TOUR WILSHIRE BOULEVARD FROM
L.A. TO SANTA MONICA
Sunday, October 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Santa Monica Conservancy joins the Los Angeles Conservancy in presenting “Curating the City: Wilshire Boulevard,” a tour of selected sites from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica, by car or on the Wilshire Metro bus. Local stops include the Miles Playhouse, where an exclusive exhibit of vintage Santa Monica postcards from a private collection is on display, and Palisades Park, where Wilshire meets the Pacific. General admission tickets are $35; phone (213) 623-2489.

Following the tour, take in a performance of the Broadway hit, “Babes in Arms,” at the Miles Playhouse beginning at 5 p.m. Tickets are $45; a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the Santa Monica Conservancy. Phone 397-3244 or visit www.ruskingrouptheatre.com
for more information.

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THEATRE GUILD CELEBRATES
SIXTY YEARS IN SANTA MONICA

The Santa Monica Theatre Guild presented its first play at the Miles Playhouse in 1946. In the sixty years since, the company has served the community well, presenting a wide range of plays, offering free theatre classes to local youth and offering local enthusiasts a chance
to showcase their talents both in front of and behind the curtain. The guild has been operating in its current location at 2627 Pico Boulevard since 1966, when a 199-seat venue now known as the Morgan-Wixson Theatre (and named for two dedicated guild volunteers), opened.

The Santa Monica Theatre Guild is a nonprofit, all-volunteer agency. Currently, the guild presents two musicals and four plays every year at very affordable prices. Over the years, many emerging stars have
graced the Morgan-Wixson stage, including Julie Harris, Al Pacino, Marion Ross (“Happy Days”), Joyce DeWitt (“Three’s Company”) and a very young James Dean. Harvey Korman, renowned for his comedic timing on “The Carol Burnett Show,” showed a completely different
aspect of his talents when, in 1955, he played the title role in the guild’s production of “Hamlet.” And the 1956 production of “Green Grow the Lilacs” included four songs written for the production by a young songwriter named Rod McKuen.

For its diamond anniversary, the Santa Monica Theatre Guild will present first-rate productions of top quality plays, including Paul Osborn’s “Morning’s at Seven,” and the Tony Award winning musical, “Annie.” Be sure to visit the theatre during this anniversary year
and see what’s been entertaining Santa Monica audiences for the past sixty years! For tickets and show information, call the box office at 828-7519 or visit www.morgan-wixson.org.

▲ SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24 THRU FEBRUARY 26, 2006
Behold, the Pacific! California Coastal Views, an exhibit of landscape paintings featuring artists from the 19th century forward at the California Heritage Museum, 2612 Main Street. Museum hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.  General admission - $5; seniors and students - $3; children 12 and under get in free. Phone 392-8537 for more information.

▲ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 12 NOON TO 2 P.M.
World Jewish Music Fest explores the rich and varied sounds of Jewish artistry on the Santa Monica Pier, in one of 43 events of the World Festival of Sacred Music. This afternoon of eclectic performances showcases singers, traditional Jewish folk dancing and other surprises. Presented by the Madison Project of Santa Monica College and the Santa Monica Pier Restoration Corporation. Please visit www.festivalofsacredmusic for more information.
 

HONORING THE SEA

Santa Monica will play host to the closing ceremony of the 2005 World Festival of Sacred Music, sponsored in part by the city’s Cultural Affairs Division. On Sunday, October 2, from 3 to 6:30 p.m., artists and musicians will welcome the public to shores of the Pacific—on Santa Monica Beach at Ocean Park Boulevard—to honor nature and spread good wishes across the sea to the far corners of the world.

Three hundred artists will present sacred traditions from five world cultures: African, Brazilian, Hawaiian, Italian and Native American. Each group will prepare a ceremonial offering to the sea at various sites along the beach, which will then be carried beyond the breakwaters by members of the Ti’at Society in a traditional canoe. At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the public may join the performing groups to form
large community drum circle. Everyone is invited, whether to watch or to participate in the festivities. For details, call 825-0507 or visit www.festivalofsacredmusic.org.