Derek Klena Makes a WICKED Debut on Broadway Tonight!

Congratulations to Tomorrow’s Stars at the Center’s 2008 winner Derek Klena who makes his much-anticipated Broadway debut tonight! He will be playing Fiyero in WICKED, following successful roles and recordings in Marin Mazzie’s Carrie and the off-Broadway show, Dogfight. 

When Derek was interviewed for the scholarship competition, he was a junior at South Hills High School in West Covina. He shared with us how one of the first performances he saw at the Center was The Phantom of the Opera, and how much he loved the show. He also participated in the Center’s John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey master class. 

The Center's education and community engagement programs strive to make an impact on young artists' paths toward a professional career in the arts. We offer our heartfelt congratulations to Derek Klena and hope to see him back on our stages in the future! To learn more about Segerstrom Center’s Education programs, please visit www.SCFTA.org/Education.

WICKED Ways to Be A Winner

WICKED fans are testing their luck by entering their names into a special ticket lottery. The day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats is being held for every performance through the end of the engagement on March 17. Winners have the opportunity to purchase orchestra seats for just $25. 

On opening night, we saw friends and families gather around the Segerstrom Hall Box Office, eagerly waiting for their names to be called. Enjoy a few snapshots of our excited fans! 

Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, WICKED fans can come to the Segerstrom Center box office and have their names placed in a lottery drum. Thirty minutes later, winning names are drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats that can be purchased for $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a purchase limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets. The number of available lottery tickets may vary from performance to performance. Winners also receive an “I Won the WICKED Lottery!” button as a keepsake. For more information, please call the Box Office at (714) 556-2787. 

 

Loading In WICKED

Yesterday morning, Segerstrom Center welcomed back the WICKED stage crew as they began load-in for tonight's opening in Segerstrom Hall!

Members of the media and our very own marketing team had the special opportunity to meet some of the behind-the-scenes staff– Kevin BeeBee, Company Manager and Jason Daunter, Production Stage Manager– to learn about the challenges of managing a large-scale touring production such as WICKED. 

Take a sneak peak at our interview with Jason below: 

Tickets are still available, but please visit our website at SCFTA.org as you don't want to miss this Broadway blockbuster!

 

All photos by Joesan Diche.

Lottery tickets available for WICKED

WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster returns to the Center February 20-March 17 and a limited number of same day orchestra tickets will be available for $25.

Here's how the Lottery works: Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, WICKED fans can come to the Segerstrom Center Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa and have their names placed in a lottery drum. Thirty minutes later, winning names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats that can be purchased for $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a purchase limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets. The number of available lottery tickets may vary from performance to performance.

Good seats are available for most performances and can be purchased online at SCFTA.org, at the Center Box Office or by calling (714) 556-2787.

Thank Goodness!

Center Celebrates a New Season of Broadway and Curtain Call

Musicals took center stage at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall during a preview event held for subscribers, groups, fans and press on August 20. The audience attending the Broadway and Curtain Call Series preview event was treated to special performances, behind-the-scenes footage and surprise video shout-outs from today’s brightest Broadway stars.  
 

L-R Bryan Fenkhart, Tim Kashani, Bob Bucci and Crystal Joy discussing Memphis 

Bryan Fenkhart and Crystal Joy from Memphis

Angel Reda performing from Wicked

Segerstrom Center’s President Terry Dwyer made opening remarks and welcomed the crowd. Bob Bucci from Broadway Across America served as host for the evening.

 
And what an evening it was. Bryan Fenkhart and Crystal Joy performed rousing selections from the four-time Tony Award® winning Broadway hit Memphis. Angel Reda from the ever-Popular Wicked sang the hauntingly beautiful "The Wizard and I.” The debonair Gomez Addams (Douglas Sills) made a video appearance letting the audience know how thrilled he is to spend the holidays with his “family” in Orange County. Special behind-the-scenes videos from Billy Elliot, featuring remarks from Sir Elton John and Stephen Daldry, and Sister Act, with messages from Whoopi Goldberg and Alan Menken, were also highlighted.

Bob Bucci with Joey from War Horse

L-R Bob Bucci with Tim Lewis (Captain Nicholls), Tommy Luther (Joey Head),
Stuart Angell (Joey Heart) and Ian Piears (Joey Hind) from War Horse

 

L-R Tommy Luther (Joey Head), Stuart Angell (Joey Heart) and Ian Piears (Joey Hind) from War Horse

The evening concluded with the company from War Horse bringing to the stage Joey as he galloped across and showcased his lifelike movements, sounds and magnificent beauty. Afterwards, the three puppeteers who perform as Joey returned on stage and discussed the collaborative process in bringing Joey to life.

 

Before closing the evening’s festivities, Executive Vice President Judy Morr provided a preview of the other series’ offerings in the coming season before introducing a special video from the company of Anything Goes.

For more information about the 2012-13 season, please visit: http://www.scfta.org/seasontickets.

2012-13 Broadway Series: Memphis, The Addams Family, War Horse, Billy Elliot the Musical, Flashdance and Sister Act

2012-13 Curtain Call Series: Wicked, Catch Me If You Can and Anything Goes

STOMP returns to the Center as a special Bonus option for series subscribers

 

Photos by Xuong Do

Wicked Star Sings Anthem at Ducks Game

Lesley McKinnell from the cast of Wicked wowed a crowd of nearly 18,000 people at the Honda Center this past Monday. She sang the National Anthem before an Anaheim Ducks game against the Colorado Avalanche (the Ducks won!). Lesley is from Southern California and a graduate of Cal State Fullerton. She is a member of the ensemble and the understudy for Glinda the Good Witch. For a sampling of what the fans enjoyed, click below. You can see Lesley in Wicked, which is here through Sunday.

Idina Menzel to star in new ABC musical drama

Wicked's Tony winning Elphaba Idina Menzel recently wowed Center audiences in her Center debut.  Next Fall you can catch the star in a new musical drama on ABC.   You can read more here.

Wicked Cast Recording Certified Double Platinum

The original Broadway cast recording of Stephen Schwartz's Wicked has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

Double platinum certification means the Decca Broadway recording, which features Tony Award winners Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth, has sold more than two million copies.

To celebrate the occasion, composer Stephen Schwartz will be presented with a commemorative plaque following November 10th matinee performance of the smash musical at The Gershwin Theatre.

Other Decca Broadway cast recordings to achieve double platinum status include Rent, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Cats.