Two shows return to Laguna Playhouse

If you missed Rita Rudner's "Tickled Pink" or the folk music concert "Lonesome Traveler" at the Laguna Playhouse last season, you can catch a glimpse of them over the next two weeks.

Rudner, the soft-spoken comic who co-wrote and took a small role in "Tickled Pink," will take the playhouse stage from Aug. 24 to 26 in "Rita Rudner: Act 3." The queen of the clever one-liners will be delivering her pointed observations on everyday life.

Among those observations is this zinger: "I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry."

Rudner, who lives in the Laguna area, is a regular headliner on the Las Vegas stage.

Two days after Rudner closes, The Lonesome Travelers move in, offering highlights from the show they presented at the theater last year called "Lonesome Traveler." They'll be pickin' and plunkin' from Aug. 28 through Sept. 2.

Folk music is the specialty of The Lonesome Travelers, who will offer a sing-a-long style concert with music made memorable by artists such as Bob Dylan, Peter, Paul and Mary, Pete Seeger and the Kingston Trio.

Formed from last season's production, this year's show, titled "Lonesome Travelers in Concert," will offer encores of that show, along with new folk music favorites including the Kingston Trio's classic "MTA" and Tennessee Ernie Ford's signature song, "16 Tons."

"This music was born out of hardscrabble living," said musical director Dan Wheetman. "However, it reflects the joy of life; no matter how many obstacles we face, the human spirit rises above and rejoices in being alive."

"Our audiences had a deep and beautiful connection to the music, and we had many requests for a return engagement," said Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham, noting that the new show combine songs from the previous production with "a few added surprises."

All nine artists from the earlier Laguna run will return. The singers all play multiple instruments.

Both shows overlap with the adjacent Pageant of the Masters, so parking won't be available in the playhouse's lot, which is reserved for pageant cast members. There is a parking lot called Act IV up Laguna Canyon Road where a free shuttle may be accessed for the quick trip to the theater.

Curtain time for the Rita Rudner show is 7 p.m., while the Lonesome Travelers will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. each night, plus a 2 p.m. matinee Aug. 30. Reservations are being taken at the playhouse, (949) 397-2787 ext. 229.