YOU’LL LIKE IKE BEGINNING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14

AT THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE IN LAGUNA BEACH!

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE presents the third show of its 2025/2026 season with the critically acclaimed new American play, EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND, written by Richard Hellesen and directed by Peter Ellenstein. EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND will begin previews on Wednesday, January 14 (with a press opening on Sunday, January 18 at 5:30pm) and will run through Sunday, February 1 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach.

This groundbreaking solo performance by Tony Award winner, John Rubinstein, brings the 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower’s remarkable life to the stage in an extraordinary way. Through captivating storytelling and deep historical insight, the performance immerses audiences in Eisenhower’s personal reflections on leadership, war, and peace. With emotional depth and powerful nuance, it unpacks the complexities of a man who shaped the course of history during one of America’s most pivotal eras. A must-see theatrical experience.                                                                                                      

PETER ELLENSTEIN (Director) is Producing Artistic Director of the New Los Angeles Repertory Company. He just returned from Gettysburg, where this play was seen by Susan Eisenhower. He recently produced Ventura Live ’25 (30 shows in 30 days) for Rubicon Theatre in Ventura. From a theatrical family, he’s spent 40+ years in professional theatre, film and television. Peter directed and produced many plays and musicals, receiving multiple nominations and awards. Peter was Artistic Director of the William Inge Center for the Arts (where Eisenhower was commissioned), and Producing Director of the Los Angeles Repertory Company, both for many years. He served as Interim Artistic Director of the Gretna Theatre in Pennsylvania and of the Jerry Herman Ring Theatre at the University of Miami. Peter has aided the development of over fifty full-length plays and hundreds of short plays, including original plays and musicals by Theresa Rebeck, Kristoffer Diaz, Michael Lew, Jonathan Mark Sherman, Michael Silversher, Joe Iconis, and others, www.peterell.com

RICHARD HELLESEN (Playwright) is the author of numerous plays and musicals for adult and young audiences. His work has been seen nationally at the Denver Center, South Coast Repertory, Los Angeles Repertory Company, Olney Theatre Center, Barrington Stage, B Street Theatre, Florida Stage, Gretna Theatre, Sundance Children’s Theatre, Imagination Stage, People’s Light & Theatre, City Theatre in Miami, and Ford’s Theatre in Washington DC, where he is an Associate Artist. A member of the Dramatists Guild and the National Theatre Conference, he has received playwriting awards from NTC, the Beverly Hills Theatre Guild, the Philadelphia Festival Theatre for New Plays, and PEN USA-West, and has twice been Playwright-in-Residence at the William Inge Center for the Arts in Kansas.                                                                     

JOHN RUBINSTEIN (Dwight D. Eisenhower) originated the title role in the Broadway musical Pippin, directed by Bob Fosse, and won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for his performance in Children of a Lesser God. Other Broadway appearances include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Ragtime, Hurlyburly, M. Butterfly, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (Drama Desk nomination), Getting Away with Murder, Fools, Love Letters, and the 2013 Pippin revival.  

He appeared off-Broadway in Counsellor-atLaw (2005 Lucille Lortel Award, Outer Critics’ Circle and Drama League nominations), Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground (Outer Critics’ Circle and Off-Broadway Alliance nominations), Morning’s at Seven, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Urban Blight, and Cabaret Verboten. Regionally he has appeared in Wicked in LA, and the international tours of the Pippin revival and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever.  Starred in TV series, “Family” (Emmy nomination), and “Crazy Like A Fox,” and over 300 episodes. Films include “Michael,” “Killing Castro,” “Being the Ricardos,” “Hello, I Must Be Going,” “21 Grams,” “Red Dragon,” “The Boys from Brazil,” “Someone To Watch Over Me,” “Daniel, Zachariah,” and “Getting Straight.” He directed the world premiere of Gurney’s The Old Boy, and Counsellorat-Law, Company, Brigadoon, Macbeth, The Three Sisters, Phantasie, Nightingale, The Rivals, A Little Night Music, Guys and Dolls, Into The Woods, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and The Rover. He composes film and TV music (“Jeremiah Johnson,” “The Candidate,” “The Dollmaker,” “China Beach”, among others), hosted two classical music radio programs, played keyboards in the rock band “Funzone,” and has recorded over 200 audiobooks, most numerously Jonathan Kellerman’s “Alex Delaware” series of Los Angeles crime novels. He is married to Bonnie Burgess, and their son Max is the youngest of his five children, joining Jessica, Michael, Peter, and Jacob.

The design team for EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND is as follows: scenic design by Marty Burnett; original costume design by Sarah Conly; costume coordinator is Stacey Nezda; lighting design by Esquire Jauchem; sound & projection design by Joe Huppert. The Production Stage Manager is Joe Huppert.

EISENHOWER: THIS PIECE OF GROUND will preview on Wednesday, January 14 at 7:30pm; Thursday, January 15 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Friday, January 16 at 7:30pm; Saturday, January 17 at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; (with a press opening on Sunday, January 18 at 5:30pm) and run through Sunday, February 1, 2026, at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Dr. in Laguna Beach.

Performances are Wednesdays at 7:30pm; Thursdays at 2:00pm and 7:30pm; Fridays at 7:30pm; Saturdays at 2:00pm & 7:30pm; Sundays at 1:00pm & 5:30pm. There will be no performance on Sunday, January 18 at 1:00pm or Sunday, February 1 at 5:30pm.

Tickets range from $56 – $121 and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-2787. Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.  Prices subject to change. The box office is open Mondays – Fridays: 12pm to 4pm; Box Office also open 2 hours prior to show time and until 15 minutes after curtain. 

For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.  LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.  

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF PANTO!

LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE presents A NEWLY REVISED VERSION of

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS
Produced by LYTHGOE FAMILY PRODUCTIONS

Written by Kris Lythgoe

Directed by Bonnie Lythgoe

Musical Direction by Michael Sobie

Choreography by Clarice Ordaz

Laguna Playhouse presents Lythgoe Family Productions newly revised version of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS, as they celebrate their 10-year anniversary at the Playhouse with the return of the panto show that started it all!

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will feature: Marcelle LeBlanc (“Stranger Things,”, “Cobra Kai”) as “Snow White,” Nick Delzompo (“Melchior” in Spring Awakening, Laguna Playhouse debut) as “The Prince,” Kimberly Locke (“American Idol,” “Dr. and the Diva”)  as “The Queen,” Barry Pearl (“Doody” in Grease, The Wonderful Winter of Oz at the Laguna Playhouse, Bye, Bye, Birdie and The Producers on Broadway) as “Herman,” Jonathan Meza (A Snow White Christmas, “Armed Forces Entertainment” ) as “Muddles,” and John O’Hurley (“Seinfeld,” Peter Pan and Tinker Bell; A Pirate’s Christmas) as the voice of the “Magic Mirror.” 

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS is written by Kris Lythgoe, directed by Bonnie Lythgoe, with musical direction by Michael Sobie, and choreography by Clarice Ordaz. A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will begin performances on Saturday, December 6; (with a press opening on Sunday, December 7 at 5:30 pm); and runs through Sunday, December 28 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.    

Experience the magic of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS! This festive panto from the Lythgoe Family blends timeless fairy-tale charm with dazzling pop tunes – from Lady Gaga to Bruno Mars – in a laughter-packed, interactive journey. With Muddles the jester guiding the fun – complete with zany audience banter – and a wicked Queen to boo and hiss, every moment is a riot of song, slapstick, and sparkle. Add in awe-inspiring dancing, the playful puppetry of the dwarfs, and sing-along moments perfect for all ages, and you’ve got a joyous holiday treat. Don’t miss the mirth, magic, and merry-making—grab your tickets now for a Christmas full of enchantment!                             

The cast of A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will also feature the ensemble of (in alphabetical order): Mia Alvarez, Addison Chang, Becca Lind, Rae Martinez, Brandon Maxwell, Rasha Willes Samaha, and Jarod H Smith.  

BONNIE LYTHGOE (Director) With a career spanning more than 30 years, Bonnie’s achievements as a dancer, choreographer, director, TV presenter, TV producer and Broadway producer are second to none.  Starting her dancing career in the feature film To Sir, With Love, starring Sidney Poitier, she followed up with a variety of choreography and directing roles including the world premieres of Robin Hood and Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto,Snow White, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Grease, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Full Monty, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Aladdin, West Side Story and Royal Variety for HRH Queen Elizabeth. With ongoing success in musical theatre, Bonnie served as a judge for a BBC singing reality series S Club Juniors created by Simon Fuller. She joined the next Simon Fuller venture, “American Idol,” where she served as a producer on the first three series before moving on to another new project, “So You Think You Can Dance,” for which she was both a judge and a producer for the first two series.

Bonnie then headed Down Under for “So You Think You Can Dance Australia.”  In 2011, Bonnie created Lythgoe Family Productions in Los Angeles with her son Kristopher. Together they have brought musical “Panto” to Los Angeles.  The first production was Cinderella, followed by Snow White with Neil Patrick Harris.  Well-known for her creativity and involvement in global television hits, Bonnie is dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across the world through fun, laughter and music. affordable theatre to families across the world through fun, laughter and music.                                                                                                

CLARICE ORDAZ (Choreographer) is a native of Los Angeles, is a dynamic dancer, choreographer, and educator known for her impeccable ear for rhythm and musicality. With her ability to transform sound into movement, Clarice crafts visually captivating and emotionally resonant choreography. Her diverse portfolio includes choreography for One Day at a Time on Netflix, Hairspray and Cabaret at 5 Star Theatricals, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and Peter Pan and Tinkerbell: A Pirate’s Christmas with the Lythgoe Family, in addition to numerous television and commercial projects.

MICHAEL SOBIE (Musical Direction) started his professional career playing keyboards for the first national tour of Aida, a position that not only fed his love for musical theatre but also his admiration for Sir Elton John. His Broadway career continued with roles as conductor and keyboardist for shows including Wicked, Les Miserables, Xanadu, and Altar Boyz.  Michael made the move to LA where he has been fortunate enough to work not only on the big and small screen, but in arenas around the world. Emmy-winning composer Ramin Djawadi invited him to perform as keyboardist on three international “Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience tours” before handing the baton to Michael and asking him to conduct the final tour in 2019.

Djawadi has also showcased Michael on the soundtracks to Reminiscence, The Mountain Between Us, A Wrinkle in Time, and “Amazing Stories,” as well as “Surreal,” the composer’s album which accompanies the water feature at the World Expo in Dubai. Michael’s other screen credits include Noah Baumbach’s Oscar-winning Marriage Story, “Grace and Frankie,” “Why Women Kill,” “A Christmas Story: Live,” “Alter Ego,” “Locke and Key”, “PBS’ Great Performances: Movies for Grownups Awards,” “Memory Games,” and an upcoming HBO comedy series starring Steve Carell. Michael has been a music director for Lythgoe Family Productions since joining them in 2015.

He has worked with artists including Meryl Streep, Ariana Grande, Scarlett Johansson, Alan Cumming, Carole Cook, and Cole Escola.Michael composed the music for Hell on Earth: A New Musical (About Middle School) with Shawn Ryan and in January 2020, featured Anthony Rosenthal and Tony Award-winning Laurie Metcalf in the show’s NYC premiere. Other notable credits include composing the original score to Gods and Monsters (2024 Chicago stage adaptation). The Andaz Hotel in West Hollywood will host Michael’s first art exhibition in their gallery beginning in March 2026. 

KRISTOPHER LYTHGOE (Writer/Producer) is so grateful to be back with Panto in Laguna. TV credits include: “So You Think You Can Dance” (Fox), “Corkscrewed: The Wrath of Grapes” (Fox Reality), “Who Are You” (Fox), “On The Nose” (Tvg), “My Beautiful Game” (Fox Soccer), “Soccer Superstar” (Nickelodeon), “Ellen’s Game Of Games” and “True Story” (NBC). Theatre credits: Footloose, The Wedding Singer and many American Pantos across the country.

 Lythgoe Family Panto produces fun musical theatre the whole family can enjoy.  Known for their creativity and involvement in television hits “American Idol” and “So You Think You Can Dance,” the Lythgoes are dedicated to bringing affordable theatre to families across America.  Based on the Grimm fairy tales and others, each story has been modernized with topical scripts for parents and well-known pop songs for kids. The Lythgoes pride themselves on creating a memorable experience a family can share together.  

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS marks Lythgoe Family Panto’s 10-year anniversary at the historic Laguna Playhouse. Past Pantos at Laguna Playhouse include the world premiere of Rapunzel and Her Holiday Wish, A Cinderella Christmas starring Joely Fisher and Veronica Dunne, The Wonderful Winter of Oz starring Olivia Sanabia and Barry Pearl; Robin Hood & Maid Marion: A Holiday Panto starring Michael James Ryan and Sohm Kapila; Peter Pan & Tinker Bell: A Pirates’ Christmas, starring John O’Hurley, Lincoln Klauss and Ashley Argota;Beauty and the Beast: A Christmas Rose starring Ashley Argota and Thomas Hobson; Aladdin and His Winter Wish starring Kira Kosarin and Barry Pearl; Sleeping Beauty and her Winter Knight starring Cozi Zuehlsdorff and Joely Fisher & A Snow White Christmas starring Marina Sirtis and Lindsay Pearce. 

As part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to develop theatre for young audiences, Lythgoe Family Panto together with Laguna Playhouse will bring the magic of Panto to hundreds of underserved children who attend school in Orange County. 

A SNOW WHITE CHRISTMAS will preview on Saturday, December 6 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm (with a press opening on Sunday, December 7 at 5:30 pm) and runs through Sunday, December 28 at 4:00 pm at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. 

Performances will be Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00pm & 4:00 pm. There will no performances on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29 at 7:00pm.                                                                                                      

There will be added performances on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 20 will perform at 11:00 am; 3:00 pm and 7:00pm; Monday, December 22 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm; Tuesday, December 23 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm; Friday, December 26 at 3:00pm and 7:00 pm.                                                                                                

Tickets range from $39 – $89. There is a $50 “Golden Ticket” add-on available for children ages 4-12 that includes a special onstage sing-along experience during the performance and a gift bag with special surprises!  Golden Tickets are limited and can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-2787. Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.  Prices subject to change. 

The box office is open Tuesdays – Sundays: 12pm to 4pm; Mondays open 2 hours prior to show time and until 15 minutes after curtain.  Open until showtime on all performance days.  For more information on all shows and programming visit www.lagunaplayhouse.com.  LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE is located at 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.    

Opens: Sunday, December 7 at 5:30 pm 

Runs: Sunday, December 7 – Sunday, December 28, 2025 

Performances will be Thursdays & Fridays at 7:00 pm; Saturdays & Sundays at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm                                                                                 

 There will be added performances on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00 pm; Saturday, December 20 at 11:00 am; 3:00 pm and 7:00pm; Monday, December 22 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm; Tuesday, December 23 at 12:00 pm & 4:00 pm; Friday, December 26 at 3:00pm and 7:00 pm.    

There will no performances on Thursday, December 28 or Friday, December 29 at 7:00pm.                                                                                                

Tickets range from $39 – $89; and a special “Golden Ticket” add-on for an additional $50.00 which includes a special onstage sing-along experience during the performance and a gift bag with special surprises!  Tickets can be purchased online at www.lagunaplayhouse.com or by calling (949) 497-ARTS (2787). Group discounts are available by calling 949-497-2787 ext. 229.  

On View September 20, 2025 – January 25, 2026

Laguna Art Museum is pleased to present Silence and Solitude: Conrad Buff and The Landscapes of the American Southwest, on view from September 20, 2025, through January 25, 2026. This landmark exhibition, curated by Dr. Deborah Solon marks the first major museum retrospective dedicated to the life and work of Conrad Buff, a modernist pioneer whose depictions of the American Southwest helped shape the visual language of twentieth century California art.

The exhibition is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue and an in-depth curatorial essay which offers a comprehensive look at Buff’s artistic evolution and enduring legacy. “Conrad Buff’s work invites us to reconsider how the American landscape has been interpreted through modernist eyes,” said Dr. Solon, curator of the exhibition. “This exhibition not only celebrates his legacy but also deepens our understanding of how he shaped a distinctive vision of the West.”

By the 1930s, Conrad Buff was widely regarded as one of the most significant artists working in Southern California. Though rooted in modernist traditions, Buff’s work resisted the extremes of Surrealism or non-objective painting. Instead, he remained devoted to the landscape, particularly the rugged terrains of Arizona, California and Utah, where he discovered profound inspiration in remote, untamed environments.

Buff’s talent ranged across media from easel and mural painting to lithography to book illustration. Buff’s artistic output was prolific and he was nationally recognized. His early technique, marked by a cross-hatched Divisionist style, gradually gave way to a more architectonic, reductive approach by the 1960s. While his subject matter remained consistent, his stylistic progression revealed a deepening exploration of form, structure and color.

Buff’s large-scale canvases echo the vastness of the places he painted, transporting viewers into the quiet, expansive beauty of the Southwest. “At Laguna Art Museum, we are committed to exploring the full breadth of California’s artistic heritage,” said Julie Perlin Lee, Executive Director of Laguna Art Museum. “Conrad Buff’s work expands that narrative, bridging regional identity, modernist technique and a lifelong devotion to the natural world.”

For more information about, Silence and Solitude: Conrad Buff and The Landscapes of the American Southwest, visit lagunaartmuseum.org. To stay connected and learn about upcoming events, follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram and X.

About the Curator:

Deborah Epstein Solon holds a BA from Vassar College and an M.Phil and Ph.D in art history from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She began her career in California as Director of Research for Karges Fine Art, a renowned Los Angeles gallery specializing in American Impressionist painting. Her publications in conjunction with Karges Fine Art include Ross Dickinson: The Early Works (1993); Birds, Boughs and Blossoms: Jessie Arms Botke (1995); Cornelis Botke: A Painter and Etcher Revisited (1996); and Clyde Scott: Paintings from the Robert and Rea Westenhaver Collection (1999).

Dr. Solon began her work as an independent museum curator in 1998. Her exhibitions, all accompanied by major catalogues include Colonies of American Impressionism: Cos Cob, Old Lyme, Shinnecock, and Laguna Beach (Laguna Art Museum, 1998); In and Out of California: Travels of America Impressionists (Laguna Art Museum and Hudson Hills Press, 2002); An American Impressionist: The Art and Life of Alson Skinner Clark (Hudson Hills Press, 2005); East Coast West Coast and Beyond: Colin Campbell Cooper, American Impressionist (Hudson Hills Press, 2006); She is the co-author of Art Colony: The Laguna Beach Art Association, 1918-1935 (Laguna Art Museum, 2018). Her most recent publication is In Living Color: The Art and Life of Henrietta Berk (Cool Titles, 2020.) In addition to her work as a curator Dr. Solon spent several years as Director of American Paintings at Heritage Auctions in Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Solon is currently an adjunct professor of art history at California State University, Fullerton and Chapman University. She owns and operates Regis Art Consulting, a firm specializing in fine art appraisals and curatorial services.

 Artwork: From top to bottom : On the Road to Zion, Oil on canvas, 47 1/2 x 64 1/2 in. and Colorado River (Rio Colorado, Oil on Masonite, 36 x 54 in. Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum

About Laguna Art Museum
Founded by local artists in 1918, Laguna Art Museum has celebrated California art and culture at the heart of the community for over a century. The museum offers a welcoming space for artists, donors, members and visitors, each bringing unique energy that drives its mission forward. As “Your Museum,” Laguna Art Museum builds on a legacy of inspiring creativity, sustainability and reflection on California’s natural environment through exhibitions, events and educational programs. The museum presents exhibitions that highlight the California experience and is home to the annual Art + Nature. With each visit, Laguna Art Museum invites people from near and far to join in its journey of community, art and environmental awareness. For more information, please visit LagunaArtMuseum.org and follow the museum on social media:

• Facebook: @LagunaArtMuseum
• Instagram: @LagunaArtMuseum
• Twitter: @LagunaArtMuseum
• YouTube: Laguna Art Museum Channel

Location

Laguna Art Museum is located at 307 Cliff Drive in Laguna Beach, on the corner of Coast Highway and Cliff Drive.

Hours

• Tuesday-Sunday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Closed Mondays, except Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth and Labor Day.
• Holiday Closures: Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.