Solo for Two Takes Flight

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev will introduce three new works to the world this evening at Segerstrom Center: MERCY by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, PASSO by Ohad Naharin and FACADA by Arthur Pita. The program is called Solo for Two – the title paying tribute to the unique talents of these two extraordinary dancers whose spirit, passion and commitment unite into riveting works of art. Following are glimpses into the creative process, photos from the recent rehearsals at the Center. 

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui rehearsing with Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev. Photo by Steve Dawson.

Final dress rehearsal of MERCY. Photo by Gene Schiavone.

Solo for Two will be performed Friday, July 25 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 26 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday July 27 at 2 p.m. It will then receive its London and Moscow premieres, culminating with its New York premiere next year. 

Final dress rehearsal of PASSO. Photo by Doug Gifford.

Final dress rehearsal of FACADA. Photo by Gene Schiavone.

For more photos from Solo for Two rehearsals, visit the Center’s Facebook page here. 

Natalia Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev. Photo by Doug Gifford.

The Center's Psychic Says: "I See Great Dinners in Your Future!"

Leatherby’s Café Rouge Executive Chef Ross Pangilinan will present the first of several new menus themed to the Center’s upcoming Broadway shows when GHOST – THE MUSICAL comes to Segerstrom Hall July 29 – August 10. These special prix fix menus are a perfect way to begin a wonderful evening of culinary and musical magic. 

GHOST – THE MUSICAL

JULY 29 - AUGUST 10

FIRST 

Three Little Words 

Three little appetizers – avocado & crab toast, 

beets & goat cheese, beef carpaccio & truffle vinaigrette

MAIN

Sam Wheat

Farro wheat "risotto," poached organic chicken breast, 

shaved market vegetables, Banyul's vinegar, chicken jus

DESSERT

The Love Inside

Raspberry chocolate macaron, manjari ganache,

raspberry sorbet, chocolate soil, yuzu cloud

45 per person 3 course menu

64 with wine pairing

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION | 714 429 7640

Executive Chef Ross Pangilinan

Menu subject to change

Special menus are planned for ONCE (August 19 – 31), PIPPIN (November 11 – 23), DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS! THE MUSICAL (December 10 – 14) and KINKY BOOTS (December 30, 2014 – January 11, 2015). Don’t miss a bite or a note of any of these great menus and shows. Visit each show’s web page on www.scfta.org to review the specific menus and book your tickets.

Soccer Fans Storm the Arts Plaza

Fans for The Netherlands and Argentina gather on the Center’s Arts Plaza

Soccer fans at the Center

There’s been ballet, dance classes, opera, an electric guitar concert, parties, rock bands, The Car Plays, Movie Mondays, community festivals, Walks for various causes – and now – World Cup soccer! The Center welcomed soccer fans to watch The Netherlands vs. Brazil on Saturday, July 12th and Argentina vs. Germany on Sunday, July 13th (lucky 13 as it turned out for Germany). The games were shown on LED jumbotrons. Food trucks fed the hungry, and the Center’s children’s Imagination Playground provided diversions for little ones not yet in the soccer groove. 

The great Russian dancers Ivan Vasiliev and Natalia Osipova, with Russian 
impresario, dance producer and artist manager Sergei Danilian, center. Vasiliev 
and Osipova took time off from their rehearsals for Solo for Two, in which they will 
perform a world premiere and two American premieres July 25 – 27.

And the tension builds.

A little advertising for Segerstrom Center worn by 
Director of Education Jason Holland at the Imagination Playground.

And the win goes to Germany!

For more fun on the Arts Plaza, don’t miss the Center’s Movie Mondays: Gigi on July 21, Cabaret on July 28 and ending with Sweet Charity on August 4. For more information about Movie Mondays, click here. 

All photos by Doug Gifford.

Broadway Babies – on Their Way to the Great White Way!

Emily Rozek warms up students before dance class

Segerstrom Center’s popular Six Days of Broadway musical theater summer camps just finished another exciting year June 23 through July 6. During the week-long sessions, students learned and participated in musical performance, audition technique, scene work, dance and much more. Tony Award® nominee and Broadway/film star Erin Dilly led the program along with Broadway veterans Stephen Buntrock, Danny Gurwin, Hank Stratton and Emily Rozek.

Six Days of Broadway 2014 cast and instructors

Erin Dilly works on a scene with a student during musical theater acting class

Participants honed their skills as they got the opportunity to interpret and perform assigned scenes and musical numbers from hit Broadway shows. During dance class, students learned choreography from shows such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Will Rogers Follies and Catch Me If You Can. The “acting on film” session featured students working on-camera as they practiced cold readings in front of their peers. The program culminated with an open classroom session showcasing the week’s efforts to family and friends.

Stephen Buntrock works with students on ensemble performance

It Was a Grand Night at the Movies

Movie Mondays at Segerstrom Center

A cool grand turned out to give a warm welcome to the Center’s 2014 Movie Mondays and to cheer on Shirley Temple in her 1935 hit film The Little Colonel. The movie, in which Shirley appears in Technicolor for the very first time – only in the final scene – was a Movie Monday tribute to the beloved film star who passed away earlier this year. 

The Poormehr family: Seena, Nahid, Arian and Nadi from Irvine

The Center’s Jonathan Vietze is the Movie Mondays’ emcee, providing themed contests and fun prizes and giveaways prior to each screening. 

Happy Birthday, Paul Stutzke!

Macy’s sponsored the opening. In addition to its support of Movie Monday’s, Macy’s is an underwriter for the Center’s Arts and Business Leadership Awards Dinner, provides special in-store promotions for the Center and underwriting for this year’s OnStage at the Center performances of the Center’s holiday Broadway offering, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! the Musical. Doug McKay, Macy’s District Grants Co-Chairman and a member of the Center’s Rising Leaders Council, was on hand to present a check for $25,000 to Center President Terrence W. Dwyer.

Macy's District Grants Co-Chariman Doug McKay presents
Center President Terry Dwyer with a check for $25,000

Kia, the official automobile of the Center, set up a special The Little Colonel tableau featuring their 2015 K900. They'll be back each week with a new themed display and car.

Display by Kia, the Official Automotive Partner of the Center

Also for the first time, food trucks offered delights and delicacies to satisfy those who might not have brought their own picnic dinners. New trucks and new selections will be on hand for the next four Mondays, when the movies will be Spice World – July 14, Gigi – July 21, Cabaret – July 28 and Sweet Charity – August 4.

Jiah Park, Roger Bell, Brandi Hawkes – with Charlie and Tess

All photos by Joesan Diche.

Box Office Hits and Tasty Eats on Wheels

Piaggio on Wheels food truck

Orange County foodies have reason to celebrate when they get together on the Arts Plaza for the annual free Movie Mondays. For the first time in Movie Mondays history, popular food trucks will sell gourmet snacks for fans to enjoy under the stars, while they watch films projected on the side of Segerstrom Hall. Guests may set up beach chairs and easily portable seats as early as 5:30 p.m., and trucks will begin selling food at 6 p.m. 

First up: The Little Colonel tonight, featuring the adorable little Shirley Temple and the iconic stair dancing scene with Bill “Bojangles” Robinson. May we suggest burgers, bite-size appetizers and root beer floats for this American classic? 

Drive Me Cookie food truck

The Little Colonel (July 7 at dusk) 
A Bite Truck 
Stuff N It Burgers 
We Heart Froyo 

Spice World (July 14 at dusk) 
Adobo Express 
Chunk-n-Chip 
The Burnt Truck 

Gigi (July 21 at dusk) 
Drive Me Cookie
Piaggio on Wheels 
Stuff N It Burgers 

Cabaret (July 28 at dusk) 
Bakery Truck 
Currywurst 
Piaggio on Wheels 

Sweet Charity (August 4 at dusk) 
Adobo Express 
Bakery Truck 
Dogzilla 

For more information about Movie Mondays and the Free for All series, please visit www.scfta.org/freeforall.