Taylor to star in 'Night Must Fall'
Submitted photo
David Nelson Taylor
Adanna Moriarty, Special to the Ojai Valley News
When “Night Must Fall” opens this weekend at the Ojai Art Center Theater, David Nelson Taylor will bring his myriad talents to the leading part of “Dan.” A transplant to Ojai from the New York theater scene, Taylor said he was intrigued by this production for a chance to work with Director Richard Camp. “I’ve been a fan of his since I moved here in 2016 and saw the quality of his productions,” Taylor said. “We worked briefly together on a staged reading in the Libbey Bowl for Ojai’s Centennial Celebration and I think we both wanted to continue collaborating!”
Taylor is a resident teaching artist with the Ojai Youth Opera and teaches improvisational acting to children and adults.
Nordhoff musical, 'Crazy for You,' is crazy fun time
Photo by Mary M. Long
Jem Ruf and Stella Moore headline Nordhoff High School's "Crazy for You," inviting the whole community out to enjoy George and Ira Gershwin's amazing score and lyrics.
By John Hankins
Special to the Ojai Valley News
Nordhoff High School’s musical is a happy affair this year, transporting the audience from New York to Nevada, complete with snappy lyrics and classic tunes by George and Ira Gershwin, tap dancing, harmonies, love stories, eccentrics and sets that embrace them all.
It’s “Crazy for You,” a winner of the Best Musical Tony when it opened in 1992, followed by similar awards in Britain and Canada, and sprinkled with top accolades for its choreography, costumes and set.
Visiting Korean artist making his moon jars
Photos by Lynn Malone
Master potter Set Youngii works the clay at Ojai's Firestick Pottery Studio.
Lynn Malone, Special to the Ojai Valley News
Master potter Seo Younggi’s last day in Ojai will be Feb. 16. That day, the visiting artist from South Korea will offer demonstrations at Ojai’s Firestick Pottery Studio’s show and sale at 1804 E. Ojai Ave. A farewell reception for him will follow the day’s festivities.
Not long ago, Firestick Pottery Studio's owner Robin Nahin learned that Younggi was hoping to come to the United States to create a large body of work for an upcoming art show in New York and needed a pottery studio where he could work. Nahin was excited to offer the Firestick Studio and invited him to come to Ojai.
Since there was a bit of a language barrier, little else was known about this mysterious visitor, other than the fact that he planned to create a large number of pieces while in Ojai. When his one request was that he would need 700 pounds of clay to start with, the magnitude of work he was planning came to light.
Since very little Korean media reaches the United States, Firestick staff didn't know that they were about to welcome an internationally acclaimed master potter and university professor. Younggi is well known in the art world, especially in Korea. Collectors travel to South Korea from all over the world to add to their collections of his work, often paying thousands of dollars for a coveted piece.
Downtown Ojai unrolls sidewalks
Art submitted
Painting by Patty Van Dyke
Downtown Ojai is staying open late for the monthly Third Friday event Feb. 15 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Ojai Valley Artists Gallery will be featuring the work of ceramicist Margo Eidson, jeweler Mary Balmer and painter Patty Van Dyke.
Balmer’s work features handmade bronze, beadwork and enamel components to highlight their texture, color and nature. Her work covers the spectrum from delicate to pieces that make a casual handcrafted statement.
Eidson’s pottery is also casual with a kick, whether featuring hand-drawn equines racing across a field or subtle earth patterns with muted colors. All her pieces will make any home a little more personal.
Van Dyke’s work is full of colorful imagery and often makes one smile, just like its creator. She works primarily with watercolor on canvas but has been know to create beautiful wearable art as well with scarves featuring her images on canvas. She also will incorporate mixed media and ink if the spirit moves her.
Landscape photographer will visit Ojai
Photo submitted
Landscape photo by Dan Holmes
Letitia Grimes, Dan Holmes and Diane Paige, Special to the Ojai Valley News
The Ojai Photography Community, formerly called the Ojai Photo Club, will open a new year of free monthly presentations with landscape photographer Dan Holmes of Ventura. His talk, entitled “The Elusive Landscape – More Than Just a Pretty Picture,” will be held on Tuesday, Feb.19, at 7 p.m., in Help of Ojai’s Kent Hall, 111 W. Santa Ana St., Ojai.
The Ojai Valley community is invited to attend what will be a lively, informative and visually arresting talk by Holmes.
Lions cast takes stage for ‘Peter Pan Jr.’
Photo by Kirby Russell, Ojai Photographic Imagery
The Lions cast will perform “Peter Pan Jr.” Feb. 8 through 10 at the Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio, 907 El Centro St., Ojai.
Showtimes are Fridays at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. There will be a special tots performance on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m., by donation at the door.
Two shows have been added to be held Feb. 16 at 6 p.m. and Feb. 17 at 2 p.m.
The cost is $10 for general seating for all ages.
Group rates may be available for organizations or groups. Group tickets are $8.50 for Saturday matinee performances. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to apply.
Based on J.M. Barrie's classic tale and featuring an unforgettable score by Morris "Moose" Charlap and Jule Styne with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and Betty Comden and Adolph Green “Peter Pan” is one of the most beloved and frequently performed family favorites of all time.
Tickets may be ordered online at Eventbrite or by calling OYES at 805-646-4300.
Flamenco Performance series comes to Ojai Feb. 16
Flamenco performers back at Ojai Underground Exchange
Ventura County's only Flamenco Performance series is back with its dynamic rhythms and gypsy songs for its second season Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. at Ojai Underground Exchange, 1016 W. Ojai Ave.
Tickets are $25 and can be ordered through www.squareup.com/store/undergroundexchange.
Its website is www.ojaiartsexchange.com/events.
The Ojai Arts Exchange has teamed up with Flamenco dancer Wendy Castellanos to curate a night of authentic Flamenco music and dance. The show will feature Tony Triana strumming the guitar; Antonio de Jerez, singing gypsy melodies; and Cristina Lucio, Jamie Padilla and Wendy Castellanos setting the stage on fire with their entrancing movements and heart-wrenching expressions.
The show will open with the mood-setting classical Spanish guitar played by Scott Wolf.
Sisters spill on surviving alcoholic relative Feb. 11
Celeste Weingardt and Irene Henry will speak Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Ojai Art Center Gallery on dealing with an alcoholic relative.
The Ojai Art Center Literary Branch kicks off its 2019 roster of speakers with Celeste Weingardt and Irene Henry, two women who successfully survived living with an alcoholic brother. In their new book, “In The Drink: Surviving The Alcoholic,” they chart not only the course their own journey took, but incorporated the experiences of others as well. The public is invited to join them on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Ojai Art Center gallery for their talk on the genesis for their book, their writing and publishing process, and how people can take steps to protect themselves in a relationship with an alcoholic.
Beatrice Wood Center holds open house
An open house at the Beatrice Wood Center in Upper Ojai on Feb. 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. will feature a PowerPoint presentation by Kevin Wallace, center director, on Beatrice Wood, Happy Valley history and the center at 3 p.m.
The Beatrice Wood Center is at 8585 Ojai-Santa Paula Road in Upper Ojai. For more information, call 805-646-3381.
Early letters recount the opening of Ojai Art Center Theater
Approaching the 80th season opening night of “Night Must Fall” on Feb. 15 for the Ojai Art Center Theater, a surprise set of letters came into Artistic Director Richard Camp’s possession. The daughter of ’40s and ’50s stage and screen star Dana Andrews, Katharine Smith, who now lives in Upper Ojai, owns two letters from Paul McGuire, the original director of the Theater Branch, inviting her father to the opening of the first show presented at the theater, “Night Must Fall,” in 1939.
“My father saved every letter he received,” said Smith, “and often a copy of his reply. He wrote journals detailing everything he did, even saved cleaning receipts. I had shipped most of his papers off to Sam Houston State University, his alma mater, but decided to keep these two Ojai letters. At lunch with friends two weeks ago, someone mentioned that “Night Must Fall” was going to open the Art Center Theater’s 80th anniversary season. I remembered the letters and decided to bring them to the Art Center.”
The letters, written in 1939, discuss a few sociable matters and the invitation to come to the play. However, there seems to have been a delay in the chairs arriving in time and the opening was postponed a month. Ironic that 80 years later, new chairs have just been installed in the theater. Copies of the letters will be on display in the theater lobby.
Kent Butler is February featured artist
Submitted photo of artwork.
Versatile artist Kent Butler is now producing acrylic-on-metal abstract paintings. These works will be on display as part of the Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday Tour this Saturday, Feb. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “I’m having a lot of fun with them,” he says. “There are no rules.” Other participating artists, all with studios in Mira Monte or Meiners Oaks, are Christine Beirne, Sharon Butler, Duane Eells and Deborah Lyon, Sandra Torres and Elaine Unzicker. The tour will be followed by a Second Saturday Social with the artists from 3 to 5 p.m. at Topa Mountain Winery. The tour is free and self-guided. Visit http://www.ojaistudioartists.org for a tour map and more information.