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What's Hot This Month May 2008 Sign up to receive this by email. Events are subject to change. Please confirm with presenting organization. Jump to listings: Music, Dance, Theatre, Visual, Kids Some of the events listed below are part of OC Imagination Celebration 2008. For a complete listing of events in this county-wide festival, visit ocimaginationcelebration.org. Music Mozart, Shostakovich & Spivakov, May 1 – 3 Pacific Symphony (714) 755-5799, www.pacificsymphony.org The program features Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 2 with guest soloist Vladimir Spivakov, Shostakovich’s playful and vivd Symphony No. 9, and Mozart’s Symphony No. 29. 9BeetStretch/ A Night at the Museum, May 3 – 4 Orange County Museum of Art (949) 759-1122, www.ocma.net Norwegian composer Leif Inge takes Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and stretches it out over a 24-hour period in this soundscape performance. Though dramatically slower, this musical experience will still be recognizable to those familiar with the real-time version of the famous symphony. The performance begins Saturday, May 3 at noon and continues for 24 hours until Sunday, May 4 at noon. Free of charge. Janaki String Trio, May 4 Laguna Beach Live! (949) 715-9713, www.lagunabeachlive.org Among the swiftest rising young chamber ensembles today, the Janaki String Trio brings together three virtuoso musicians—Serena McKinney, violin, Katie Adarauch, viola, Arnold Choi, cello—whose passion and commitment have captivated both audiences and presenters alike. Founded at The Colburn School of Music in Los Angeles in early 2005, the group has won a number of competitions, including the Grand Prize at the 59th Annual Coleman Chamber Music Competition, the inaugural BMI Foundation Commission Prize, and the 2006 Concert Artists Guild International Competition. Pink Martini, May 6 Irvine Barclay Theatre (949) 854-4646, www.thebarclay.org SOLD OUT. The music of Pink Martini melds jazz and cinematic themes with driving rhythms and exotic vocals. The stylish, 12-piece mini-orchestra stirs up more than just nostalgia with its elegant musicianship, fabulously retro repertoire, and eyebrow-arched wit. Over the last decade, the broad appeal of Pink Martini’s multi-lingual lyrics and swingin’ world rhythms has packed houses across the globe. Philharmonia Orchestra, May 8 Philharmonic Society of Orange County (949) 553-2422, www.philharmonicsociety.org With conductor Christoph von Dohnányi directing, the Philharmonia Orchestra performs compositions by Weber, Schumann and Beethoven. Acknowledged as the United Kingdom’s foremost musical pioneer, the Philharmonia leads the field for its quality of playing and for its innovative approach to audience development, residencies and music education. Pops Concert, May 10 Capistrano Valley Symphony (949) 240-8584, www.capovalleysymphony.com Program TBA. Live classic symphony sounds, show tunes and popular music from the 40's to the present day in the beautiful Mission San Juan Capistrano courtyard. Jerry Herman: Up Close and Personal, May 10 Orange County Performing Artscenter (714) 556-2787, www.ocpac.org An evening of captivating stories and songs by the Tony Award-winning composer and lyricist. Michael A. Kerker, vice president of musical theatre for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), will interview Herman while singers Jason Graae, Debbie Gravitte and Ron Raines perform many of Herman's songs from shows like Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles. Café Ludwig, May 11 Pacific Symphony (714) 755-5799, www.pacificsymphony.org A quartet comprised of pianist Stephen Prutsman, violinist Raymond Kobler, cellist Timothy Landauer and violist Robert Becker perform Sonata in E-flat for Viola and Piano by Brahms, Three Movements from Petrouchka by Stravinsky and Piano Quartet in E-flat major by Schumann. Susannah, May 14, 18, 22 & 24 Opera Pacific (800) 34-OPERA, www.operapacific.org An American folk opera of raw emotional power, Susannah is set in rural, Depression-era Tennessee and tells the poignant story of a girl’s life and dreams shattered by bigotry, zealotry and the abuse of power. The Fantasticks, May 16 South Coast Symphony (714) 731-8079, www.southcoastsymphony.org Orange County's unstuffy South Coast Symphony presents a staged concert version of the world's longest running musical. A classic coming-of-age story, The Fantasticks follows two meddling, matchmaking fathers who scheme to get their children together. Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass & Wilberg Requiem, May 17 Orange County Catholic Chorale (714) 421-4614, occatholicchorale.org West Coast Premiere. The Nelson Mass is considered to be Handel's most dramatic, transporting the listener from feelings of utter despair in the opening Kyrie to a great joy in the final Dona Nobis movement. Although not in the traditional Requiem format, Mack Wilberg's new work is a moving, introspective and poignant variation on tradition, inspired by Brahms and Vaughan Williams. Revelations, Revolutions, May 17 Pacific Chorale (714) 662-2345, www.pacificchorale.org The chorale and Pacific Symphony, conducted by John Alexander, bring to light a rediscovered masterpiece from the early 1900's by Horatio Parker. The program will also include the dramatic West Coast premiere by Pulitzer Prize-winner David Del Tredici. Rite of Spring, May 29 – 31 Pacific Symphony (714) 755-5799, www.pacificsymphony.org With Maestro Carl St.Clair at the podium, Pacific Symphony offers the foremost orchestral achievement of the 20th century as proclaimed by The New York Times: Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Also on the program is Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Schnittke’s Not a Midsummer Night’s Dream. Men Alive with Special Guest Bernadette Peters, May 31 Men Alive – The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus at Orange County Performing Arts Center www.MenAliveChorus.org (info), www.ocpac.org (tickets) Men Alive welcomes the incomparable Bernadette Peters as their very special guest for their season finale concert. The show, entitled New York City Rhythm!, celebrates the music and magic of the Big Apple, with a journey through some of the greatest musicals on Broadway. With Bernadette Peters, legendary singer/actress and Broadway's brightest star, joining the chorus on some of the best tunes from the Great White Way, Men Alive promises this will be their most exciting and lavish production to date. The Perfect 10 May 31 at Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, Newport Beach June 1 at St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church, Huntington Beach Orange County Women's Chorus (949) 451-8590, www.ocwomenschorus.org Ten years ago, the Orange County Women's Chorus was founded in a living room. Today, it's one of the most respected amateur ensembles in the Southland. This year, the chorus is celebrating a decade of singing and sisterhood and you're invited! This special reunion concert features favorite pieces from the past 10 years with an appearance by chorus alumnae. back to top Dance/ Performance Art 500 Clown: Frankenstein, May 8 – 10 Orange County Performing Artscenter (714) 556-2787, www.ocpac.org In 500 Clown Frankenstein, three clowns make a madcap effort to construct Dr. Frankenstein’s laboratory. The Chicago-based ensemble 500 Clown combines circus arts, improvisation and action-based performance to produce theater that celebrates the unpredictable power of the moment. The company has earned rave reviews for its work which catapults the performers into extreme physical and emotional risk and makes the audience active participants in the thrilling ride. Rubberbandance, May 9 Irvine Barclay Theatre (949) 854-4646, www.thebarclay.org Known on the streets of Los Angeles as Rubberband, Victor Quijada became a dancer in Twyla Tharp’s company, and then with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal where he was embraced by the Quebecois community of artists. Rubberbandance’s captivating perspective on the freedom of urban dance, music and movement includes a crowd-pleasing duet set to a recording by Luciano Pavarotti and Joan Sutherland. Nachle India, May 10 Ektaa Center at Irvine Barclay Theater (949) 854-4646, www.thebarclay.org (tickets), www.ektaacenter.org (info) This exciting evening showcases some of the best folk, Bollywood and contemporary Indian dance companies in the Southland. Explore the diverse cultures of India through traditions as well as the influences of jazz, hip-hop and modern dance. An Imagination Celebration event. back to top Theatre/ Literature What They Have, Through May 4 South Coast Repertory (714) 708-5555, www.scr.org World Premiere. “Powerful stuff” is what The Village Voice calls Kate Robin’s writing for the stage. In her latest play, she homes in on Hollywood and the L.A. scene—a world she knows well, as author of numerous Six Feet Under episodes. Connie and Jonas are a successful industry couple. Their friends Suzanne, a struggling painter, and Matt, a struggling musician, can’t afford to fix the roof. But stay tuned because in this funny, poignant and always truthful new play, lives can change in a heartbeat, and things aren’t necessarily what they seem. Borderline, Through May 10 STAGEStheatre (714) 525-4484, www.stagestheatre.net Julia, walks into a psychologist’s office and says she wants him to help her break free from her overbearing twin sister. She quickly becomes the most perplexing client of his career. Does she have borderline personality disorder or does her twin want to destroy her life? The Wild Party, Through May 11 STAGEStheatre (714) 525-4484, www.stagestheatre.net Andrew Lippa’s award winning score provides excitement and drive for the tale of passions out of control and the decadent people that indulge themselves. For mature audiences. The Injured Party, Through May 11 South Coast Repertory (714) 708-5555, www.scr.org The old guard is giving way. What will happen once it’s gone? That’s the underlying question in Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg’s eighth SCR premiere. Maxene is 94, rich and—possibly—immortal. Her grandson, Seth, no spring chicken himself, is not-so-rich, hopelessly stalled and determined that redistribution must commence. The time may be out of joint, but at least the joint is jumping in this ingenious new comedy about family, love, art, money, ambition, Christmas and—could it be?—homicide. Strangers, Babies, Through May 17 Rude Guerrilla Theater Company (714) 547-4688, www.rudeguerrilla.org U.S. Premiere. One woman. Five men. When Dan married his wife, he knew he wasn't in for a simple life. Duncan is dying, his day made worse by the arrival of his daughter. Roy's internet chat strikes pay dirt when he meets a woman who shares his unusual tastes. Denis didn't want to see his sister again, but there was something about her phone call that made him do it. Abel is in Social Services and one mother's reluctance to give him access to her son has him suspicious. May is the woman in their lives…and she's coming undone. For mature audiences. Cabaret, May 2 – 24 Camino Real Playhouse (949) 489-8082, www.caminorealplayhouse.org Welcome to the world of 1930's Berlin, a tumultuous yet free-spirited time and place, where the Third Reich is just ascending to power. This Tony Award-winning musical is an audience favorite worldwide, and features distinctive characters, a superlative score, and a thought-provoking story. The Brain From Planet X, May 3 – June 15 The Chance Theater (714) 777-3033, www.chancetheater.com As the third production in its 10th anniversary season, The Chance Theater is proud to present the Orange County premiere of The Brain From Planet X, a 1950's sci-fi spoof about alien invasion. When an ill-intentioned band of interplanetary travelers arrive on Earth with a plan to take over the world, an all-too regular, nuclear family is forced to defend the human race from will-bending extinction. This production will be produced as part of the state-wide Festival of New American Musicals. An Imagination Celebration event. Oliver!, May 9 – 25 Fullerton Civic Light Opera (714) 879-1732, www.fclo.com The story of the little orphan boy who joins a boys' gang of pickpockets engages the audience with its pathos and drama, while delighting everyone with the familiar musical numbers "Food, Glorious Food," "I'd Do Anything," and "Consider Yourself." Rabbit Hole, May 11 – June 8 The Chance Theater (714) 777-3033, www.chancetheater.com Orange County Premiere. David Lindsay-Abaire's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama is about a family turned upside down by a tragic event. Teeming with heartbreak, compassion, wit and honesty, Rabbit Hole is a nuanced and delicate piece of theater about family relationships, loss and hope. Having won or been nominated for almost every major playwriting award in the country, Rabbit Hole is widely regarded as one of the best new plays written in the last 25 years. Manuscript, May 16 – June 1 The Orange Curtain Theatre (949) 412-3252, www.theorangecurtaintheatre.org In the bedroom of a Brooklyn Heights brownstone, three ambitious college students mull the discovery of an unpublished manuscript. As the bright young things scrap over what to do, their plotting is by turns hilarious and startlingly cruel. This play examines issues of morality, truth, and the absurd things that people will do to succeed in the cutthroat world of publishing. Metamorphoses, May 23 – June 28 STAGEStheatre (714) 525-4484, www.stagestheatre.net Alexandros, May 27 – June 29 Laguna Playhouse (949) 497-2787, www.lagunaplayhouse.com In this hilarious human comedy with a warm Latin heart, Abuela, the matriarch of a Cuban-exile family, is turning 75. Much-married Maritza and her teenage daughter, Marty, have driven in from Texas. Live-at-home single son, Tio, wants everything to go smoothly, but as the punch flows, the Miami sky turns stormy and Eric, the handsome gardener arrives, the party unravels. Meanwhile, Alexandros, Abuela's bad-tempered pooch becomes the catalyst for an emotional meltdown in which closet doors open, truths tumble out and the bonds of family love are reasserted. The Seven Deadly Sins, May 29 – July 5 Rude Guerrilla Theater Company (714) 547-4688, www.rudeguerrilla.org Seven World Premiere One-Act Plays. Lust, Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Envy, and Pride meet their match in go-go boys reading Joyce, fat men sitting on couches, ravers texting while snorting cocaine, African dictators facing justice in The Hague, community theater productions of The Odd Couple gone horribly wrong, demonic justice at the end of a whip and Greek Mythology gone amok. For Mature Audiences. Anything Goes, May 30 – June 29 Newport Theatre Arts Center (949) 631-0288, ntaconline.com This show is an amusing story of ship-board romance wrapped up by magical Cole Porter tunes, including "It's De-Lovely," "I Get a Kick Out of You," and "You're the Top." back to top Visual Arts/ Film Monthly Programs Irvine Fine Arts Center (949) 724-6880, www.irvinefinearts.org Free Film and Video Series Screening, 1st & 3rd Tuesdays; films consist of various genres including independent, art-house, documentary and avant-garde experimental media. Art Forum, 2nd Thursdays; art discussions, workshops, demonstrations, lectures and more. First Thursdays Art Walk, May 1 (Monthly, 1st Thursdays) (949) 683-6871, www.firstthursdaysartwalk.com Join member galleries throughout Laguna Beach on the first Thursday evening of every month for a festive cultural evening, with a free shuttle to participating locations. Art That's Small at City Hall, Through May 1 City of Laguna Beach (949) 497-0722, www.lagunabeachcity.net/arts Prints from the Cal State Fullerton Collection II, Through May 9 Cal State Fullerton's Visual Arts Center (714) 278-3262, www.arts.fullerton.edu Prints from the Cal State Fullerton Collection II is an exhibition of over 100 works from the university's print collection, shown only once before in 2001. The collection includes both contemporary and historical prints in a range of printmaking techniques and mediums, and it features those artworks by important California artists including Alexis Smith, Lita Albuquerque and Ed Ruscha. Free of charge. Tustin Art League Show at Chemers Gallery, Through May 10 Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (714) 518-5519, www.tacfa.org Show theme: Scenes From Tustin. Original Photography by Andy Warhol, Through May 18 Grand Central Art Center (714) 567-7233, www.grandcentralartcenter.com This collection of 155 Polaroid and black and white photographs by legendary pop art icon Andy Warhol include shots of notable socialites and factory regulars Madonna, Tatum O'Neal, John McEnroe, Jon Gould, Constance Young, Mary Tyler Moore and many others. Also seen are rare still lifes and landscapes, flea markets, a Halloween parade, beaches, dogs and Japanese toys. This is the first complete exhibition of this body of work in the United States. Free of charge. Chicano Art & Soul (Concurrent Exhibits), Extended through May 18 Muzeo (714) 95-MUZEO, www.muzeo.org Chicano Now: American Expressions is a 5,000 square-foot interactive multimedia exhibition for families which weaves tradition, history and humor into a multimedia expression of the lives and rich contributions of Chicanos. Papel Chicano: Works on Paper from the Collection of Cheech Marin features 40 works by 19 established artists. Their bold, intense imagery and rich color have long been a trademark of artwork which expresses the Chicano experience. Disorderly Conduct: Art in Tumultuous Times, Through May 25 Orange County Museum of Art (949) 759-1122, www.ocma.net Disorderly Conduct features installation projects by local and international artists whose works reveal the political turbulence, cultural malaise and general instability of our tumultuous times, including Pilar Albarracin, Karen Finley, Pearl C. Hsiung, Glenn Kaino, Mike Kelley, Martin Kersels, Daniel Joseph Martinez, Rodney McMillian, and Robin Rhode. These artists reference subjects such as war and terror, social and racial tension, urban and environmental disaster, psychological break-down, and criminal behavior in a range of mixed media and video installations. Blackwater Babylon: Michael Knowlton, Through May 25 Grand Central Art Center (714) 567-7233, www.grandcentralartcenter.com Michael Knowlton is an artist involved in the lowbrow art scene as a writer for Juxtapoz and an early exhibitor in Zero One Gallery. His recent paintings are politically charged comments on current events and the war in Iraq, inspired by news broadcasts on TV and in newspapers, photojournalistic scenes, and the artist's unique narrative. Free of charge. Greg Stone, Through May 30 Community Art Project at Wells Fargo Bank Second Floor (949) 682-4339, caplaguna.org Stone's work illuminates a humanism that transcends ethnicity and approaches sensitive subjects from different perspectives. Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964), May 1 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc In this innovative film, Jacques Demy pays loving homage to the Hollywood musical as well as the French melodrama. Catherine Deneuve is the fresh and beautiful 16-year-old Genevieve, pining away in her mother's umbrella shop. When she falls in love with the charming local auto mechanic, Guy, worlds collide. For 20 years, the film was only available in faded prints. However, a three-strip negative print was discovered in an archive and Jaques Demy's widow, Agnes Varda, had the movie restored with funding provided by the French Ministry of Culture. In French with English subtitles. Preceded by a short student film as part of the UCI Filmmakers Series. Art Walk at Artists Village – Avantgarden, May 3 Orange County Fine Arts (714) 558-8843, www.orangecountyfinearts.com Dine at local restaurants and enjoy the galleries and studios. Signals: A Video Showcase, May 3 – September 14 Orange Lounge (949) 759-1122 x 272, www.ocma.net Signals: A Video Showcase is a series of three thematic exhibitions designed to highlight the Orange County Museum of Art’s collection of video art. Featuring selections from the permanent collection along with additional works by emerging and established artists, each exhibition will last approximately six weeks, giving viewers the opportunity to see up to 14 individual works of video art over the course of the summer. Buffalo Boy (2004), May 4 Vietnamese-American Arts & Letters Association (714) 893-6145, www.vaala.org In this powerful, coming-of-age film set in rural 1940s Vietnam, a young man from a poor family is sent by his father to find grass for their two starving buffalos. Before long, he takes up with a rough and dangerous band of buffalo herders and discovers freedom, adventure, and love—but also secrets about his past that will change his life forever. Part of the Viet Film Wave Series held at Bowers Museum. Within These Confines, May 8 – 30 Santa Ana College Arts Gallery at the Santora (714) 564-5605, www.sac.edu/fpa Works by Santa Ana College staff members. Spider-man II (2004) with Discussion with Stan Lee, May 8 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc In this hit film by Sam Raimi, closet superhero Peter Parker is still struggling with his personal life and newfound powers: his relationship with high school crush M.J. endangers her life; his friend Harry Osborn hates Spider-man more everyday; and his Aunt May has fallen on hard times. However, Peter's biggest challenge arrives in the form of a mad scientist named who is terrorizing the city with his deadly bionic tentacles. Preceded by a discussion with Spider-man creator and comics legend Stan Lee. Viet Film Wave Symposium, May 9 Vietnamese-American Arts & Letters Association (714) 893-6145, www.vaala.org As a culmination of the Viet Film Wave series, this special evening brings the directors, Stephane Gauger, Ham Tran, and Nghiem-Minh Nguyen-Vo, and some of the films’ cast members together for a time of dialogue, discussion, and shared responses to the three films screened at the Bowers. The museum will host a reception prior to the symposium. Band of Outsiders (1964), May 15 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc Two restless young men enlist the object of their desire to help them commit a robbery––in her own home. French New Wave pioneer Jean-Luc Godard takes to the streets of Paris to re-imagine the gangster genre, spinning an audacious yarn that’s at once sentimental and insouciant, romantic and melancholy. In French with English subtitles. Preceded by a short student film as part of the UCI Filmmakers Series. Breathless (1960), May 16 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc With its lack of polish, surplus of attitude, crackling personalities of rising stars Jean-Paul Belmondo and Jean Seberg, and anything-goes crime narrative, Jean-Luc Godard's debut fashioned a simultaneous homage to and critique of the American film genres that influenced and rocked him as a film writer for Cahiers du cinema. Jazzy, free-form, and sexy, the film helped launch the French new wave and ensured cinema would never be the same. In French with English subtitles. Preceded by a short student film as part of the UCI Filmmakers Series. Summer Judged Show, May 18 – June 18 San Clemente Art Association (949) 492-7175, scartgallery.com A judged show in which association members’ original artwork is displayed in the San Clemente Art Gallery. Free of charge. Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of the First Emperor, May 18 – October 12 Bowers Museum of Cultural Art (714) 567-3600, www.bowers.org Considered one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century, the tomb complex of China's first emperor features thousands of terra cotta warriors that were intended to protect him throughout eternity. Since their discovery, the terra cotta army has been termed the Eighth Wonder of the Ancient World. This exhibit is the largest loan of terra cotta figures and significant artifacts to ever travel to the U.S. from the emperor's enormous mausoleum. Badlands (1973), May 22 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc Terrence Malick's startlingly accomplished debut feature was inspired by the Charles Starkweather and Caril-Ann Fugate murders of the late-1950s. When 25-year-old Kit (Martin Sheen) meets innocent 15-year-old Holly (Sissy Spacek), he falls head-over-heels in love. Her overprotective father's rejection of the match sparks Kit into action, triggering a brutal killing spree across the Midwest. Preceded by a short student film as part of the UCI Filmmakers Series. Easy Rider (1967), May 23 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc A landmark in film history, Easy Rider blew the studio doors open for more young directors than any film before or since, helping to create the wide-open climate that would lead to the production of many outstanding films in the 1970s. Starring Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper, it traces a duo's journey to find the real America while mounted on their seriously-chopped hogs. Preceded by a short student film as part of the UCI Filmmakers Series. The Graduate (1967), May 29 UCI Film and Video Center (949) 824-7418, www.humanities.uci.edu/fvc This influential film is a biting satire/comedy about a recent nebbish, East Coast college graduate who finds himself alienated and adrift in the shifting, social and sexual mores of the 1960s, and questioning the values of society. Preceded by a short student film as part of the UCI Filmmakers Series. Las Vegas Diaspora, Through June 1 Laguna Art Museum (949) 494-8971, www.lagunaartmuseum.org Las Vegas Diaspora: Emergence of Contemporary Art from the Neon Homeland travels to Laguna Art Museum from its recent premiere at the Las Vegas Museum of Art. Organized by art critic and curator Dave Hickey, this exhibition celebrates the work of 26 artists who received their degrees from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada and who studied with Hickey between 1990 and 2001. LIVE, Through June 7 UCI's Beall Center for Art + Technology (949) 824-4339, beallcenter.uci.edu This group exhibition features contemporary American artists using video, images, and text captured from the internet as their expressive medium. The resulting artworks offer a surprisingly diverse array of experience, ranging from social commentary to the unintended beauty of surveillance footage. With Boxed Music Event on June 5, and Family Day on May 3. Gems! Colors of Light and Stone, Through June 16 Bowers Museum of Cultural Art (714) 567-3600, www.bowers.org The private gem collection of Michael Scott is the most significant in the United States and rivals those of royal families. In this exhibit, visitors will see major gem species in every color and variety known, as well as rare examples of little known color varieties such as green tanzanites and electric-blue Paraiba tourmalines. It also includes examples of cut collector stones—those too rare to be used in the general jewelry trade; antique jewelry from the mid-19th to early 20th centuries; spectacular gem carvings, including those by German artists Bernd Munsteiner and Gerd Dreher; and the work of Seattle-based silversmith/contemporary artist, John Marshall. Southern California Plein Air Painters Association: Painting the California Landscape, Through June 25 Mission San Juan Capistrano (949) 234-1300, www.missionsjc.com The Southern California Plein Air Painters Association, founded in January 2000, was first known as "The Friday Group." The original group of painters met in a landscape painting course at Irvine Valley College. The current membership is over 250 with members in Arizona, Nevada and Colorado and throughout California. Art Since the 1960s: California Experiments, Through September 14 Orange County Museum of Art (949) 759-1122, www.ocma.net This exhibition of works from the museum’s permanent collection focuses on the development of contemporary art in the pivotal period from the 1960s to the 1990s with important examples of pop art, assemblage, conceptual art, video, performance, installation, and neo-conceptual work. Solid Design: Leo Fender’s Telecaster, Continuing Indefinitely Fullerton Museum Center (714) 738-6545, www.cityoffullerton.com/depts/museum This exhibit will showcase the first commercially successful solidbody electric guitar, an instrument that changed music history. Numerous examples from the early years will be on display, including information on Telecasters owned by such stars as George Harrison, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Roy Buchanan, James Burton, Don Rich, and Mike Bloomfield. Bear Street Gallery Exhibit, Showing Indefinitely Orange County Fine Arts (714) 825-0592, www.orangecountyfinearts.com Paintings and photography by James Cooper, Raymond G. Otis, Roger D. Reading, Yachiyo, Bill Hudson and Dennis Sholtz. back to top For Kids and Families The Wiz, Through May 3 South OC High School of the Arts at Dana Hills High School www.socsarts.org This Tony award winning Broadway musical comes to life with live music and colorful sets and costumes. Dorothy leads her troubled friends through Oz in search of the Wiz. Youth production. Disney's High School Musical, Through May 11 Broadway On Tour at Ebell Theater (714) 542-6939, www.broadwayontour.org The musical version of the wildly popular Disney Channel movie including all the popular song and dance numbers. A youth production. 2008 Imagination Celebration Festival, Through May 18 ocimaginationcelebration.org This countywide arts festival for children, teenagers, and families features theatre, dance, music, film, visual and literary arts and is presented by Arts Orange County and the Orange County Department of Education. This year's festival features more than 90 events in 29 cities across Orange County. For a complete listing of events, visit ocimaginationcelebration.org. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, May 2 – 4 Orange County Performing Artscenter (714) 556-2787, www.ocpac.org With his life-like puppets, German puppeteer Matthias Kuchta interprets the fairy tale of the queen, the dwarfs, the prince and Snow White and uses the vital charm of fairy tales to involve the children into the play. An Imagination Celebration event. Family Day at the Beall Center, May 3 Beall Center for Art + Technology, UC Irvine (949) 824-4339, beallcenter.uci.edu The Beall Center for Art and Technology is a unique space for exploration and showcases today’s most creative artists working with technology. Join the Center for Family Day inspired by current exhibit LIVE, featuring contemporary American New Media artists. Scheduled activities include hands-on art projects, art and technology demonstrations, and special guest Dr. Donn, The Optricks Apprentice. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. A Tribute to Rent, Jr., May 3 Orange County Theater Company (714) 501-3466, www.orangecountytheatercompany.org OCTC producer/director Hunter Dion presents the adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning rock opera which tells the story of one year in the life of a group of bohemians struggling in the East Village. Youth production. The Three Bears Teach the Three Pigs to Go Green, May 3, 4, 10, & 11 Children's Theatre Workshop (949) 581-5402, www.childrenstheatreworkshop.org Kids on the Green, May 3, 17, 24 City of Irvine's Bill Barber Park Amphitheater (949) 724-6606, www.cityofirvine.org Live, outdooor theater productions specially designed to enrich the young mind: Blankets only, no lawn chairs. Free of charge. Schedule: May 3, Tales of the Ashanti by Jim Gamble Puppet Productions; May 17, Folk Tales of Norway by The Patchwork Players; May 24, Frog Belly Rat Bone by Rogue Artists Ensemble. Ballet Fun Fair, May 4 Festival Ballet Theatre (714) 962-5440, www.festivalballet.org Enjoy festivities including a performance of a narrated storybook ballet, face painting, paper ballerina crafts, a dress-up booth, and free dance classes. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. Imagination Powers Art, May 4 Orange County Museum of Art (949) 759-1122, www.ocma.net Come enjoy hands-on art projects, entertainment, and family-friendly tours of museum exhibitions. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. The Sleeping Beauty, May 7 – 18 Laguna Playhouse (949) 497-2787, www.lagunaplayhouse.com Princess Beauty, who was cursed by a wicked fairy on her christening day, falls into a deep sleep on her 16th birthday and must await the kiss of a prince. But can Prince Elano survive his confrontation with the forces of evil to rescue Beauty? Will Beauty ever wake and live happily ever after? Hands on Dance, May 10 Anaheim Ballet (714) 520-0904, www.anaheimballet.org Hands on Dance is an interactive invitation to the art, crafts and athleticism of dance. Join dancers and faculty from the Anaheim Ballet for an afternoon of mini dance classes in ballet, jazz, and hip-hop, along with performances, storytelling and crafts. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. Create and Paint with the Pros, May 10 Orange County Fine Arts (714) 540 6430, www.orangecountyfinearts.com This exciting hands-on event will provide an opportunity for participants to create and paint with OCFA artists who will demonstrate their particular art forms and share their expertise in using different styles and mediums. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. Can't Believe It!, May 13 – 15 Laguna Playhouse (949) 497-2787, www.lagunaplayhouse.com Ron seems so perfect that shy Teresa can't talk to him. But when their paths cross and they're caught doing something they shouldn't, they are forced to re-examine their relationship. This comedy-drama is drawn from real life and provides an opportunity for young audience members to learn about responsibility and consequences. By the Great Horn Spoon, May 17 Laguna Playhouse TheatreReach (949) 497-2787 x1, www.lagunaplayhouse.com The year is 1849 and the California Gold Rush is on. Praiseworthy the butler and Master Jack Flagg stow away on a ship bound from Boston to California when their wild, swashbuckling adventures begin. An Imagination Celebration event. Dance Illuminates, May 17 Stella Dance Company (714) 293-9027, www.stelladance.org Imagination gives us the power to use movement as a tool that allows our body to become a graceful swan or swift cheetah. Stella Dance will present works that demonstrate that power with expression, precision and complexity. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. Spring Concert, May 17 Southern California Children's Chorus (949) 631-1521 x1, www.sccchorus.org Performance by seven ensembles of the children's chorus, including the Advanced Chorus and Concert Chorus. 10th Annual FunWithChalk Street Painting Festival, May 17 – 18 (877) WECHALK, www.funwithchalk.org Unique event featuring professional street painters (called Madonnari) from all over the globe creating images on an immense asphalt surface. Entertainment includes the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra Brass Quintet, The Orange County Harp Troop, and performance art magic of Javier Alvarez Palomar. Free of charge. An Imagination Celebration event. Delta Blues Family Day, May 18 Fullerton Museum Center (714) 738-6545, www.ci.fullerton.ca.us/depts/museum/ Hands-on art and music inspired by the exhibit Delta Bluesmen. Participants can enjoy drop-in tours of the exhibit, try their hands at a blues progression on guitar and piano, and make original art inspired by great artists of the American south. An Imagination Celebration event. Imagine, May 30 – June 15 South Coast Repertory (714) 708-5555, www.scr.org An imaginary friend, T-Rex, gets dumped by his real boy, and he's not the only one. It's the first day of school—the end of make-believe—and the playground is filled with discarded imaginary friends. T-Rex goes on an adventure to find a new friend in this musical delight about the wonder of imagination. Performance by Concert and Ensemble Chorus, May 31 Southern California Children's Chorus (949) 250-9114, www.sccchorus.org Dan Zanes, May 31 – June 1 Orange County Performing Artscenter (714) 556-2787, www.ocpac.org The former lead singer and songwriter for the rock band The Del Fuegos, Grammy-winner Zanes was inspired by the birth of his child to make “21st Century family music” for kids and grown-ups to enjoy together, regardless of one’s age, size or temperament. Super Heroes – Super Jobs, Through June 8 Children’s Museum at La Habra (562) 905-9793, www.lhcm.org This spring’s changing exhibit takes visitors through a miniature city in which everyone gets to join in the action by performing some of the city’s most important functions. Visitors to the exhibit will take on the roles of firefighters, police officers, waste managers, veterinarians, mayors, teachers and mail carriers to discover what it takes to become a community helper. back to top |