Enrollment is now open for fall acting classes at Rubicon Theatre Company for adults and children ages 5 and older. Classes will be taught by Rubicon Associate Artistic Director Brian McDonald, an award-winning professional actor and director and graduate of Boston Conservatory, whose credits include national tours and work with prestigious regional theatre companies including Denver Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, McCoy-Rigby at La Mirada, Musical Theatre Guild at Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center, and Rubicon. A previous recipient of the City of Ventura’s Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Artist, McDonald heads Rubicon’s Education and Outreach programs and has directed numerous summer and main stage productions.

These process-oriented programs consist of vocal, physical and mental exercises; character analysis and development; scene study; theatre games, improvisation and audition technique. Classes provide opportunities for participants to think creatively and open themselves to new ideas and modes of expression. Each class culminates with a final presentation of the students’ work for family and friends.

Says McDonald, “We limit our class size in order to provide individual attention a nurturing environment where participants are able to participate and grow at their own pace.”

Costs range from $180-$240. Class descriptions, dates and prices ,with further details online under Education on the Rubicon website: www.rubicontheatre.org.

Save the dates!! September 9th and 10th from 10am-5pm.

It is the only festival of its kind in Southern California – and one of three on the west coast. With handmade sea glass jewelry and ocean-themed art, the Santa Barbara Sea Glass & Ocean Arts Festival features work created by dozens of talented artists from all across the country, bringing thousands of sea glass and beach enthusiasts to the renowned coastal jewel of Santa Barbara, California.

You can learn from three lecturers this year! These lectures are free with your SBSGOA Festival entry fee which is still only $5.00 per day or $9.00 for both days. Early bird shopping starts at 9am and is $15.00 for entry. Make it a day. Come early to shop, stay for the education!!

Richard LaMotte, Mary McCarthy, and Josie Iselin are all lined up to give us lots of sea glass and ocean related information on both days.

Richard LaMotte is the author of the award-winning book, Pure SEA GLASS and a recent sequel titled The Lure of Sea Glass. Richard will lecture at the festival on the topic: “Sea Glass Identification and Dating”.

Mary McCarthy is a bestselling author and founder of SeaCrate ocean-themed subscription-box service. As a lifelong journalist, she has written for Katie Couric and has appeared on The Today Show, Huffington Post Live and ABC TV news.

Mary McCarthy will be lecturing both days, and her topics are : “Beachcombing and History at Dead Horse Bay” This lecture explores ways to tell the differences between genuine sea, fake, and seeded sea glass, including an exhibit of sample fakes.

Josie Iselin is the photographer, author and designer of seven books on forms in nature and particularly what we find at the beach. These titles include Beach: A Book of Treasure, Sea Glass Hearts and An Ocean Garden.

Josie will be lecturing both days on: “Seaweed Sea Otters, Urchins and Kelp:The Interconnectedness of Life in Our California Coastal Waters”.

To avoid the lines and get your tickets online https://www.santabarbaraseaglassandoceanartsfestival.com/

A vigil was held in Ventura’s Mission Park Sunday evening, August 13th, in memory of three people who died and the 19 others who were injured during recent White Supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. The vigil also condemned the violence and intolerance expressed by the”Unite The Right” activists.

John Golson, who swiftly organized the demonstration in Ventura, said “We must stand, we dare not be silent when hatred acts in bold disregard of decency and compassion.”

Participants at the event agreed. They were highly motivated to stand together in condemnation of the reprehensible violence, displays of Nazi and Confederate flags, the shouts against Jews, blacks, and gay people, and the raised-arm Nazi salutes that had been featured days earlier at the “Unite the Right” demonstration in Charlottesville.

In Ventura, the “Stand with Charlottesville” rally attracted nearly two hundred people who held candles and signs calling for peace and equal justice in the wake of the Charlottesville tragedy. Many voiced disgust at the fact that Americans had not already completely abandoned the deplorable agenda of such hate-based groups.

Passers-by were very supportive, many honking their agreement and waving to the demonstrators. Musicians played and speakers called for peace and understanding among all Americans. Participants were invited to come up and share their thoughts or prayers about the recent events.

Nationally, hundreds of similar rallies took place. Locally, Ventura was not alone — Camarillo, Ojai, and Thousand Oaks also held vigils —all with the purpose of declaring that hate, racial and religious intolerance, and violence has no place in our county or in our nation.

by Paul Peterson

On August 7th, 2017 the City Council authorized $125,000 in funding for the Museum of Ventura County. The county also approved another $125,000 in funding as well. There were a number of contingencies that were attached to the funding, requiring hiring of key personnel to develop museum goals, fundraising and plans for better use of the museum’s collections and archives over the next six months. The Breeze wanted to follow up on the progress. “City staff will be holding monthly meetings with the museum employees to get a report on milestones”, according to city manager Mark Watkins, who adds “the public purpose of the appropriation is to protect city resources, support the arts and promote economic and cultural tourism.” Watkins expressed confidence that all the goals would be met within the six months.

When the Breeze queried interim museum director Elena Brokaw, she also expressed her confidence that the goals would be met. “I am extremely confident that we will be able to meet the requirements. They are ambitious and will demand a great and concerted effort, but the community has already shown its support for the museum’s reinvention through the formation of an Endowment Committee, new board members, funding and increased attendance.

A team has begun to meet to work on all elements of the Museum reinvention plan: collections, programs, governance, endowment, outreach, partnerships and Museum identity and vision. Of the 23 specific tasks to be completed in the first 6 months, we have already completed five, and have made significant progress on five more,” Brokaw reports.

Council member Christy Weir is also confident that the museum will meet its goals. “They have an ambitious action plan, but with city and county funding and new leadership, this year we will see substantial changes. They have already made progress in board development and fundraising. We will soon see physical improvements to the interior and exterior, and continued emphasis on engaging exhibits and special events.”

The plan first calls for hiring an endowment consultant by August 30. That person would be responsible for major fundraising. Brokaw states “We have selected a consultant. The board will approve the contract on August 28”. So far so good.

When asked if a much needed curator has been selected she replied,

“There are a number of new positions identified (Ag Museum Manager for the Santa Paula Museum, Collections Manager, Events Coordinator, etc.) but a curator is not one of them. The recruitments are in development.”

For Ventura citizens wondering when the public can expect to see results at the museum itself, “Six months” was Brokaw’s quick response.

When asked what happens if some but not all the goals are met by this term’s end, City Manager Watkins says, ” We will have to assess that if the situation arises.”.”