TOM TITUS:Everyone relies on Julie at Gallimaufry

Nearly every theater group has one “go to” person who handles a variety of projects, delicately balancing many at once. At Laguna Beach’s Gallimaufry Performing Arts, that individual is Julie Josephson, wife of the company’s creative director Steve Josephson and a polished actress in her own right, as she currently is demonstrating in Gallimaufry’s reprise production of “Sordid Lives.”

“Calmly and fluidly, she moves from task to task behind the scenes doing the unglamorous things that need done to put on a show,” associate producer James Vaughn noted. These duties include procuring obscure turn-of-the-century props, tracking down forgotten costume pieces and filling in as stage manager.

“She is, arguably, the most talented member of the clan,” Vaughn said.

Recently, Julie Josephson underwent major surgery for a lump on her breast. Within days of leaving the hospital, however, she was back overseeing stage props for the company’s production of “Meet Me in St. Louis,” in which her daughter Kira shone in the Judy Garland role.

This weekend and the next three, however, she will step into the spotlight, reprising her role of Latrelle Williamson in Del Shores’ rustic comedy “Sordid Lives” at the Forum Theater on the Festival of Arts grounds.

“Sordid Lives” — by the author of “Daddy’s Dyin’, Who’s Got the Will?” — is billed as a “black comedy about white trash” and focuses on a small Texas family preparing for a funeral when, predictably, all comic hell breaks loose.

“We had an incredible reception to the first run of ‘Sordid Lives,’” director Steve Josephson said. “People continually stop me on the street to say that they hadn’t seen anything that good in years.

“When they start to talk about Julie, well, they’re practically speechless,” her husband said.

“It’s nice to finally have others see her the way I do — remarkable both on and off stage.”

Other members of the large cast returning to “Sordid Lives” are Gregg Barnette, Martha Davis, Gary Krantz, Johnny Lacey, Christian Marriner, Lisa Morrice, Carol Robinson, Karen Rymar and Todd Silver. Newcomers to the show are Mark Brueggemann, Pamela Burrus, Dana Cook, Cameron Denny, Mark Miller, Karen Plomgren, Meredith Woodson-Hubbard and Rich Wordes.

“Sordid Lives” opened Thursday and will be presented Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. until Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. in the Forum.