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Affable, affectionate and charming, the 1988 play “Driving Miss Daisy” by American playwright Alfred Uhry, about the relationship of an elderly white Southern Jewish woman (Daisy) and her African-American chauffeur (Hoke) is one of those character-driving plays that requires...

It’s 1934 in Providence, Rhode Island. Eight sisters of Irish descent meet on alternate Friday evenings to play bridge and gossip. Hardly seems a likely scenario for a play, but “The Octette Bridge Club” by P.J. Barry has become a popular community theater production since it...

The Newport Beach Planning Commission was scheduled to hold a public hearing last week on the planned renovations for the 90-year-old Balboa Theater, but the item was unexpectedly removed from the agenda. Discussion of the proposal, submitted by the Balboa Theater Company, LLC,...

At their first meeting of the new year, the Newport Beach City Arts Commission approved additions to the city’s cultural lineup, but stopped short of adding a bit of The Bard on the peninsula. Four new artist exhibitions were chosen for the Central Library’s gallery, located near...

Free Wheelchair Mission brings it’s “1 Million for 1 Million” campaign to Newport Beach’s iconic Port Theater in Corona Del Mar on Thursday in celebration of giving out it’s one millionth wheelchair to people in need. The event will feature the soon-to-be unveiled PBS Visionaries...

Attending a play or concert with a friend is always fun, but what happens when you get nine neighbors together and make a group trip to Laguna Playhouse to watch a weekend matinee performance of “Twelve Angry Men?” Last Saturday, nine neighbors (including me) who frequently meet...

Segerstrom Center is renowned for its Broadway musical series, while South Coast Repertory has long been a haven for dramatic works. In September, their roles are reversed when Segerstrom Center presents the North American tour of the National Theatre production of “The Curious...

Ready to take a ride on the new Balboa Peninsula Trolley? Newport Beach Community Development Director Kimberly Brandt certainly hopes so. At the monthly Speak Up Newport event held Wednesday night, Brandt told the audience that the trolley, which makes its inaugural run on...

“Go Deeper.” That’s the message the Newport Beach Film Festival wants 50,000 filmgoers to embrace as they descend on the city for this year’s 18th annual cinematic confluence of filmmakers and moviegoers that kicked off Thursday at the Edwards Big Newport Theater with the west...

NOTE: Indy reporter Sara Hall compiled this look back at what made headlines in the NB Independent during 2016. This week, we cover July through December. To read part one click here. July — Lifeguards rescued two people from the water after a nearly 20-foot wave overtook them...

Newport Beach City Council this week unanimously approved the sale of the historic Balboa Theater to a local developer for $1 million Council voted 6-0 Tuesday to sell the E. Balboa Boulevard property to Lab Holding, LLC. LAB founder Shaheen Sadeghi thanked the council for their...

  South Coast Repertory’s 53rd Season Gala, “Stagestruck!”, brought out the Southland’s movers and shakers – and theater lovers – for a highly imaginative evening in celebration of all things theatrical. With their arrival at The Westin South Coast Plaza, the Orange County...

By Lily Williams | NB Indy The newest show at the Newport Theatre Arts Center (NTAC), “Groovy,” aims to take you back to the ‘60s by celebrating hippiedom and flower power. The retrospective musical is a part of NTAC’s youth theatre program, which puts on a production each summer...

Kids take center stage at South Coast Repertory this summer when the group’s Summer Players tackle Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” on the Julianne Argyros Stage through August 14, directed by Hisa Takakuwa, with music direction by Erin McNally.     “Beauty and the Beast” is a...

Classic Americana closes out Newport Theatre Arts Center’s 2015-2016 season this weekend with the last few performances of “1776 The Musical.” The patriotic play delves into the diverse personalities behind the signing of the Declaration of Independence, delivering a lively and...

By Daniella Walsh | NB Indy  It’s three days before graduation and Roosevelt High School basketball star Joe Marks is not only beset by senioritis, but horniness that addles his senses. He jeopardizes a college scholarship and an NBA fantasy during a final English exam by passing...

The city of Newport Beach and the parent company behind The LAB, a trendy retail and dining destination in Costa Mesa, have nine months to hammer out the city’s sale of the Balboa Theater for its transformation into a multi-purpose event center. The Newport Beach City Council...

Students from Newport Beach and other Orange County cities will take to the stage this weekend in a wickedly charming play at South Coast Repertory. The SCR Junior Players will perform “The Witches,” adapted by David Wood from Roald Dahl’s popular fantasy novel, in the Nicholas...

It’s not every day you’re invited to stand on the Segerstrom Hall stage and watch a Broadway musical being installed, but it’s not every day that the phenomenon known as “Wicked” comes to town. The story about what happened before Dorothy dropped into the Land of Oz, “Wicked”...

NOTE: Indy reporter Sara Hall compiled this look back at what made headlines in the NB Independent during 2015. This week, we cover July through December. Read Part 1, January through June here July ► Bishop J. Jon Bruno of the Los Angeles Diocese for the Episcopal Church, who...