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Rubicon Theatre presents The Realistic Joneses

Rubicon Theatre Company announces the sixth show of its 2022-2023 “Welcome Home” season, presented in association with Gare St. Lazare, Ireland and the Laguna Playhouse, Joe Spano, Faline England, Conor Lovett and Sorcha Fox starring in the Southern California premiere of The Realistic Joneses, written by Will Eno and directed by Judy Hegarty-Lovett. The Realistic Joneses begins preview performances on Wednesday, January 25 at 7:00 pm, with a press opening on Saturday, January 28 at 7:00 pm and runs through Sunday, February 12 at 2 pm at the Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.

Meet Bob and Jennifer and their new neighbors John and Pony, two suburban couples who discover they have more in common than their identical homes and their surnames. Spare, suggestive, slyly hilarious, and strangely maddening, this profound play explores what is said what is unsaid and the role that denial plays in helping us navigate life’s chaos.

Nominated for the Outer Critics and Drama League Awards and listed by The New York Times as one of the “Best Plays of the Year,” The Realistic Joneses will haunt you long after the play ends, leaving you wondering whether we can ever truly know anyone, including ourselves.

Performances are Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (followed by a talkback), Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2:00 p.m.

Ticket prices range from $30.00- $79.50.

To purchase tickets call the Rubicon at (805) 667-2900 or visit rubicontheatre.org. Rubicon Guest Services is located at 1006 E. Main Street (Laurel entrance), and is open from noon to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sundays. Single tickets for each of the shows are also on sale and available via the box office or the company’s website: www.rubicontheatre.org.

Vol. 16, No. 08 – Jan 11 – Jan 24, 2023 – Ojai News & Events

Actress Cynthia Killion hosted the Ojai Art Center Theater’s 2023 Season Preview on Sunday, January 8. Always one of the highlights of the Art Center Theater, this “annual” taste of the season event returned for the first time since 2020.

Killion, Managing Director of Flying H Group Theater Company, and a longtime actress and Improv performer, stars as Becky in the OACT season opener, Becky’s New Car.

After an 18-month investigation into more than 100 cases of sexual abuse at the Thacher School Ventura County law enforcement officials announced that none would proceed to court.

Thacher School trustees started the investigation in June, 2021, when they released an independent, 91-page report on the boarding school’s handling of sexual abuse.

Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies and prosecutors from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office studied the report and other records submitted by the school.

Local Ojai author Cynthia Louise Grier will visit the Ojai Library at 1pm on Saturday, January 28, 2023, to deliver a talk titled “Magic or Medicine? Grimoires and Healing Amulets in The Muse of Freedom: a Cevenoles Sagas Novel.” Grier, who writes under the nom de plume Jules Larimore, will share a bit of history and examples of these healing devices often thought to be magic.

Set in late Renaissance France, 1695-97, The Muse of Freedom: a Cevenoles Sagas Novel tells a story of a young nobleman training as an apothecary as he unravels his Huguenot family’s legacy of secrets and embarks on an odyssey in search of his spiritual identity and the meaning of love. In the Gorges du Tarn, he meets a mystic holy-woman who reveals ancient healing mysteries and inspires his quest for freedom. But persecutions by Louis XIV’s dragoons force him to make a fateful decision—recreant, rebel, or refugee.

Jules lives primarily in Ojai, with time spent around the U.S. and in various countries in Europe gathering more treasures in a continued search for authenticity. For more information, visit www.juleslarimore.com.

This event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Ron Solórzano, Regional Librarian, at (805) 218-9146 or [email protected].

The Ojai Library is located at 111 East Ojai Avenue in Ojai, CA. Hours of service are 10am to 8pm Monday through Thursday and 12pm to 5pm Friday through Sunday.

The Ojai Art Center is planning an exciting art exhibit for the month of February and looking for artists to participate. The theme of the show is “Anything Goes” and means just that.

“Anything Goes” is an open show with no central theme. “The gallery committee wanted to offer artists an opportunity to work without the restrictions of a theme, to paint or sculpt whatever they like,” said gallery chair, Bonnie Riege.

Artists should bring two and three-dimensional pieces to the Art Center on Friday, February 2, 10 a.m., to 1 p.m. Work must be framed or have finished gallery edges and be carefully wired for hanging. No wet paint. All work must be available for purchase. There will be a size limit of 48” wide. Three-dimensional work is welcome. There is an entry fee of $15 each or $40 for 3 pieces. A prospectus is available at ojaiartcenter.org (under art branch) or at the Art Center which is located at 113 N. Montgomery Street in downtown Ojai.

For more information, please contact: Teri Mettala

[email protected] 805 646-0117

Vol. 16, No. 08 – Jan 11 – Jan 24, 2023 – Music Calendar

For more listings, additional times and genres go to VenturaRocks.com

Boatyard Pub
1583 Spinnaker Dr., Ventura
Wednesdays: Frank Barajas
Thursdays: Jim Friery; Bluegrass Jam
Fri 1/13: Billy Mac & Friends
Sat 1/14: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Tues 1/17: Karen Eden & the Bad Apples
Fri 1/20: Teresa Russell & Stephen Geyer
Sat 1/21: Déjà vu Too w/ Bob Nichols
Tues 1/24: Troy Edwards Duo

Cantara Cellars
126 N. Wood Rd., Camarillo
Fri 1/13: Ray Jaurique
Sat 1/14: What the Funk
Fri 1/20: Delta by the Beach
Sat 1/21: Fish Fry

Casa Agria Specialty Ale
701 N. Del Norte Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 1/14: Out of Trust, Romper, The Night Times, Outwest, VTB

The Cave
4435 McGrath St., Ventura
Wed & Thurs: Bobby Apostol
Fri & Sat: Warren Takahashi

Copa Cubana
Ventura Harbor Village
Tuesdays: Blues Tuesdays
Thursdays: Glenn Bennet

Copper Blues
591 Collection Blvd., Oxnard
Sat 1/14: Jayden Secor
Fri 1/20: Brandon Ragan Project
Sat 1/21: Brittney and the B Sides

Deer Lodge
2261 Maricopa Hwy., Ojai
Sat 1/14: The Storytellers band

El Rey Cantina
2302 Ventura Blvd., Camarillo
Sun 1/15: Brandon Ragan Project

Four Brix
2290 Eastman Ave., Ventura
Fri 1/20: Mid Life Crisis

Gigi’s Cocktails
2493 Grand Ave., Ventura
Fri 1/13: Jesse Jay Harris Band

The Grape
2733 E. Main St., Ventura
Tues: The Gratitude Jazz Jam
Thurs Happy Hour: Tom Etchart & Friends
Fri Happy Hour: Fred Kaplan
Wed 1/11: Idiomatiques
Thurs 1/12: Dennis Mitcheltree
Fri 1/13: Phoenyx Big Band
Sat 1/14: Brad Rabuchin & Allen Hinds
Thurs 1/19: L.A.6 feat. Denise Donatelli
Fri 1/20: Barrelhouse Wailers
Sat 1/21: RJ Mischo (2 pm); Jennifer Leitham (8 pm)

House of Dance
3007 Bunsen Ave., Ventura
Sun 1/15: Swing Shift Big Band

Keynote Lounge
10245 Telephone Rd., Ventura
Thursdays: Open Mic
Fri 1/13: Pull the Trigger
Sat 1/14: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 1/21: Breaking Bored

Leashless Brewing
585 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Fri 1/13: Man Like Devin Band
Sat 1/14: Vinny Berry
Sun 1/15: Gianna Bella
Fri 1/20: Steve & Raena
Sat 1/21: Mark Masson
Sun 1/22: Jake McLelland

Majestic Ventura Theater
26 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Mon 1/16: Phoenix, the Scarlet Opera

Manhattan
5800 Santa Rosa Rd., Camarillo
Wed 1/11: Robert Van
Fri 1/13: Tour Support
Sat 1/14: Jeanne Tatum Trio
Wed 1/18: Richard Weiss
Fri 1/20: Pam and Hollywood
Sat 1/21: Jeanne Tatum Trio

Mrs. Olson’s
2800 Harbor Blvd., Oxnard
Sun 1/15: Teresa Russell, Stephen Geyer, Coco Roussel & Mama Pat

Namba Arts
47 S. Oak St., Ventura
Thurs 1/12: Boom Duo
Fri 1/13: The Listening Room Redux
Sat 1/14: Nova
Sat 1/21: Shawn Jones

Ojai Women’s Club
441 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Thur 1/19: Sean Bonnette & Tim Kasher

Onyx Bistro
2390 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo
Fri 1/13: George Krikes
Sat 1/14: Tom Etchart Jazz Trio
Fri 1/20: Jesse Davis
Sat 1/21: Leeann Skoda

Oxnard Performing Arts Center
800 Hobson Way, Oxnard
Sat 1/14: Delgado Brothers
Fri 1/20: War, Carry On Band
Sat 1/21: DSB

Peirano’s on the Terrazzo
204 E. Main St., Ventura
Fri 1/13: Toni Jannotta Jazz Trio

The Raven Tavern
1651 S. Victoria Ave., Oxnard
Fri 1/13: Cinnamon Whiskey
Sat 1/14: Holgers Heroes
Fri 1/20: Vinyl Gypsies
Sat 1/21: Jayden Secor

San Souci
21 S. Chestnut St., Ventura
Fri 1/13: The Rocketz, The Ripkats, Ghost Town Hangmen

Topa Topa Brewing
4880 Colt St., Ventura
Sun 1/15: Steve and Sally Williams

The Twist on Main
454 E. Main St., Ventura
Thursdays: Davey Miller Trio
Fri 1/13: Mark Masson & Friends
Sat 1/14: Steve and Sally Williams (2 pm)

Vaquero y Mar
435 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sundays: Mariachi
Tuesdays: The Sea Hunter
Wednesdays: Tribal Me
Fridays: Conjunto Zacamandu de Tomas Herrera

Ventura Music Hall
1888 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura
Sat 1/14: Zoso
Thurs 1/19: GZA
Sat 1/21: Steely Dead

The Vine
308 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai
Saturdays: Smitty and Julija and Friends

Winchesters
632 E. Main St., Ventura
Music Thurs 5:30; Fri 7 pm; Sat 2 pm; Sun 3 pm
Thurs 1/12: Joel Martin
Fri 1/13: Nick & the Old Souls
Sat 1/14: Mack & D
Sun 1/15: Mark Masson
Thurs 1/19: Brandon Ragan

1901 Speakeasy
740 S. B St., Oxnard
Fri 1/13: Shawn Jones & Ed Berghoff
Sat 1/14: Steve and Sally Williams

Community Memorial Health System welcomes New Chief of Staff, Chris Johnson, MD

Dr. Johnson has enjoyed a long and successful career at Community Memorial Hospital.

Community Memorial Health System welcomed a new Chief of Staff, Dr. Chris Johnson, on January 1, 2023. Dr. Johnson has been a longtime leader at Community Memorial Hospital in Ventura, and has served as Medical Director of the Emergency Department since 2009. Outgoing Chief of Staff, Dr. Deborah Carlson, served from January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022.

“Dr. Carlson was our Chief of Staff during an extremely challenging time in healthcare,” said Dr. Johnson. “She was able to make a significant positive impact on patient care and physician well-being, and our entire community will benefit from her contributions to Community Memorial.”

One of Dr. Johnson’s first priorities is to help ensure that the relationship between the medical staff and health system administration remains strong as Community Memorial welcomes a new CEO, Mick Zdeblick. Effective January 9, Zdeblick assumes the role from Gary K. Wilde, who is retiring after 18 years as President and CEO.

“This is a very exciting time for our health system because Mick Zdeblick comes highly regarded,” said Dr. Johnson. “He brings a unique skill set which we feel will complement our already strong administration.”

Dr. Johnson will also help implement a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) across Community Memorial’s network of hospitals and health centers over the next few years. The process has begun and once the new EMR is put into operation, physicians and patients will have greater access to health records. “A comprehensive EMR will help physicians provide care more seamlessly,” Dr. Johnson said. “Health records will be accessible to physicians across the state, and patients will be able to view their information on a secure portal.”

Dr. Johnson has enjoyed a long and successful career at Community Memorial Hospital. He joined the medical staff in 2001 after working as an emergency room physician at several other hospitals, including Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara and Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He has served as secretary of the Medical Staff since 2019, was the director of the Patient Safety Committee from 2003 – 2009, chaired the Department of Medicine from 2010 – 2012, and has been a member of the Medical Executive Committee since 2010. Dr. Johnson is also a former longtime director of the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District, and was its president in 2014 and 2015.

Dr. Johnson earned his medical degree from the University of Nevada School of Medicine, where he also served his internship. He completed his residency at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, one of the busiest trauma centers in the world.

Outgoing Chief of Staff, Dr. Carlson, has served Community Memorial Hospital in many capacities, including as a Palliative Care Team physician, a Hospitalist, and as the original Program Director for Community Memorial Health System’s Internal Medicine Residency Program. She has served as the Chief of Staff, Vice Chief of Staff, and as Secretary/Treasurer of the Medical Staff Executive Committee. Dr. Carlson also headed several other hospital committees, including serving as the first chair of the EMPOWER Committee (Employment of Metrics for the Promotion of Wellness and the Enhancement of Resilience), launched in 2020 to help the medical staff handle the stress and burnout brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Carlson has also chaired Community Memorial Hospital’s Quality Assessment and Improvement Committee and the Department of Medicine, and she started the Inpatient Medicine Division.

“I am humbled by Dr. Carlson’s achievements,” Dr. Johnson said. “Those are big shoes to fill, and I look forward to tapping into her knowledge and skills in the future.”

Ventura County’s Channel Islands Gulls announce year of successful fundraising

The Channel Islands Gulls is pleased to announce another successful year of fundraising for 11 Ventura County nonprofit organizations, raising more than $50,000 for the following nonprofits:

California Coastal Horse Rescue; Caregivers, Volunteers Assisting the Elderly; The City Center; Forever Found; The Lighthouse for Women and Children; Many Meals of Camarillo; National Alliance on Mental Illness; Project Understanding; Ribbons of Life Breast Cancer Foundation; St. Vincent de Paul; and Safe Passage.

“I am very proud of the continuing and unwavering dedication of the Gulls membership in support of so many Ventura County charities,” said Channel Islands Gulls President, Dina Schwalbach.

In addition to the money raised, the Gulls held drives for household items and toys for some of the charities they support, and many of the Channel Islands Gulls volunteer their time to the charities. Schwalbach explained that the non-profit organizations the Gulls donate to do not receive federal funding. “Through our financial contributions, volunteer hours, and donations of goods we support a variety of grassroots organizations that make a difference for literally thousands of individuals living in Ventura County.”

For more information: www.channelislandsgulls.org.

Established in 1976, the Channel Islands Gulls is a Ventura County 501 (c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to raise money for Ventura County non-profit organizations while providing social and emotional support to its members.

In January we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1964, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the main leaders of the American civil rights movement. A Baptist minister by training, King became a civil rights activist early in his career, leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott. His efforts led to the 1963 March on Washington, where King delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech, raising public consciousness of the civil rights movement and establishing King as one of the greatest orators in American history.

In 1964, he became the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end segregation and racial discrimination through civil disobedience and other non-violent means.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King’s birthday, January 15.

King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, in Memphis, Tennessee. He was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Jimmy Carter in 1977. Martin Luther King Day was established as a national holiday in the United States in 1986. In 2004, King was posthumously awarded a Congressional Gold Medal.

Vol. 16, No. 08 – Jan 11 – Jan 24, 2023 – Ventura Music Scene

by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com

It’s business as usual now that the holidays are firmly behind us and people are getting out and about and taking in live music again. Of course, with all the lovely rain we’ve been receiving so far this winter, there could be cancellations for music held outdoors such as venues as Peirano’s or Ojai Valley Brewing. But for the most part, music is back to being played indoors again after the pandemic.

Congratulations to Michael Jay and the Mighty Cash Cats as they’ll be inducted into the California Music Hall of Fame. This relatively new organization’s mission is to recognize the many important talented music industry professionals from the legends, those behind the scenes, to the up-and-coming, who have helped shape the rich spectrum of California’s music legacy, and to educate the public about their accomplishments. The induction ceremony will be held January 28 in Temecula where other inductees include Gwen Stefani, Canned Heat, Jan & Dean, William Shatner, KOST 103.5 and more.

I’m happy to see that Hi Hat Entertainment is getting back in the game as they’ll be helping to produce upcoming shows at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. The first one on the docket will feature the Delgado Brothers on Saturday, January 14 and then it’s Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps on February 11.

Ventura Music Hall continues to line up a number of diverse acts. This month’s shows include Zoso (ultimate Led Zeppelin tribute) to Steely Dead (think the Grateful Dead meets Steely Dan), to Cut Chemist (American DJ former member of Jurassic 5 and Ozomatli). Looking ahead to February, you might want to secure tickets to the BoDeans, Alborosie, Hirie, Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore (rescheduled), Fidlar, and Melvin Seals & JGB; but, my money’s on The English Beat whose biggest hits include “Mirror in the Bathroom,” “Save it for Later,” and “I Confess.” I’ve always been a big Dave Wakeling fan, I think the first time I met him was upstairs at Nicholby’s back in the day.

Quick Notes: The Rocketz, the Ripkats and Ghost Town Hangmen play the Sewer on Friday, January 13; Out of Trust record release party will be held at Casa Agria Specialty Ale in Oxnard on Saturday, January 14; Bluegrass favorites, the Storytellers play the Deer Lodge on Saturday, January 14; get your swing on with the Swing Shift Big Band on Sunday afternoon, January 15, at House of Dance in Ventura; French pop rock band, Phoenix, plays the Majestic Ventura Theater on Monday, January 16; Sean Bonnette & Tim Kasher paly the Ojai Women’s Club on Thursday, January 19; and Barrelhouse Wailers celebrate 10-year anniversary at the Grape on Fri, January 20.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

Vol. 16, No. 08 – Jan 11 – Jan 24, 2023 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Ticket to Paradise – Peacock Streaming

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

In Ticket to Paradise, David (George Clooney) and Georgia (Sandra Bullock) Cotton are the proud parents of their daughter and recent law school graduate Lily (Kaitlyn Dever), however there’s no love between them having divorced 20 years earlier and have difficultly being civil whenever around each other. Lily had decided to take a trip to Bali with her best friend Wren (Billie Lourd), who also just graduated, to take a break before beginning a new life and job at a law firm, though had no idea that her ticket to paradise was actually a ticket to a totally new path in life.

Lily and Wren decided to take a snorkeling excursion, but accidentally swam away from the group and were left behind in the ocean a few miles from shore. Luckily a young Balinese seaweed farmer named Gede (Maxime Bouttier) came upon them with his boat and brought them back to shore. Though having just met, it was clear to see that Lily and Gede had an immediate attraction to each other and over the next few weeks spent all their time together with Wren experiencing Balinese life and culture.

After only a month Gede and Lily decided they wanted to get married, and Lily emailed the good news and invitation to her parents, who both felt she was throwing her life away and determined to go to Bali to convince her to change her mind. David and Georgia were coincidentally seated next to each other on the plane, where they first began bickering but decided they needed to call a truce and work together to stop Lily from getting married.

Upon arriving on the island, they meet Lily’s finance Gede, a caring, compassionate seaweed farmer managing his family farm that has been in operation for generations and successful enough to have contracts with large companies like Whole Foods. Though they liked Gede, David and Georgia remained committed to their goal. They came up with a plan to steal the wedding rings and compromise local traditions that would cause Lily and Gede to have to call off their wedding, which was scheduled to happen in four days.

Upon discovering the rings were missing, Gede decided to ignore any thinking that it was a sign and replaced the rings to have them for their ceremony. Gede had suspicions that David and Georgia were behind the missing rings, but didn’t tell Lily. They both found out it was true when all four took a boat trip to a nearby island where Lily found the rings in Georgia’s bag. David acted as if he knew nothing about it and left Georgia alone to have the blame, but Lily told them both they either needed to support her decision to marry Gede or go home.

Realizing they may be on the verge of losing their relationship with their daughter, David and Georgia decided to do a full 180 and offer their complete support. The wedding was set for the following day and planned in accordance with traditional Balinese customs. The question that remained was could David and Georgia see past their own past relationship issues to support the happiness of their daughter, and could such togetherness even spark the love they knew in their past together.

Ticket to Paradise is an entertaining comedic escape, with George and Julia perfectly cast to charge it with wit, charm and charisma that has viewers routing for them from the start.

Rated: PG-13
Runtime 1h 44m

Vol. 16, No. 08 – Jan 11 – Jan 24, 2023 – Horoscopes

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Make a start on that new workplace challenge. But get more information before you find yourself too deeply involved without knowing in which direction you should go.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You might find things becoming tedious as your schedule slows down after the holidays. Use this time to get information about a possible post-New Year job change.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) The creative Twin finds outlets for his or her ideas in the early part of the week. The practical Twin takes it a step further and rallies support to turn the ideas into reality.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) It’s time to stop being intimidated by someone’s negative behavior. Start taking positive steps on your own to help strengthen your position down the line.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Look closely at that so-called golden opportunity. Best to be a cautious Cat who approaches things slowly, rather than one who pounces without knowing where you’ll land.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your apology can resolve that personal situation before it overshadows the start of your new year. You’ll feel better, even if you’re only partly to blame for what happened.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Avoid overtaxing yourself, even if your energy levels are high and you feel that you can do it all. Best to pace yourself so you won’t run yourself down.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your sense of humor helps get you through a stressful period. Some of your quick quips can take the edge off any remaining negativity being aimed at you.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your artistic talents not only help you express yourself these days, but they also set up a line of communication between you and someone very special.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) It’s fine to appreciate the importance of having a “proper form” for doing things. But relax a bit in order to allow newcomers on the project to feel less intimidated by you.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Use your boundless reserve of optimism to persuade others to work with you so that you can resolve a difficult workplace problem before it ruins the dynamics in place.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You brim over with self-confidence as you begin to tackle a new challenge. And, before you know it, you’re not alone: Others have taken the plunge with you.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a highly defined sense of commitment to others. You would make a fine social worker.

(c) 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.