Prima Ballerina is Prima Assoluta in the U.K.

Natalia Osipova.
Photo by Damir Yusupov.

Natalia Osipova has won Britain’s Critics’ Circle National Dance award for Best Dancer of 2013. Qualifying artists must have performed in the U.K. between August 31, 2012 and September 1, 2013. Britain’s Judith Mackrell reported for The Guardian in her DANCEBLOG that, “there are few more dramatic and virtuoso stars in ballet today than Natalia Osipova – yet while the Russian ballerina wins her best female dancer award for performances with the St. Petersburg company the Mikhailovsky Ballet, and has been nominated in previous years for her performances with the Bolshoi, there is an extra frisson to her win this time around, given that her recent signing to the Royal Ballet has, for the time being, made her one of our own.” 

Natalia Osipova. Photo by Gene Schiavone

Osipova has appeared at the Center with the Bolshoi Ballet, the Center’s Tour de Force dance galas, in Reflections and American Ballet Theatre’s world premiere of its new production of Firebird. The incomparable Osipova returns to the Center with her equally phenomenal partner, Ivan Vasiliev, July 25 – 27. They will perform a special program titled Solo for Two.

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev in Don Quixote.
Photo by Mikhail Logvinov, copyright Bolshoi Ballet.

We Won’t Start the Comedy Revolution Without You!

Culture Clash’s Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza arrive at the Center on Friday, January 24 for a free performance during the Off Center Festival’s POP: Party on the Plaza. They return January 30 - February 2 with the world premiere of KEEP CULTURE AND CLASH ON: 30 Years of Revolutionary Comedy Remastered. Each artist plays multiple characters, crossing all racial, social and sexual boundaries, reinventing our ideas of storytelling and community. Celebrate the third Off Center Festival and the Culture Clash 30th Anniversary this week. 

(Please Note: This show contains mature subject matter.)

Richard Montoya, Ric Salinas and Herbert Siguenza 
of Culture Clash.  Photo by Eric Schwabel 

Good Eats at the Off Center Festival

"The preparation of good food is merely another expression of art,
one of the joys of civilized living." 

 — Dione Lucas, chef 

Drive Me Cookie

The Center is making sure there is food for the soul, the mind and the palate during the Off Center Festival. Some of Orange County’s most popular food trucks will be on hand nearly every night so no one goes home without a great show and a full tummy. The Arts Plaza will have casual seating areas available, so come, chill and chow down. 

The Viking Truck

January 24 from 5 – 11 p.m.
Waff-N-Roll, Seabirds, Dogzilla Hot Dogs, The Burnt Truck (Serving throughout the Free Party on the Plaza) 

January 25 from 7 – 11 p.m.
Waff-N-Roll, GD Bro, Piaggio on Wheels, Adobo Express 

January 26 from 7 – 11 p.m.
Dos Chinos, Garlicscapes, The Burnt Truck, Drive Me Cookie 

Kala Truck

January 31 from 7 – 11 p.m.
Kala Truck, Dogzilla Hot Dogs, The Slummin’ Gourmet, Drive Me Cookie 

February 1 from 7 – 11 p.m.
Dos Chinos, StuffNIt Burgers, The Viking Truck, The Slummin’ Gourmet 

The Artists Lounge at Leatherby's Cafe Rouge. 
Photo by Doug Gifford

Late Night Delight in The Artists Lounge 
The Artists Lounge in Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge overlooks the Center’s Arts Plaza and is the post-performance place to meet the artists, fans and friends. All items are $6. The menu will include cheeseburger sliders, lambburger sliders, salmon tacos, chicken mole tacos, beef short rib poutine, pork belly bao buns, chorizo and goat cheese croquettes, burrata griddle buns. 

Bon appétit!

And They Lived Happily Ever After

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast enjoyed a magical week at Segerstrom Center. Many audience members participated in fun activities and photo opportunities available throughout the lobbies. These included the Beast’s castle and a large Disney's Beauty and the Beast step-and-repeat for photos, Belle’s Enchanted Library stocked with children’s books and coloring sheets, a Puppet-Making Workshop conducted by Center Arts Teach artist Ellen Schulze where children can create their Lumiere-inspired masterpieces and cupcakes designed with roses and butterflies by Patina Restaurant Group. 

Most Broadway shows have special displays, exhibits and activities designed to delight and inform. Coming next, CHICAGO, opening January 28.

All photos by Joesan Diche.

Off Center Festival Starts January 23

January 23 – 26, 2014 at 8 p.m. 
Founders Hall

blessing the boats: the remix is the moving, personal story of a man facing his life-threatening illness. It’s an inspiring story of hope, compassion and wonder and, though we are all vulnerable, we can get through anything with the support of our loved ones and friends. The text is poignant, and all facets of the story are told openly, honestly and with appropriate humor – from his “freaking out” about why he fainted in an elevator to his thoughts about the body as he is on the operating table and wondering why people are so willing to give part of their bodies to him for a kidney transplant. Blessing the boats: the remix is an accessible piece, a human story. Cast members include Will Power, Mike Ladd, and Carl Hancock Rux. 

Party on with Little Willie G.

Who’s up for a little end-of-the-week partying? There may not even be time to stop home and change clothes. The Center is throwing its first Off Center Festival POP: Party on the Plaza Friday, January 24 from 6 to 11 p.m. Headliners include Southern California’s celebrated Chicano/Latino theater troupe Culture Clash, Little Willie G. – The Original Voice of Thee Midniters and the band La Santa Cecilia. More music from DJ Free the Robots from 9:30 – 11 p.m. 

Guests can grab dinner at the WaffNRoll, Seabirds, The Burnt Truck and Dogzilla Hot Dogs food trucks. A special late night menu will be available at the Off Center Lounge in Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge located in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. 

When not on the plaza, take in performances of Edgar Oliver sharing remarkable stories of his childhood and mother in Helen and Edgar, Sekou Sundiata’s moving theater piece about one man’s remarkable and inspiring courage in the face of overwhelming odds in blessing the boats: the remix and the hilarious duo Die Roten Punkte performing their Super Musician. 

The Off Center Festival runs January 23 – 26 and January 29 – February 2. For more information, click here.