Newport Beach News

If you hear music emanating from Newport Dunes this weekend, you can thank Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley—the weekend performances are part of the inaugural OC Live Concert Series, presented by Foley via the county’s Arts-Related Grant Relief Program. The OC Live concert series brings the power of live music...

By Eric Marchese | Special to the NB Indy It makes perfect sense for Laguna Playhouse to program “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” for the current, pandemic comeback season. The hit 1996 musical has previously had a huge impact on the company’s fortunes, delivering a resounding success during the...

Can you name Orange County’s first musical organization? No, it’s not Pacific Symphony, although they have been around for 43 years. And it’s not Pacific Chorale, which traces its beginnings back to 1968. OC’s oldest musical organization is The Philharmonic Society of Orange County, which just announced details of its 2022-23...

By Eric Marchese | Special to the NB Indy What would a Charles Busch play be without hallmark elements like a satiric view of the movie industry and the various genre-driven movies of the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s, swipes at the blacklisting of Hollywood personalities, and the tortured relationships men...

By Eric Marchese | Special to the NB Indy How many different definitions are there for the word “clean”? As Christine Quintana’s smashing new play “Clean” shows us, many more than you might first expect. In fact, “Clean” excels in delivering the unexpected. Part of this year’s Pacific Playwrights Festival at South Coast...

She’s a best-selling author, a playwright and a screenwriter. She’s hosted a syndicated TV show, was nominated for a Grammy, and helped write three Oscar shows. As a dancer on Broadway she appeared in the original productions of “Follies” and “Mack and Mabel.” But comedian Rita Rudner’s main claim to...

The Newport Beach Film Festival and Variety Magazine forged an artistic alliance several years ago that enabled the Film Festival to present Variety’s 10 Actors to Watch awards. The Film Festival bult upon that success with its own Honors Awards that recognized noted industry veterans for their body of work. Last...

The Laguna Playhouse is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, but there’s another milestone being celebrated April 1-3 at Laguna Playhouse: the 20th Anniversary of the Laguna Music Festival, presented by The Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Laguna Beach Live!. The Laguna Playhouse has hosted the Laguna Music Festival...

Winning a Tony Award is an impressive feat. Winning more than one for the same show is rare. Even rarer: winning 10 Tony Awards. “The Band’s Visit” is that rare musical that garnered 10 Tony Awards, including what’s known at the unofficial “Big Six” Tonys for Best Musical, Best Book,...