Evening of Playhouse fun

OUR LAGUNA

‘When they see her on stage, she has on a brunette wig.”

With her flowing golden locks, radiant smile and dressed in a

colorful sundress, Christa Jackson was the epitome of a California

Girl Monday, although she was born in West Virginia and raised in

Atlanta Georgia. Her southern accent is long gone -- unless she calls

home.

“How do I feel about Laguna?” she responds to the inevitable

question. “Let me tell you. When my boyfriend and I get married, we

want to live here. It is the only place to raise children.”

And what lovely children they should be.

Boyfriend Tye Edwards equals Jackson’s charm, ease of manner and

captivating attentiveness to whoever is speaking. He figures the

couple will be married within a couple of years.

Jackson’s career does not interfere with their relationship.

“It hasn’t been too bad, because I was able to be here with her

for the run of the show,” Edwards said.

The show is scheduled to run through Aug. 25. His own projects

travel with him.

“I am developing a television show,” Edwards said. “Basically, I

want to be David Letterman.”

The couple also is working together on a clothing line -- “High

end. Very trendy casual.”

Sally Struthers spent the night off from work, chatting with

guests at the soiree, more -- she listened to what they had to say.

When Renee Weiss said “Always...Patsy Cline” was the best show she

had ever seen at the Playhouse, Struthers quickly interjected, “And

she has two daughters in the business.”

Weiss and her husband Stephen are parents to Lindsay and Megan.

Lindsay starred in Laguna Beach High School musicals, including

Macy-award winner “Bye Bye Birdie.” Megan is producing the sequel to

“Bring It On.”

Stephen Weiss is an orthopod, whose services Struthers might well

need after standing all for three hours Monday in spike heels that

added about 3 1/2-inches to her petite height.

The Weisses live in Irvine Cove, but had never met the party hosts

until Monday.

“This used to be a tennis court,” Hillary Price said of her

elegant, sun-filled home. “It took three years to plan and three

years to build. We have been in it for a year.”

Price graciously welcomed guests at the front door, which leads

into a reception room that takes full advantage of the western ocean

view.

The guest list included long-time Playhouse supporter Jody

Billings of Emerald Bay; Sindi and board of trustees President Ron

Schwartz, former board President Kim Herbert, trustees Tom and Sherry

Fuelling, Nancy and Sid Petersen and Ilona Martin and Alison Stein,

wife of Playhouse Executive Director Richard Stein.

“We live right below Dick and Maggie Murdy Lusk,” said Emerald Bay

resident Nancy Petersen.

Since marrying Dick, Maggie has been traveling more and has cut

back on her activities with the Playhouse, but not her moral support.

She is thrilled with the success of “Always...Patsy Cline.”

The Playhouse snagged the show and its stars Struthers and Jackson

from Los Angeles.

“It was produced there in the fall and was doing very well until

Sept. 11,” said Rick Stein. “We were asked if we had an interest in

the show and we said, ‘Sure, if we can have the same cast and it’s

for the summer.’”

The show has gotten nothing but great personal reviews.

“Get your tickets now, because you won’t be able to later,”

Councilwoman Toni Iseman announced at a council meeting after seeing

the show.

Mayor Wayne Baglin, who attends just about every Playhouse

production with his wife, Faye, said, “It’s beyond good.”

Playhouse trustee Martha Lydick wants to see it again.

“We are getting repeat business,” Rick said Monday.

The theater will next stage “Jumping for Joy,” a dark comedy about

a dysfunctional family, written by Jon Marans, Pulitzer Prize

finalist for “Old Wicked Songs.”

“I won’t spoil it by discussing the plot, but I will tell you that

a very popular song from the ‘60s plays a key role,” Rick said.

On Monday, the Playhouse will present “A Conversation with Three

Playwrights,” featuring Marans, Mary Murfitt and Laguna’s own

Sherwood Kiraly. Admission is free. The presentation begins at 6 p.m.

Playhouse Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle did not attend the

party Monday. He was on his way to London and Dublin to consult with

Bernard Farrell, whose “Lovers at Versaille,” will get its American

premiere at the Playhouse in February. It will be the third Farrell

play that the Playhouse has premiered.

“Otis Healey really helped get all this going,” said Playhouse

trustee Nancy Bushenell, who attended the party with husband, David.

Also on the guest list: trustees Ken and Jan Kaplan, whose

daughter Amanda, recently returned from two years in China and will

be moving on to “some sort of think tank program.”

And: Joni and Hal Brice, Joel and Julie Rubenstein, Edie and Mel

Tonkin, Don Crevier, Mike and Norma Helin, arts philanthropist Bill

Gillespie, Suzanne and Jim Mellor, Cynthia Harriss, Terry and

Christin Mathews, Anne and Mike Moris, Lee Friedman and Marilyn

Alexader, Traute Huyche and Kathy and Richard Tusa -- all locals.

“We do represent Laguna,” said Rick Stein.

VIKING TRIBUTE

Sculptor Jorg Dubin will unveil “Tribute to a Viking Studio at 5:

30 p.m., Thursday at the revamped Laguna Shoals, 1601 S. Coast

Highway. The sculpture is a stylized version of the remnants of the

hull of an ancient Viking ship and is a tribute to the site, once

occupied by Laguna artist Frank Cuprien, who called it the Viking

Studio.

Architect Morris Skendarian, art gallery owner Peter Blake,

representatives of the city and Dubin will attend the dedication. The

public is invited.

“Tribute to a Viking Ship” is fabricated from wood and

hand-hammered copper sheet. It took 2 1/2 months to complete. The

installation sits on the front of the site and can be viewed from a

variety of vantage points without compromising the architectural

features of Laguna Shoals.

The sculpture is the latest addition to the city’s Art in Public

Places inventory.

* OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box

248, Laguna Beach, 92652, hand-deliver to 384 Forest Ave., Suite 22;

call 494-4321 or fax 494-8979.