BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Radio WHIK to be unveiled Feb. 2

No Square Theatre presents Radio WHIK, a country revue, at 8 p.m. on Feb. 2 and 3 at the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

The show features the talents of Judy Akin, Seana Brief, Bree Burgess Rosen, Beth Chapman, Danita Crivello, Alissa French, Randy Hatfield, CM Hourigan, Ken Jillson, Lindsay Kohl, Markus Lee, Steve McIntosh (a.k.a. Buck Naked), Debbie Meeker, Patrick Quilter, Fernando Quinde, Carol Robinson, Paul Sigmund, Vern Smith, Roxanna Ward and Angie Whitney.

It highlights hits from artists like Hank Williams, the Judds, Tammy Wynette and Johnny Cash.

Tickets are $22, and are available at www.nosquare.org or at the door. For more information, call (949) 715-0333.

Shhh! Speakeasy’s back at the bank

Community Art Project’s fundraiser, “Speakeasy: A Night at the Bank,” will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Wells Fargo Bank, 260 Ocean Ave.

The event will feature gourmet catering by Such a Great Party!, an ice martini bar by Ketel One and premium wines by Cuvee Angeline. Kymberly Evans of Velvet Catfish will entertain with music of the period.

The Banking on Art gallery will also host a preview exhibition of pieces that will be available at the fundraiser beginning Feb. 10, with an artists’ reception at 10 a.m.

Monies raised will go toward CAP’s mission of promoting public art in Laguna Beach.

Speakeasy tickets are $60 to $75 per person. To purchase a ticket, call (949) 598-9844.

LAM’s chief curator moves to new gallery

Tyler Stallings, former chief curator of the Laguna Art Museum, has begun his new post as director of the Sweeney Art Gallery in downtown Riverside.

Stallings was chief curator at LAM from 1999 to 2006.

American illustrator exhibit at LCAD

“You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby,” a group show curated by Murray Tinkelman, opens Feb. 1 and runs through Feb. 27 at the Laguna College of Art & Design, 2222 Laguna Canyon Road.

The free show features the work of 60 famous illustrators who created self-portraits of themselves as infants or children.

Exhibition hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; ample free parking is available.

The show debuted at the Society of Illustrators in New York City last October and includes illustrators like Bart Forbes, Jack Davis of MAD Magazine, C.F. Payne, Nancy Stahl and Bunny Carter.

An opening reception is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. during First Thursdays Art Walk, Feb. 1.

For more information, call (949) 376-6000.

Concert band to perform Feb. 11

The Laguna Community Concert Band presents a free show, “It’s a Small World,” featuring guest Disneyland conductor Jim Christensen, at 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Artists’ Theatre, 625 Park Ave.

The show will feature songs from World War II, “Good Ole USA” patriotic music and classic Disney scores.

For more information, call (949) 497-2658.

Flamenco guitarist returns to Laguna

Flamenco guitarist Michael Olsen has returned to Laguna from the Bay Area.

He will perform at the Spirit of Laguna Awards Saturday night, followed by the Patriots Day honoree brunch on Feb. 4.

For samples of Olsen’s music and more information, visit www.michaelolsen flamenco.com.

City invites arts funding applicants

Applications are now available for city business improvement district cultural arts funding. Applications will be accepted from nonprofit organizations with programs offering cultural events that provide the greatest benefit in meeting the cultural needs of Laguna Beach and its visitors.

The application deadline is 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 2, and awards will be made July 1. The arts commission will make recommendations for funding, and the final decision will be made by the City Council.

The funds are intended to promote off-season cultural events and encourage hotel occupancy. The funds assist in supporting projects that promote tourism and tourist-related events.