Dedicated to the One He Loves

Jean Chung and Marty Chao
Photo by Michael Khoury 

Marty Chao surprised his wife, Jean Chung, for her birthday by dedicating the November 7 performance of Diana Vishneva: On the Edge to her. Marty participated in the Center’s Dedicate a Performance opportunity. Jean took ballet classes for eight years as a child and recently began again. Marty expressed a special sentiment in lobby signage, and Jean received an autographed framed show poster, a card, champagne toast and birthday cupcake at intermission in the Center’s private donor room. They took home a bottle of wine to continue the celebrations. 

A gift to the Center of $2,500 ($2,430 of which is tax-deductible) allows you to dedicate a performance of your choice in honor of a special person or milestone occasion. It’s perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, retirement, etc. For information, call Malika Middlebrooks at (714) 556-2122, ext. 4214 or e-mail Dedicate@SCFTA.org.

Guilds Hold Annual Toy Drive in Segerstrom Hall

The Guilds ladies with U.S. Marines at Toys for Tots drive

Celebrate the season and spread holiday cheer by donating toys and gift certificates through The Guilds of the Center’s toy drive! 

The Guilds support the annual U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. The drive helps collect toys for families that are unable to afford Christmas gifts for their children. Gift certificates and unwrapped toys – with the exception of stuffed animals – will be donated to less fortunate families in the community. 

The Guilds “elves” will accept toys on December 3 & 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Segerstrom Hall lobby. To learn more about The Guilds of the Center, please visit www.SCFTA.org/Guilds.

Fine Falstaff Heads to the Center

A scene from LA Opera's 2005 production of Falstaff 
Photo by Robert Millard

The reviews are in for LA Opera’s new production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Falstaff. The OC Register’s Tim Mangan wrote of Verdi’s comic masterpiece and this production's star, “In no other opera does the orchestra play more of a crucial part than in Falstaff. The orchestra’s music is delicious, mercurial, boisterous, hilarious, ingenious. … Italian baritone Roberto Frontali was the marvelous Falstaff, easily negotiating the poles of pompous self-regard and wounded ego, and nimbly, rhythmically barking his lines in a rich but penetrating voice.” 

Roberto Frontali as Falstaff. Photo by Marc Vanappelghem 
Courtesy of Opera de Lausanne

Mangan added good news for Center audiences – “Orange County will fortunately have the opportunity to hear it when the company brings Falstaff, in concert performance and no fat suit, to Segerstrom Concert Hall on Nov. 26. I think I’ll go.” The Center welcomes Mr. Mangan and all fans of opera, Verdi and the Bard.

From the Wings Chapter Hits the Airways

Betty Batenburg, publicity chair of the From the Wings Chapter of The Guilds of the Center, made a special appearance on MediaServices55’s This Day television program, which is seen on the Laguna Woods community cable system. Also based in Laguna Woods, the chapter’s focus is on supporting and raising awareness for Segerstrom Center’s community and education programs. Among their goals is to help pay for transportation that brings students from across Orange County to special performances at the Center. 

The Guilds is a network of individual area chapters. Members are crucial to the success of the Center as a provider of great artistic and cultural experiences and arts education programs to Orange County. To learn more about The Guilds and the From the Wings Chapter and to attend their monthly fund and friend-raisers, please contact Membership Chair Shirley Neal at (949) 859-9676.

“Hello” and “Привет” from Diana Vishneva

Famed ballerina Diana Vishneva sends her regards to Segerstrom Center dance fans in a personal shout-out video: 

Ms. Vishneva’s shout-out video in Russian: 

Diana VIshenva: On the Edge has been created by the Center to showcase this great ballerina’s incomparable artistry. She will dance world premiere works by choreographers Carolyn Carlson and Jean-Christophe Maillot in Segerstrom Hall next week on November 6, 7, 9 & 10. 

To learn more about Diana Vishneva: On the Edge and to purchase tickets, please visit our website here. To see videos of Ms. Vishneva during early choreography sessions, click here for Switch and here for Woman in a Room.