 Travelers flock from around the
world to shop in Costa Mesa at South Coast Plaza. Commercial success
of the venue has helped the nearby Orange County Performing Arts Center
come into its own as a recognized concert hall.
Architectural firm: Blurock Partnership of Newport Beach
in conjunction with Caudill Rowlett Scott
Architect: Charles Lawrence, CRS
Acoustic design: A. Harold Marshall
ORANGE COUNTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
By: Tim Dunn
About The Center
Since its opening in 1986, the Orange County Performing
Arts Center has become one of this region’s most prominent cultural institutions,
well known for both its award-winning architecture and facilities and for
the exceptional quality of performances offered within. The Center
is more than an elegant, contemporary performance hall; it is also Orange
County’s largest non-profit performing arts organization, serving the community
in a myriad of ways.
The existing state-of the-art facility is comprised of
the acoustically superb multi-purpose 3,000-esat Segerstrom Hall and its
smaller, more intimate venue, Founders Hall, which seats up to 250 people
in a variety of settings and configurations. While The Center is the primary
presenter in both venues, it also provides a home to many of the county’s
leading performing arts organizations, including its Artistic Partners:
the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Opera Pacific, the Philharmonic Society
of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale.
The Center’s programming is noted for its international
caliber and variety. The International Classic Dance Series is unrivaled
anywhere in the western United States, and The Center is recognized as
one of the nation’s premiere venues for the major ballet companies of the
world.
The Center presents an annual Broadway Series. The success
of these engagements has made Costa Mesa a required stop for all national
Broadway tours.
Performances in the Concert Series include today’s most
celebrated classical chamber ensembles and soloists. The intimate setting
of Founders Hall is ideal for the smaller groups, providing a more authentic
experience for both performers and audience.
Voices in Song is a special series that features reigning
opera stars in recital and concert.
For The Center’s Jazz Club and the Cabaret Series, Founders
Hall is transformed into a casual nightclub setting. Many of the contemporary
music world’s leading artists have appeared there, creating seasons that
are veritable Who’s Who of Grammy and Tony Award-winners.
The Center’s new Spotlight Series showcases stellar performers
in limited engagements. It offers Center audiences exciting variety from
all areas of the entertainment world.
The Orange County Performing Arts Center also offers one
of the most active and acclaimed arts in education programs in the country.
It has received prestigious commendations and awards from the U.S. Department
of Education and the Kennedy for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.
A variety of offerings that are designed to enhance existing education
programs and to promote the importance of the arts in education and our
lives are offered year-round at The Center and in the community.
The Center Expands: Building on The Vision
In 1999, The Center announced its $200 million Building
on The Vision Campaign to design and construct a 2,000-seat concert hall
and a 500-seat music theater. The new facility will be located across the
street from the current venue. They will be linked by a dramatic outdoor
public plaza. Ground breaking will take place in 2002, with completion
scheduled for 2005.
Internationally-renowned architect Cesar Pelli is designing
the new halls, working closely with Russell Johnson, the world’s foremost
authority on acoustical engineering. With these two experts leading the
project, The Center has assured the community that the new venues will
uphold and complement the high artistic and architectural standards set
with the original facilities.
The project has reached 100% of the design phase. The
foyers and grand staircase, concert hall, music theater, restaurant, patron
lounge, rehearsal rooms and artist support facilities are in place. Now
the process continues with the selection of materials, finishes and other
details.
In addition to The Center’s expansion project, South Coast
Repertory (a Tony Award-winning regional theater located across the street
from The Center and adjacent to the expansion site) is also building and
new theater to complement its existing two spaces. The Orange County Museum
of Art recently announced its own plans to build a new campus next to The
Center’s future facility. The entire complex of theaters and museum
will be called the Segerstrom Center for The Arts, in honor of the Segerstrom
family, which donated the land upon which this cultural showplace will
stand.
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