From ‘Whiteness’ to white trash

EYE ON ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

BLOWN AWAY BY NEW EXHIBIT

It was a full house for the opening of “Whiteness, A Wayward

Construction” on Saturday at the Laguna Art Museum. The exhibit is

curated by Tyler Stallings who is a creative genius. It’s a group

exhibit of 28 individual artists and collaborative teams working in

various media who explore whiteness. It’s very thought provoking and

an interesting way to explore the topic. I encourage people to go see

it, I can’t wait to check it out again.

Laguna Art Museum is at 307 Cliff Drive. For information, call

494-8971 or go online to www.lagunaartmuseum.org.

AIDS SERVICES FUND-RAISER

On Sunday, Woody’s at the Beach was transformed into a trailer

park of sorts for the 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD release

party of “Sordid Lives,” which Woody’s did as a fund-raiser for AIDS

Services Foundation Food Pantry.

The movie is tagged as a black comedy about white trash; I’ve seen

the movie and Woody’s did an excellent job of transforming that place

into a different place all-together. Clothes lines everywhere, on the

outside and inside, draping laundry and there even was a trailer

parked out front. Being served were little smoked sausages on

toothpicks and cheese from a can on crackers for hors d’oeuvres. The

main spread was picnic style with burgers, fried chicken, macaroni

salad, jello combo with fruit, Ambrosia salad, beans, potato chips

and the like with Twinkies and Hostess cupcakes. Karaoke was belted

out with the crowd engaged and singing along.

“There were about 100 people there,” party attendee Sam Korshin

said. “I liked it, it was a very community picnic like atmosphere --

it didn’t seem like being at a bar, the scene was fun with everyone

chatting, singing karaoke and eating the stereotypical white trash

picnic food.”

Marketing director for Woody’s, Alford Harrison, and owner, Joel

Herzer, did a drag number as the Tammy Wynette sisters, complete with

blond wigs and high heels, which received many rounds of applause.

“Everyone had a good time, we were very happy with the turn out,”

Harrison said. “AIDS Services Foundation is a great organization to

support with the event. Herzer got the idea the idea for the

fund-raiser after seeing the movie, so he contacted Fox studios and

told his idea of doing a fund-raiser in conjunction of the movie’s

DVD release -- they liked the idea. There was a raffle and some of

the winners won signed autographed copies of “Sordid Lives.” The

movie is now available at Video Horizons in town.

To make a donation to AIDS Services Foundation go online to

www.ocasf.org or call 809-5700.

NOT TO WORRY ... IT’S ALL GOOD

A couple of weeks ago I interviewed Bree Burgess Rosen for a story

about No Square Theatre and its expansion of different programs

throughout the month, such as open mic and karaoke. Her dedication

was so obvious I wouldn’t have thought that a week later she would

have made an announcement that she was giving up the reigns as No

Square’s artistic director -- it didn’t seem like she was leaving for

a lack of caring.

Bree has really contributed so much to Laguna Beach and I think

it’s great she’s going to focus her attention full time on

“Lagunatics.”

No Square Theatre will lose its founder and artistic director when

Rosen. She is helping them find another person to fill her spot and

will remain on board through June unless someone wants to jump in

sooner. Bree will remain on the theater’s board of directors.

Rosen began “Lagunatics” in 1992 as a fun farce of Laguna life.

The musical uses classic tunes with lyrics rewritten to reflect

Laguna Beach. Issues such as parking, natural disasters and view

preservation were turned into clever entertainment.

The production of “Lagunatics” led to the creation of No Square

Theatre by Rosen in 1997. No Square has been an active community

theater ever since, but is still without a permanent home.

“‘Lagunatics’ was never a part of No Square Theatre,” Rosen said.

” I started “Lagunatics” in 1992 and No Square was formed in 1997. No

Square has always been a community theater and “Lagunatics” has

always been a show, it’s a show not a production company.”

“Lagunatics” has raised money for a lot of different groups and

has benefited a lot of different organizations over the years,” Rosen

said. The two biggest beneficiaries have been No Square Theatre and

Laguna Playhouse.”

It’s been called the biggest, best bake sale in the county and

Rosen has decided to see where she can take it.

“I believe it has the potential to be significant,” Rosen said.

“It will be a retail performance arts event with some proceeds going

to charity but that will not be its purpose.

“My intention is to have it run in a larger venue or an extended

period of time.”

She said that she is looking forward to see what it will become

and she doesn’t have the resources to do both.”Lagunatics” tries to

get people to see what Laguna Beach is like from a fun perspective --

there’s this local thing with yuppies, canyon rats that gets everyone

under one roof.

“The common denominator is for entertainment,” Rosen said. “It’s a

great thing, a lot of people have worked hard to make it fabulous

about this quirky town.”

Rosen said she is looking for artistic autonomy. She found herself

in an unusual position through the years when the boards she was

dealing with were not happy with what she did on stage. Even though

she never had anyone say “no” she said it felt like a hot poker which

brought about some real clarifying moments.During the summer Rosen

went on a sabbatical from No Square and returned to sign a six-month

contract. She said that No Square has grown and she resigned as

artistic director because of family and time constraints and wanting

to focus on “Lagunatics.”

Adam Hemming who is on the board of No Square Theatre and has been

the musical director on most of “Lagunatics” shows feels positive

about the decision.

“Bree has been a wonderful asset to the whole community for over a

decade,” Hemming said. “She brought ‘Lagunatics’ which has become an

annual joyful production. With all of ‘Lagunatics’ success she has

been able to spawn No Square Theatre, which has been a success for

five years and both will continue to be a success.”

Rosen wanted to wait until the end of 10 years of “Lagunatics”

before she left No Square. She said the show won’t change, but what

will change is that the money will be reinvested into “Lagunatics.”

She said she’s tired of people working for free -- not even being

able to give free tickets to key performers for their families or

even assisting someone with gas money.

“I am so grateful to all the people who have helped,” Rosen said.

The next “Lagunatics” is slated for its regular fall run and will

be called “Do Re Mi Fa So Laguna” with Michael O’Malley and Judie

Akin Palmer collaborating the writing with Bree.

“This town is big enough for both of us,” Rosen said. “I didn’t

set it up as a nonprofit and won’t compete with No Square Theatre.”

“It’s a tough decision,” Rosen said. “If I had a lottery ticket,

I’d buy No Square a home, but I’m excited about my decision.”

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321 or suzie.harrison@latimes.com.