In The Arts

Film Society screens two movies

The Laguna Beach Film Society is screening a documentary and a British comedy Friday and March 17.

“Men Who Swim,” a documentary about Sweden’s first all-male synchronized swim team, will be shown at 7 p.m. Friday at the Forum Theatre on the Festival of Arts grounds, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Tickets are $15.

The society will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with the 2009 British Indy Award winner, “Looking for Eric.” The comedy follows a middle-aged British postal worker who feels bored with his unchanging routine. A visit from a friend spurs him to contemplate his future, according to a news release. The film will be presented at South Coast Cinema at 6 p.m. March 17. Tickets are $15 and discounts are available for students.

For more information about the Film Society, call Joanne Story at (949) 494-9871 ext. 201.

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Pageant seeks new narrator

Skip Conover, the voice behind the annual Pageant of the Masters, has retired from his position as narrator. Conover began his tenure in 1994, replacing Thurl Ravenscroft — the voice of Kellogg’s Tony the Tiger. Conover never missed a performance, according to a news release. He narrated 60 nights for 17 seasons and his 1,000 pageant narrations were always live.

“Skip is of a rare breed of voice artists. He knows how to charm an audience, how to make them feel comfortable,” Pageant director Diane Challis Davy said in a statement. “He’s like a friend or a confidante. He never ‘lectured’ the audience and yet he managed to inform them. And like a true professional, he made it seem easy.”

Conover has cited back problems as one of the reasons he has decided to step away from the microphone.

He delivered his decision in a letter to staff.

“The pride I felt each night as I began my trek up to the booth [came from] knowing that a unique and gifted group of people had my back, so it was simply a matter of sewing together a beautiful tapestry using the orchestra as my thread and giving every audience the thrill of a lifetime,” he said in the letter, according to the release. “We both hope and pray the Pageant will continue to shine like the beautiful and unique star that it is.”

The Pageant is interviewing narrators and will reveal the new candidate to the public once a contract is signed.

The 2011 Pageant, “Only Make Believe?”, begins July 7. For more information, visit pageanttickets.com.

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Spring boutique to benefit Woman’s Club

The Laguna Beach Woman’s Club is hosting the annual Women’s Artists Spring Boutique at the clubhouse from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Everything from jewelry and art to home items and crafts will be for sale, all made by local female artisans.

Sales from the event’s silent auction and wine tasting will go to the Women and Families Assistance Center, which supports families in area.

Started in 1922, the Woman’s Club supports female self-sufficiency and encourages them to be active members in their communities, according to a news release.

The clubhouse is at 286 St. Ann Drive.

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Hotel Laguna hosts jazz series

The Hotel Laguna and Laguna Beach Live! will present jazz musicians Frank Potenza and Joe Bragg as part of their Winter Series on Wednesday evening.

Potenza, a guitarist and vocalist, is the professor and chairman of the Studio/Jazz Guitar faculty at the Thornton School of Music at USC and has performed with Dizzy Gillespie, George Van Eps and Joe Pass.

The series takes place in the Catalina Room. The shows begin at 6 and 7:45 p.m.

For more information, visit lagunabeachlive.org. Reservations can be made by calling (949) 494-1151.

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City sponsors banner competition

Artists or aspiring artists can put their skills to the test with the 2011 Banner Competition sponsored by the city of Laguna Beach. The winners’ work will be featured on city lampposts from June to August.

Applicants are required to submit a 4-foot-by-16-foot design (scaled to 4 inches by 16 inches), a resume, three photographs of previous work and the application by 5 p.m. March 21.

The Arts Commission will judge all the entries and will select designs March 28.

The chosen artists will receive $2,000.

For more information, contact Cultural Arts Manager Siân Poeschl at (949) 497-0722.

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‘Art That’s Small’ approaches

“Art That’s Small,” the exhibit at City Hall that showcases pieces no larger than 12 inches along any edge and 3 inches in depth, is accepting work from 9 to 11 a. m. March 19 at City Hall, 505 Forest Ave. An entry fee of $15 is charged for each work.

Artwork can consist of acrylic, oil, drawing, watercolor, photography, relief and mixed media, that is dry, framed, and wired for wall hanging. No sawtooth hangers or sandwich glass are allowed. The works will be on display at City Hall from March 21 to April 29. A reception and awards ceremony will April 7.

For more information, contact Poeschl at (949) 497-0722.

—Compiled by Joanna Clay