Tom Titus
They say if you want a job done right, give it to a busy person, and
the new artistic director of Laguna Beach's No Square Theater
certainly qualifies in that regard.
Steve Josephson is a director, an actor, a choreographer, a
dancer, a producer, a playwright and a teacher, as well as a husband
and father.
His theater commitments have taken him from New York to Paris, to
Edinburgh, Scotland and to Los Angeles.
Home base, however, is Laguna, which is one reason he recently
accepted the top spot as artistic director of No Square Theater, the
Art Colony's community theater group.
"Community theater is so important. It is the essence of theater
itself," Josephson says. "Theater is the communication between actors
and audience. Where else can you find that full-blend participation
on every level that covers the entire spectrum?"
Josephson is no stranger to No Square. In the past he has directed
the group's productions of "Gypsy" and "Bugsy Malone." But he has a
full plate in front of him for the company's 2003-04 season. He'll be
putting together shows such as "Follies," "Annie Warbucks" and "Into
the Woods," the first and last named being creations of Stephen
Sondheim.
"No Square Theater is at an exciting new point in its life,"
Josephson says. "I guess it could be called a growth spurt. After six
successful years, I am thrilled to be on-board to help in this phase
of its development."
His professional work has taken him far and near -- "near" being
the Laguna Playhouse where he choreographed "Mamet" and "A Wonderful
Life." Josephson also wrote and directed the off-Broadway musical
farce "Some Summer Night," winner of the New American Musical Writers
Festival and has traveled to France as resident
director/choreographer for Festival Theater USC-USA.
Laguna, however, has been home since 1976. Josephson graduated
from Laguna Beach High School and attended USC with several
scholarships from the Festival of the Arts, the USC Alumni
Association and the Bank of America.
Choosing a successor to No Square co-founder Bree Burgess Rosen
was "a difficult decision because we had several very talented and
highly qualified candidates," commented Phoebe Ward, president of No
Square's board of directors.
"Ultimately, Steve has the right combination of skills and an
overwhelming enthusiasm," she declared. "Plus, he has been involved
with our work for a long time -- as a performer, a director, a
choreographer and an amazing mentor for people of all ages interested
in participating in theater.
