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.
Featured artist Feb. 1: Duane Eells
Submitted image
Duane Eells’ painting in series titled “Dance.”
Portrait artist Duane Eells will reveal the first completed paintings of his new series titled “Dance” during the Ojai Studio Artists Second Saturday Tour on Feb. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “In these new paintings, I am looking to find a balance between the figurative and the abstract,” he says. “The dancers’ movements and expressions reveal their passion and emotion.” The tour will also include six other Ojai Studio Artists with studios in Mira Monte or Meiners Oaks: Christine Beirne, Kent and Sharon Butler, Deborah Lyon, Sandra Torres and Elaine Unzicker. The tour is free and self-guided. Visit http://www.ojaistudioartists.org for a tour map and more information.
The Gift Machine makes present for Ojai
Photo by Jens Ochlich
Andrea Matthies, Alanna Cassidy, Matt Lawson and Dave Matthies of The Gift Machine.
The Gift Machine is playing a show supporting its latest record “New Tangles” at Greater Goods, 145 W. El Roblar Drive, Meiners Oaks, on Feb. 8 with China the Band beginning at 7 p.m.
The psych rock indie pop quartet features the husband-wife team of Dave Matthies (originally from the Pacific Northwest) and Andrea Matthies (born and bred in Carlsbad).
Their vinyl album “New Tangles” was released in October with the Matthies, backed by bassist Alanna Cassidy and guitarist Matt Lawson. The album was mastered by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios in London, made famous by The Beatles.
The record can be streamed at: https://soundcloud.com/the-gift-machine/sets/the-gift-machine-new-tangles/s-bU9NS or downloaded at: https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/qLGGw8ChcO.
Pillars to open ‘Night Must Fall’
Photo montage submitted.
Pillars starting top left: Michael Addison, Johnny Johnston, Judith Hale Norris, Peggy Russell, Mark Lewis, Jamie Bennett, Cheree Edwards, Jamie Fleming, Therese Hartmann, Severo Lara and Tony Thacher. Missing is Paul Blatz.
“Night Must Fall” Director Richard Camp announced a special involvement by “Pillars of the Community” for the opening production of the Ojai Art Center Theater’s 80th season. For each of the 12 performances, a different community member will take on the role of Lord Chief Justice. The character will open by delivering a monologue of the judge’s ruling in this thrilling whodunit play.
“I wanted a way to include the community for our historic 80th season,” said Camp. “It was important for me to kick off this year in a unique way, to show how grateful we are for the continued support of Ojai. I thought it might be difficult to find non-actors who’d want to tread the boards, but nearly everyone I asked immediately leaped at the chance. Who knew our town was filled with such hams?”
‘I Am Me: Artists’ self-portraits premiere party Feb. 2
“Self-Portrait with Monkeys” by Pausha Foley, 2019, pen and ink on watercolor paper, 38-by-26 inches, collection of the artist.
Who are you? That’s the question artists were asked to consider for the exhibition entitled “I Am Me: Artists’ Self-Portraits,” opening Feb. 2 with several Ojai artists featured at the Santa Paula Art Museum.
That same question will be asked of museum visitors as they view the 39 self-portraits on display and participate in the exhibition through interactive art-making activities. “I Am Me” will open with a premiere party Feb. 2 from 4 to 6 p.m. Admission to the premiere is $10 for museum members and $15 for nonmembers.
“The Santa Paula Art Museum was thrilled by the response that its call for self-portraits garnered from artists across the state working in a wide variety of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, digital illustration, collage, photography, mixed media and more,” said Julie Cluster, the museum’s director of marketing.“We are particularly excited about the genre of self-portraiture because it is so personal to each artist and we hope it will allow museum visitors to connect with the art on a really personal level as well..
“I Am Me: Artists’ Self-Portraits” will feature art by Duane Dammeyer, Theodore Gall, Sandy Treadwell, Gail Hercher, Nathan Asplund, Jenna Bao, Brandin Baron, Pamela Benham, Janet Black, L.T. Bunning, Laurie Cook, Taylor Crisp, Pamela Hill Enticknap, Pausha Foley, Russell Foltz-Smith, Jose Galvan, Stacey Geldin, Lynn Hanson, Eul Hurley, Tess Israelson, E.E. Jacks, Dottie Korn-Davis, Pamela Larsson-Toscher, Lisa Skyheart Marshall, Vivian Patton, Mariana Peirano, Gail Pidduck, Nathan Plaisted, Roxie Ray, John Robertson, Carolyn Schlam, Priscila Claure Soruco, Colin Trewhitt, Michael Wood and Kay Zetlmaier. “I Am Me” will be on view through May 12.
Santa Paula Theater Center holds auditions for ‘Complications from a Fall’
Image submitted.
Flyer for upcoming Santa Paula Theater Center play.
The Santa Paula Theater Center announces auditions for the second play of its Main Stage Season, “Complications From a Fall” by Kate Hawley running from April 12 through May 19. Performances are Friday and Saturday evening at 8 and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. Auditions will be held Feb. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. and Feb. 9 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a nonequity production and there is no pay.
This production will be directed by Taylor Kasch. Actors will be asked to perform a monologue from a contemporary play under two minutes and there will also be cold readings from the script. No appointments necessary. Questions regarding the play or preparation for auditions may be asked directly to the director, Kasch, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. No conflicts allowed for performances or for tech week (the week preceding opening). There will be no call backs. All roles open.
Ventura art show features national mix
Photo submitted
Juror William Wray in front of one of his artworks from his Superheroes series.
Artwork from across the United States will be exhibited starting Feb. 9 at Buenaventura Art Association’s 33rd annual Open Competition, a show being mounted for the first time at the Museum of Ventura County.
Making the selections is California artist William Wray, who began his career in the comic book and animation industry with stints at Disney, Hanna-Barbera, Filmation and Marvel and DC Comics. He studied oil painting at The Art Students League in New York and has earned acclaim in fine art with his colorful contemporary urban landscapes in a blend of styles he calls “realistic expressionism.”
‘Peter Pan Jr.’ is taking flight
Photo by Kirby Russell, Ojai Photographic Imagery
Natalie Baggs plays Tiger Lily in OYES’s “Peter Pan Jr.”
Ojai Youth Entertainers Studio presents “Peter Pan Jr.,” a Broadway Junior production with the Bears Cast Jan. 25 to 27 at 907 El Centro St., Ojai.
Performances are on Fridays at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 6 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m.
The show continues Feb. 1 to 3 with the Tigers Cast and Feb. 8 to 10 with the Lions Cast.
There will be a special Tots Cast performance on Sunday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m., with donations accepted at the door.
For all performances, besides the Tots Cast performance, the cost is $10 general seating for all ages.
Dalai Lama student to speak at Ojai Retreat
Lama Glenn Mullin, an expert on Tibetan Buddhism, will give a talk at The Ojai Retreat on “The Healing Impacts of Compassion, Wisdom and Power” on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m.
Lama Glenn lived in the Indian Himalayas between 1972 and 1984 where he studied philosophy, literature, meditation, yoga and the enlightenment culture under 35 of the greatest living masters of the four schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Lama Glenn has written more than 30 books on Tibetan Buddhism and leads tours to sacred spots in Tibet, Mongolia and Nepal. He is an internationally renowned Buddhist scholar, an acclaimed translator of Tibetan classics, a well-known international speaker and popular teacher of Tantric Buddhist meditation. His website is www.glennmullin.com.
No reservations are necessary. The cost is $15 per person and $10 for students and seniors. The Ojai Retreat is at 160 Besant Road, Ojai.