San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
THEATER NOTEBOOK
Artist designs clothing inspired by pandemic
Like many San Diego theater artists, designer Ron Logan saw a good portion of his work dry up when the pandemic arrived in March.
Logan has designed scenery and graphics for theaters throughout San Diego, including his bestknown work: the bug-eyed, crazy-haired theater fan logo for the San Diego International Fringe Festival. So with more time on his hands this year, Logan launched a new T-shirt line on Amazon inspired by the pandemic and local theater artists, like his partner, Hannah Logan, an actor, producer and playwright. The new Ron Logan Design brand features 25 T-shirt designs, many of them inspired by theater careers and traditions.
An independent graphic artist, Logan said he’s been creating apparel since the 1980s, when he made Tshirts for the America’s Cup races and later ran a soccer apparel company. Back in those days, it was expensive to start a business. He had to produce the merchandise and place it in stores for sale. But now there aren’t any startup costs to launch a print-to-order T-shirt line on Amazon, so he can focus on the fun and creative design work.
The first, and most popular, of his designs features a ghost light — the bare-bulbed floor lamp that theaters place onstage whenever they’re not operating — and the words “More Comedy, Less Tragedy … Wear a mask for the arts and humanity.” Others, created from ideas contributed by Hannah and other theatrical friends, celebrate the work of stage managers and technical designers. And one features the kooky Fringe fest “fan” wearing a face mask. There are also T-shirts and hoodies promoting mask use and several others subjects like San Diego’s craft brew industry, cats, masks, soccer, jazz and Dia de los Muertos. The T-shirts sell for $20 and hoodies for $35.
Items have been selling fast, and Logan hopes to be approved soon to move up to the 100-product store tier on Amazon. But one downside of his success is that three of his designs, including “More Comedy, Less Tragedy,” have already been appropriated by others who are selling knockoffs, he said.
To visit Logan’s store, go to amazon.com and type in “Ron Logan Design.”
New video celebrates ‘essential’ artists
Over the past nine months, Vista theater actor Bets Malone has released a string of parody song videos on her Youtube channel, where you’ll find she has written new lyrics about the pandemic and politics for old songs.
But as the pandemic has surged this fall and the outlook for reopening theaters remains far in the distance, she has gotten serious with her latest video. “We Are Essential,” released Nov. 30, is an original song that Malone wrote and sings to piano accompaniment in the video. The goal of the video is to encourage charitable giving to arts organizations this holiday season.
The lyrics celebrate theater and challenge the notion that the arts and artists are not essential. The uplifting ballad features photographs from dozens of productions at Vista’s Moonlight Amphitheatre, where Malone’s husband, Steven Glaudini, is the producing artistic director. Among the veteran Moonlight staff and artists pictured are Glaudini, Colleen Kollar Smith, Kathy Brombacher, Stanley Cohen, Elan Mcmahan, Ralph Johnson, Randall Hickman, Jamie Torcellini and many more.
To watch the video, go to youtube.com and search “Betsmalone.”
Old Globe staff launches online shop
The Old Globe this month launched an online marketplace where 12 of its idled design and other staff members are selling their own handmade wares for the holidays and beyond.
Items include beaded mask chains by costume shop worker Shelly Williams, designer face masks by costume crafts supervisor Kristin K. Womble, illustrations by arts educator Evelyn Walker, “fire cider” bottled tonics by philanthropy staff member Keely Tidrow, paintings by scenic designer Robin Sanford Roberts, repurposed jewelry by stage manager Anjee Nero, and more.
The online store, which will remain open in 2021 and will add more merchants soon, is at theold globe.org/marketplace.
Theater friends rally for Tim West
Tim West, a veteran actor, teacher, producer and playwright in San Diego for the past 20 years, has been out of work all year and is about to lose his home.
To help West and his longtime partner Betty Matthews find a new place to live, friends in the theater community launched a Gofundme campaign Dec. 9 to raise $5,000 for their move. So far, more than $3,500 has been raise from 45 donors.
West and Matthews have rented a home in South Park for 20 years. The owner of the property received court permission to sell the property, and the couple must relocate. Matthews is an employed essential worker, but West is at the end of his unemployment benefits with no work in sight. To see the fund, visit gofundme.com and search “Help Tim and Betty.”