Watched the dress rehearsal of Red and was impressed with the two actors. It was an intellectual…read moreplay and in some parts, it got too wordy. The actors played off each other. There were some surprises near the end.

Attended Wild Child with a friend. We both agreed that parts of the play -the video game characters…read more- were just distracting and didn't make much sense. And we didn't like the kids being "kidnapped" to go to the camp; that could have easily been cut out. But, the actors were good. Had a small candy box and a super small coke and it was $14. On the more of a plus side, the venue was nice. Small and intimate.

Thirty-two years after my last visit, 2026 finally brought me back to the Pageant of the…read moreMasters--this time, to share its pure magic with my sister. As a talented oil painter, I knew this would be the ultimate gift for her, so I secured front-row magic with third-row seats all the way back in January. We stayed in Laguna Beach in early August, eager to celebrate the Pageant's historic 91st anniversary and create a memory built to last a lifetime. The experience caught us by surprise before the show even started. The new pop-up restaurants transformed the venue into a premier dining destination. We relaxed under shaded table umbrellas, enjoying attentive service and incredible dishes like the Spaghetti Pie and Slow-Cooked Braised Beef. The entire venue felt effortless and alive; as we wandered through the beautifully curated open-air galleries, we even had the chance to meet some of the featured artists. When the curtains rose, the performance was utterly spellbinding. The theme was a masterclass in collaboration, breathing vibrant life into history's greatest masterpieces. The crown jewel of the night was the Pageant's iconic finale: the live recreation of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper. Every minute detail was so breathtakingly precise that I couldn't look away for even a second. After a full year of anticipation, the show brought us pure, unadulterated joy--leaving my sister and me with a beautiful, shared bond that we will cherish for the rest of our lives.

I love the Pageant! It is the premiere art show and the production is one of a kind! There is…read morenothing like it. Everyone should experience it at least once if not more. I had not been since Covid and it was a lovely show. The theatre is comfortable as are the grounds. One disappointment this year is something changed with the liquor license and adult beverages were not easily available to walk around or bring in the theater. They can only be purchased in one area in the back corner of the venue. If going to the theater they have to remain unopened until inside. A bit of a hassle.

Watched the Eddie Akiau documentary / biopic at the Rivian theater in downtown Laguna beach with…read moremy buddy and his wife. Interesting set up, some traditional theater type seats, some sofas, a bar type sub wall with metal stools. Seating is first come first served. We sat on the bar stools. There were also 2 Rivian vehicles on display inside. 1 pick up truck and 1 suv. Comfortable space, I wish we had shown up a little earlier and had seats in the more traditional movie theater style than the stools without back rests, but that was % on us for taking too long at dinner before the movie. Nice set up with a new screen that made for great viewing. I'll definitely return. Pro tip: show up early and secure a good seat. Your back and bottom will appreciate it.

We've been here twice, with today being our 2nd time. The first time - it was on 11/20 when they…read morehad an owner's night gathering. There were some small bites, music, and fun little Rivian pin giveaways. Today there was a kids event where they can record their sound into a little heart, make a valentines craft and put a tiny flower bouquet together. People hung out and socialized but no food. Parking is difficult to find and costs $3 per hour in the nearby lots.

Wow, this was bad. I read these reviews on fb, with people…read moregoing on and on how amazing, great, exquisite, unbelievable this show is, the greatest ever! Seriously? What was I missing? There was a stage with some tiny something in the middle that supposed to be a painting made of humans. Couldn't tell, couldn't see anything, there was no moving, way too small to impress in any way. Some computer images projected on a screen above and a fashion history reading from some Google search website. The greatest show ever? Are orange county people so desperately trying to appear cultivated and into arts that they would overly praise an embarrassingly mediocre show? People were leaving at intermission because of how boring and uninteresting this performance was.

We too left at the intermission for the 1st time after 10+ times attending…read more In the past I have really liked the show, some more than others. I am sure they are always looking for ways to be creative, but this time it was a complete miss. If it was my first time I would never go again, but I am hoping they get the message since there were many others leaving when we did. I am not sure that a show that starts us off at a runway fashion show has broad appeal. We are going to see about the great artists and their work. I get the idea you were going with, but it did not work! Themes are good, but this just wasn't!

Live in Theater is an amazing Murder Mystery company that made our Halloween Party a HUGE success!…read moreThey cater to small intimate gatherings as well as large corporate parties like ours and they did a stellar job. We had many new guests attend and raved about their experience. It was not cheesy and the actors were superb! Live in Theater is a necessity for anyone who wants to try the Murder Mystery experience.

Thank you Live in Theater. The actors were so in character the whole time! Great stuff!!read more

First time visiting this venue and my initial impression was... WOW!…read moreLocated on the grounds of Soka University in Aliso Viejo, the campus is gorgeous. I drove about 1 hour to attend a concert by world renowned jazz artist, David Benoit. The music hall was ideal for an intimate experience. The 1,000 seat theater is acoustically perfect so there isn't a bad seat in the house. My seats were comfortable and roomy and afforded me a bird's eye view of the artist, and the symphony orchestra that accompanied him. The restrooms were easily accessible, as were the concessions stands. Parking was free and simple. I got in and out as if I were parking in my own private garage. Ample handicap spots were available, thankfully. Shuttle service from the parking lot to the entry gate was abundant and a thoughtful convenience for less mobile patrons. The staff was helpful when needed. Ok, now if you're interested... a music review. David Benoit & Cecilia Tsan: Resonance & Renewal - World Premiere ... was amazing! I laughed! I cried! I whistled & applauded through countless standing ovations! I thoroughly enjoyed the performance, and I was not alone. Interestingly, I also learned about a life saving program available right here in Southern California that coincidentally, helped save the life of Mr. Benoit, himself. As he shared during the concert, Benoit suffered from kidney failure and desperately needed a transplant. Unfortunately, his wife Kei was not a match. However, a ground breaking program at UCLA allowed participants to donate healthy organs to those in need. It's kind of like a "trade-in" program for vital organs. So, in turn, if someone else donates an organ that matches your needs.. viola! We have a match made in heaven, on earth!! So, Kei donated her kidney to save a life, and someone else eventually donated a kidney match that saved her husband David's life! Team work makes the dream work!! If you, or someone you know, needs an organ transplant, check out the program at UCLA! Ok, now back to the music, I promise!! The first half of the show was Benoit and a 40-piece symphony orchestra performing his Resonance and Renewal original composition, which was inspired by his life journey. From the hectic days of his early musical career, to the challenges of his health struggles, to the gift of new life following his kidney transplant. Knowing just a few of the personal details he shared with his audience allowed everyone to enjoy Resonance and Renewal all the more. Of course, the most memorable highlights of the evening followed in the second half of the program where he sat alone at his grand piano, accompanied by just his drummer and bass player, as he riffed through several jazz classics! Standing ovations followed. But there's more. When you have a symphony orchestra at your disposal, you use it to the max. Especially when the orchestra is made up from your own former students!! So, when the orchestra re-joined Benoit on stage, magic ensued. He opened with a tribute to his wife with a piece entitled, Kei. It took but a handful of musical notes, ushered in by several amazing violinists, to bring tears from my eyes and down over my cheeks! It touched my soul so deeply I could not contain my emotions. It was the best cry I've had in years. Thank you, David Benoit. And thank you, Kei Benoit, as well.

We attended a terrific charity concert at the Soka Performing Arts Center. Cancer Teamwork…read moreResponse hosted an event headlined by Mike Garson (former piano player for David Bowie). Joe Sumner (Sting's son) and Veronica Swift were both featured signers. They performed a number of David Bowie songs, and they all sounded great. The event raised money for the charity and the audience truly enjoyed the evening. The staff at the Center were all friendly. I would not hesitate going to another event at the Center.

We had a wonderful time at the after walk Christmas party in the Newport theater…read more The band was amazing ! They played all the old classics , rock 'n' roll.... Unlimited beef, pork and chicken yummy tacos ! The cocktails were flowing , However, the wine that they offered was definitely a no Bueno for me . It was from Lodi. Festive night , Christmas cheer

New Port Theater is worth all the hype. The staff is amazing and so accommodating, Celina…read moreespecially is an absolute sweetheart. Additionally, Marty is the kindest person I've met in a long time. The Christmas after-party was filled with only good vibes and everyone was having the time of their lives and enjoying the music and ambiance! Food was to die for! Five stars all the way.

This museum is a very neat experience! It is intended for adults, but our little ones had a great…read moretime here too! The whole place is decorated with art and it is very immersive! It's a bit difficult to find parking, but after that's settled, knock 3 times on the door and upon entry, you are greeted and signed in. We were greeted by Sabrina and Alyssa. They were friendly and welcoming and made sure that all of our questions were answered. The whole experience is neat because in such a small area, there are so many things to see, smell, and read! They have their own section of a gift shop as well. I can't wait until they expand their location and I'm so glad they our family had the opportunity to experience the Museum of Make Believe.

A hidden gem (quite literally) in Laguna Beach, the Museum of Make Believe truly lives up to the…read morewhimsy and magic it seeks to bestow upon its travelers. Highly recommend to anyone seeking a trip of puzzle-mystery with a nostalgic edge. Huge shoutout to Sabrina & Sylvan for guiding us along the way and their warm hospitality.

I haven't been here in about 20 years but Jen wanted to check it out…read more I bought our tickets online for $12.50 each and we took the free Summer Breeze Trolley from Irvine, which for Labor Day weekend was a great choice. We both enjoyed checking out all the booths and artists, with Jen having her favorites and same with me. Loved learning about their passion, especially Sue Thompson and the husband/wife glass blowers. Jen liked the Italian landscapes and nature photos. I picked up a small photo of Jackass Penguins forming a heart for both Jen and I. I felt it symbolized us in a way. The food lines were a bit long, but we did get some green tea that was refreshing on a hot/humid day. We look forward to coming back or at least checking out the local galleries.

The Sawdust Art Festival was a lot of fun! While I didn't buy much because of the high prices, it…read morewas still nice to walk around and check out the work from local artists. If you plan to park in the Sawdust lot, I'd recommend getting there very early. We had no trouble finding parking about an hour before Sawdust opened, then grabbed breakfast nearby. There are also cheaper lots within walking distance. I did find the prices to be very expensive overall. You have to pay to park, to get in, pay for food and drinks, pay for the art, and so on. There was even a tip jar in the very clean bathrooms! I'm not sure if this is because it's an expensive area or just a reflection of the current economy, but I definitely felt like I was being nickel-and-dimed. If you're just going to look around, you can get away with only paying the entry fee and parking. I was disappointed to find that not all of the artists were there, and the policies regarding purchasing art at the front of Sawdust weren't very clear and seemed to vary from booth to booth.

Celebrated a large number anniversary a couple of weeks ago, and sunsets were a big deal to us…read more They were so accommodating, making sure we had a great sunset view. The food was terrific. The service couldn't be better. Highly recommend. A quick stop by the Wyland Gallery before hand and the overlook between the two was also great.

we wanted to go to Pelican Grill but it was closed so we went to Laguna to see where we could get a…read moretable for two on late notice. We walked in and were lucky to get a table immediately on the outside deck. This is the best view in Laguna Beach ! Fish, shrimp, and chips were very good. The sauce was excellent and it was just the right amount of fish and shrimp. Lupe provided great service. We watched the sunset and were very happy with the food and drinks. We will be back.