Our Laguna: Playhouse launches 90th season

Several community and art organizations are rallying to participate in celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Laguna Playhouse and their representatives showed up for the kickoff Monday.

“You are here so I know you are ready to celebrate the 90th anniversary,” said Visitors Bureau and Sister Cities President Karyn Philippsen, chairwoman of the celebration. “You received invitations because we need a lot of help and I will be calling on you.”

The anniversary celebration season will feature five plays, announced Monday by playhouse Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle, who is beginning his 20th year with the playhouse.

We were asked not to publish the names of the plays before the official announcement, but tickets are on sale at the box office.

Already announced by the singularly talented Hershey Felder in post-curtain chats with the audience after “George Gershwin Alone” and “Monsieur Chopin,” the anniversary season will include “Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein,” from Jan. 4 to Feb. 6, starring Felder as the composer of the Broadway musical “West Side Story” as well classical works.

“The Great American Song Book” a sing-along with Felder, set for New Year’s Eve, is sure to be a sell-out.

It will bridge the anniversary events in 2010 and in 2011.

“We are figuring on about an 18-month celebration — the occasion is just too big to contain it all in one year,” Philippsen said.

Other events being planned include a carnival party for all ages, the renovation and re-dedication of the call board that marks the original site of the playhouse and an arts gala to commemorate the artistic venues and organizations that benefit the tourists who visit Laguna, as well as residents, Philippsen said.

“This is all about protecting our artistic venues so that we never lose them,” Philippsen said.

Felder will also appear this spring as Ludwig van Beethoven when the 2009 season runs down.

Playhouse General Manager Karen Wood welcomed guests to the reception at the Surf & Sand.

“It is fabulous to have you all here,” Wood said.

The paper was asked Tuesday to withhold her comments about the Playhouse business modeling and financial status until she makes a formal statement.

However, Wood credited a brighter future for the playhouse to the vision of the Board of Trustees: Henry Mayhew, president; Cynthia Hariss, treasurer; Ilona Martin, secretary; Lisa Hale; Old Pottery Place owner Joe Hanauer; James and Suzanne Mellor; Tight Assets owner Heidi Miller; Paul Singarella; Fowzia Temori; Barnicle and Wood, most of whom attended the reception.

The playhouse is one of the most revered institutions in Laguna — said to be the oldest continuously operating theater on the West Coast, founded in October 1920.

Its first real home was built in 1924 where the Peppertree Parking Lot stands on Ocean Avenue.

During World War II, the playhouse entertained troops and served as a USO activities and services center.

The Moulton Theater was built in 1969 on Laguna Canyon Road and was remodeled in 1985.

Doug Rowe was named artistic director in 1976. Under his direction, a production of “Quilters,” which included Karen McBride in the cast, was recognized nationally and internationally.

Rowe retained the directorship, as well as acting, until 1990.

Richard Stein became managing director at that time, and Stein restructured the membership, eliminating a broad-based body paying a small fee and setting up a board that made high individual donations. Otis Healy, who attended the reception, was elected president.

Barnicle was selected artistic director in 1991.

The playhouse became a fully professional Equity theater in 1993 and received critical acclaim under the dual leadership of Stein and Barnicle.

Plans to expand the theater to include a “Second Stage” led to the purchase of a building in South Laguna in 1994. It was sold to finance the purchase of the Colony building, adjacent to the playhouse.

Wood was named managing director in 2008.

Plans for a Second Stage were shelved, and the Colony was sold last year.

Guests at the reception included Jim and Arts Commissioner Pat Kollenda, Gary and Nancy Beverage, 12-year playhouse subscriber Sandy Hovanesian, Joan Gladstone, Visitors Bureau Executive Director Judy Bijlani, Community Band founder Carol Reynolds, Festival of Arts Director of Special Events Susan Davis, Pam Horowitz, and Cherry and Vern Spitaleri, who was playhouse president during the 1985 expansion.

Also at the reception: Friends of the Library President Martha Lydick, Suzanne and Terry McKenna, Sande and Richard Schwarzstein, and Tom Slattery.

And: Frank Wasko, Laura and Lou Rohl, Jennifer and Fred Karam and Sister Cities Secretary Mary Reinier.

Planning Commissioner Ann Johnson chatted with Hanauer and his wife, Jane, owner of Laguna Books in the Old Pottery Place, who will be hosting a private reception for Academy Award-winning actress Olympia Dukakis, Johnson’s longtime friend.

Colony Building rehab

Hanauer is also the new owner of the Colony building, 580 Broadway, bought from the playhouse after the organization began experiencing financial difficulties.

“Work began last week on the building,” Hanauer said. “It is a six-month project, divided into two parts.

“One: Bring the building back to life — it is in a terrible state of repair. But the interior Frank Geary designed for SWA is fabulous.”

The exterior, not so much, Hanauer said.

Fluted columns in the Art Deco style were stuccoed over and a mansard roof was pasted on top.

Stucco and roof are coming off, Hanauer said.

And instead of trying to disguise the size of the building by painting it multiple shades of rosy pink, Hanauer is proposing a one-color façade, except for the columns. A clock tower will be added.

Some minor modifications changes could be made in the façades of the buildings to the right and left of the SWA building, but that section will be exactly as it appears in the elevation provided by Hanauer.

“It should be a landmark building, right across from the Village Entrance,” Hanauer said.

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; call (949) 380-4321 or e-mail coastlinepilot@latimes.com