Summer stars, big and little, to shine in Laguna

Tom Titus

The stars will be out in Laguna this summer -- or rather in, as in

inside the Laguna Playhouse. And Sally Struthers won’t be the only famous

name performing there.

Struthers, of course, opens next Saturday in “Always . . . Patsy

Cline,” and will be doing her thing Tuesdays through Saturdays until Aug.

25 (more on that show next week). That leaves Monday evenings open, and

the playhouse has something special in mind for those as well.

Booked for one-night stands in August are an evening of music entitled

“Something Old, Something New,” coming Aug. 12; Susan Egan and Lisa

Richard in concert, Aug. 19, and Charles Nelson Reilly in “Save It for

the Stage: The Life of Reilly,” to be presented Aug. 25.

Composer-lyricist Steve Schalchlin and playwright-director Jim Brochu

will open the month of “Summer Monday Specials” with their “Something

Old, Something New,” a reprise of memorable musical moments from their

award-winning musical, “The Last Session,” produced at the playhouse in

1998.

That’s the “old” material. The “new” will be a dozen songs from their

upcoming musical comedy “The Big Voice,” about faith fear and a man who

decides to test God. No word yet whether that one’s coming our way

eventually.

Tony-nominated Susan Egan, who starred in “Jekyll and Hyde” at the

Orange County Performing Arts Center a few seasons ago, joins Lisa

Richard who, according to Entertainment Today, “has a voice to rival any

of the legendary belters of the Great White Way,” for the Aug. 19

concert. The songbirds will present an evening of songs and stories at

the playhouse.

Charles Nelson Reilly -- whose career spans a roller coaster ride in

show business as an actor, teacher, stage and opera director and TV

personality -- will bring his one-man show to Laguna Aug. 26.

He’s no stranger to the Art Colony. Reilly directed Julie Harris in

“The Belle of Amherst” at the playhouse in September, 2000. He’ll share

his story of Broadway hits, award-winning television appearances and his

show business rebirth with Laguna audience.

Tickets for the Reilly show are $40, while “Something Old, Something

New” and the Egan-Richard concert are both priced at $25. Call the

playhouse at 497-2787 for more information.

Stars of the future can take advantage of two playhouse class programs

in July and early August. Creative drama and movement will be offered for

kids from 6-8 years old and “Kids on Broadway II,” a musical theater

program for the 9-13 age group, will teach basic acting and singing.

Both classes start Monday, with the drama and movement instruction

running Monday through Thursday till Aug. 1 from 9:30 a.m. to noon,

culminating in a final class project, and the musical theater instruction

scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, culminating

in two performances Aug. 5.

The tuition is $500 for the youngsters and $650 for the older kids.

Call Donna Inglima at 497-2787, Ext. 202, to register or get more

information.