Orange County Crazies Troupe

A long-simmering dispute between the Orange County Crazies comedy troupe and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra could leave the troupe without a performance center, and possibly mean the end of the popular group, officials said Friday. The group and an affiliated business could be forced out of their local offices because of a new lease that nearly doubles their rent to $1,000 a month, executive director Cherie Kerr said Friday.

Cherie Kerr, executive director of the Orange County Crazies, is planning a one-woman show, "Out of Her Mind," for next month. That title also describes her mental state during a recent string of events that threatened to finish off the comedy troupe. For two months the Crazies had been locked in a dispute with their landlord, the Pacific Symphony, over rent and performance time, among other issues.

A long-simmering dispute between the Orange County Crazies comedy troupe and the Pacific Symphony Orchestra could leave the troupe without a performance center, and possibly mean the end of the popular group, officials said Friday. The group and an affiliated business could be forced out of their local offices because of a new lease that nearly doubles their rent to $1,000 a month, executive director Cherie Kerr said Friday.

After more than 10 years playing the lounge of a Santa Ana restaurant, the musical DuBois sisters are hoping to take their act to the big city--maybe even the Big Apple. The four sisters, with four different singing styles and four different, long-lost fathers, are a fictional offshoot of the Orange County Crazies, an improvisational comedy troupe that has been playing around the county since early 1990.

The Orange County Crazies, an improvisational troupe, said Monday they have launched Operation Desert Smile in response to the Persian Gulf War. The members of the troupe are asking comedy groups, comedy clubs and stand-up comedians to help them collect humorous paraphernalia to send to U.S. troops in the Middle East. But before any packages can be sent, a few logistical details must be worked out.

It's the classic show biz tale: performers forced to choose between chances at individual stardom and the group's struggle for fame. The DuBois sisters--a singing quartet--have been playing the lounge at Reuben's in Santa Ana for 10 years. Suddenly, they're approached individually by agents dangling hot prospects before them. Imagine, going solo at the Velvet Turtle or the Bowl. Or grabbing the spotlight in dinner theater or at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Hey, a girl's gotta dream!

Cherie Kerr, executive director of the Orange County Crazies, is planning a one-woman show, "Out of Her Mind," for next month. That title also describes her mental state during a recent string of events that threatened to finish off the comedy troupe. For two months the Crazies had been locked in a dispute with their landlord, the Pacific Symphony, over rent and performance time, among other issues.

The Orange County Crazies, like any other comedy troupe, usually finds strength in numbers. But not tonight, when one of its members will emerge from the crowd and take the spotlight by herself. LizAnne (she prefers one name) will open her two-night solo show, "LizAnne Live . . . Alone at Last," at the Santa Ana Civic Center's Annex Auditorium.

The production manager for the Orange County Crazies, an improvisational troupe, said the group will be ready to ship its first packages filled with comedy items to U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf by the end of this week. Production manager Alan Cranis applauded "the wonderful response from the residents of Orange County" to the project, dubbed Operation Desert Smile. About 300 donations have been received, said Cherrie Kerr, the Crazies' artistic director and producer.

After more than 10 years playing the lounge of a Santa Ana restaurant, the musical DuBois sisters are hoping to take their act to the big city--maybe even the Big Apple. The four sisters, with four different singing styles and four different, long-lost fathers, are a fictional offshoot of the Orange County Crazies, an improvisational comedy troupe that has been playing around the county since early 1990.

It's the classic show biz tale: performers forced to choose between chances at individual stardom and the group's struggle for fame. The DuBois sisters--a singing quartet--have been playing the lounge at Reuben's in Santa Ana for 10 years. Suddenly, they're approached individually by agents dangling hot prospects before them. Imagine, going solo at the Velvet Turtle or the Bowl. Or grabbing the spotlight in dinner theater or at the Orange County Fairgrounds. Hey, a girl's gotta dream!

The production manager for the Orange County Crazies, an improvisational troupe, said the group will be ready to ship its first packages filled with comedy items to U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf by the end of this week. Production manager Alan Cranis applauded "the wonderful response from the residents of Orange County" to the project, dubbed Operation Desert Smile. About 300 donations have been received, said Cherrie Kerr, the Crazies' artistic director and producer.

The Orange County Crazies, like any other comedy troupe, usually finds strength in numbers. But not tonight, when one of its members will emerge from the crowd and take the spotlight by herself. LizAnne (she prefers one name) will open her two-night solo show, "LizAnne Live . . . Alone at Last," at the Santa Ana Civic Center's Annex Auditorium.

The Orange County Crazies, an improvisational troupe, said Monday they have launched Operation Desert Smile in response to the Persian Gulf War. The members of the troupe are asking comedy groups, comedy clubs and stand-up comedians to help them collect humorous paraphernalia to send to U.S. troops in the Middle East. But before any packages can be sent, a few logistical details must be worked out.

Picture this: Donald L. Bren, Henry T. Segerstrom, William Lyon, J.M. Peters and other assorted Orange County real estate moguls get together behind closed doors for a secret . . . game of Monopoly! Crazy? That's the point. The local landed gentry are just one target of the satirical jabs of the Orange County Crazies, a new improvisational comedy troupe that makes its debut with two shows Saturday at the Santa Ana Civic Center Annex.

Picture this: Donald L. Bren, Henry T. Segerstrom, William Lyon, J.M. Peters and other assorted Orange County real estate moguls get together behind closed doors for a secret . . . game of Monopoly! Crazy? That's the point. The local landed gentry are just one target of the satirical jabs of the Orange County Crazies, a new improvisational comedy troupe that makes its debut with two shows Saturday at the Santa Ana Civic Center Annex.