Cinematographer and journalist Jason Blalock, a Laguna Beach High School graduate, will realize an ambition on Monday, April 27. His documentary, “Sawdust and Sand: The Art of Douglas Miller,” will be shown during the Newport Beach Film Festival’s “Made In California” shorts.
The film screens at 5 p.m. at Big Newport Theater, 300 Newport Center Dr., in Fashion Island. It examines the artist and photographer’s relationship with his hometown and documents the changes that have taken place by drawing on some of the 350,000 photos Miller’s shot over 44 years.
The filmmaker lives in Oakland and hopes to show the film at festivals around the country.
Surf, Skim Movie Premieres in Fitting Spot
Laguna local and skimboarding legend Bill “Beaker” Bryan is set to premiere his 21st annual surf and skim movie, “All In,” at Ocean Avenue Brewery, 237 Ocean Ave., on Wednesday, April 29. Showings are at 8 and 10 p.m.
The previously unseen footage tracks Bryan over a six month stint in Hawaii, across some of the most renowned beaches for surfing and skimming in the region. He, his brother George and a host of the islands’ local surf and skim legends perform jaw-dropping and near death-defying maneuvers in unforgiving waters.
Included is footage of Bryan, who has won skimboarding’s world championship 14 times, and Maui local Sean McClenahan making history, towed-in by water craft to surf 20-foot waves on finless skimboards at Pe’ahi or Jaws beach in Maui.
Laguna Beach Live! Outreach Draws Top Performers
A Cinco de Mayo celebration with Laguna Beach Live! All-Stars Big Band will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Rd. The concert is free to students at the Laguna Boys & Girls Club and Laguna Beach schools.
Laguna Beach Live! music director and trumpeter Bijon Watson has recruited Eric Marienthal, Francisco Torres, Rickey Woodard, Bob Sheppard, Duane Ben-Jammin and vocalist Meloney Collins for the benefit concert.
Proceeds will fund Live! Music and Kids, which brings professional musicians to perform at the Boys and Girls Club.
The program under the direction of Sara Warner earned recognition last month at the club’s community breakfast.
Tickets are $35 and can be purchased online at lagunabeachlive.org or through the Playhouse at 949 407-2787.
No Square Gears Up for Action-Packed Season
The last performances of “The World Goes ‘Round,” a hit parade of Broadway musical gems, take place this weekend, April 24-26, at the No Square Theatre, 384 Legion St.
The show is directed by Bree Burgess Rosen with music directed by Diane King Vann.
Running May 1-10, No Square will present this year’s “LagunaTots”, the junior version of the company’s flagship show, “Lagunatics.”
Writers include the show’s creator Burgess-Rosen, along with Chris Quilter, Rufino Cabang, and Josh Thimons. The show features goofy and heartfelt parodies about siblings, selfies, iPhones, vaccinations, Common Core and the self-image of girls, all set to the music of Broadway and pop hits.
“LagunaTots” is directed by No Square’s, Director of Youth Programs Ella Wyatt.
All performances are preceded by dinner and drinks, available on the lawn one hour before curtain.
Auditions for “The Rocky Horror Show” take place May 11-14 by appointment only.
For audition and ticket info, visit www.nosquare.org.
Outdoor Concerts Return to Park
Free Sunset Serenade concerts resume on Friday evenings in May at 6:30 p.m. at the Heisler Park Amphitheatre.
The line up includes: the acoustic alternative-rock of Trapdoor Social on May 8, chamber music by El Re’al Players on May 15, jazz from the Jason Harnell Trio on May 22 and singer John on May 29.
