OUR LAGUNA: In Laguna, music is the food of love

Sunday was living proof that the performing arts are a vibrant component of Laguna’s cultural life.

No Square Theatre resumed Open Mic Night at the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club, an opportunity for locals to sing in front of a supportive audience. A little earlier in the afternoon, Bearfoot Bluegrass wowed the crowd at an al fresco concert at Aliso Creek Inn and Golf Course.

Applause was generous for all of the locals who vocalized at the Woman Club, but Chris Quilter’s turn at the microphone delighted and surprised the audience, including family members.

“He absolutely astounded at least two of his brothers, Matt and me,” Charlie Quilter said. “I haven’t heard him sing solo since the seventh grade.”

Cree, as the family calls Chris, was a reluctant performer.

“This is a bad idea,” he said.

Bree Burgess Rosen, founder of No Square, who collaborates with Quilter on the lyrics for “Lagunatics,” didn’t think so. She led the standing ovation.

The fourth Quilter brother, Patrick, was on stage. He and Roxanna Ward accompany the singers — Roxanna on keyboards and Quilter playing his steel lap guitar. He also sang and played the ukulele.

Open Mic Night is a family affair and not just for the Quilter family.

Master of ceremonies, H Charton, is the middle son of No Square President Lloyd Charton and brother of budding diva, Amber. Both siblings performed — Amber choosing a song from “Spamalot” for her first song. H did a bluesy version of Frank Sinatra’s well-known “One More for the Road.”

Mom, Marsha, and stepfather David Orman drove in from Las Vegas to cheer on the kids.

Danita Crivello, owner of Rumari, sang solo and with her two daughters, sophomore Daniella and seventh-grader Gabrielle, reprised the Andrew Sisters’ World War II hit, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B.” The girls also sang a duet, introduced by Roxanna playing “Sisters.”

The Crivellos are no strangers to Laguna audiences. They are regulars at Open Mic and in the cast of “Lagunatics,” which by the way, is set for Nov. 7-16 at the Forum Theatre on the Festival of Arts Grounds. Tickets will be on sale at the next Open Mic Night, Oct. 5, or at www.nosquare.org, starting Oct. 1.

Chic McDaniel also is becoming a regular Local Vocals performer. He made his third Open Mic appearance Sunday, opening with “Rhythm of the Rain,” written in 1962.

“This isn’t getting any easier,” said McDaniel, who accompanied himself on guitar.

Retired military dentist Ron May sang some Italian love songs, beloved by tenors, concluding with “O Sole Mio.”

And by a quirk of fate, he had ties to the Quilters.

“He cleaned Pop’s teeth in Vietnam,” Chris Quilter said.

Teenager Julie Wickstrom, who made her Open Mic debut, belted out the old Peggy Lee favorite, “Why Don’t You Do Right?” She encored with “Summertime” from George Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.”

Wickstrom is a student at the South Orange County School of the Arts in Dana Point. Her father, Alan, is president of SOCSA.

Also from SOCSA: Michael Groover, singing “They Can’t Take That Away from Me.”

Other singers included Ginger and Randy Hatfield, Regina Hartley, singing “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” and of course, Burgess Rosen.

Burgess Rosen also announced that a fundraiser for the Laguna Beach Woman’s Club has been canceled.

She was scheduled to record a live compact disc at the club for three nights, starting Sept. 19, admission to benefit the club.

Too bad. Funds are needed to continue improvements.

“We no longer have the purple wall [at the back of the stage] and the sound is great because of the acoustical treatment,” Burgess Rosen said. “Lighting is next.”

In the audience: Carla Bruce, who came to hear Ward, Denis Montenaro, a McDaniel supporter, sisters Bonnie and Stella Charton, Jim Rue and Jennifer Nagel.

Among the volunteers selling wine, soft drinks, water and snacks: Bill Morris, Carolyn Miller and Marion Rice.

Open Mic Night is the first Sunday of the month. Admission is free.

LIVELY LAGUNA BEACH LIVE!

A crowd of more than 400 attended the Bearfoot Bluegrass concert at Aliso Creek Inn.

The five-member group from Alaska, lived up to its billing as Telluride Bluegrass Band Champions.

“They had performed at Shelter Island where I have a house, but I didn’t get to see them and here they were in Laguna, where I also have a house,” Alice Harmon said.

The venue was a winner, said Cindy Prewitt, founder and promoter of Laguna Beach Live!.

“We had to turn people away,” Prewitt said. “We’d like to do more events there.”

Tickets were a modest $10 in advance or $12 at the door for adults; $5 in advance or $7 at the door for children younger than 12.

“For an additional $15, concert goers could partake of a barbecue, proceeds of which were donated to Laguna Beach Live!,” said Sande St. John, who helped organize the event., before dashing off to Open Mic Night, where she also volunteered her services.

In the audience: Michael and Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman, their son, Nicholas, Councilwoman Elizabeth Pearson, Marion Jacobs and James Willis, Morris and Stephany Skenderian, Madeline Peterson, more than 30 mothers and daughters from the National Charity League and Laguna Beach Live! board members Pam and Sam Goldstein, Jane and Joe Hanauer, Cody Engel, Judy Jelinek, Prewitt and her husband, Paul.

Bill and former Mayor Kathleen Blackburn were seen on the links during the concert.

Former Laguna Beach resident Trisha Nichols was a sponsor.

“She’s a big bluegrass fan,” Prewitt said.

The next concert will feature the first Orange County performance by Gordon Goodwin and His Big Phat Band, set for Oct. 1 in the Artist’s Theatre.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $30 for center section; $10 for students younger than 21.

For more information, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org or call (949) 715-9713.

First Sunday concerts at Laguna Beach College of Art & Design will resume Oct. 5.

OUR LAGUNA is a regular feature of the Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot. Contributions are welcomed. Write to Barbara Diamond, P.O. Box 248, Laguna Beach, 92652; hand-deliver to Suite 22 in the Lumberyard, 384 Forest Ave.; call (949) 494-4321 or fax (949) 494-8979 or e-mail [email protected]