TORRANCE TRIBUNE October 18, 2012 Page 7 TerriAnn in Torrance An Afternoon with the Arts By TerriAnn Ferren told me they love drama and have been acting is a founding board member of the Chinese Torrance Arts Council from proceeds from a The parking lot was jammed Sunday since they were small. The girls told me the Historical Society of Southern California. His book he put together of two young students. afternoon at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center. next production at North High School is The book Portraits of Pride published in 2004 and This year, the Katy Geissert Award, which The 35th Excellence in Arts Awards was being Election, October 25, 26 and November 1, 2 his second book published in 2011 tell the “recognizes outstanding support for all the arts held in the Toyota Meeting Hall. It had been in Torrance,” was given to Bob and Laurie a great many years since I had attended this Brandt of the Red Car Brewery. The Brandts particular event. The last Excellence in Arts moved to Torrance in 1995. Laurie was working Awards I attended was long ago and held at the in the garment industry as a national sales Katy Geissert Library Meeting Room where my manager when a friend gave Bob a home friend and drama coach Marie Denn accepted brewing kit. The dream of owning a restaurant the Drama and Theatre Arts Award. The event became a reality 12 years later in 2000 when was very special and meant a lot to Marie. the Red Car Brewery opened. After moving to This year, six arts awards will be handed out, Torrance, the Brandt family became involved plus the very special Katy Geissert Award. with South High School and the Torrance Area This was an event I couldn’t wait to attend! Chamber of Commerce. For two seasons, the Randy Maddox, Recreation Coordinator, Brandts were the sole supplier of meals for welcomed me as I entered the Toyota Meeting the Foundation’s Jazz Cabaret Series at the Hall foyer and assured me this was going to Torrance Cultural Arts Center. The generosity be a very special afternoon. Right away I of the Brandts is such that they bought two noticed lots of women dressed in black and guest spots for a lunch with famed WWII yellow vertical-striped jackets and straw hats L.A. South Towns Show Chorus members Phyllis Pelezzare and Leota Wehrman. hero Louis Zamperini when the lunch was in milling around the entrance. I found out that at the Black Box Theatre on campus. remarkable stories of 39 Chinese immigrants their own restaurant! Laurie said, “Janet Payne Eve Rappoport, Manager of the Cultural who came to America. “And to understand the Services Division, welcomed recipients, cultural and historical significance of what it citizens, elected officials and guests to this means to become an American. This award will very special evening. City Councilmember increase the value of the awareness of these Susan Rhilinger congratulated the recipients books and I am so honored,” said Dr. Mar. on behalf of Mayor Frank Scotto and the rest The L.A. South Towns Show Chorus was of the Council and went on to say, “The City presented with the Music Award by Arts of Torrance is committed to support the arts Commissioner and former 2005 award winner and provide an essential art experience for Dale Korman. Under the direction of Caroline everyone in the community…I congratulate McLean, the a cappella choir treated the North High School Drama Students Sarah Guidinger and Elaine 2004 Music Excellence in Arts Award recipient, Frank Fetta and our 2012 Excellence in Arts Awards Honorees audience to three numbers: “I Feel a Song Rodriguez, both age 16. Howard Korman. Jordana Benone, Bill Wassenberg, Mark Coming On,” “Singing in the Rain” and “When came to me and said, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get these colorfully dressed women were part Esposito, Dr. Wing Mar, L.A. South Towns I Lift up My Head.” The sea of smiling faces involved in the arts--this is what we do,’ and of L.A. South Towns Show Chorus being Show Chorus, Ron Libbrecht…and receiving in bright yellow and black-striped jackets made she asked me to donate something, so I said honored for Music. Phyllis Pelezzare and Leota the Katy Geissert Award, Bob and Laurie yes. I’m from the Midwest and the arts are Wehrman, both of whom have been singing in Brandt, Red Car Brewery.” really important to us.” At this point, Bob took the group for 15 years, were all smiles. “It’s Cultural Arts Commissioner Benito Miranda to the microphone, glanced lovingly at his wife a wonderful group and very compatible. We presented Jordana Benone with the Drama and and with a lump in his throat said, “I would help each other. There are 55 of us, I would Theatre Arts Award for all the magnificent like to take exception to what my wife said. I work she has done since 1998 when she began think I am an artist. I don’t have a canvas and teaching at North High School. “Theatre is a I don’t have paint. I am not able to use my great way to teach empathy,” said Jordana. voice as some here, but my canvas is barley, Chair of the Cultural Arts Commission hops, yeast and water. I feel so fortunate that Lynda Bunting introduced Bill Wassenberg I am able to brew beer for a living and have as the recipient of the Visual Arts and Design this wonderful woman. To the young people Award. The multi-talented Wassenberg has Manager of the Cultural Services Division, Eve Rappoport. in the audience here today, you never know served in leadership positions in the South Bay the entire room want to join in! They were where your life is going to take you and you Watercolor Society, is currently Program Chair absolutely marvelous. They will be performing never know when that turn is going to happen. for the Artist’s Guild, Treasurer of the Arts Sunday, November 18 at 2 p.m. in the James I had a friend as mentioned--a classmate who Arts Education recipient Ron Libbrecht with Master of Ceremonies Council, and volunteers at the Art Museum Armstrong Theatre. Can’t wait for the show! gave me a home brewing kit, and for all the Ed Candioty. and the Madrona Marsh. Wassenberg has Then Master of ceremonies Ed Candioty world I thought I was just going to make one say,” said Phyllis. Leota added, “It’s a grand achieved great heights and gives of himself presented Ron Libbrecht with the Arts Education batch of beer. Well, that one batch of beer has group of women.” in many areas of the community. Award. Ron Libbrecht’s father started Automatic now turned into almost 770 brews at the Red Sitting toward the front of the room I Printing in 1955 in downtown Torrance, so Ron Car Brewery and Restaurant. Everywhere you spotted Howard Korman and Maestro Frank has been a resident a long time. Ron began go, you’re going to pick something up and Fetta--Conductor of the Torrance Symphony teaching art at the tender age of 15 when he you never know when that knock is going to Association and recipient of the 2004 Music helped his mom by teaching an art project come. You have to follow your heart and go Award. They both seemed ready for the event to his younger sister’s Brownie troop. The with it and we are truly blessed to live in a city and when asked what they thought about the rest is history, as they say, and Ron has been that very, early, early on was so supportive.” awards, Fetta said, “I think very highly of teaching ever since. He even met his wife, a I wasn’t the only one tearing up at the them being one of the recipients, but I think former student, while teaching. Ron was asked end of the ceremonies. Truly, this group of it’s great that you recognize the artists that by Barbara Johnson to show his work at the gracious recipients was most deserving. As Eve have really helped out and excelled in the Joslyn Center in 1989 and that connection Rappoport said, “There is so much generosity South Bay. They always appreciate additional Katy Geissert Award winner Bob and Laurie Brandt, Red Car introduced him to the Cultural Arts Center. to these honorees. No one’s getting rich here. recognition other than applause.” Brewery with Ed Candioty. He continues to paint, teach and encourage People follow their passions and they give to Sixteen students from the North High School Commissioner Lynn Frangos next introduced everyone who wants to learn what he loves to the community and it really makes it a better Advanced Theatre Class were sitting toward Jim Hormel, who has directed many shows for do--paint. Ron presented a $500 check to the place to live. I’m touched.” Me too…• the back of the room ready to perform. Two the Torrance Theatre Company and accepted bubbly 16-year-olds, Sarah Guidinger and Elaine the Dance Award for Mark Esposito who was in New York working. At this point, a clip of Esposito’s choreography (reproduced from the original Broadway production, in which Esposito was a cast member) from the hit show at the James Armstrong Theatre, Fiddler on the Roof, was shown. The Bottle Dance where men danced with real bottles on their heads was a smash hit. Dr. Wing Mar, recipient of the Literary Arts Award, was introduced by Arts Commissioner Kathryn Endo-Roberts and Literary Arts Award recipient Kathryn Endo-Roberts. A resident of Torrance Dr. Wing Mar. since 1956, Dr. Mar has been very involved Rodriguez, couldn’t wait for the program to with the community. Asked by the YMCA to begin because they were going to perform a do camp physicals, he was honored in 1968 quick history of Torrance as part of honoring with the Golden Book of Distinguished Service. their teacher Jordana Benone, the recipient of Dr. Mar was instrumental in helping secure The 2012 Excellence in Arts Awards winners in front row; Caroline Mc Lean, Ron Libbrecht, Laurie and Bob Brandt, Dr. Wing Mar, Bill the Drama and Theatre Arts Award. Both girls the land where the YMCA now stands and Wassenberg, and Jordana Benone. Photos by TerriAnn Ferren.
Torrance 10.18.12
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