event welcomes children 12 and under free.
A barbecue will be served from 4:30-6 p.m. by Naples Rib Company, with beverages available from Bianchi Winery and Salty Bear Brewing Co.
Tickets (including fees): $27.50 concert only; $55.50 concert & BBQ; $125.85 VIP (concert, BBQ and reserved table seating).
For tickets and information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org, or call 949.715. 9713.
LCAD is located at 2222 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach.