ART | ACTIVITIES | ENTERTAINMENT
Art
“The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns”
Through Aug. 12, Laguna Playhouse
The playhouse brings to Orange County the world premiere of Roger Bean’s follow-up to his 2008 off-Broadway musical hit, “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” But while the show is new, the songs are not: This jukebox musical is sprinkled with classic ’50s and ’60s hits like “River Deep, Mountain High,” “Rockin’ Robin” and “Dedicated to the One I Love”—musical memories sure to make this show a rollicking good time. (606 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-497-2787; lagunaplayhouse.com)
“Abstract Classicists”
Through Oct. 7, Laguna Art Museum
Drawing on its permanent collection, Laguna Art Museum pulls back into the spotlight the work of four artists who were exhibited as part of the seminal 1959 show “Four Abstract Classicists” at LACMA, alongside two additional contemporaneous “hard-edge” abstract painters. Together, these six artists present a body of work that remains lively and engaging despite its purposeful simplicity. (307 Cliff Dr.; 949-494-8971; lagunaartmuseum.org)
“The Marilyns”
Weekends in August,
The St. Regis Monarch Beach
In honor of the 50th anniversary of the death of America’s favorite siren, the St. Regis plays host to some of Andy Warhol’s legendary serigraphs of Marilyn Monroe. The works are on display and for sale every weekend in August in conjunction with the state tourism bureau and Visit Newport Beach, who’s hosting a bevy of Marilyn-related events throughout the summer. (1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point; 949-234-3200; stregismb.com)
Activities
Sawdust Festival Live Auction
Aug. 12, Sawdust Festival Grounds
Proceeds from the auction go to the Artists’ Benevolence Fund, a nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to local artists rendered unable to work due to critical illness or other trauma. Since its founding in 1987, the group has awarded over $100,000 of support, and this annual auction makes up the majority of the its revenue. (935 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-3030; sawdustartfestival.org)
Culinary Demonstration: Tomatoes, Salt and Sangria
Aug. 18, Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel
Join the Ritz-Carlton’s Executive Chef Andres Jimenez for a seasonal culinary demonstration and a three-course lunch complete with the chef’s signature sangria. The event is an opportunity to learn all about the intricacies and subtleties of tomatoes and salt: two things whose variations are numerous and whose culinary applications are incredibly diverse—as any foodie would agree. Tickets are $109 each. (1 Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point; 949-240-2000; ritz-carlton.com/lagunaniguel)
Entertainment
Jazz on the Green
July 28 and Aug. 4, Festival of Arts
Don’t miss the summer’s last two Saturdays of jazz at the festival: the 28th brings smooth jazz saxophonist, flutist and composer Jackiem Joyner. The final concert of the season features James Tormé, an LA-based jazz vocalist over whom Michael Bublé fans will surely swoon. The concerts begin at 1 p.m. (650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-1145; foapom.com)
FOA Runway Fashion Show
Aug. 18, Festival of Arts
Now in its fourth year, the festival’s runway show brings together art, fashion and competition in a truly distinctive extravaganza. The competitors are the festival artists—longtime visual artists but amateur fashion designers—and the challenge is to create innovative designs out of reclaimed materials. (650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-1145; foapom.com)
FOA Celebrity Event & Concert
aug. 25, festival of arts
Hosted by Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden and headlined by singer-songwriter Christopher Cross, this red-carpet event, concert and Pageant of the Masters performance also boasts the chance to win a 2013 Acura RDX. (650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-1145; foapom.com)
Upcoming Featured Shows at the Coach House
Billy Vera & the Beaters, rock, July 20, 8 p.m.; Leo Kottke, acoustic guitar, July 28, 8 p.m.; Dick Dale, surf jams, Aug. 18, 8 p.m. (33157 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano; 949-496-8930; thecoachhouse.com)
TGIF@FOA
Fridays, Festival of Arts
The latest addition to the festival’s packed rotation of weekly happenings, TGIF@FOA offers the perfect way to end the workweek: with microbrews and live music. Folk artists Brendan Willing James and Justine Bennett perform every Friday of the season from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. (650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-1145; foapom.com)
“The Marvelous Wonderettes: Caps and Gowns”
Through Aug. 12, Laguna Playhouse
The playhouse brings to Orange County the world premiere of Roger Bean’s follow-up to his 2008 off-Broadway musical hit, “The Marvelous Wonderettes.” But while the show is new, the songs are not: This jukebox musical is sprinkled with classic ’50s and ’60s hits like “River Deep, Mountain High,” “Rockin’ Robin” and “Dedicated to the One I Love”—musical memories sure to make this show a rollicking good time. (606 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-497-2787; lagunaplayhouse.com)
