The Book of Mormon at Segerstrom Center for the Arts

Review: Broadway Talents Honor Olivia Newton-John at OC's Segerstrom Center

January 19, 2024

Hosted by Scott Coulter at OC's Segerstrom Center, this beautifully-curated 'greatest hits' showcase celebrating Olivia Newton-John provided an entertaining tribute, delivered via superb performances from the likes of Jessica Hendy, David Burnham, and Mike Schwitter, plus a first-person testimonial from her longtime producer John Farrar.

Review: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY Returns to OC's Segerstrom Center

November 28, 2023

On November 16-18, 2023, Segerstrom Center for the Arts's Samueli Theater welcomed back FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, the hit Broadway-skewering parody show that pokes fun at the Great White Way. Aimed as a 'greatest hits' iteration, the show was a (mostly) funny 2-Act program, but a lot of its material proved surprisingly outdated and out-of-touch.

Segerstrom Center For The Arts Announces THE BOOK OF MORMON Ticket Lottery!

August 14, 2023

THE BOOK OF MORMON winner of nine Tony Awards including Best Musical, has announced a lottery for $25 tickets for each performance in Costa Mesa playing at Segerstrom Center for the Arts from September 5 – 10, 2023.

TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL Comes to Segerstrom Center For the Arts

June 15, 2023

The North American touring cast is led by Naomi Rodgers (Frozen) and Zurin Villanueva (The Lion King, Mean Girls, Shuffle Along, The Book of Mormon) who will evenly share the role of Tina Turner, each playing four (of eight) performances a week. Also starring are Roderick Lawrence as Ike Turner, Roz White as Zelma Bullock, Carla R. Stewart as Gran Georgeanna and Lael Van Keuren as Rhonda.

Segerstrom Center For The Arts to Present AN EVENING WITH BRIAN STOKES MITCHELL This Month

June 03, 2023

Segerstrom Center for the Arts will present Broadway's Brian Stokes Mitchell for one night only on Friday, June 23, 2023 at 8 pm.

Review: Jason Robert Brown Shares His Gifts at OC's Segerstrom Center

May 03, 2023

It's a rare treat when an actual living legend of musical theatre like Jason Robert Brown comes to our neck of the woods to talk about his work, let alone perform some of these works live in an intimate cabaret setting. But thanks to Segerstrom Center of the Arts, the composer gave us a spectacular show with an amazing special guest, Mykal Kilgore.

Review: Sally Struthers and Company Revive Mel Brooks' YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN to Glorious Life in La Mirada

September 21, 2022

Overall--especially in this tighter, revised version lifted from London’s West End production that’s much zippier than the original--there is no denying that YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is a witty, super funny, and genuinely enjoyable musical comedy that earns plenty of laughs and smiles along the way.

MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL & More Announced for Segerstrom Center for the Arts 2022-2023 Season

April 11, 2022

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its line-up of shows for its 2022-2023 Subscription Series. Get the schedule and find out how to get tickets. Back by popular demand, multiple series genres will be available on a season ticket basis including Broadway, Curtain Call, Jazz, Cabaret, Chamber, and Family series.

BWW Review: Stunning MISS SAIGON Revival at Segerstrom Center Can't Wipe Away Its Outdated Problematic Motifs

October 12, 2019

30 years after its stage debut, experiencing MISS SAIGON nowadays exposes just how outdated and out-of-touch it is with our increasingly diverse world view. The musical's original production---which first debuted in the West End in 1989 before transferring to Broadway in 1991---became a global hit despite some loud, very understandable controversy. Most audiences, however, ignored the accusations of orientalism, misogyny, and white-washing and instead focused on the show's epic melodrama and theatrical splendor, much of it powered by the lush music of Claude-Michel Schönberg and the lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby Jr. The show continues at Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa through October 13, 2019.

Review: BWW's Michael L. Quintos Picks Best of O.C. and Beyond for 2018

December 29, 2018

As with each passing season, 2018 proved to be another exceptional year for theater not only in Souther California in general but also in Orange County---my home base. This year, the OC finally welcomed the debut of what has become this century's most awarded and most renowned stage musical ever about the Founding Father etched regally on the 10 dollar bill. Meanwhile, So. Cal. enjoyed a powerful surge of new stage works that explored Asian-American experiences, a positive step forward in the presentation of diverse voices we seldom hear from on the stage. A pair of touring musicals---both opening in the O.C. in early 2019---made such an impact in their Los Angeles engagements for me personally that I had to include them in my list, even though I have not 'officially' reviewed the productions for print. With that said, here is my 'Best of 2018' from Orange County and adjacent locales nearby---a mixture of outstanding shows and brilliant performances that made a lasting, memorable imprint in my theatergoing experience this year.