Billy Joel's 'Movin' Out' a success
Play Review
By Cary Ginell soundthink@aol.com
      In recent years, musical theater has been reversing direction, going back to the pre-Rodgers and Hammerstein era when musical revues dominated and story lines were incidental. That has been the idea behind the recent wave of socalled "popsicals" featuring the music of Abba ("Mamma Mia!"), the Four Seasons ("Jersey Boys") and the Beach Boys ("Good Vibrations").
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Westlake Theater presents 'All in the Timing'
By Sabrina Samedi Special to the Acorn
      It's the perfect time to come see "All in the Timing," Westlake High School's first theater production of the year. The unique offering incorporates in a single show a series of nine one-act plays by David Ives.
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Jewish children's club opens in Agoura
      Chabad of the Conejo has formed the Youth Zone, a new Jewish children's club for ages 6 to 11. The goal of the club is to provide children from all affiliations, temples and nonaffiliated families with a fun and meaningful Jewish experience.
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Conejo Players present 'Blithe Spirit'
      Conejo Players Theatre will present the Noel Coward farce "Blithe Spirit" from Nov. 24 through Dec. 15 at its venue, 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. In the play, a writer, hoping to collect material for his new book, invites a medium to conduct a seance in his home, which she does with surprising success.
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No magic
      In this story, my grandma will die, my family and I will get stuck on a defective aircraft, explosive personalities will collide, people will cry and I'll realize that all this material won't make for such a great column after all.
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Local radio drama wins big
      The Every Now and Then Theatre has won the 2007 International Davey Best-in-Show Award for their December 2006 radio drama broadcast of "Christmas Carol: A Ghost Story" on KVTA-AM. The production was hosted by actor-author Cheryl Ladd and starred former Ventura resident Robert "Doc" Reynolds in his final Ventura County performance as Ebenezer Scrooge.
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Lutheran church hosts alternative boutique
      Each year Ascension Lutheran Church launches a special Gifts of Hope project sponsored by the church's Missions Committee through Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Global Missions. To raise project funds, the church will provide alternative holiday gifts for sale during a gift bazaar in Founders Hall at the church on Nov.
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Rabbi enjoys sharing sacred moments
Clergy Profile
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com
      Rabbi Richard Spiegel's childhood provided an early path for his first steps toward becoming a rabbi. "I had a strong Jewish upbringing," Spiegel said. The oldest of four brothers, Spiegel grew up in Baltimore, Md., where he went to Hebrew school, Jewish camps and synagogue every Sabbath.
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