Segerstrom Center's Concert Hall Acoustician Praised

Interior of Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall © Cris Costea

British culture commentator Norman Lebrecht recently called Symphony Hall in Birmingham, England that nation’s finest concert hall. “Symphony Hall was an acoustic revelation, a marvel of transparency and flexibility, as well as a space that felt infinitely warm and welcoming. It was, at the time, the most exciting modern hall in Europe and it remains one of the three or four most pleasing.” The venue was built 21 years ago.

Why is this important to Orange County? Because Birmingham’s hall happens to be an acoustical sister to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with acoustical design by the late Russell Johnson of Artec Consultants in New York. Since its opening in 2006, the Center’s concert hall has been honored with similar praise from critics and audiences.

'Les Misérables' Cast Arrives in Orange County

Left to Right: Ben Gunderson, Casey Erin Clark, Max Quinlan, Siri Howard, Erin Cearlock,
Abbey Rose Gould, Joshua Colley, Jason Forbach, Joseph Spieldenner, Richard Barth,
Shawna M. Hamic and Timothy Gulan 

The cast of the 25^th anniversary production of Les Misérables arrived at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, CA on Monday, June 11 to begin a two-week run June 12 – 24 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

Coincidentally, Segerstrom Center is also celebrating its 25^thanniversary, and John Wayne Airport honored the Center with a spectacular public display that can be enjoyed through July by all passengers and guests. Included in one of the 11 display cases is a nearly-life-size image of the Les Misérables production. On arrival at the airport, several cast members paused to visit the display and check their photo.

Photo credit: Doug Gifford

Center Docents Honored as the Hosts with the Most

Past Presidents of the Docents

The Center celebrated its incredible corps of Docents on Tuesday, May 15 with a luncheon at the Wyndham Hotel’s Silver Trumpet Restaurant. More than 50 past and present Docents were on hand to receive thanks and congratulations from Sandy Segerstrom Daniels, the Center’s Board Vice-Chair of Support Groups, Carol Wilken, Vice-Chair of Education and Jason Holland, Director, Education Programs for the Center’s Education and Community Programs Department.

Sandy Daniels and Cindy Rathbun

Sandy Schulte

As Daniels said, “You are an amazing group of ambassadors for the Center.” Wilken noted, “You are so important, because for many people, you are the first voice they hear at the Center.”  Holland likened them to the arms of the Center, because in such a real way, they welcome visitors and the public with open arms, embracing the community that comes here to enjoy performances and that supports the Center so generously.

A few interesting facts were shared. During the past 25-plus years that the Center has been Orange County’s performing arts center, Docents have given more than 4,100 tours to more than 63,000 guests. And they look forward to welcoming more.  

 

For information about the FREE public tours, please email tours@SCFTA.org. 

 

Charlone Warman and Cindy Henderson

 

Center Artists Shine at Annual Showcase

Origami and papermaking expert Peggy Hasegawa

Musical comedy from Razzle Bam Boom

Each year, the Center’s Arts Teach program helps nearly 400,000 school students and community partners experience performances and events that inspire and ignite imaginations through music, dance, theater and visual arts. These professional artists on the Center’s roster specialize in school assemblies, family nights, student workshops, teacher professional development and residencies.

On Wednesday, May 16, the artists gathered in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall to meet educators, parents and PTA and community center administrators and to demonstrate how lives and educational experiences are enriched and enlivened by the arts. To learn more about the Center’s Arts Teach programs, visit SCFTA.org/artsteach or call (714) 556-2122, ext. 4310.

Percussion and dance with Street Beat

Photos by Joesan Diche
                              

Teach – Think – Learn Together

This past April, Segerstrom Center and its Arts Teach artist Backhaus Dance collaborated with Think Together for a dance program at Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate School in Santa Ana. It was the Center’s second opportunity to work with Think Together, one of California’s leading providers of after-school activities on campuses and community centers. Villa Fundamental Intermediate wanted a dance program that would enhance their own program, and Backhaus is one of Orange County’s leading dance companies with its own school. It became an ideal combination of the Center’s education and community connections, Think Together’s program and Backhaus’ unique specialty and resources.

Backhaus performed one assembly, followed by eight workshops. Students learned important body movements to enhance coordination and flexibility, which then serve them as they learn choreography and, even, sports. The participants learned basic choreography and how to express themselves through movement and to make specific choices that illustrate concepts, stories and emotions.

Guilds Spring Celebration a Classic Success!

Kathy Fleming with Terry Dwyer and Susan Strader

The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts raised $153,000 and gave a new look to its annual fundraiser April 19. Spring Celebration: “A Classic Night at the Starlite Club” was held at the Crevier Classic Car Museum in Costa Mesa. Long-time Guild and Angel of the Arts member Susan Strader received special recognition as Honorary Chairman. Kathy Fleming chaired the event.

Terry Dwyer with Tim and Susan Strader and Larry Higby

The evening flowed seamlessly from champagne reception, silent auction, fashion presentation by ESCADA with jewelry by Lugano Diamonds, a silent auction, dinner and dancing to The JetSet Quintet with Andrea Miller.

Carol Piturro-Kentner with George and Julia Argyros

Fashions by ESCADA - Jewlery by Lugano Diamonds

Three long-time Guilds supporters went home with the coveted raffle prizes: a triple-strand necklace of freshwater pearls compliments of Lugano Diamonds of Newport Beach (won by Guilds Chairman Emeritus Bev Sandelman), a one-year membership in Segerstrom Center for the Arts’ private Center Room located in Segerstrom Hall and the Donor Lounge in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (won by Delphi Ballinger), and a $1,250 South Coast Plaza Shopping Spree paired with one-year complimentary valet service (won by another Guilds Chairman Emeritus, Gerrie Goodreau). 

Spring Celebration underwriters included Zee Allred, Julia and George Argyros, Deborah and Larry Bridges, Gail and Jim Daniels, Kathy and Cliff Fleming, Loretta Freund and Howard DeMar, Carol and Doug Kentner, Margaret and Tom Karkiin, Roger Kirwan, Lugano Diamonds, Marilyn McCorkle, C.J. Segerstrom Foundation, South Coast Helicopters, South Coast Plaza, Susan and Tim Strader and Carol and Kent Wilken.

Meeting Misty

Two groups of young dance students and fans saw Misty Copeland star in Firebird on Sunday, April 1 . Immediately following the matinee, more than 200 young people representing Lauridsen Ballet Centre in Torrance and its affiliated South Bay Ballet, where Copeland studied as a teenager, and Music Untold, based in Long Beach, met Misty in Segerstrom Hall for a special private meet-and-greet. Music Untold is a multi-disciplinary organization devoted to presenting arts and educational programs that promote diversity and human dignity. Copeland answered questions and spent more than an hour signing autographs.