Center Honors Philanthropists

Larry Higby and Zee Allred

Each year, Segerstrom Center for the Arts honors donors of $25,000 or more as well as Candlelight Concert sponsors and underwriters at the Fire Bird Dinner. This year it was held on the Tier I lobby of Segerstrom Hall beneath Richard Lippold’s sculpture, Fire Bird, which has become a local landmark and signature of the Center. 

Larry Higby and Eileen Cirillo

At the conclusion of the evening, Center Chairman Larry Higby presented the annual Chairman’s Cup award to board member and donor Zee Allred and volunteer extraordinaire and donor Eileen Cirillo. The Chairman’s Cup is given in recognition for extraordinary volunteer service and generosity to the Center.

Photos by Xuong Do

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.

Fabulous Firebird Fashion

Misty Copleland, who will star in the new American Ballet Theatre production of Firebird choreographed by Alexei Ratmansky, is shown here in some last minute costume adjustments. Galina Solovyeva is the designer. The role will be danced by Natalia Osipova on Thursday, March 29 and Saturday, March 31 at 7:30 p.m. , by Copland on Friday, March 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m., and by Isabella Boylston on Saturday, March 31 at 2 p.m. ABT’s program will include Ratmansky’s Firebird, Duets by Merce Cunningham and Thirteen Diversions by Christopher Wheeldon.

Photo by Marcia Wilson Wide Vision Photography

ABT Dancer Comes Home to OC

Orange County native Jamie Kopit will return home to dance with American Ballet Theatre during the Company’s engagement at Segerstrom Center March 29 – April 1, which will include the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s Firebird. Before joining ABT’s corps de ballet, Jamie studied at Southland Ballet Academy and also earned scholarships to study with San Francisco Ballet and the Royal Ballet School. To read more about Jamie’s homecoming, click here for her interview with Pointe magazine And in the video above go behind-the-scenes with Jamie during rehearsals for Firebird at ABT in New York City.