‘Follies,’ ‘Annie,’ ‘Woods’ dot No Square’s new season

Tom Titus

The hit musicals “Follies,” “Annie Warbucks” (the sequel to “Annie”)

and “Into the Woods” will be in town during the 2003-04 season -- but

only briefly, and in three separate locations.

Laguna Beach’s No Square Theater company has these shows on the

calendar for the coming season. However, each is scheduled for only

three days of performance, so you’d better get your reservations in

soon.

“Follies,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, will kick

off the No Square season Aug. 9 to 11 in the Clubhouse 3 auditorium

at Leisure World, Laguna Woods. The show, which features the hit

single “I’m Still Here,” focuses on a group of former Follies

performers, now well along in years, reuniting at the site of their

former glory -- which is about to be torn down.

Due to the renovation of the Artists’ Theater at Laguna Beach High

School, No Square’s usual summer home, the production of “Follies” is

being co-sponsored by the city of Laguna Woods and the Theater Guild

of Leisure World and will be performed in the 800-seat Clubhouse 3

theater in Leisure World. There will be a special round of auditions

at Clubhouse 3 in Leisure World for the Laguna Woods residents

Wednesday at 2 and 6 p.m.

Other auditions for “Follies” will be held at the No Square

Rehearsal Studio, 221 Broadway, Tuesday from 6 to 10 p.m. for

singers, Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. for dancers and Thursday from 8 to

10 p.m. for singers. Performers are asked to prepare a two- minute

song and bring sheet music in their key or recorded accompaniment and

to call for audition appointments at (949) 497-1950.

The theater group also will sponsor a special one-night-only

screening of the movie “Waiting for Guffman” at the Laguna Cinema on

Coast Highway. This flick, one of the gems from Christopher Guest and

his cast of crazies, is structured around a community theater theme

and should strike a few chords of recognition among the No Square

bunch.

Leapin’ lizards, she’s back. The comic strip orphan Annie, whose

story became a popular family musical, will return to the boards Nov.

21 to 23 in “Annie Warbucks.” It’ll be the first staging of the show

locally, scheduled for the Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts

grounds.

A second helping of Sondheim will be dished out Feb. 6 to 8 when

No Square mounts its production of “Into the Woods.” This fractured

fairy tale involves some of your favorite storybook characters

interacting with one another in one of the composer’s most popular

shows. It’s scheduled for the Artists Theater at Laguna Beach High

School.

No Square’s final production of the season will be a non-musical

comedy. Among those under consideration are “The Philadelphia Story,”

“Loot” and “See How They Run.”

For more information on the No Square season, call the group at

(949) 497-1950.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.