In-Person Events in April
APRIL 23
TANGO ROMANTICA
Renowned Argentine tango dancers Miriam Larici and Leonardo Barrionuevo will dance in Casa Romantica’s courtyard, accompanied by live music, in this performance. The two are known in the dance community as one of the top tango couples in the world and work regularly as choreographers, including stints on “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing With the Stars.” Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org
APRIL 7
ORCHESTRA COLLECTIVE OF ORANGE COUNTY
A quintet of performers from Orange County’s collectively run symphony will play selections from Dvorak and Mozart in this outdoor concert held in Casa Romantica’s courtyard. Alumni from Casa Romantica’s Summer Music Festival and Academy will open for the classical musicians. A limited number of $1 tickets for children ages 6 to 16 will be available. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org
APRIL 22
TIMELESS MELODIES: FRANK SINATRA, PART 2
Held in the Key Courtyard at Bowers Museum, this lecture from music educator and historian Larry Maurer will take a look at Frank Sinatra’s comeback in the 1950s, when an Oscar victory for his role in “From Here to Eternity” catapulted him back to fame. During this era, he released 14 albums and some of his most iconic recordings, including “Come Fly With Me” and “In the Wee Small Hours.” Reservations are strongly encouraged. Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714-567-3600, bowers.org
APRIL 24 AND 25
EARTH DAY CELEBRATION
Swing by this event to learn more about the environment and how to be kind to our planet. The festival will honor Earth Day and have activities for kids and interests for adults, too. Check the website for specific details. Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org
APRIL 29 AND 30
“ROMEO AND JULIET”
Shakespeare’s classic tale of warring families and star-crossed lovers in Verona has been staged many times, in every format imaginable. In this presentation from the Southern California Shakespeare Festival Guild, the story will be told in the traditional style. Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens, 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente, 949-498-2139, casaromantica.org
THROUGH APRIL 24
SHANE GUFFOGG: “40 YEARS OF SELF-PORTRAITS”
This exhibit surveys the self-portraits Guffogg has been creating over the past 40 years, since he was a teenager. The drawings, pastels, watercolors, oil paintings, and sculptures reflect the artist’s perspectives on his life as he became a painter known for abstract works that have been shown around the world. Viewing is available by appointment only. Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, 117 N. Sycamore St., Santa Ana, 714-667-1517, occca.org
APRIL 1
JEEYOON KIM
Kim, a pianist known for her engaging performances, burst onto the classical music scene in 2016 with her debut album, the well-received “10 More Minutes.” She often breaks with tradition by talking with the audience during her concerts, and she connects with her fans through her podcast, “Journey Through Classical Piano.” Muckenthaler Cultural Center, 714-738-6595, themuck.org
APRIL 7
Botanical Collections of the Santa Ana Zoo
Zoo director Ethan Fisher will discuss the plant collections at the zoo, his plans about how to use them in the future, and the potential of the zoo’s botanical side in this free virtual lecture. Sherman Library and Gardens, 949-673-2261, thesherman.org
APRIL 9
STUART PALLEY
Photojournalist Palley will discuss his work documenting the California wildfires with Douglas McCulloh, artist and senior curator at UCR Arts: California Museum of Photography. Palley has taken photographs for National Geographic magazine, The New York Times, and The Washington Post and released a book, “Terra Flamma: Wildfires at Night,” in 2018. Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, 949-717-3892, nbplfoundation.org
APRIL 9
BRENTANO QUARTET
Formed in 1992, the quartet—which includes Serena Canin on violin, Mark Steinberg on violin, Misha Amory on viola, and Nina Lee on cello—has played in top concert halls around the world, including Carnegie Hall, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, and the Sydney Opera House. Currently the resident string quartet at the Yale School of Music, the group is known for commissioning works from up-and-coming composers. In this virtual concert, they’ll play music by Hadyn, Bartók, and Brahms. Philharmonic Society of Orange County, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org
APRIL 19 THROUGH 25
IMAGINOLOGY
The popular S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) festival goes virtual this year, with a scavenger hunt, educational games, videos, and an e-sports tournament and expert panel. Top student work from the festival’s annual competitions in collage, cosplay, digital art, drawing, painting, photography, poetry, and 3D art will also be on display. OC Fair and Event Center, 714-708-1500, ocfair.com/imaginology
APRIL 16
SHAHZIA SIKANDER: BEAUTY, POWER, AND EXTRAORDINARY REALITIES
Sikander, an artist whose work has been shown in the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art in Sydney, the Irish Modern Museum of Art, and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, will discuss her latest work and her upcoming book, “Shahzia Sikander: Extraordinary Realities” in this Witte Lecture. Her figurative paintings, sculptures, and installations explore and upend traditional themes with an eye toward cultural identity and gender. In the virtual conversation, Sikander will talk with Meg Linton, chief executive officer of the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation. Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, 949-717-3892, nbplf.foundation
THROUGHOUT APRIL
“THE STORY OF MY LIFE”
This Drama Desk Award-nominated musical examines the friendship of two men, Thomas and Alvin, who were inseparable in childhood, but grew apart after Thomas moved away for college. Thomas is called back to his hometown after Alvin’s death and struggles to write a eulogy until Alvin appears as a ghost and the two reconstruct their lives together. Chance Theater, 714-777-3033, chancetheater.com
APRIL 22
THE GLOBAL WARMING PROBLEM AND SOLUTIONS
Engineers Craig B. Smith and Bill Fletcher will discuss their new book, “Reaching Net Zero: What It Takes to Solve the Global Climate Crisis,” in this online lecture. Using straightforward and easy-to-understand language, the pair will talk about what causes global warming, what the consequences might be, and how some practical solutions could help mitigate the problem. Ticketholders will receive a link the day before and will be able to watch the lecture anytime on the day it is released. Bowers Museum, 714-567-3600, bowers.org
APRIL 24
JEAN-YVES THIBAUDET
Thibaudet, a two-time Grammy Award nominee, will perform Debussy’s Préludes, Books 1 and 2, in this virtual concert. The celebrated pianist has played as a soloist across the globe, recorded more than 50 albums, and joined the Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame in 2010. Known for branching out from classical music into jazz and opera, Thibaudet’s recordings have been included on soundtracks for movies such as “Atonement” and “Pride and Prejudice.” Philharmonic Society of Orange County, 949-553-2422, philharmonicsociety.org
APRIL 25
JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL
To celebrate the annual blooming of the Japanese cherry trees, this livestreamed festival will feature art, music, and dance. Family-friendly presentations will include instructions on how to create origami shapes and design an ikebana floral arrangement. Bowers Museum, 714-567-3600, bowers.org
Ongoing Live Events
City National Grove of Anaheim
citynationalgroveofanaheim.com
Drive-In OC concerts featuring DJs, bands, and comedians continue at the concert venue. Every car can listen to the show via the PA system or the car’s FM radio; meal kits, snacks, beer, wine, cocktails, and soda are available for purchase at the venue and are delivered to your car. Recent past performers have included Tribal Seeds and Whethan.
The Frida Cinema
thefridacinema.org
The cinema’s “Pop-Up Drive-In” series offers drive-in movie screenings of classics such as “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and “The Shining” and new releases such as “Minari” and “Wolfwalkers” in various venues across Orange County, including the Zion Lutheran Church and School in Anaheim and the Mess Hall in Tustin.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
scfta.org
The center continues its movie nights on the Argyros Plaza on weekends as well as wellness classes on the plaza. Past classes have included yoga, African dance, and Broadway dance seminars. Check the website for specifics and updates.
Ongoing Online Offerings
Musco Center for the Arts
muscocenter.org
Archived recordings of the performing arts center’s livestreamed conversations with performers, playwrights, choreographers, and scholars of the arts are available on the center’s website. The spring season included performances and Q&As with roots musician Amythyst Kiah and classical chamber orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi.
Chance Theater
chancetheater.com
The theater continues to host its regular series of “Chance Cyber Chats,” in which actors, directors, and producers who’ve worked with the theater lead panel discussions about Broadway shows streaming on Broadway HD. The theater’s video series, “Chance Encounters” and “Some Good News O.C.,” is also ongoing.
Irvine Barclay Theatre
thebarclay.org
The theater continues to present National Geographic Live lectures via livestream. Recent events have included a look at dinosaurs with world-renowned paleontologists and an exploration of deep-sea life with biologists.
Laguna Art Museum
lagunaartmuseum.org
Together with Laguna Beach Live!, the museum continues to host livestreamed concerts in its galleries. Recent concerts have featured the Triada Guitar Trio and soprano Christina Linhardt accompanied on keyboard by Joshua Chandra. Recordings of past shows are at lagunabeachlive.squarespace.com.
Laguna Playhouse
lagunaplayhouse.com
The playhouse announces new video-on-demand presentations of plays and musicals each month. Past offerings have included “The Outsiders,” and “The Gin Game” with Joe Spano and JoBeth Williams.
Pacific Chorale
pacificchorale.org
The chorale recently added two features to its website. One spotlights Black composers and arrangers, with short bios and links to their music online. The other, “Ask the Maestro,” features a series of short Q&A videos with the chorale’s artistic director, Robert Istad.
Pacific Symphony
pacificsymphony.org
The symphony began hosting virtual events with local cultural organizations in February, including a Lunar New Year Festival and a Lantern Festival. It’s also continuing to post recordings from the vault; in March, it made the orchestra’s entire performance of Beethoven’s “Eroica” free to view. In addition, concertmaster Dennis Kim and first flute Ben Smolen continue to host weekly “Symphony Mixers,” extended online chats with musicians, composers, music directors, and other classical music industry insiders.
Soka Performing Arts Center
soka.edu
The center began hosting a series of virtual concerts this spring and also began offering video recordings of full performances that took place in the concert hall, including a 2018 solo piano concert from Emmanuel Ax. Other video series on the center’s website feature interviews and behind-the-scenes footage from jazz greats and Q&As with musicians and others in the music industry.
South Coast Repertory
scr.org
The theater recently released a new episode of #Commissioned with SCR’s artistic director, David Ivers, interviewing playwright José Cruz González, who led the theater’s Hispanic Playwrights Project; has directed SCR plays, including “La Posada Mágica”; and received the theater’s first commission of 2021
Facebook Comments