‘Lagunatics’ in hands of No Square founder

Tom Titus

“It’s time,” Bree Burgess Rosen declared, “for the business end of

show business.”

Thus, the founder of Laguna Beach’s amateur No Square Theater said

she would be shifting her full attention to “Lagunatics,” the

original musical spoof of the Art Colony which the No Square

thespians created more than a decade ago.

“The show has developed to the point that, to do it right, it

really requires a singular and full-time focus,” Rosen said. “Square

Theater, happily, now is in a good position to continue

independently,” she noted, adding that, as a practical matter, the

time demands of Lagunatics, family and other personal obligations

have made her directing at No Square impossible.

She’s not cutting any ties or burning bridges, however.

“Lagunatics definitely will contribute some of its net revenues back

to No Square Theater,” giving Rosen an avenue to “continue to support

our local community theater and ... guarantee our audiences that

Lagunatics is fresh.”

Born in 1992, Lagunatics is subtitled “A Musical Roast of Life on

the Coast,” and show has become an annual tradition, drawing sold-out

houses every year.

In its first decade, the show generated well over a quarter of a

million dollars for area charities including the Laguna Playhouse,

Laguna Shanti, Ballet Pacifica, the Laguna Beach Community Clinic,

the Laguna Beach High School Artists’ Theater and Rosen’s own No

Square Theater, which she founded in 1997.

Scripts and lyrics for each year’s original show were written by

Rosen and several collaborators over the years including Tim Dey,

Paul Leighton Nygro and Michael V. O’Malley.

There has been no shortage of talent for the benefit event. Laguna

Playhouse artistic director Andy Barnicle and Youth Theater director

Joe Lauderdale have contributed, along with Festival of Arts

marketing and public relations director Sharbi Higuchi and Pageant of

the Masters director Diane Challis Davy.

Laguna mayors Tony Iseman, Steve Dicterow and Paul Freeman have

participated, along with Police Chief Jim Spreine and Arts

Commissioner Pat Kollenda. Local professional entertainers Saif

Eddin, Steve Josephson, Roxanna Ward, Adam Hemming, Lisa Richard and

Pauline Kyne have lent their talents, alongside local favorites Rick

Breco, Pat Warren, Gregg Barnette, Margo Burgess, J. Skovec, Sande

St. John and others.

Currently, Rosen is assembling the program for Lagunatics 2003,

which is tentatively scheduled for mid-October. Tickets will go on

sale Aug. 1.

* TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Coastline Pilot.