2021 Holiday Events

Segerstrom Center announces the return of its popular holiday tradition – American Ballet Theatre’s captivating production of The Nutcracker. Co-presented by the Center and ABT with choreography by ABT Artist in Residence Alexei Ratmansky. This is the 6^th time that Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents American Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker, Southern California’s grandest production of this beloved holiday tradition. This Nutcracker features ABT’s international all star cast and students from Segerstrom Center’s American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School.   ABT has a long, storied history of producing several critically acclaimed productions of this annual child-friendly classic tale of Clara and the Nutcracker over the years (previous versions were by Mikhail Baryshnikov and ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie). The Nutcracker, with its timeless music by Tchaikovsky and fairytale costumes and exotic dances, is the perfect way to introduce children to dance and even inspire them to study dance and become a little Clara or Nutcracker Prince.

Nutcrackers come and go, but only one is so spectacular, so charming, so heart-warming and memorable that it has become Southern California’s favorite.  Voted “Best-Loved Nutcracker in the Nation” by Goldstar audience survey in 2018, the Long Beach Nutcracker returns to the Terrace Theater December 17th – 19th.  The Los Angeles Times proclaimed: “Crammed with special effects, the familiar Long Beach Ballet version of The Nutcracker has nearly everything money can buy.  For opulent, family-oriented, entertainment — seek no further.”  Tickets are on sale through TicketMaster and at the Long Beach Convention Center Box Office.

In what has become a popular holiday tradition at The Soraya, the lively Nochebuena celebration returns live on stage for two free performances Friday, December 10 at 8pm and Saturday, December 11 at 3 pm.  These are the final 2021 free concerts presented by The Soraya as a thank to audiences returning to live performances.

Nothing says “Happy Holidays, LA-style!” like Nochebuena with the sound of mariachi and the swirling of folklorico dancers as Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles takes centerstage on a bill with Los Angeles’ own Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and special guest vocalist Lupita Infante.

LA Jewish Symphony: Violins of Hope with Lindsay Deutsch
SUN | DEC 12 | 3PM

Lindsay Deutsch

The violins from the Holocaust were on their way to Los Angeles when their journey was interrupted by the COVID-19 crisis. The historic instruments stand as testament to resilience, now more than ever, in their triumphant return.

The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, conducted by Noreen Green, dedicated to the performance of works of distinction that explore Jewish culture, heritage and experience, performs a program with violinist Lindsay Deutsch and cellist Barry Gold on Sunday December 12 at 7pm at The Soraya that is a celebration of perseverance and music’s power to transcend: John Williams: Schindler’s List Suite; Max Bruch: Kol Nidre; Ernest Bloch: Baal Shem: Three Pictures of Hassidic Life; and Sid Robinovitch: Suite for Klezmer Band and Orchestra.

Violins of Hope is a project created to celebrate the triumph of the human spirit, based on a private collection of over 60 violins, violas and cellos all restored since the end of World War II. The instruments have been collected by Amnon Weinstein and his son Avshi in Tel Aviv and restored in an effort to continue to tell the story of their previous owners, each with their own personal stories from the Holocaust.

Tickets are available for purchase online at www.SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town
Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. For inquiries about group ticket
savings of 10 or more, please call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.

The Beautiful Day – Kurt Elling Sings Christmas
December 11, 2021 (at 7 and 9 pm)
Samueli Theater

Grammy Award winner Kurt Elling returns to celebrate the holidays with his acclaimed show, The Beautiful Day. With a mix of traditional carols and contemporary holiday songs, the jazz vocalist and favorite of Center audiences celebrates the promise and magical energy of the holiday season.

Spanish Harlem Orchestra – “Salsa Navidad”
Sunday, December 12, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Jazz lovers enjoyed incredible shows when Spanish Harlem Orchestra first brought Salsa Navidad to Segerstrom Center in 2019. Now the two-time Grammy winning Salsa and Latin Jazz band returns to celebrate the winter holidays with music that will make you want to stand up and dance. It simply doesn’t get any better when this Latin jazz powerhouse exudes an energy on stage with musical precision that captivate audiences until the last note is played.

Johnny Mathis Christmas Concert 
Dec 12, 2021 at 7:30 p.m.
Segerstom Hall

Johnny Mathis

Photo Credit:  Jeff Dunas

Celebrating his 65th year in the music industry, legendary singer Johnny Mathis’ sublime vocal approach to music eclipses passing fads and trends. He has performed songs in an incredible variety of styles and categories — from music composed for stage and film to golden era jazz standards, contemporary pop hits, and holiday music, all of which has assured his reputation as one of the most enduring vocalists in music history.

John Lloyd Young’s Broadway │Center Debut
December 15 – 17, 2021
Samueli Theater

Tony® and Grammy Award® winner John Lloyd Young interprets the spine-tingling, soul-bearing showstoppers that shaped his earliest Broadway aspirations with passion. With music director Tommy Faragher on piano, Young sings from Jersey Boys, The Wiz, Chicago, Hair, Dreamgirls and more, along with classics by legendary Broadway writers including Rodgers, Hart, Hammerstein, and Loesser.  John Lloyd Young is the Tony and Grammy award-winning star from the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys as well as Clint Eastwood’s Warner Bros. movie adaptation. Young is the only American actor to date to have received all four major Lead Actor honors in a Broadway musical: the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Theater World Awards.

Fiesta Navidad with Mariachi Los Camperos
December 22, 2021 at 8 p.m.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

One of Orange County’s most beloved holiday events, Fiesta Navidad, features the Grammy Award®-winning Mariachi Los Camperos in a concert filled with festive music and dance. This celebration of Mexican holiday traditions is a joyous annual traditon at Segerstrom Center, perfect for the whole family.

A Magical Cirque Christmas
December 26, 2021 at 5 p.m.
Segerstrom Concert Hall

The world’s greatest entertainers unite for a spell-binding and incredible holiday production – A MAGICAL CIRQUE CHRISTMAS! Experience the enchantment of Christmas as Magical Hostess Lucy Darling takes you through an evening of dazzling performers and breathtaking cirque artists, accompanied by your favorite holiday music performed live. Get into the spirit of the season with this merry treat that’s perfect for the entire family.

Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concerts
Saturday January 1, 2022 at 7p.m. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Join us for a dazzling performance brimming with energy, merriment, and romance. It is a glorious re-creation of the beloved Neujahrskonzert, the concert that has welcomed the New Year for more than 80 years in Vienna and all over the world. Led by an expert conductor of music from Vienna’s golden age, Salute to Vienna brings the music of Johann Strauss to life with singers and dancers. Backed by the Strauss Symphony of America, the performance is rich with selections from beloved operettas, elegant dances, lively overtures, and the beautiful “Blue Danube Waltz.” Celebrate the start of the New Year with Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert.