BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Improv comedy goes to church

Improv’s in the air at the Unitarian Universalists Fellowship of Laguna Beach, which will hold a comedy show Saturday at 7 p.m. The event has sold out in past years, so interested parties are advised to buy tickets quickly.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased by calling (949) 497-4568 or (949) 497-7302. All proceeds will be donated to UUFLB. The fellowship hall is located at 429 Cypress St.

Acts include “Inside the Dead Actor’s Studio,” where audience members can choose the interviewee; “Ad Agency,” where the audience creates mythical products that the cast develops ad campaigns for; and “Novel,” where the cast acts out scenes in the style of authors called out by the audience.

The improv and comedy show is being directed by Lindy Frost of Laguna Beach, who staged “Fruitcake with Nuts” at the Orange Curtain Theater in San Juan Capistrano. Joining her will be Wes Martens of Laguna Niguel, who has appeared in various theatrical productions, including two at The Laguna Playhouse, and actor Bill Vetro.

The troupe of professional players also includes voiceover actor Bob Doll; Angel Garrido, who recorded the hit party single, “Be Sorry, Feel Guilty;” Camella Palumbo; and pianist Marilyn Rees.

Groups invited to trim holiday tree

The tradition of inviting community groups to decorate a holiday tree at the Sawdust Winter Fantasy continues this year. A total of 12 trees are available for decorating. The trees will be on display to the thousands of visitors at the Sawdust’s 16th annual Winter Fantasy, held for four weekends in November and December.

Any interested community group should call Rebecca Meekma, Sawdust community and media relations manager, at (949) 497-0517 no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 18.

Groups are encouraged to create handmade decorations for the tree and while planning their decorating theme to take into account that the live, 6-feet tall trees will be outside for the four-week duration of the Winter Fantasy.

On opening day, Saturday, Nov. 18, local dignitaries will judge the trees, with modest cash awards going to the top vote-getters. The winners will be announced at the Community Tree Lighting Ceremony that evening at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, call (949) 494-3030 or visit www.SawdustArtFestival.org.

‘Italian Decade’ at Gallery McCollum

Caroline Zimmerman’s portrayals of Italy will be the focus of a new collection at Gallery McCollum, 206 N. Coast Highway.

“An Italian Decade” will feature original oils on linen depicting Venice, Sicily, the Amalfi coast and the Tuscan countryside, as well as still-lifes from the artist’s home near Florence.

An opening reception will be held Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.; RSVP at (949) 494-4027.

Peace day, autumnal equinox celebrated

This year’s International Day of Peace will be celebrated with a one-night showing of “One: The Movie” on Thursday, Sept. 21, at South Coast Cinemas, followed by an open house at Endangered Planet Gallery featuring local artists on Sept. 23, the fall equinox.

“One: The Movie” shown at 7:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. on Sept. 21.

The film is a documentary featuring 15 of the world’s writers and philosophers, from Deepak Chopra to Father Thomas Keating, who all answer the same 20 questions about science, religion, war and other topics.

Tickets are $10 each and are available at the cinema box office, located at S. Coast Highway and Broadway, and two galleries: Endangered Planet Gallery, 384 Forest Ave. #13, and Marion Meyer Contemporary Art, 354 North Coast Highway.

For more information on the film, visit www.onethemovie.org.

The equinox celebration will begin at 6 p.m., Sept. 23, at Endangered Planet, and will feature entertainment by Evren Ozan, a 12-year-old flute prodigy and composer, and Laguna Beach artist Terrell, who will perform songs and poetry. Terrell’s solo art show, “Tribal Neo-Pop Art,” is on display at the gallery through Sept. 30.

For more information on the open house, visit www.endangeredplanet.org.

Deadline for arts directory approaches

The city is currently accepting information for the seventh edition of the City of Laguna Beach Art Directory, an annual listing of artists residing, working or exhibiting in the city, arts organizations and galleries in the city. Directories will be available in Jan. 2007.

For a free listing in the directory, artists, arts organizations or galleries must complete the form at www.lagunabeachcity.net.