Tickets On Sale for 20th Anniversary 'Lagunatics' Shows

Story submitted by Bree Burgess Rosen:

Twenty years?! This crazy musical roast has been going on for TWENTY YEARS?

Yup.

The very first “Lagunatics” poked it’s melodic fun way back on November 30, 1992.  With its creator Bree Burgess Rosen at the helm and jabbing gleefully away, the laughs have continued all these years.

This October, Rosen, with collaborations from Chris Quilter, Adam Hemming, Michael O’Malley, Tim Dey, and Paul Nygro, will provide a retrospective ‘best of’ production that is certain to be just that—the best.

“It was insanely difficult to choose our favorites.”  Rosen noted, but she and Quilter finally whittled down the playlist to 25.  Every one a show-stopper.

Will your favorite ones make the cut?  Quilter added with a chuckle:  “Of course, I personally feel everything I’ve written is far batter than the alternatives, but I don’t always get my way.”

So what can we expect this year?  A very twisted 20-year history lesson on Laguna Beach.  The writers point out that they have never had to “make this stuff up. This town will never run out of material.”  Laguna Beach is a unique little jewel.  Albeit a flawed one.  And nobody holds those flaws up to a more delightful light than No Square Theatre.

For two decades, “Lagunatics” has acted as a sort of palate cleanser.  And not just for the audience. The cast members rave about the experience as well.  Cast members including a dozen mayors, city council members, school teachers, city commissioners, doctors, artists, merchants, entrepreneurs, accountants, activists, students, and even a couple of chiefs of police.

And what do they sing and dance about? Well, in a word? Everything. Goats, nuns, parking, traffic, the homeless, even a sewer spill can be positively hilarious when “Lagunatics” sets it to music.

Lagunatics is sponsored by the Laguna Board of Realtors and Affiliates Charitable Assistance Fund, Festival of Arts Foundation, Lodging Establishments and the City of Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach Community Foundation, Avalon, Bex and Four Vines Wineries, The Retreat In Laguna, Gina’s Pizza, Mark W. Brisley, DDS, K’ya Bistro, Ketel One Vodka, and Avalon, Bex and Four Vines Wineries.

WHO: A brilliant cast, including members of the City Council, the City Treasurer, Arts Commissioners, local personalities, and a dream team of guest stars from “Lagunatics” past.  As always, its creator Bree Burgess Rosen, directs the show. Choreographer Paul Nygro, who has created some the show’s most memorable moments since 1994, is also back—after his brilliant turn in this summer’s hit RUTHLESS. Talented local legend Roxanna Ward is the musical director. The narrator who explains all is again Hollywood writer and reporter Bill Harris.

WHAT: Lagunatics 20th Anniversary: Schlock & Awe is a musical parody revue in the classic burlesque style, featuring great Broadway tunes and pop songs with lyrics that celebrate and skewer the unique lifestyle of the town we love.

WHEN & WHERE: Eight performances at the Festival of Arts Forum Theater, 650 Laguna Canyon Road: Saturday Oct. 13 at 7:30 PM, Sunday Oct. 14 at 6:30, Friday Oct 19 at 7:30, Saturday Oct. 20 at 7:30, Sunday Oct. 21 at 6:30, Friday Oct. 26 at 7:30, Saturday Oct. 27 at 7:30 and the Gala Performance on Sunday, Oct. 28 which begins with a pre-show party at 5:00.

The Gala, (costumes encouraged), will be catered by K’ya Restaurant, with help from Ketel One Vodka, and Purple Wine Company. Performances will last approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes including one 20-minute intermission. The show is sure to be a sell-out hit.  Tickets are $35-$100 and available by clicking here at nosquare.org. The recorded Lagunatics infoline is 949-715-0333.

WHY: Uncontrollable laughter.