COMPLEXIONS
Contemporary Ballet

Loose Change a solo for Desmond Richardson
Choreographed by film and television star TAYE DIGGS
Dwight Rhoden's Chapters
A dance/theater work to the music of Marvin Gaye.

April 11-13, 2008

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion

COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet, headed by co-artistic directors Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, continues Dance at the Music Center’s 2007-2008 season April 11-13, with the Southern California Premiere of Loose Change by actor Taye Diggs and the West Coast Premiere of Chapters a new work by Dwight Rhoden set to the music of Marvin Gaye. The company last performed at the Music Center in 2001.

The acclaimed COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet (Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, co-Artistic Directors), will bring 2 new works to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion April 11-13 with the Southern California Premiere of Loose Change, a solo for Desmond Richardson choreographed by film and television star Taye Diggs and the West Coast Premiere of Dwight Rhoden's Chapters, a dance/theater work to the music of Marvin Gaye. A preview of a full-evening work scheduled for premiere in 2008-09, Chapters centers around a group of ambitious friends living in New York, and the day-to-day challenges of their lives in the Big City.

Co-founder and co-artistic director of COMPLEXIONS, Dwight Rhoden has created more than sixty works for COMPLEXIONS since its debut in 1994. Rhoden has also created works for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, where he was a principal dancer, the Joffrey Ballet, New York City Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Rhoden was described in The New York Times as "a master of invention," whose choreography was like "hot molten lava, flowing with undeniable power."

Loose Change is a solo created for Desmond Richardson by actor Taye Diggs with original music by David Ryan Harris. Described by the New York Times as “a charmer,” the solo dance is an emotional journey that travels from quiet and reflective to longing and energetic.

Diggs began his dance training in his native Rochester with Garth Fagan and Timothy Draper, and his relationship with Rhoden/Richardson goes back a dozen years, when he was a frequent student in their class at STEPS. The actor/singer/dancer is currently co-artistic director, with Andrew Palermo, of dre.dance, which is in residence at Tribeca P.A. Center. Diggs' performing credits include roles on and Off Broadway in Chicago, Wicked, and Rent, to name a few. His numerous film appearances include Chicago, and How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and on TV he has been seen in the Allie McBeal shows and the ABC series “Daybreak.” Loose Change was created by Diggs for Desmond Richardson, hailed as "one of the greatest modern dancers of our time" by The New York Times.

The West Coast premiere of Dwight Rhoden’s Chapters is set to the music of Marvin Gaye, and through songs such as “What’s Going On” and “Mercy, Mercy, Me” tells the story of a group of lifelong friends in New York City, and the challenges they encounter.

Conceived by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, two former stars of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet aims to bring together artists of diverse artistic and cultural backgrounds, using their interaction as a springboard for cutting-edge creativity. “We pushed the envelope from the very beginning, giving artists who never would have had a chance to dance together an opportunity to do so,” says co-Artistic Director, Desmond Richardson. “Pointe shoes, flats, high heels – from ‘pointe’ to ‘pop,’ our goal is to explore each dancer’s individuality and to come up with something completely new and extraordinary.”

Rhoden adds, “as a diverse company, we reflect the fabric of America – a melting pot of differences, a huge bouquet of distinctly separate parts that together amount to an amazing, awe-inspiring whole. We are experimental – we have dancers of all ages, we do pointe work that is informed by the emotional sensibility of modern dance, we work with theatrical concepts, we use texts, we do site-specific works. Our company also carries a strong social and cultural message – if you use dance to bring people together, and the audience sees all these different colors, qualities and textures together on one stage, it sends a very important message of unity, which is, ultimately, what our company is all about.”

Following their sold-out debut performances at Symphony Space in 1994, COMPLEXIONS went on to tour extensively throughout the United States and abroad, including U.S. performances at The Joyce Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Lincoln Center in New York; the Mahalia Jackson Performance Arts Center in New Orleans; The Paramount Theater in Seattle; the Music Hall in Detroit; and the Los Angeles Music Center, among many others. International tours have included Italy’s Festival of Dance; Isle de Dance Festival in Paris, France; Holland Dance Festival; Steps international Dance Festival in Switzerland; the Dance Festival of Canary Islands, Spain; Festival des Arts de St. Saveur in Canada; and recent tours to Russia, Korea, Greece, and Australia

THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS

Desmond Richardson (Co-Artistic Director) received his early dance training at New York High School for the Performing Arts, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and the International Academie des Tanz in Koln, Germany. In 1986, he received a Presidential Scholar Award for the Arts. Richardson has performed as a principal dancer with many companies around the world, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, the American Ballet Theater and Ballett Frankfurt. He has also performed as a guest artist with such companies as the Swedish Opera Ballet, Teatro La Scala, and the San Francisco Ballet. Richardson received a 1999 Tony Award Nomination for his performance in the Broadway musical, Fosse, and appeared in the Oscar-winning film of Chicago, as well as in Patrick Swayze's film, Without a Word. Richardson co-founded COMPLEXIONS with Dwight Rhoden in 1994.

Dwight Rhoden (Co-Artistic Director, choreographer) has been choreographing for over 22 years. He has created over 60 ballets for COMPLEXIONS, as well as for numerous other companies, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, New York City Ballet/Diamond Project, Dance Theater of Harlem, Philadanco, Washington Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Arizona Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Company, Oakland Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Phoenix Dance Company in England, and many others. He has also choreographed for film, including Patrick Swayze’s feature, Without a Word. Rhoden is a recipient of the 1998 New York Foundation for the Arts Award and the 2001 Choo San Goh Award for Choreography. He has performed with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater before co-founding COMPLEXIONS with Desmond Richardson in 1994.

Orange County Performing Artscenter

March 2008

Performance Highlight

March 11 – 16, 2008

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Few companies can electrify an audience like the Ailey dancers, whose captivating energy makes every performance a life-affirming experience. For that reason the astonishing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Performing Artscenter with an array of Ailey classics as well as new works by some of today’s most inventive choreographers.

$25 - $85

Segerstrom Hall

Calendar of Events

March 1 – 9, 2008

Tuesday – Friday 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

Twelve Angry Men

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.

$15 - $65

Segerstrom Hall

March 1, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 8 p.m.

Pacific Symphony presents

Anne Akiko Meyers Plays Mendelssohn

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.

$25 - $175

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 2, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 3 p.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Classical Connections

Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto

The history that lies beneath the surface of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto is explained in detail, while its musical significance is exquisitely demonstrated by virtuoso violinist Anne Akiko Meyers. Carl St.Clair is once again conductor and host of this afternoon of conversation and performance.

$22 - $82

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 3, 2008 ∙ Monday at 8 p.m.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

Osvaldo Golivov’s “Ayre” with Dawn Upshaw

Golivov is considered one of the hottest young composers in classical music. The Argentinean composer teams up with Grammy Award-winning soprano Dawn Upshaw to perform “Ayre,” his latest piece. The songs are comprised of a variety of traditional folk melodies and texts. The result is a cultural and emotional work where love and anger live side by side.

$20 - $50

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 4, 2008 ∙ Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

Yundi Li

After winning the prestigious 2000 Chopin International Piano Competition, Chinese pianist Yundi Li rose to fame at age 18 as the youngest ever to win the Gold Medal. Dubbed the “poet of the piano,” he has been praised for his technical precision, his fluidity on the keys and his infectious enthusiasm.

$25 - $150

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 6 – 9, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 7 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Cabaret

Brian Stokes Mitchell

Whether it’s his show-stopping performance in Ragtime, his Tony® win for Kiss Me, Kate or any of his other mesmerizing appearances, Brian Stokes Mitchell is undeniably Broadway’s leading “leading man” and sometimes even called the “king of Broadway.” Named one of People magazines’ 50 Most Beautiful People. Mitchell has earned numerous accolades including a Tony nomination for his role as Don Quixote in the revival of Man of La Mancha.

$62

Samueli Theater

March 6 – 8, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Pops

Peter, Paul & Mary

Peter, Paul & Mary, one of the most enduring acts in American music, both defined and transcended the folk music revival of the 60s. Under the baton of Richard Kaufman, conductor, and the Pacific Symphony, the trio will perform some of the songs that helped pave the way to their fame and fortune. Those songs included “Blowin’ in the Wind,” “Puff, the Magic Dragon,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” and “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”

$21 - $175

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 8, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Musical Storytime

Journey to Outer Space

Designed to entertain and teach children ages 4 to 7, this program concentrates on spaceships and rockets. Participants will learn a fun moon dance and fly off to other planets as they march and sing and even play music on a few instruments. Joe Berarducci is the host of this delightful children’s Musical Storytime.

$17 - $32

Education Theater in Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 9, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 7 p.m.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

Cherish the Ladies

Cherish the Ladies is considered the most successful and sought-after Irish American groups in Celtic music history. The sensational entertainers bring a blend of virtuoso instrumental talents, beautiful voices, captivating arrangements and stunning step dancing to their performances.

$20 - $50

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 11 – 16, 2008 ∙ Tuesday – Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 & 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Dance

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Few companies can electrify an audience like the Ailey dancers, whose captivating energy makes every performance a life-affirming experience. For that reason the astonishing Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns to the Performing Artscenter with an array of Ailey classics as well as new works by some of today’s most inventive choreographers.

$25 - $85

Segerstrom Hall

March 13 – 15, 2008 ∙ Thursday – Saturday at 8 p.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Classics

Pines of Rome

Xian Zhang, New York Philharmonic associate conductor, is considered a rising sensation in his field and he will lead the Pacific Symphony in Pines of Rome by Respighi, a symphonic poem evoking vibrant images of ancient Rome. For Hayden’s lyrical Cello Concerto he will be joined by cellist Jian Wang. Also on the program will be another piece by Respighi, entitled Botticelli Triptych.

$25 - $175

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 15, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Family Musical Mornings

Stone Soup

With Michael Hall as the conductor, Family Musical Mornings will introduce its young audience to the many and varied instruments which make up an orchestra. This delightful learning experience will be accomplished through the symphonic adaptation of that favorite children’s story, “Stone Soup.”

$17 - $32

Education Theater in Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 19, 2008 ∙ Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

State Symphony of Mexico

With Enrique Batiz conducting the State Symphony of Mexico and Alfonso Moreno on guitar, the Symphony will present an exciting program that includes such favorites as Sensemaya by Revueltas,

The Three-Cornered Hat, Suite No. 2 by de Falla, Danzas Fantásticas, Op. 22 by Turina and much, much more.

$25 - $250

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 20 – 22, 2008 ∙ Thursday, Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Off Center

The Old Trout Puppet Workshop: Famous Puppet Death Scenes

Canada’s Old Trout Puppet Workshop promises to cure audiences of any fear of death they may have with Famous Puppet Death Scenes, proclaimed by Toronto’s Globe and Mail as “a wonderfully innovative delight.” This witty, wise and bizarre puppet show presents a collection of death scenes from the absolute best puppet shows in history that will deconstruct your traumatized psyche.

$25

Samueli Theater

March 26 – April 19, 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 Curtain Call

The Phantom of the Opera

The Phantom of the Opera, the longest-running show in Broadway history, returns to the Performing Artscenter and it will once again take your breath away with its timeless story of seduction and despair. One can never see this award-winning phenomenon by Andrew Lloyd Webber and directed by Harold Prince too many times. It seems that it will forever weave its magic, haunting spell over standing room only audiences throughout the world.

$21.25 - $73.25

Segerstrom Hall

March 27, 2008 ∙ Thursday at 8 p.m.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Murray Perahia as conductor and pianist. The program includes two pieces by Mozart; including Symphony No. 31 in D major, K 297, Paris and Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467; Bach’s Piano Concerto in D major, BWV 1054 and Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D major London.

$25 - $250

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 27, 2008 ∙ Thursday at 8 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Indie Bands

Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids are Nathan Willett (lead vocals, piano, guitar), Jonnie Russell (guitar, vocals, percussion), Matt Maust (bass guitar) and Matt Aveiro (drums). They got their start in historic downtown Fullerton in Jonnie’s apartment above Mulberry St. Restaurant and are now based in Long Beach. Their music is heavily inspired by artists like Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Velvet Underground, Radiohead and Johnny Segment. Recently, Cold War Kids starred in an MTV2 special titled Cold War Kids Takeover! and have been guests on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and on The Late Show with David Letterman.

$25 general admission $40 VIP

Sameuli Theater

March 28 & 29, 2008 ∙ Friday & Saturday at 8 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Off Center

Mike Daisey in Monopoly!

The New York Times calls Mike Daisey a " master storyteller...one of the finest solo performers of his generation." Daisey takes on matters personal and historic, small and large, to illuminate an individual, a culture, and a world that is as heartbreaking as it is hilarious. His monologue Monopoly! illustrates the issues we confront under corporate rule, and explores the choices and struggles individuals face living in a system that recognizes only profit and loss.

$25

Samueli Theater

March 29, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 5 p.m.

Orange County Performing Artscenter presents Off Center

John King: Extreme Guitar Orchestra Festival

Combining the punch of a rock band with a sophisticated musical vocabulary, the Extreme Guitar Orchestra Festival features dozens of electric guitar players from Orange County’s music community. John King’s richly-textured compositions and wide-ranging stylistic imprints blend rock music, avant jazz, delta blues and experimental minimalism. He’s been called a “downtown guitar hero” in New York and is renowned for his eclectic style of composed and improvisational music.

Free

Community Plaza

March 29, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 8 p.m.

Pacific Chorale presents

American Treasures

The Pacific Chorale uncovers a trove of famous works and hidden gems from America’s choral tradition. Featured composers on the program include William Billings, Horatio Parker, Charles Ives, Leonard Bernstein, William Schuman and living masters such as Morten Lauridsen, Eric Whitacre and Alice Parker. The program concludes with spirituals by William Dawson, Harry Burleigh and Moses Hogan.

$20 - $140

Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 29, 2008 ∙ Saturday at 10 and 11:30 a.m.

Pacific Symphony presents Musical Storytime

Gone Fishin’

In this presentation hosted again by Joe Berarducci, youngsters will be casting, reeling, swimming and boating…well almost. They will learn to move like a fish (to music, of course) play instruments and each will go home with a bag full of goodies.

$17 - $32

Education Theater in Renée & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

March 30, 2008 ∙ Sunday at 4 p.m.

Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra presents

Russian Nights

Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra with Michael Hall conducting, features a selection of favorite Russian works, including the sparkle and mystery of Scheherazade from 1,001 Arabian Nights, recreated musically by the master of orchestration Rimsky-Korsakov.

$15 & $20

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 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

Audrey Steele Burnand Endowed Fund for

International Dance

Clos du Bois

Cox Communications

Delta Air Lines

Jane and Jim Driscoll

Los Angeles Times

Mastro's Restaurants

Mercedes-Benz. Presenting Sponsor

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.

THE LAGUNA PLAYHOUSE

PRESENTS
RED HERRING BY Michael Hollinger
February 12 – March 16, 2008

Southern California Premiere is Directed by Andrew Barnicle

The Laguna Playhouse is pleased to present the Southern California Premiere of Red Herring by Michael Hollinger, running February 12 – March 16, 2008 in The Playhouse’s Moulton Theatre in Laguna Beach. The production is directed by Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Andrew Barnicle.

Take three pairs of lovers, add an unsolved murder and several pinches of espionage, throw in some noir-style atmosphere, and then pickle everything in a brine of early Cold War paranoia. The result is a side-splitting black comedy called Red Herring. Why is Senator Joseph McCarthy’s daughter dating a would-be traitor? What’s that supposedly dead Russian fisherman doing pretending to be feisty landlady Mrs. Kravitz’ deaf husband? How come a pair of dogged gumshoes are prowling around a pier? And how does “I Love Lucy” and the H-Bomb fit into all of this? This spoof Red Scare comedy will keep you reeling with laughter.

“Red Herring is a fable about marriage, but I didn't know that when I started. I thought I was writing a comic noir detective story,” says Hollinger. “Red Herring began years ago as a class exercise for one of my playwriting classes. I wrote a scene about a hard-boiled detective interviewing a belligerent landlady about one of her tenants, whose naked legs stuck out of the bathtub before them. I really liked this image, and the comic noir style, and they kept coming back over the years until I was ready to start the play in earnest. Since my detective character evoked the noir sensibility that burgeoned (at least in film) between the late 1940's and early 1950's, I decided to set my play in that period. Somehow, the title Red Herring came to mind. Since "red" evoked the Red Scares of the McCarthy era and "herring" evoked New England fisheries, I narrowed the period to the early 1950's and the setting to Boston.”

“This play defies categorization in the ordinary way,” notes Barnicle. “You could call it a political thriller farcical romantic drama—it has qualities from just about every genre. I like the idea that it is so unique. Parts of the play are hilarious and depend on the notion of people bumping into each other at the perfect time. This play progresses like a movie, it’s constantly moving with very little time between scenes for a transition. The actors play multiple roles, so they’ll go out through one door and come in through another in a completely different costume as a different character. While this is certainly challenging to stage, it’s also part of the fun.”

Michael Hollinger (playwright) is the author of Red Herring, Incorruptible, An Empty Plate In The Café Du Grand Boeuf, and Tiny Island, all of which premiered at Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre Company and have together enjoyed productions around the country, off-Broadway, and abroad. These plays are all published by Dramatists Play Service; Tiny Island also appears in New Playwrights: Best Plays of 1999, published by Smith and Kraus. His latest play, Tooth And Claw, was commissioned by the Ensemble Studio Theatre/Alfred P. Sloan Science and Technology Project, and received its world and New York premieres in the spring of 2004 at the Arden and EST, respectively. Hollinger has written seven touring plays for young audiences, as well as the 3D Laser Show “Extreme Choices” for New Jersey's Liberty Science Center. For PBS, he has written three short films and co-authored the feature-length “Philadelphia Diary.” Awards include the Roger L. Stevens Award from the Kennedy Center's Fund for New American Plays, a Barrymore Award for Outstanding New Play, the F. Otto Haas Award for an Emerging Theatre Artist, a Mid-Atlantic Emmy Award, and fellowships from the Independence Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Hollinger is a resident playwright of New Dramatists and Assistant Professor of Theatre at Villanova.

Andrew Barnicle (Director) joined The Laguna Playhouse as Artistic Director in July 1991, and helped solidify and advance the company’s position as one of the region’s most successful professional non-profit theatres. He has directed more than thirty Laguna Playhouse productions, many of which have been world, national or regional premieres, including Rob Ackerman’s Tabletop, Alan Ayckbourn’s Communicating Doors, Catherine Butterfield’s The Sleeper, Marc Camoletti’s Don’t Dress for Dinner, Richard Dresser’s Rounding Third and Wonderful World, Bernard Farrell’s Lovers at Versailles, Stella by Starlight, Kevin’s Bed, Many Happy Returns, and the world premiere of The Verdi Girls, A.R. Gurney’s Sylvia, Sherwood Kiraly’s Who’s Hot, Who’s Not, Stephen Mallatratt’s adaptation of Susan Hill’s best-selling novel The Woman in Black, David Mamet’s American Buffalo, Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile and The Underpants, W. Somerset Maugham’s The Constant Wife, Joe Orton’s What The Butler Saw, William Shakespeare’s Othello, Neil Simon’s Laughter On The 23rd Floor and Rumors, Daniel Sullivan’s Inspecting Carol and John Twomey’s Teacher’s Lounge. Barnicle also directed the world premiere of his adaptation of Carlo Goldoni’s The Liar in a new translation by his wife Sara. Many of these Laguna Playhouse productions have been world, national or regional premieres. Barnicle’s acting credits include numerous television and film roles, plus major roles on stage with San Diego Rep, Alaska Repertory Theatre, Alabama Shakespeare Festival and Detroit’s Meadow Brook and Hilberry Theatres. Barnicle has been seen on stage at The Laguna Playhouse in the musicals Enter the Guardsman and Gunmetal Blues, as well as To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday, True West, Strange Snow, and last season’s The Ice-Breaker.

Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills
Presents
Direct from London -- first ever U.S. National Tour
Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman's
Whistle Down The Wind
Los Angeles premiere! Eight performances only!
April 22– 27, 2008

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind will have its Los Angeles premiere at the Wilshire Theatre April 15-20 as part of its first-ever U.S. National tour. Directed and produced by Bill Kenwright, the musical comes direct from a record-breaking West End engagement and United Kingdom sell-out tour. Based on the novel by Mary Hayley Bell, and subsequent 1961 movie set in the U.K., Whistle Down the Wind, with book by Patricia Knop, Gale Edwards and Andrew Lloyd Webber and featuring lyrics by Jim Steinman of "Meatloaf" songwriting fame, is now set in Louisiana in 1959.

Featuring a host of award-winning songs including the Boyzone smash hit 'No Matter What,' Whistle Down the Wind tells the story of a young Louisiana girl who finds a mysterious stranger hiding in her barn. When she asks his identity—the first words he utters are 'Jesus Christ;' and it’s as if all her prayers have been answered. While the townspeople are determined to find the escaped felon, she and her friends vow to protect him from the outside world.

This new American premiere production partners renowned top rock lyricist Jim Steinman (Meatloaf’s classic album “Bat Out of Hell,” Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart”) and award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats, Evita, Joseph…) to create a melodic and haunting score that was inspired by the indigenous sounds of the American South – blues, gospel, country and rock ‘n’ roll.

Among the cast are Eric Kunze as The Man and Andrea Ross as Swallow, as well as, Dann Fink, Adam Shonkwiler, Austin J. Zambito-Valente, Nadine Jacobson, Carole Denise Jones, Greg Stone and Kurt Zischke. The ensemble includes Ryan Appleby, Renee Claire Bergeron, Al Bundonis, Raisa Ellingson, Elizabeth Earley, Alexis Hightower, Stephen Horst, James Jackson, Jr., Justine Magnusson, Jason Ostrowski, Thomas Rainey and Mickey Toogood.

Eric Kunze was most recently seen on the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar in the title role. His additional Broadway credits include Marius in Les Miserables, Chris in Miss Saigon and Joe Hardy in the revival of Damn Yankees. Kunze's co-star, Andrea Ross, is an Elliot Norton winner for her roles in Ramona Quimby, The Sound of Music and A Little Night Music. Ross' upcoming debut album, "Moon River," is produced by Whistle Down the Wind composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Bill Kenwright heads the United Kingdom’s largest independent theatre and film production company. He has produced countless shows in London’s West End, on UK tour and on Broadway. As a director, his credits include Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar and Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers. He was nominated for a London Theatre Critics’ award for West Side Story and a Tony award for Blood Brothers in New York.

The creative team for the national tour of Whistle Down the Wind includes costume and set design by Paul Farnsworth, choreography by Henry Metcalfe, musical direction by David Steadman, lighting design by Nick Richings and sound design by Ben Harrison.

About Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills

Originally named the Fox Wilshire, the Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills opened its doors on September 19, 1930. Designed by renowned theater architect Charles S Lee, the Wilshire serves as an interesting example of Lee's early Art Deco style. With its rich plasterwork and heavy sculpture, the Wilshire is reminiscent of Lee's other early work like the Baroque masterpiece The Los Angeles Theater and the Tower. Lee would later become famous for his clean simple Art Deco lines with theaters like the Bruin and the Academy Theater.

Fox West Coast Theaters built The Wilshire to house their first run feature films. For the first 50 years of its life, the Wilshire served as one of the premiere movie palaces in Los Angeles and has hosted numerous premieres and special events. In November 1953 the Wilshire hosted the premiere of How to Marry A Millionaire starring Marilyn Monroe and Lauren Bacall. On Christmas Day of that year Walt Disney exhibited its new Grand Canyonscope - the first Donald Duck cartoon in Cinemascope which ran with the studio's classic feature 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Other notable events include 1960's special screening of GI Blues starring Elvis and attended by Ronald Regan and the 1970's exclusive engagement of the film Woodstock.

In 1981 the Wilshire Theater was renovated and converted to a stage venue. The Wilshire has hosted numerous theater productions including its opening attraction of Henry Fonda in The Oldest Living Graduate, and national tours of The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Cabaret, Fiddler on the Roof, A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Legends, Dreamgirls, Once on this Island and many others.

THE ORANGE CURTAIN THEATRE PRESENTS

ANOTHER ANTIGONE

Written by A.R. Gurney and Directed by Bob May

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. THE ORANGE CURTAIN presents: ANOTHER ANTIGONE written by A.R. Gurney and directed by Bob May.

American universities today seem more preoccupied with fund-raising and job placement than with the verities of a classical education. Judy Miller, a gifted Jewish college senior, presents a short play to her Greek Theatre professor, Henry Harper. Judy submits an updated, anti-nuclear version of Antigone in place of the formal paper that Harper has assigned. Harper is adamant in his refusal to accept her paper and threatens to fail her and hence keep her from graduating if she doesn’t provide a more traditional paper. A battle of wills ensues, as both of them refuse to budge from their convictions. The play ends with the Professor, like Creon of Sophocles’ Antigone, cast out from his home and left to wander, while Judy’s fate is unknown, except that her life’s dreams and goals have been so challenged that its anyone’s guess if the “old” Judy even exists anymore.

WHAT: ANOTHER ANTIGONE

Written by A.R. Gurney

Directed by Bob May

Starring: Jonathan Kolbush of Garden Grove as Dave; Ruth Kurisu of Laguna Niguel as Diana; A.J. Paul of Laguna Niguel as Judy; and, Bob May of Costa Mesa as Henry

WHEN:

Friday and Saturday –February 22, 23 and 29, March 1, 7 and 8 at 8:00 p.m.

Sunday – February 24, March 2 and 9 at 3:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Orange Curtain Theatre, 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano,

ADMISSION: $18.00

INFO: If you'd like to arrange an interview with the cast or director, would like more information, reservations or complimentary press passes, please call 949-412-3252 or send us an email at info@theorangecurtaintheatre.org. Photos available.

Game Art Lecture Series Sponsored by Laguna College

Laguna College of Art & Design invites the artistic community to Game Art Lecture Series 2008 featuring a keynote presentation from Autodesk principal scientist Duncan Brinsmead on Thursday, February 7 at 11:30am at [seven-degrees], located at 891 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. Admission is free.

The creator of Maya Paint Effects, Maya Hair, and Maya Toon, Duncan Brinsmead has also worked extensively on development of Maya Fluids and Maya nCloth. Gain a privileged insight into the challenges of computer graphics and the future of 3D in this special presentation for the community. Duncan will be performing a live demo of bizarre and unnatural uses of nCloth using Autodesk Maya 2008. See real-time simulations of deforming metal, water filled balloons, confetti, paper airplanes, curtains on sliding hooks, vacuum formed bubble packs, flesh, falling leaves, zippers, tearing cloth, chopping cake, pouring water and swirling vortices.

Duncan will also demo a unique air vortex simulation method that was added to Nucleus in Maya 2008. It creates the look of a 3D fluid dynamics solve without requiring a full fluid simulation and can provide very natural looking air-cloth interaction. There will also be some unusual techniques presented using Maya fluids, from hurricanes to a foam topped cappuccino.

LCAD wishes to share this opportunity with students and community members of all ages and hopes to provide artists of all levels of creative accomplishment with an inspiring experience.

Santa Ana College Theatre Arts Department presents the 10th Annual Children’s Theatre Ensemble presentation of the musical

The Emperor’s New Clothes
Book by Jim Eiler
Songs by Jim Eiler and Jeanne Bargy
Based on the Story by Hans Christian Andersen
Direction and Choreography by Beth Hansen
Musical Direction by Alan Crawley

Santa Ana College Theatre Arts Department presents the Prince Street Players production of The Emperor’s New Clothes.Two con-men “play the palace” in this breezy adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s well known satirical tale. Mr. Stitch and Mr. Sew wreak havoc at Wits End Palace when they present the Emperor with a special gift: an exquisitely beautiful “magic” suit of clothes, invisible to all but the wisest of men. A charming exploration of the dangers of vanity, with a host of hilarious characters. The Emperor’s New Clothes is a musical that is perfect for the entire family. Beth Hansen of Westminster directs this comical ensemble that includes; Alli Coleman and Liam Toner of Costa Mesa, Jesse Geller of Irvine, Kerry Melachouris of Laguna Niguel, Jon Hyrkas, Robin St. John, Edward Chamberlain, and Danny Diaz of Santa Ana and Rick Boyer of San Juan Capistrano, Brian Solerno.

PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES:

Saturdays February 2 & 9 at 2:30 pm
Sundays February 3 & 10 at 2:30 pm

ADMISSION:

General Admission: ....................... $10.00

Students/Seniors/Staff:…................ $8.00

**Children Ages 4 – 12………………$6.00

*All children must be in a purchased seat.
NO CHILDREN UNDER 4 YEARS OF AGE WILL BE ADMITTED.

GROUP RATES:

***Group rates are available for 20 or more. Call (714) 564-5661 for more information! ***

THEATRE LOCATION AND PARKING:

PHILLIPS HALL THEATRE and performance parking is located on Bristol,

just south of 17^th Street, on the campus of Santa Ana College.

BY PHONE:

You may charge your tickets on VISA or MASTERCARD by calling the Box Office at (714) 564-5661 during daytime Box Office hours Monday - Thursday 10 am - 1 pm; Friday 10 am - noon.

AT THE DOOR:

The Box Office in Phillips Hall is open 45 minutes prior to all performances.

PHILLIPS HALL THEATRE

SANTA ANA COLLEGE

1530 West 17^th Street

Santa Ana, California 92706

714-564-5661

www.sac.edu/arts