Making light of it all

When times are glum, the best medicine is laughter. And there’s no better prescription for it than Lagunatics, the city’s annual “roast of the coast.”

Creator and director Bree Burgess Rosen said this year’s show will deliver one of the best satires yet, with one of the most highly talented casts.

“We have some very pointed political issues this year,” she said. “Tough times make for edgier subject matter, which makes the comedy take on it, well, bigger.

“The cast this year has a higher talent level than I believe we’ve had for a number of years,” she added.

The 22-skit production, co-written by Chris Quilter, will feature the ACLU, overly eager meter maids, same-sex sea lion romance, goats with high fiber diets, sacred fish, medical marijuana, tourists and traffic, “Pageant of Disasters,” a plein air scandal and many more wacky town topics.

The cast of dozens, including members of the City Council, the city clerk and treasurer, two arts commissioners and members of the community, will perform parody lyrics to Broadway tunes.

Veteran Lagunatic Darrin Reed, who in his other life is executive assistant to the Laguna Beach Unified School District superintendent, will play in two numbers and said he is humbled to be a part of the highly talented group of volunteers.

“They bring to light the funny side of living in Laguna,” he said. “And the money raised to support local charities is very admirable.”

Lisa Mansour, an arts commissioner who is new to the show, will dance in five numbers and sing a duet. Mansour said she is excited to be involved with something so creative, and to support the nonprofit community theater.

“I’ve seen nearly every show in my 10 years of living here and think it’s hilarious,” she said. “It’s great how Bree and Chris find the humor in everything, and I think during these hard times, it will especially lift the audience’s spirits.”

Martha Simkins Davis, choreographer at Thurston Middle School, founding director of ACTION and member of Lagunatunes, will also join the cast for the first time this year.

“I was inspired to join this zany group because I love putting on my dance shoes and performing, especially with funny people,” Davis said.

No Square Theater’s 17th annual Lagunatics will premiere at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Forum Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road. Performances will run through Oct. 25. For show times, or to buy tickets, call (949) 715-0333 or visit www.nosquare.org.

If You Go

What: Lagunatics

When: Opening night, 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16; show runs through Oct. 25.

Where: Forum Theatre, 650 Laguna Canyon Road.

Tickets: (949) 715-0333 or www.nosquare.org.