Laguna Playhouse Reopens At Last With 'Sh-Boom!'

LAGUNA BEACH, CA—The Laguna Playhouse is back from its 19-month-long pandemic shutdown with the jukebox musical, "Sh-Boom: Life Could Be a Dream." Though its centennial-season celebration had to shift to online events, the 101-year-old organization once again saw actors trod and dance upon the Moulton Theater stage before a live audience on Sunday night.

There was even more to celebrate on Tuesday night, when Arts Orange County presented the Laguna Playhouse with the Helena Modjeska Cultural Legacy Award for lifetime achievement. ArtsOC recognized the playhouse as "one of the West Coast’s oldest continuously operating theatre companies, now completing its 100th season."

Performer Jonelle Allen and arts journalist Tom Titus also received the Modjeska award.

In attendance at the "Sh-Boom' opening on Sunday was its writer and creator Roger Bean, who named the show after a 1954 hit song recorded by the Chords.

The musical is rife with doo-wop hits of the 1960s, including “Fools Fall in Love,” “Tears on my Pillow,” “Runaround Sue,” “Earth Angel,” “Stay,” “Unchained Melody,” “Lonely Teardrops,” and “The Glory of Love."

The play centers on Denny and the Dreamers, an amateur doo-wop group preparing for a competition. They hope a win will lead to their big break. But then along comes former classmate Lois, who is bent on helping them prevail in the Big Whopper Radio contest, and complications ensue.

The 2009 original production was directed by Bean and won a slew of awards. The L.A. Drama Critics and Garland Awards named it Best Production of the Year; and it earned Best Musical by the LA Weekly Theater Awards.

The Laguna Playhouse has initiated a unique policy with this first production. Performances through October 24th are designated for vaccinated audience members only. Patrons must show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.

Performances October 26 through Halloween are open to all. Masks are strongly encouraged.

Laguna Playhouse wasn't idle during the long months the Moulton Playhouse was dark. The-show-must-go-on attitude fueled the staff, who had to scramble to switch programs online and navigate the loss of box-office revenue.

Patrons will be pleased to see the restrooms have been expanded and spruced up as well, thanks to the Moulton Family and the fund-raising efforts of the "Playhouse Women."

Congratulations to the theater on its award, reopening and working so hard to keep hope alive.

May this be the beginning of a true centennial celebration and the start of another 100 years.