KAREN WOOD NAMED LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE MANAGING DIRECTOR

Following an extensive, six month nationwide search, The Laguna Playhouse announced today that Karen Wood has been appointed as The Playhouse’s managing director. Wood, who was previously managing director of the San Diego Repertory Theatre for seven years, will assume her duties at The Playhouse on February 4, 2008. She succeeds Richard Stein, who resigned as executive director in June 2007.

The announcement was made by Andrew Donchak, president of The Laguna Playhouse board of directors.

“On behalf of the board of directors, I am very pleased to welcome Karen Wood to the Laguna Playhouse,” said Donchak. “We interviewed many fine candidates from across the country and were tremendously impressed by Karen’s experience, talent and passion for theatre. The Laguna Playhouse has developed an enviable reputation as one of the leading professional nonprofit theatres in the U.S. We are confident that Karen will help lead the Playhouse to new heights in the years to come.”

Executive search firm services were provided by Jessica Andrews and Jim Volz of Consultants for the Arts, who helped select and evaluate numerous candidates along with Laguna Playhouse Search Committee Chair Richard Schweickert, Andrew Donchak, board members Sindi Schwarz and Laura Rohl, and Playhouse artistic director Andrew Barnicle.

Barnicle commented: “I am thrilled to be able to partner with Karen as we enter an era of new growth at the Laguna Playhouse. Her experience and personality make her an ideal choice for this position. She has proven in all of her endeavors to be a distinguished administrator who also understands and loves artists and the art of theatre. During the search process, the word most often used in connection with her was ‘integrity.’”

Prior to her tenure with the San Diego Repertory Theatre, Wood’s career in the arts included serving as managing director of The Music Center Education Division in Los Angeles, general manager of the John Anson Ford Theatre through the County Arts Commission of Los Angeles, and general manager of the Mark Taper Forum/Center Theatre Group of Los Angeles.

"I am delighted to be joining in the leadership of The Laguna Playhouse,” said Wood. “Andy Barnicle's depth of experience and strong creative spirit, coupled with the board of directors’ scope of knowledge and passion for The Playhouse, are inspiring. In this new collaboration, it will be my heartfelt desire and joy to help build on the heritage of this cultural treasure. Together with the board, I look forward to the process of exploring and creating a path for growth that will deepen our service to the local and regional community and continue our commitment to the enhancement of the field nationally. I am so pleased to have this opportunity to join the extraordinary team at The Laguna Playhouse and the lovely community of Laguna Beach."

ABOUT LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE
Founded in 1920, the Laguna Playhouse is one of the oldest continuously-operating theatres on the West Coast, and has evolved from an amateur theater into a professional venue that is now a member of League of Resident Theatres (LORT), a prestigious body of the nation's largest non-profit professional theatres. The Playhouse is also a constituent of the Theatre Communications Group, the national organization of American professional theatre.

More than 100,000 theatergoers annually attend performances at the Laguna Playhouse. Noted for its Youth Theater, Education and Community Outreach programs, the Playhouse’s continued growth, expansion, artistic excellence, audience popularity and critical acclaim have helped make it one of Southern California's most important nonprofit theatre companies. Annual budget now stands at more than $6 million.

The Magic Flute

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder

Four performances only – January 23, 27, 31, February 2, 2008 Segerstrom Hall, Orange County Performing Arts Center Nicole Cabell as Pamina Chad Shelton as Tamino Luz del Alba as Queen of the Night Rod Gilfry as Papageno

Conducted by John DeMain Directed by Michael Hampe

Opera Pacific, led by Artistic Director John DeMain, presents Mozart’s The Magic Flute at Segerstrom Hall of Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Fantasy and delight reign supreme in this eye-popping, colorful production of Mozart’s masterpiece! Visually and aurally stunning, this Magic Flute leads the audience on a thrilling journey through the darkest night (always illuminated with sparkling stars) into a dawn of daylight and love. Wonderful arias – including the Queen of the Night’s gasp-inducing coloratura showcase – highlight the enchanting proceedings. Sung in German with English translation projected above the stage.

An incredible international cast gathers at Opera Pacific for Mozart’s enchanting The Magic Flute. The 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World, Nicole Cabell will join the company as Pamina. Chad Shelton joins the cast of The Magic Flute after singing the role Don Jose in Opera Pacific’s Carmen last February. Uruguyan soprano Luz del Alba reprises her Queen of the Night after making her European debut in the role in 1999 at the Summerfestival in Frankfurt and Mainz. Southern California local turned international star, Rod Gilfry, sings Papageno.

Singing the role of Tamino is tenor Chad Shelton who began the 2006-07 season with L’Opera de Nancy as Guido Bardi in Zemlinsky’s A Florentine Tragedy. Later that season he sang Alfredo in La Traviata with Utah Opera and Central City Opera and performed Handel’s Messiah with the Virginia Symphony. Among his engagements in future seasons is a return to L’Opera de Nancy for Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and both Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Grand Théatre de Genëve.

Hailed by Opera News for his unfailing ability to tackle “high-flying tessitura without even a flicker of strain” as well as having a “convincing line and technical finesse,” tenor Chad Shelton garners acclaim for his characterizations of leading roles on national and international stages. A frequent leading presence with Houston Grand Opera, Shelton’s other roles with the company include Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Captain Vere in Billy Budd, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, and Camille in The Merry Widow. Known for his commitment to contemporary works, Shelton created the role of Laurie in Mark Adamo’s Little Women with Houston Grand Opera, a performance of which was telecast on PBS and commercially recorded on the Ondine label.

Soprano Nicole Cabell sings the role of Pamina. Cabell, the 2005 Winner of the BBC Singer of the World Competition in Cardiff and exclusive DECCA recording artist, is fast becoming one of the most sought-after lyric sopranos of today. Miss Cabell’s 2006/2007 season included many exciting debuts, most notably with the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Eudoxie in concert performances of La Juive, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Carnegie Hall in Poulenc’s Gloria, the Santa Fe Opera as Musetta in La Bohème, the Opéra de Montpellier as Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore and with Opera Rara in a recording and concert performance of the title-role of Donizetti’s Imelda de’ Lambertazzi.

Other notable concert appearances included Carmina Burana and Honey and Rue with the Oslo Philharmonic and Andre Previn, an all-Bernstein evening at Harvard with Judith Clurman, the Gorecki 3rd Symphony with the Minnesota Orchestra and Osmo Vänskä, Messiah with the San Diego Symphony and a return to the Indianapolis Symphony for a concert of Opera Arias with Mario Venzago.

Uruguyan soprano Luz del Alba appears as the Queen of the Night after her Opera Pacifid debut in last September’s Opera Under the Stars concert at the Irvine Bowl. Luz del Alba made her European debut in 1999 at the Summerfestival in Frankfurt and Mainz, as Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.

She has performed as Musetta in La Boheme, at the Teatro di Regio di Parma and Teatro Solis in Montevideo, Gilda in Rigoletto (in over 20 productions) in Italy, Switzerland, and in the States, Orlando and New York City Opera. She also sang Lucia de Lammermoor and Adina in L’Elisir d' Amore in Rome and San Gemignano. As Verdi’s Violetta she has performed at the Vienna Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper in Berlin, Bruxelles, Liege, Ghent, Rome, San Gemignano, Uruguay, and in the states, Orlando and Gibraltar Opera House for its re-opening after 50 years.

At the invitation of Placido Domingo and Washington Opera she made her American debut performing as a flower maiden in Parsifal and Antonia & Guiletta in Tales of Hoffman. Since then she has performed the title role in Lakme at the Baltimore Opera, Olympia in Tales of Hoffman at the West Palm Beach Opera and Antonia in Tales of Hoffman at the Cleveland Opera. In 2004 she sang Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro in Trapani, Italy. In the next season she debuted as Rosina in The Barber of Seville at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires and debuted as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni in Lecce, Italy. Her most recent engagements included singing Rosina in The Barber of Seville at the Ercolano Festival in Naples, performing in a La Fenice production of La Traviata in Beijing and Rigoletto in Jesi, Italy.

Singing the pivotal role of Papageno is baritone Rod Gilfry, who was brought to worldwide attention when he created the role of Stanley Kowalski in the 1998 premiere of André Previn's A Streetcar Named Desire with the San Francisco Opera.

This production, conducted by the composer, was televised nationwide on PBS; a live recording was released by Deutsche Grammophon and DVD and VHS versions have subsequently been issued. He has also recorded on EMI, Erato, Philips, Telarc and Teldec. His live video performances of the Mozart/Da Ponte operas are available on DG/Archiv. With the addition of his assumption of the role of

Nathan in the 2002 Covent Garden premiere of Nicholas Maw’s Sophie’s Choice and the 2003 Los Angeles Opera premiere as Tsar Nicholas II in Nicholas & Alexandra, Mr. Gilfry has become many composer’s baritone of choice for romantic lead roles in new operas.

Opera Pacific Prologue

An Opera Pacific prologue on The Magic Flute will be held at Bowers Museum on Sunday, January 6 at 2:00 p.m. Opera Pacific’s Prologues provide an introduction to the opera for all audiences and are designed to provide information for those new to opera, as well as those who have been lifelong fans of the art form. Prologue speaker Ron Shaheen lends his insight into the history, music and plot intricacies as intended by the composer. Presented in two parts with refreshments at intermission. Prologues also provide audience members an opportunity to ask questions in discussions with the guest speaker, and hear excerpts from the upcoming productions performed by mainstage cast members.

22nd Season of Opera Pacific

Celebrating its 22nd Season, Opera Pacific has established itself as one of the finest professional opera companies in the nation. Opera Pacific's main stage productions, extensive community outreach programs, and energetic Guild Alliance combine to create a cultural resource for Southern California. More than 670,000 people have enjoyed Opera Pacific's productions at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, while over 575,000 young people have discovered the world of opera through the company's in-school presentations, Student Previews, and nationally recognized Opera Camps.

In addition to the "grand opera" repertory, Opera Pacific has responded to the need for strong, professional productions of classic American musical theatre and European operetta. Under the baton and dedication of John DeMain, opera is an event with the honest communication of the stories and musical values of the works, combined with exciting singers, and major opera house scale productions.

Tickets for The Magic Flute

Tickets for The Magic Flute are priced from $27 to $191 and are available by calling 1-800-34-OPERA, online at www.operapacific.org, or by visiting the Orange County Performing Arts Center Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. For information, go to www.operapacific.org. For groups, call (714) 830-6361.

"We should hear a little music, read a little poetry,
and see a fine picture every day so that worldly
cares do not obliterate our sense of the beautiful."

Goethe

Best Musical Tony® Award-Winner

JERSEY BOYS
The Story of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
Directed By Des McAnuff

November 13 – December 1, 2007 in Segerstrom Hall

JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, comes to the Orange County Performing Artscenter November 13 – December 1, 2007 in Segerstrom Hall. Directed by two-time Tony® Award-winner Des McAnuff, JERSEY BOYS won four 2006 Tony® Awards, including Best Musical and continues to set new weekly box office records at the August Wilson Theatre, where it has remained among the five top grossing shows in New York since opening in November 2005. JERSEY BOYS is written by Academy Award winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo.

JERSEY BOYS is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were thirty.

The JERSEY BOYS design and production team comprises Klara Zieglerova (Scenic Design), Jess Goldstein (Costume Design), Howell Binkley (winner of the 2006 Tony Award® for his Lighting Design of JERSEY BOYS), Steve Canyon Kennedy (Sound Design), Michael Clark (Projections Design), Charles LaPointe (Wig and Hair Design), Steve Orich (Orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (Music Direction, Vocal Arrangements & Incidental Music).

JERSEY BOYS is produced by Dodger Theatricals, Joseph J. Grano, Tamara and Kevin Kinsella, Pelican Group, in association with Latitude Link and Rick Steiner.

CRITICAL PRAISE:
“Too good to be true. The book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is as tight and absorbing as an Arthur Miller play. The cast is just plain wonderful. The glitzy, sleight-of-hand staging by Des McAnuff doesn’t hurt either. With its vibrant choreography by Sergio Trujillo, imaginative settings by Klara Zieglerova, spot-on costumes by Jess Goldstein, and arena-style lighting by Howell Binkley, JERSEY BOYS is terrific – a show dynamically alive in music, while as a drama, it catches the very texture, almost the actual smell of its time.” – Clive Barnes, New York Post

“The most exciting musical Broadway has seen in years. A dazzling piece of conceptual direction by Des McAnuff, shrewdly penned by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, this endlessly savvy production works the audience up into such high stakes lather that the on-stage performances of boffo songs become catharses. You don’t ever want to look away.” – Chris Jones, The Chicago Tribune

“The crowd goes wild. I’m talking about the real crowd at the August Wilson Theatre, who seem to have forgotten what year it is or how old they are or, most important, that John Lloyd Young is not Frankie Valli. And everything that leads up to the curtain call feels as real and vivid as the sting of your hands clapping together.” – Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“It all starts and ends with the book, and this one by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice is a winner. It’s the funny, original and moving way this story is told that makes it stand out. The versatile ensemble is first-rate. JERSEY BOYS works because its collaborators – those both on and offstage – found themselves in perfect harmony.” –Roma Torre, NY1 News “A can’t-stop-the-music tidal wave. Enjoy juicy behind-the-scenes true stories? Then, without a doubt, this is the hot new Broadway show for you. A fast-moving script electrified by most of the group’s greatest hits. Energetically weaving story, songs, visuals and performances, Des McAnuff stages a compelling rush of events that pauses only occasionally to savor the beauty of the songs.” –Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger

“I entered a skeptic, but promptly turned believer. Smart dialogue, devastating direction and overwhelming emotional impact.” – John Simon, Bloomberg.com

BIOGRAPHIES:

MARSHALL BRICKMAN (Book). Films: (author or co-author) Sleeper, Annie Hall (AA), Manhattan, Manhattan Murder Mystery; (writer/director) Simon, Lovesick, The Manhattan Project, Sister Mary Explains it All. Television: The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson (head writer), The Dick Cavett Show ABC late night show (head writer/co-producer). Mr. Brickman entered show business as a musician, first as a member of the folk group the Tarriers and then, along with John and Michelle Phillips, as one of the New Journeymen, which re-emerged a year later (Brickman having moved onto saner pursuits) as The Mamas and the Papas. Brickman’s recording (with Eric Weissberg) of the soundtrack for Deliverance, recorded in 1963, achieved gold status twice and remains a healthy seller around the world 40 years later. Mr. Brickman has published in The New York Times, The New Yorker, Playboy, and other periodicals. Jersey Boys is his first venture into musical theater.

RICK ELICE (Book) wrote a popular thriller, Double Double (translated in 16 languages), Leonardo’s Ring (London Fringe, 2003) and Dog and Pony (New York Stage & Film, 2003). From 1982-2000, as creative director at Serino Coyne Inc., he produced ad campaigns for some 300 Broadway shows, from A Chorus Line to Lion King. Since 2000, he has served as creative consultant for The Walt Disney Studio. BA, Cornell University; MFA, Yale Drama School; Teaching Fellow, Harvard University; charter member, American Repertory Theater. In 2003, he appeared off-Broadway in Elaine May’s comedy, Adult Entertainment. With Marshall Brickman, he is currently writing another Broadway musical, to be directed by Tommy Tune.

BOB GAUDIO (Music) wrote his first hit, “Who Wears Short Shorts,” at 15, for the Royal Teens, a group he started, then went on to become a founding member of The Four Seasons and the band’s principal songwriter. He also produced the hit “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” for Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand (Grammy nomination, Record of the Year), as well as six albums for Diamond, including The Jazz Singer. Other producing credits include albums for Frank Sinatra, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, and the soundtrack for Little Shop of Horrors. Several songs co-written with Bob Crewe have been cover hits for such artists as the Tremeloes (“Silence Is Golden”) and the Walker Brothers (“The Sun Ain`t Gonna Shine Anymore”) and Lauren Hill (“Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”). With his wife, Judy Parker, Gaudio produced and co-wrote the Who Loves You album for The Four Seasons, and one of Billboard’s longest-charted singles (54 weeks), “Oh, What A Night.” A high point in his career came in 1990, when, as an original member of The Four Seasons, Gaudio was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which hailed him as“a quintessential music-maker.” In 1995, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. To this day, Bob Gaudio and Frankie Valli still maintain their partnership…on a handshake.

BOB CREWE (Lyrics). “New York was pregnant in the fifties,” says Bob Crewe, “gestating with possibilities.” Crewe and music partner Frank Slay became independent writer-producers when the category hadn’t yet been invented. In 1957 they wrote and produced “Silhouettes” for The Rays, skyrocketing to #1. Suddenly, producers in demand, they launched Freddie Cannon’s “Tallahassee Lassie” and Billy & Lillie’s “Lah Dee Dah.” Crewe’s 1960’s solo unprecedented producing success with The Four Seasons birthed a new sound, striking a major chord in American Pop. “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Candy Girl,” “Ronnie” – all smashes! When lead Frankie Valli demanded a solo turn, Crewe and Bob Gaudio wrote and Crewe produced “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” eventually becoming the century’s fifth most played song. Crewe ran hot with artists from Vicki Carr, Oliver, Lesley Gore to Mitch Ryder, co-writing with Charles Fox the soundtrack for Jane Fonda’s film, “Barbarella.” Then his own Bob Crewe Generation exploded with Music To Watch Girls By. In 1972 Bob was in L.A., where he revived Frankie Valli with “My Eyes Adored You” by Crewe and Kenny Nolan. They also co-wrote Patti LaBelle’s “Lady Marmalade” (#1, July ’75) – to re-hit again from the soundtrack of Moulin Rouge (#1, June ’01).

DES McANUFF (Director) is a two-time Tony Award-winning director and writer and the Artistic Director of La Jolla Playhouse. Under his leadership, La Jolla Playhouse has won more than 300 theatre awards including the 1993 Tony Award as America's Outstanding Regional Theatre. Recent productions directed at the Playhouse include Zhivago (2005); Palm Beach, The Screwball Musical (2005); Private Fittings (2005); Tom Donaghy's Eden Lane (2003); Molière's Tartuffe (2002); and The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (2001). Playhouse to Broadway Credits: Jersey Boys; Billy Crystal's 700 Sundays (Playhouse 2004; Broadway 2004, Tony Award for Special Theatrical Event); How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Playhouse 1994, Broadway 1995), The Who's Tommy (director/co-author with Pete Townshend; Playhouse 1992, Broadway 1993, Tony Award Best Director of a Musical, London Olivier Award Best Director 1994), A Walk in the Woods (Playhouse 1987, Broadway 1988, Moscow and Lithuania 1989-90) and Big River (Playhouse 1984, Broadway 1985, seven Tony Awards including Best Director of a Musical and Best Musical). Film credits include Cousin Bette (director), Iron Giant (Producer), The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle (director) and Quills (Executive Producer).

SERGIO TRUJILLO (Choreographer) most recently choreographed the Broadway musical All Shook Up. Other NYC credits: The Great American Trailer Park Musical (Off-Broadway), Bare (Off-Broadway), A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Encores!), and Salome (NYC Opera). International credits: Peggy Sue Got Married (West End, London); West Side Story and The Sound of Music (Stratford Festival); Kiss Me, Kate and Twelfth Night (Tokyo, Japan). Other theatre credits: The Mambo Kings (Golden Gate Theatre), Jersey Boys (La Jolla Playhouse), The Wedding Banquet (Village Theatre), Kiss Of The Spiderwoman (North Shore Music Theatre), Le Nozze Di Figaro (LA Opera), Hoy Como Ayer (Ballet Hispanico) and segments of Chita Rivera's Chita and All that Jazz. Mr. Trujillo has choreographed various TV specials including: “Broadway: The American Musical” (PBS), and “The 14 American Comedy Awards” starring Nathan Lane, Martin Short and Jane Krakowski. Recipient of a 2003 Ovation Award in LA and three Dora Mavor Moore Award Nominations for outstanding choreography in Canada.

JERSEY BOYS debuted at the La Jolla Playhouse on October 5, 2004, where it became the most successful production in the history of the playhouse, extending three times. The show opened to critical acclaim at the August Wilson Theatre on November 6, 2005. The National Tour of JERSEY BOYS began December 1, 2006 at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco.

The Grammy Award-winning JERSEY BOYS cast recording is available now on Rhino Records.

Visit the JERSEY BOYS website at www.JerseyBoysTour.com.

Orange County Performing Artscenter
The Orange County Performing Artscenter is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through an array of inspiring programs.

It owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Founders Hall, which opened in 1986, and the 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses the 500-seat Samueli Theater and the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center. These state-of-the-art facilities are united by a community arts plaza and outdoor performance venue.

The Performing Artscenter’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, along with facilities of the adjacent Tony® Award-winning South Coast Repertory and a site for a future visual arts museum, are located within Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

The Orange County Performing Artscenter presents a broad range of programming each season, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public and many other special events.

It offers many programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. These programs reach more than 500,000 students of all ages with vital arts-in-education programs, enhancing their studies and enriching their lives well into the future.

The Orange County Performing Artscenter is proud to serve as the artistic home to the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Opera Pacific and the Pacific Chorale.

Tickets to JERSEY BOYS at the Orange County Performing Artscenter are $28.25 to $83.25 and are on sale now at the Performing Artscenter Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, by calling 714.556.2787 or online at www.OCPAC.org. For inquiries about group sales, call the Performing Artscenter Group Sales office at 714.755.0236. The TTY number is 714.556.2746.

The Performing Artscenter applauds Cox Communications and California Bank & Trust for their support. Mercedes-Benz is a Presenting Sponsor of the Orange County Performing Artscenter’s 2007-2008 Season.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents.....
February 2007

¡Sofrito!

February 1 - 3, 2008 ∙ Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Family

It will be magical storytelling propelled by a mambo beat as David Gonzalez is joined by the Latin Legends Band in the Performing Artscenter’s offering of another program in its delightful Family Series. Newsday said “You’ll be hooked on every word and sound.” The lively concoction of spicy music and island fairy tales will sweep you away. It’s been said you may even find yourself dancing in the aisles.

Samueli Theater

Blast!
February 5 – 10, 2008
Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1 & 6:30 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Curtain Call

Blast! is back by popular demand. The energy-laden spectacular that won a Tony Award for “Best Special Theatrical Event” and an Emmy Award for “Best Choreography” in 2001 is comprised of 35 brass, percussion and visual performers. They come together in what can only be described as a unique explosion of music and theatre. Born on athletic fields across the nation, Blast! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry.

Segerstrom Hall

An American Tale
February 7 – 9, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Classics

This concert, with Carl St. Clair at the podium, pays homage to music inspired by the rugged landscape and the music of the American West. Featured on the program will be Copland’s Suite from “Billy the Kid” and an extraordinary bowed piano performance, as when nylon fish line is drawn across the piano strings the resulting sustained chords are simply amazing. The latter is a world premiere by Stephen Scott and The Bowed Piano Ensemble.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Taylor Eigsti
February 8 and 9, 2008 ∙ Friday and Saturday at 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Jazz

Piano phenom Taylor Eigsti has been jamming with such jazz titans as David Benoit and Dave Brubeck since the age of eight. He continues to tear up the ivories with style, enthusiasm, sensitivity and an intuitive musicality rarely found in such a young artist.

Samueli Theater

Scheherazade
February 9, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Family Musical Morning

In this delightful presentation, members of the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, led by Michael Hall, introduce their young audience to the famous musical tale of the exotic storyteller who told stories of the 1,001 Arabian Nights. Scheherazade – it’s a mystical, musical event for the entire family.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Beethoven, By and Large
February 10, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 3 p.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Café Ludwig

In an intimate setting, audiences can enjoy coffee, pastries and timeless classical music with Beethoven, By and Large. The subject for this Café Ludwig is Beethoven – Sonata No.3 for Cello and Piano and Quintet for Piano and Winds in E-flat major – although the musicians will also offer pieces by other composers, including Janaček and Mládi.

Samueli Theater

Assad Brothers Brazilian Guitar Festival
February 10, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 8 p.m.
Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

Sergio and Odair Assad have set the benchmark for all guitarists by creating a new standard of innovative guitar ingenuity and expression. This season they return with “The Brazilian Guitar Festival,” featuring their sister Badi, a remarkable guitarist and vocalist, Romero Lubambo, an acoustic master jazz guitarist and Celso Machado, an exceptional vocalist.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Russian National Orchestra
February 12, 2008 ∙ Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County welcomes the Russian National Orchestra and conductor Vladimir Jurowski to the Concert Hall along with pianist Stephen Hough. The program includes Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15 by Brahms and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 – Pathètique.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Diana Vishneva – Beauty in Motion
February 13 – 17, 2008
Wednesday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Dance

“Breathtaking…she brings moments of lyricism, poignancy, even grandeur to her role that makes the choreography appear huge,” said The Guardian (London). Following the phenomenal success of Kings of the Dance last year, the Performing Artscenter is proud to bring another world premiere dance event into Segerstrom Hall, this one showcasing superstar Diana Vishneva. The incomparable prima ballerina will perform a program of new ballets created just for her by some of today’s most sought-after choreographers, including Alexei Ratmansky, Moses Pendleton and Dwight Rhoden. Also featured in the performances will be acclaimed dancer Desmond Richardson and various members of the Kirov Opera, Ballet and Orchestra

Segerstrom Hall

Frank Sinatra, Jr.
February 14 – 16, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.
Pacific Symphony presents Pops

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, the musical heir to “ol’ blue eyes” offers spectacular evenings of his legendary father’s favorite songs. After having worked as his dad’s music director for years, the younger Frank absorbed the nuances of the elder’s expressions, stage presence and delivery for each and every memorable song.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Faith Prince
February 14 – 17, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Cabaret

Tony Award-winner Faith Prince has conquered Broadway, the movies and television. She won her Tony for her turn as the perennially unwed Miss Adelaide in Guys and Dolls. She was also nominated for two other shows: Bells Are Ringing and Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. As an accomplished singer, she has worked with The Boston Pops, the Utah Symphony and the Cincinnati Pops, among others. She most recently starred in Showtime’s “Huff” as Oliver Platt’s love interest.

Samueli Theater

The Clock Shop
February 16, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Musical Story Tim

With Joe Berarducci as the host, children will wander through a clock shop and tell time – tick-tock, tick-tock. Children will enjoy 45 minutes of music, learning and guided playtime. On hand to help them along on their journey will be gifted musicians from Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra.

Education Theater in Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Shenandoah
February 19 and 20, 2008 ∙ Tuesday and Wednesday at 8 p.m.
Pacific Chorale’s John Alexander Singers present

Last season, the John Alexander Singers’ performances were standing room only. This season promises to be the same when they return with a program that explores the lush valleys, mountains and rivers of the American folk song tradition, complete with a bluegrass band. John Alexander’s astute programming spans our collective experiences, tracing the recurring themes of hardship and hope, ambition and rescue, love and loss, from the Appalachians to the California basin.
Pre-concert “Hootenanny” that includes supper and dance lesson

Samueli Theater

Angel Romero and Eliot Fisk
February 21, 2008 ∙ Thursday at 7:30 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents World Currents

Both Angel Romero and Eliot Fisk are considered undisputed masters of Spanish guitar and are known throughout the world for their spectacular artistry and flair. Now, in Samueli Theater, the duo will join forces for an unrivaled display of virtuosity, charisma and brilliance. Said The Chicago Sun-Times, “When Fisk plays the classical guitar, it becomes an instrument of seemingly endless possibilities.”

Samueli Theater

Bellydance Superstars
February 22, 2008 ∙ Friday at 8 p.m.
Orange County Performing Artscenter presents World Current

The Concert Hall will be awash in swirls of colors and exotic sounds when the most intoxicating of dances is presented by the Bellydance Superstars. From the Follies Bergere, the Lollapalooza Festival or London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, this acclaimed troupe creates a sensation wherever they perform and the Orange County Performing Artscenter promises to be no different.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

February 23, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 8 p.m.

Grammy Award-winning Joshua Bell performs with a skill and elegance that captivates audiences beyond classical music aficionados. His performances are glorious and electrifying, whether he’s playing on one of the world’s grand stages or inside a New York metro station. In accepting the Oscar for best film score for The Red Violin, composer John Corigliano proclaimed, “Joshua plays like a god.”

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Band of the Coldstream Guards

February 24, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 3 p.m.

Perhaps they are two of the most enduring symbols of Scottish pageantry and pride – The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and The Band of the Coldstream Guards. The roots of the Royal Scots date back to the oldest surviving Cavalry of the Line in the British Army. The Coldstream regiment, with more than 200 years of continuous service, is one of the oldest military bands in the world. It will be an exciting evening of pomp and tradition when both play at the Performing Artscenter.

Segerstrom Hall

Czech Philharmonic

February 25, 2008 ∙ Monday at 8 p.m.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

Included in the Philharmonic Society’s Masterworks schedule is the Czech Philharmonic with Zdenek Mácal conducting. The guest soloist has yet to be announced. Included in the program will be Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp minor by Mahler and Symphony No. 1 by Martinu.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Twelve Angry Men

February 26 – March 9, 2008

Tuesdays – Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 1 & 6:30 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Broadway

The greatest courtroom drama of all time plays out on the stage of Segerstrom Hall. A dozen jurors from 12 walks of life are suddenly thrust together and must make one decision from only two choices – guilty or not guilty. What seems like an open-and-shut murder case becomes a twisted puzzle of prejudice and intrigue. And as they weigh the evidence while sequestered ever so closely, they must ultimately face themselves.

Segerstrom Hall

Meyers Plays Mendelssohn

February 28 – March 1, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.

Pacific Symphony presents

Pacific Symphony conducted by Carl St. Clair presents an exceptional evening of classics featuring violinist Anne Akiko Meyers, who is recognized as one of today’s most inspiring and sought-after violinists. Hailed by critics, media, conductors and audiences alike, she continuously plays to sold-out houses. The program includes Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto and Symphony No. 7 by Bruckner.

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Orange County Performing Artscenter

Orange County Performing Artscenter is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages and engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through an array of inspiring programs.

Orange County Performing Artscenter owns and operates the 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall and intimate 250-seat Founders Hall, which opened in 1986, and the 2,000-seat Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which opened in 2006 and also houses the 500-seat Samueli Theater and the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center. These state-of-the-art facilities are united by a community arts plaza and outdoor performance venue.

The Center’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, along with facilities of the adjacent Tony® Award-winning South Coast Repertory and a site for a future visual arts museum, are located within Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents a broad range of programming each season, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public, from outdoor movie screenings and dancing on the Plaza to many other special events.

Many programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts. These programs reach more than 500,000 students of all ages with vital arts-in-education programs, enhancing their studies and enriching their lives well into the future.

The Center is proud to serve as the artistic home to the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Opera Pacific and the Pacific Chorale.

For more information, visit www.OCPAC.org.

Free Public Tours

The Performing Artscenter offers tours of Southern California's award-winning home for the performing arts and its expanded facilities. The tours take visitors through the three venues, making this a perfect outing for groups or anyone who wants to know more about the performing arts. The tour is conducted by Performing Artscenter Docents. Public tours are conducted Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Private group tours are by reservation only.

Please note: Private and public tours of all Center halls are now available.

Please call 714.556.2122, ext. 4259 for more information on either the private or the public tours.

Performing Artscenter applauds the following for their support:

Ameriprise Financial
Automobile Club of Southern California
Bank of America
Audrey Steele Burnand
Clos du Bois
Cox Communications
Delta Air Lines
Jane and Jim Driscoll
The James Irvine Foundation
Kingston Technology
KKJZ
KUSC
Long Beach Press Telegram
Los Angeles Times
Mastro's Restaurants
Mercedes-Benz
E. Nakamichi Foundation
OC Family
The Charles & Mildred Schnurmacher

Foundation, Inc.
Sempra
The Segerstrom Foundation Endowment for

Great Performances

For more information about individual programs and ticket prices, call:

Performing Artscenter - 714.556.2787

Pacific Symphony – 714.755.5799

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County – 949.553.2422
Opera Pacific – 800.346.7372
Pacific Chorale – 714.662.2345
All programs, artists and dates subject to change.

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Laguna College Alumna Awarded Prestigious ARC Scholarship

The Art Renewal Center (ARC) recently announced the winners of the 2007 Annual Scholarship Competition. Among the recipients was Laguna College of Art & Design Alumna Adrienne Stein. Adrienne graduated with honors receiving her Bachelor of Fine Art degree in 2007. She is currently studying at the Art Students’ League of New York with ARC Living Master Frank Mason, from there she will continue her studies at the Grand Central Academy of Art.

“New York City is wonderful – a feast for the senses. Art is everywhere – from museums to the old architecture. There are so many opportunities and connections to be made. I moved here a month ago and I intended only to stay six months to a year because I’ve never been the big city type, but I knew it was a good career move. Every day I spend here, the longer I want to stay. There is so much to discover,” Remarked Stein.

Student painters and sculptors who were chosen to receive these awards submitted examples of their works which clearly reflect the principles espoused by classical methods of drawing, painting and sculpture; centering on the importance of the techniques developed and evolved from the Renaissance through the late 19th century. Student works reflected a level of visual literacy that demonstrated their dedication to upholding the artistic traditions and values sought by the ARC.

Choosing winners from this year's overwhelming pool of entries proved to be an extremely difficult task for the esteemed panel of judges: Jacob Collins, ARC Living Master; Gregory Hedberg, Director of the Department of European Art at Hirschl & Adler Galleries in Manhattan; Paul W. McCormack, ARC Living Master, Executive Director of ARC Programs; and ARC's own Chairman and Founder, Fred Ross.

Now in its seventh year, the ARC Scholarship program has helped students from all over the world continue their studies. With $20,000 awarded annually, and over $90,000 awarded to date, the Art Renewal Center strives to ensure that current and future generations of artists receive proper instruction in the traditional and classical methods of representational art. ARC is involved in numerous other projects, all in support of a return to an appreciation of great and enduring art, to humanist values in the visual arts, and to academic art education.

Images:
Second Place Award - “I Looked for the One My Heart Loves”, Oil on Mahogany Panel

Alumni Exhibition at Fairhaven Memorial Park
Raises $2,000 for Laguna College of Art & Design Scholarships

Laguna College of Art & Design raised $2,000 to benefit the Alumni Association Scholarships Fund at the 2nd Annual Alumni Exhibition held November 8-11 at the Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana. The event was attended by more than 600 people, and artwork sales totaled approximately $35,000.

The exhibition explored the theme, “Capturing the Force of Stillness” within the historic setting and powerful ambiance of the Fairhaven Mausoleum. Sixty-five pieces of realistic figurative and representational artworks from 30 LCAD alumni artist were displayed where guests experienced a truly unique event in this cathedral-like space. Lit by candlelight, viewers were encouraged to linger intimately with each painting, drawing and sculpture.

Event curator and alumna Regina Jacobson was, “…thrilled for the opportunity to exhibit the LCAD alumni artwork in such an incredible space as the Fairhaven Mausoleum - a monument that honors the very lives that the artists seek to capture. Our guests agreed -it’s a perfect partnership – and we look forward to next year.”

Best of Show awards went to Kaleeka Bond for her 8-foot pastel triptych “By the Hour” and to Patrick Whalen for his painting “Secret Forestn.” Sergio Rebia received an Achievement Award for his overall body of work.

"I enjoyed working with the quality of people who are affiliated with the Laguna College of Art & Design. The work that the artists presented was amazing and truly professional. Fairhaven is proud to be associated with such a prestigious organization," said Marla Noel, President of Fairhaven Memorial Park.

Images (taken by Patsee Ober):
Fairhaven 1, 2 & 3 - Artwork on display by candlelight in the mausoleum
Artists - Participating alumni at the opening reception
Power and Bond - LCAD President Dennis Power presenting the Best of Show Award to Kaleeka Bond
Decinces - LCAD Trustee Kristi DeCinces with husband Doug
Jacobson - Exhibition curator and alumna, Regina Jacobson (left), with quests on opening night