Out and about in 2011
If you’ve made a New Year’s resolution to get out of the house more, check out this guide for 2011 entertainment options. From Broadway to blues to ballet, we’ve got you covered; here’s a selection. Call the venue or visit their website for prices and times. For the complete list, visit dailypilot.com.
JANUARY
Jan. 4: OC Music Awards Showcase Night 1, featuring Preacher’s Sons, Semi-Sweet, the Colourist, the Steelwells and the New Limb. Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 642-0600; detroitbar.com.
Jan. 6 to 9: Tony-winning Broadway darling Sutton Foster performs in a caberet setting in the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 9 to 30: Off-Broadway smash hit “Circle Mirror Transformation” explores the members of an acting class in a small Vermont town. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
Jan. 13 to 15: Famed violininst and conductor Pinchas Zukerman performs Haydn’s “The Hen” and Beethoven’s violin concerto with the Pacific Symphony in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 14 to 16: Tango Buenos Aires, the world’s most acclaimed tango company, traces the history of the art form in Segerstrom Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 15: Fu Manchu perform “In Search of…” in its entirety. Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 642-0600; detroitbar.com.
Jan. 15: Bellydance Superstars come to the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646, thebarclay.org.
Jan. 16: The Pacific Symphony presents “Beethoven, Beethoven, Beethoven!” in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 20 to 23: “Reflections,” a world premiere program starring Bolshoi Ballet-trained dancers in new and timeless works, debuts at Segerstrom Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 21: Superstar singer Suzanne Vega performs at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646, thebarclay.org.
Jan. 21 to Feb. 20: Shakespeare’s classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
Jan. 22 to 23: Guffaw at the antics of the Comedy Pet Theater at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646, thebarclay.org.
Jan. 25 to Feb. 6: Let the sun shine in with “Hair,” the musical that’s become the voice of a generation, in Segerstrom Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 29: “Blues at the Crossroads: the Robert Johnson Centennial Concerts” will feature Big Head Todd & the Monsters, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, and Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Jan. 29: “RENT” stars Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp perform together in concert at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646, thebarclay.org.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5: The Pacific Symphony presents Family Musical Mornings with Magic Circle Mime Company’s “Peter and the Wolf,” in which the entire Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall becomes the stage. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Feb. 10 to 20: Enjoyed “Hair”? Stop by to see the Chance Theater’s production of the Who’s “Tommy,” featuring hits like “Pinball Wizard” and “Acid Queen,” in the Founders Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Feb. 10 to 12: Enjoy Valentine’s Day with Natalie Cole, an “Unforgettable” concert backed by a full symphony orchestra in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Feb. 11 to 27: “Lucky Duck,” for young audiences, features music by the composer of “Dreamgirls” and a story about a duck trying to make it in the big city. She has a beautiful voice, with a face that doesn’t match it. Will she find fame? South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
Feb. 13: Famed Hawaiian singing group Na Leo presents songs from their most recent album, “Romantic Waikiki,” in Segerstrom Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Feb. 24: Travel 1,000 years in one night, from Gregorian chant to Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9., at the Pacific Symphony’s “Cathedrals of Sound” concert in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
Feb. 24: Yo La Tengo with special guests. Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. (949) 642-0600; detroitbar.com.
MARCH
March 1 to 6: If you love musicals and he loves arena rock, be sure to check out “Rock of Ages” at Segerstrom Hall, where “Don’t Stop Believin’” is the mantra. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 3: The Vienna Philharmonic returns to perform Mahler’s “Symphony No. 6 in A minor,” known as the “Tragic” symphony, in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 4 to 6: Bring the family to French Canadian puppet and acting troupe Le Théâtre Motus’ production of “Baobab,” a tale of a West African village that is given a very unexpected gift, at the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 4: Grammy award winners Chick Corea and Gary Burton perform piano and vibraphone together in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 5: The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents the Los Angeles Philharmonic in its annual Orange County performance, paying tribute to Toru Takemitsu with his “Requiem” in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 9: The Philharmonic Society of Orange County presents Midori in an intimate recital of her works for violin and piano in the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 9 to April 3: Broadway’s biggest hit in a generation, “Wicked,” returns to Segerstrom Hall to tell the tale of two girls from Oz: one who’s green and misunderstood, and one who’s very, very “Popular.” Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 10 to 13: The Pacific Symphony performs Philip Glass’ saxophone concerto in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, which honors a Hindu holy man and paints a picture of the new India, as well as a piece by Glass and Ravi Shankar. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 13 to April 3: Conor McPherson’s “The Weir” spellbinds audiences with its fantastical — and mysterious — Irish tale. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
March 15: Enjoy the music of the Philharmonic of Poland as they make their first transcontintental tour of the United States (and first stop in Orange County) in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 17 to 19: “American Idol” runner-up Katherine McPhee performs standards, pop tunes and musical theater, backed by the full Pacific Symphony, in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 19: Enjoy the classical music of the Imperial Japanese Court, as performed by a renowned ensemble of gagaku musicians, in the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 20: Tall Stories’ “Room on the Broom” tells of a group of animals helping a witch and her cat in this family-friendly matinee in the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 20: The Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble performs folk songs from around the world in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 24 to 27: Operatic and musical theatre star Nathan Gunn performs cabaret-style from his latest CD in the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 24: Ukelele phenom Jake Shimabukuro brings the all-singing, all-strumming Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
March 26 to 27: Festival Ballet Theatre presents “Coppélia” at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646, thebarclay.org.
APRIL
April 1 to 2: Men Alive, the O.C. Gay Men’s Chorus, present the music of ABBA and Queen at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine. (949) 854-4646, thebarclay.org.
April 1 to 3: The Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia presents their production of three children’s books: Leo Lionni’s “Swimmy,” “Frederick” and “Inch by Inch,” in the Samueli Theater. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
April 1 to May 1: “Silent Sky,” an astronomical drama that explores one woman’s foray into the ranks of the Harvard Observatory 100 years ago. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
April 3: The Branford Marsalis Quartet and Terence Blanchard Quintet join for one incredible night of music in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
April 6: The Grammy Award-winning Kronos Quartet celebrates the 75th birthday of composer Steve Reich with a new work co-commissioned by the Philharmonic Society in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
April 7 to 9: The Pacific Symphony brings the restored “Wizard of Oz” film, backed by a live soundtrack performance by the symphony, to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
April 17 to May 8: “Completeness” brings romantic comedy to the geeks, when a computer scientist falls in love with a molecular biologist. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
April 26 to May 1: The Eifman Ballet’s “Don Quixote,” as choreographed by Boris Eifman, comes to Segerstrom Hall. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
April 28: Some of the world’s greatest dancers converge for Tour de Force II in the Segerstrom Hall, including Bernice Coppieters, Natalia Osipova, Tiler Peck, Polina Semionova, Diana Vishneva, and many more. Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 556-2787; ocpac.org.
MAY
May 13 to June 12: “Three Days of Rain,” which had its world premiere here before traveling to audiences everywhere, returns. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.
May 20 to June 5: “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” for young audiences, stars a 14-year-old emperor with no clue on how to rule — except that he has to look the part. Enter one smarmy Swindler, and you know the rest. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. (714) 708-5555; scr.org.