Music Director Carl St.Clair and President John Forsyte today announced classical programming for Pacific Symphony’s 2023-24 season. The Symphony’s 45th season and opening of the Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series begins on Thursday, Sept. 21. Comprising 36 concerts as part of a 12-program subscription series, four Sunday Matinees, and three specials, the 2023-24 classical season presents wide-ranging selections of masterworks, treasured classics, and exciting new discoveries.

Commenting on the 2023-24 season, Music Director Carl St.Clair said, “Pacific Symphony’s 45th season marks an important point in the evolution of the orchestra. It’s been gratifying to lead and experience that transformation—from the earliest days, to our first international tour of Europe in 2006, to playing a sold-out Carnegie Hall debut five years ago, to raves from The New York Times followed by our first tour of China, all the while building and deepening our relationships with the community of Orange County, and building strong educational programs.

“Throughout it all,” St.Clair continued, “We have commissioned or premiered new music and placed composers in a central role in community engagement. Through my relationships with composers, I gain insights both into their art and also historic works. Opening night, we’ll welcome our audiences back with a compelling work by Viet Cuong performed by the highly regarded new music ensemble Eighth Blackbird. That opening night program also features Richard Strauss’s triumphant tone poem, Ein Heldenleben. This is a work I led throughout Germany on the orchestra’s first international tour, and I am particularly excited to feature Pacific Symphony concertmaster Dennis Kim, who has a substantial solo in the piece. The work’s lush orchestration showcases heroic turns for many of the musicians and the orchestra as a whole.”

St.Clair went on to recognize “Symphonic Voices,” the successful opera initiative he initiated that is beginning its second decade this season with a new production of Puccini’s La Bohème. He feels that “opera is now part of Pacific Symphony’s DNA.” The Symphony is a gifted and versatile ensemble that has evolved into a sensitive opera orchestra under St.Clair’s masterful leadership, placing the orchestra and the composer’s magnificent music at center stage. In addition, the Symphony’s commitment to artistic collaborations have expanded the roles of Pacific Chorale through the opera-vocal initiative. “Our musical relationship with Pacific Chorale has always been important to me. The final program of the 45th season is a fitting finale that pairs Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna with Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and its triumphant ‘Ode to Joy.’ You can expect to experience a sense of awe and wonderment when you hear this program.”

John Forsyte said, “Pacific Symphony is at a critical juncture in its journey as an orchestra. Carl has carefully guided, nurtured, and built the orchestra to what it is today: “a major ensemble” according to The New York Times. In Sept. Carl asked that the Board of Directors engage in a search process for his successor, promising a seamless transition. We have a committee comprised of members of the board, orchestra, community, and management that will carry on the search for the next Music Director. After reviewing leading conductors from all over the world in the coming year or two, they will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors. We invite the audience to experience these diverse talents with distinctive artistic approaches. The search, however, has only just begun, and we are very excited that Carl will be leading four exceptional concerts of works on the classics series, that have a special meaning for the orchestra and him. Additionally, he will conduct two specials: Lunar New Year and Nowruz.”

2023-24 Season Highlights at a Glance

OPENING NIGHT
Eighth Blackbird Makes its Symphony Debut in Viet Cuong Work
The 45th season opens (Sept. 21-23) with Music Director Carl St.Clair helming a program featuring an exciting work by the Symphony’s Composer-in-Residence, Viet Cuong. His music has been called “alluring” and “wildly inventive” by The New York Times and “irresistible” by the San Francisco Chronicle. His work has been commissioned and performed on six continents by musicians and ensembles such as the New York Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, , among many others. Cuong’s music has been featured in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center. A native Californian, Cuong teaches at University of Las Vegas and lives in Orange County.

Vital Sines will be performed by Eighth Blackbird, for whom the work was commissioned through the generous support of The U.S. Navy Band. In a composer’s note, Cuong stated: “Vital Sines is dedicated to my father’s memory as the guardian of my musical life, as well as the many moments during my life when I found sanctuary in music. The creation of this particular piece, though challenging, was a way of finding solace when I needed it most. Throughout the piece, I employ several musical sequences and chaconne forms, all of which use repetition as a means of development. The overarching structure of the piece thus bears a resemblance to the visual depiction of the sine wave, rising and falling like the tracing of breaths and heartbeats. There is, of course, comfort in the familiarity of continued repetition.”

The program also holds Richard Strauss’s monumental tone poem Ein Heldenleben (“A Hero’s Life”). The work is a programmatic depiction of the life and struggles of a hero, thought by many to be an autobiographical representation of the composer himself. Strauss was a master of orchestration, and in this piece, he explored the possibilities of the modern orchestra, using a large ensemble of over 100 musicians. The orchestration is rich and colorful, with striking musical effects, making it a brilliant finale for the first classical program of the season.

Pacific Symphony Partnership with California Festival 2023
Pacific Symphony is pleased to participate in the inaugural season of the California Festival: A Celebration of New Music, partnering with other major orchestras including the LA Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and San Diego Symphony. This two-week (Nov. 3-19, 2023) statewide festival of new music from around the world showcases today’s most compelling and forward-looking voices in performances of works written within the past five years. Pacific Symphony’s Festival offering will feature a program conducted by guest conductor Ludovic Morlot that includes Adam Schoenberg’s Canto and Gabriella Smith’s Bioluminescence Chaconne (Nov. 16-18).

Emmy® Award-winning and GRAMMY®-nominated Adam Schoenberg has twice been named among the top 10 most performed living composers by orchestras in the United States. His works have received performances and premieres at the Library of Congress, Kennedy Center, New York Philharmonic, The Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Hollywood Bowl. Writing about Canto, Schoenberg comments “Canto can mean singing, chant, or song…In many ways, I envision this work as a dream within a dream. A lullaby that emerges from a chant. The music is the slowest music I have ever written, and it’s very atmospheric and textural.”

Described as “the coolest, most exciting, most inventive new voice I’ve heard in ages” (Musical America) and an “outright sensation” (Los Angeles Times), Gabriella Smith’s music comes from a love of play, exploring new sounds on instruments, building compelling musical arcs, and connecting listeners with the natural world in an invitation to find joy in climate action. Many of her works address the climate crisis and participation in climate solutions. She has also written many works inspired by field recordings she has made of terrestrial and underwater soundscapes, including the sounds of dawn choruses, trees, cacti, tide pools, and coral reefs.

Puccini’s La Bohème
Pacific Symphony’s celebrated opera initiative enters its second decade with Music Director Carl St.Clair conducting the orchestra and Pacific Chorale in Puccini’s La Bohème (April 4, 6, & 9, 2024). This beloved opera tells the story of a group of young struggling artists in Paris and their complicated love lives. The opera features some of Puccini’s most memorable music, including the famous aria “Che gelida manina” (“Your tiny hand is frozen”) and the iconic duet “O soave fanciulla” (“Oh sweet girl”). Last performed by the Symphony in 2012, La Bohème will return in a new semi-staged production under the Israeli stage director Omer Ben Seadia. Vocal soloists to be announced.

Season Finale Features Pacific Chorale with Pacific Symphony
The season’s final concert presents two complementary works showcasing the GRAMMY® Award-winning Pacific Chorale (June 6-8, 2024). Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna, an ethereal and affecting choral work with lush harmonies, was written in 1997 as a requiem for the composer’s mother who had died that year. This profoundly moving piece has quickly become one of the most popular choral works of the 21st century. As a fitting ending to the 45th season, St.Clair leads the Symphony and Chorale in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, one of the greatest masterpieces in the classical music canon. Renowned for its grandeur and emotional power, the “Choral” Symphony has become a symbol of human achievement and the triumph of the human spirit.

Eight Gifted Guest Conductors Share the Podium
In order of appearance, Pacific Symphony’s guest conductors during the 2023-24 season include the following:

*Christian Kluxen (Oct. 19-21)
Now in his sixth season as Music Director of the Victoria Symphony in Canada, and fifth season as Chief Conductor of the Arctic Opera and Philharmonic in Norway, Christian Kluxen is regarded as one of the most exciting conductors to emerge from Scandinavia. In the press he has been described as “a dynamic, charismatic figure” who “forms the music with an impressive vertical power of emotion and a focus on the grand form,” conducting “with exemplary clarity and a heavenly warmth.” With his two positions in Canada and Norway, he is being recognized for his sincere and transparent leadership, innovative programming, and his bold, imaginative, and energetic interpretations.

*Ludovic Morlot (Nov. 16-18)
In Sept. 2022, Ludovic Morlot took over as Music Director of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra. His élan, elegance, and intensity on stage have endeared him to audiences and orchestras worldwide, from the Berlin Philharmonic to the Boston Symphony. During his eight years as Music Director of the Seattle Symphony, he pushed the boundaries of traditional concert programming, winning several Grammys. Now Conductor Emeritus in Seattle, and in 2019 appointed Associate Artist of the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra with whom he has had a close relationship over many years, he returns to both orchestras every season.

Alexander Shelley (Nov. 30-Dec. 2)
Alexander Shelley is Music Director of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra and Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He is also Artistic Director of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen’s ECHO and Deutsche Gründerpreis-winning “Zukunftslabor.” In August 2017 Alexander concluded his tenure as Chief Conductor of the Nürnberger Symphoniker, a position he held since September 2009. The partnership was hailed by press and audience alike as a golden era for the orchestra, where he transformed the ensemble’s playing, education work, and international touring activities.

*Kahchun Wong (Jan. 11-13, 2024)
Singaporean conductor Kahchun Wong first came to international attention as the winner of the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition in 2016, praised by Musical America for the “depth and sincerity of his musicality.” In his final appearance as Chief Conductor of the Nürnberger Symphoniker this past summer, he led the world premiere of his orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition to critical acclaim with an audience of 75,000. Kahchun Wong continues his tenure as the Principal Guest Conductor for Japan Philharmonic Orchestra, before taking up the position of Chief Conductor in the 2023-24 season.

Andrew Litton (Feb. 22-24, 2024)
Andrew Litton is Music Director of the New York City Ballet. He is also Principal Guest Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Conductor Laureate of the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, and Music Director Laureate of Norway’s Bergen Philharmonic. Under his leadership the Bergen Philharmonic gained international recognition through extensive recording and touring, making debuts at the BBC Proms, at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, and appearances at Vienna’s Musikverein, Berlin’s Philharmonie, and New York’s Carnegie Hall. For his work with the Bergen Philharmonic, Norway’s King Harald V knighted him with the Norwegian Royal Order of Merit.

Carlos Miguel Prieto (March 14-16, 2024)
Considered the leading Mexican conductor of his generation, Carlos Miguel Prieto is a highly respected cultural leader. He was Musical America’s 2019 Conductor of the Year. Prieto possesses a wide-ranging repertoire, has led over 100 world premieres, and is a champion of American and Latin American composers. He serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Music Director of North Carolina Symphony, and Orquesta Sinfónica de Minería in Mexico, and Music Director of the Orchestra of the Americas. Prieto is a graduate of Princeton University and received his MBA from Harvard Business School.

*Shiyeon Sung (April 25-27, 2024)
South Korean conductor Shiyeon Sung is a real trailblazer of her profession. She is the first female conductor out of South Korea to make the leap to the podium of internationally renowned orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Konzerthaus Orchestra Berlin, and Bamberg Symphony. When she was appointed assistant conductor at the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2007, her reputation as one of the most exciting emerging talents on the international music circuit was already secure: shortly before, Shiyeon Sung had won the Sir Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition and the Gustav Mahler Conductors’ Competition in Bamberg. She resides in Berlin, but remains a popular guest in her home country and regularly returns to the Korea National Opera and the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra.

*Tianyi Lu (May 16-18, 2024)
Internationally known for her thrilling energy on the podium, her deeply creative approach, and her open-hearted style of leadership, Chinese-born New Zealander Tianyi Lu collaborates with major orchestras and opera houses worldwide. Her work is driven by an ethos of empowerment, creating connection, and compassion across diverse communities through music. After winning First Prize at both the Sir Georg Solti International Conductors’ Competition in Germany and the Guido Cantelli International Conducting Competition in Italy, Lu has been recently appointed Conductor-in-Residence with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra in Norway. She is also the Female-Conductor-in-Residence with the Welsh National Opera and Principal Conductor of the St. Woolos Sinfonia in Wales.

Guest Soloists
Artists making their Pacific Symphony debuts during the 2023-24 season include the innovative Chicago-based contemporary music sextet Eighth Blackbird who will perform Vital Sines by Composer-in-Residence Viet Cuong (Sept. 21-23); violinist Esther Yoo, who The Strad described as “the model of a violin soloist in the modern age” tackles the Violin Concerto of Sibelius; cellist Sterling Elliott, a 2021 Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient and the winner of the Senior Division of the 2019 National Sphinx Competition, solos in Haydn’s First Cello Concerto (Oct. 19-21); and pianist Yeol Eum Son whose Mozart playing was described as exhibiting “light, fine-pointed energy, and agile precision” (Sydney Morning Herald) takes on the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 21 (April 25-27, 2024).

Returning guest soloists during the 2023-24 season will be Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kolodenko, 2013 Van Cliburn Competition gold medal-winner, who performs Rachmaninoff’s powerful Fourth Piano Concerto (Nov. 16-18); described by the German newspaper Die Welt as a “perfect example of a thinking musician” and lauded by the New York Times for his “musically refined and technically elegant performances,” pianist David Fray returns to play Chopin’s Piano Concerto (Nov. 30-Dec. 2); pianist Yulianna Avdeeva, who initially gained worldwide recognition at the 2010 Chopin Competition where she won First Prize, performs Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto (May 16-18, 2024); recipient of the prestigious 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant and the 2017 Lincoln Center Award for Emerging Artists, Taiwanese-American violinist Paul Huang will take on Tchaikovsky formidable Violin Concerto (Jan. 11-13, 2024); born into a family of musicians with direct links to Rachmaninoff, pianist Olga Kern will continue to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the composer’s birth with his Third Piano Concerto (Feb. 1-3, 2024); hailed by Gramophone as “among the most remarkable young pianists now before the public,” Alessio Bax appears as soloist in Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 (Feb. 22-24, 2024)

Sunday Matinee Series
Carl St.Clair has devoted his tenure at Pacific Symphony to designing festivals and concert series that enable audiences to engage more deeply with both new music and standard orchestral repertoire. The four-concert Sunday Matinee series was launched in 1995. These concerts offer the audience an intimate and lively exploration of the classics. Just 90 minutes long, these informal programs provide a perfect introduction to classical music: Ein Heldenleben (Sept. 23); Rach 3 (Feb. 4, 2024); Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique (April 28, 2024); and Ode to Joy (June 9, 2024). Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique will be led by guest conductor Shiyeon Sung.

Pacific Symphony Special Events
Pacific Symphony presents three special events during the 2023-24 season, beginning with a holiday presentation of Handel’s Glorious Messiah (Dec. 3) featuring Pacific Chorale, led by guest conductor Cosette Justo Valdés; and two concerts that reflect the Orange County community including Lunar New Year (Feb. 10, 2024) and Nowruz: Iranian New Year (Mar. 23, 2024) celebrations conducted by Carl St.Clair.

The soon-to-be-announced SummerFest season includes three concerts beneath the stars. Programming still to be released in coming months includes the Pops series, Family Musical Mornings, Café Ludwig chamber music series, and the Pedals and Pipes organ series. The county-wide Symphony on the Go! concert tour returns after two successful seasons. The tour will include approximately 30 concerts, beginning in late May and continuing through mid-October.

Subscription and Ticket Information
Subscription materials for Pacific Symphony’s 2023-24 Classical series are now available, offering a savings of up to 40% off regular single ticket prices on a wide variety of concert packages from 4 to 12 concerts each. Subscribers save 20% on additional tickets purchased throughout the year, and enjoy easy ticket exchange options and other subscriber-only benefits, including preferential discounts at nearby restaurants.

Tickets for special concerts are currently available for purchase only with subscriptions. Subscriptions may be purchased or renewed by any of four methods: online, by phone, by mail, or in person at the box office. Pacific Symphony provides an easy payment plan option for subscribers: subscription purchases are eligible for the payment plan and will be automatically charged in installments on the first of the month through Sept. 2023.

For more information, call Pacific Symphony Patron Services at (714) 755-5799, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit PacificSymphony.org. Groups of 10 or more who are interested in subscribing to the 2022-23 season should call Pacific Symphony’s group sales department at (714) 876-2391.

Patrons may also visit PacificSymphony.org to order tickets, learn about other nearby attractions and restaurants, and make donations. The Symphony’s website provides background on the performances and the performers, along with Spotify playlists of works to be performed.

The Symphony’s blog Pacific Overtures features engaging articles, audio, and video to enhance patrons’ experience before and after performances [PacificSymphony.blog]. Timely content of interest to concertgoers can also be found on Pacific Symphony’s social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and WeChat.

Pacific Symphony performs in the heart of Southern California at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at 615 Town Center Drive on the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts campus in Costa Mesa.

The 2023-24 season media sponsors include Classical KUSC, LAist, and PBS SoCal.

Pacific Symphony, under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Carl St.Clair since 1990, has been the resident orchestra of Orange County’s Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall for 15 years. Founded in 1978, the Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the U.S. in the last 50 years and is not only a fixture of musical life in Southern California, but is also recognized as an outstanding ensemble making strides on both the national and international scenes. The orchestra presents more than 100 concerts and events each year and a rich array of education and community engagement programs, reaching more than 300,000 residents of all ages.

Pacific Symphony made its debut at Carnegie Hall in 2018, where it was invited to perform as part of a yearlong celebration of composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday. The Symphony made its first-ever tour to China the same year, with performances in five cities, including Shanghai and Beijing. The Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras.

Pacific Symphony’s discography comprises 15 recordings, mostly of 20th- and 21st-century music by such American composers as William Bolcom, John Corigliano and Richard Danielpour. In 2012 for Naxos, St.Clair and the orchestra recorded Philip Glass’s The Passion of Ramakrishna, a Pacific Symphony commission that appeared on the Carnegie Hall program. The Symphony has also recorded for Harmonia Mundi, Koch International Classics, Reference Recordings, and Sony Classical, among other labels.

The Symphony has been recognized with multiple ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming and included among the country’s five most innovative orchestras by the League of American Orchestras. The Symphony’s education and community engagement activities have also been recognized by the League, as well as the National Endowment for the Arts.

The 2023-24 season marks Music Director Carl St.Clair’s 34th year leading Pacific Symphony. He is one of the longest-tenured conductors of the major American orchestras. St. Clair’s lengthy history solidifies the strong relationship he has forged with the musicians and community. His continuing role also lends stability to the organization and continuity to his vision for the symphony’s future. Few orchestras can claim such rapid artistic development as Pacific Symphony—the largest-budgeted orchestra formed in the United States in the last 50 years, due in large part to St.Clair’s leadership.

During his tenure, St.Clair has become widely recognized for his musically distinguished performances, his commitment to building outstanding educational programs and his innovative approaches to programming. In April 2018, St.Clair led Pacific Symphony in its sold-out Carnegie Hall debut, as the finale to the Carnegie’s yearlong celebration of pre-eminent composer Philip Glass’ 80th birthday, ending in a standing ovation, with The New York Times calling the Symphony “a major ensemble!” He led Pacific Symphony on its first tour to China in May 2018, the orchestra’s first international tour since touring Europe in 2006. The orchestra made its national PBS debut in June 2018 on Great Performances with Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America, conducted by St.Clair. Among St.Clair’s many creative endeavors are the highly acclaimed American Composers Festival, which began in 2000; and the opera initiative, “Symphonic Voices,” which has included concert-opera productions of Madame Butterfly, The Magic Flute, Aida, Turandot, Carmen, La Traviata, Tosca and La Bohéme in previous seasons.

Highlights of his tenure include launching the American Composers Festival, which explores a different aspect of American music each year, and the annual Symphonic Voices performance of an opera in concert. He has also emphasized the regular commissioning and recording of new works, particularly by American composers, and has been a strong advocate for music education, spearheading such programs as the Pacific Symphony Youth Ensembles and Class Act partnerships with Orange County elementary schools.

Mentored by Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, St.Clair became a close colleague of the conductor/composer in his later years, and led the premiere of Arias and Barcarolles on Bernstein’s last concert. In addition to leading the Pacific Symphony, he has conducted the Boston Symphony Orchestra (where he served as assistant conductor under Seiji Ozawa), Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and the Atlanta, Detroit, Houston, Indianapolis, Montreal, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto and Vancouver symphonies, among others.

He conducts internationally for several months each year and has served as general music director for the Komische Oper in Berlin, general music director and chief conductor of the German National Theater and Staatskapelle in Weimar, music director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Costa Rica and principal guest conductor of the Radio Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents for one night only, Hitting New Heights: Mandy Gonzalez & Javier Muñoz on Sunday. March 5, 2023 at 2:00pm in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

After both appearing in Lin Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights and Hamilton on Broadway, this duo of multi-talented performers is gearing up for a performance of showtunes, new music, and more!

After making her Broadway debut in Aida in 2001, Mandy Gonzalez has played many notable roles on Broadway including Elphaba in Wicked and Angelica Schuyler in Hamilton. Gonzalez originated the role of Nina Rosario in In the Heights on Broadway and enchanted audiences with her sweet yet fierce performance that resonated so deeply with many first-generation college students.

New York native Javier Muñoz made his Broadway debut in the ensemble of In the Heights where he understudied Lin Manuel Miranda before eventually assuming the role of Usnavi. As the

right-hand man to Miranda on numerous shows, history repeated itself when Hamilton opened on Broadway and Muñoz served as the Hamilton alternate for Miranda in select shows. When Miranda left the show, Muñoz played the role of Alexander Hamilton for two years with glowing reviews.

Tickets start at $39 and are available at online at 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 discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.

Mandy Gonzalez is an accomplished film, TV, and stage actor and author. She possesses one of the most powerful and versatile contemporary voices of our time. Mandy has starred on Broadway in the megahit Hamilton as Angelica Schuyler. She also originated Nina Rosario in the Tony

Award-winning Broadway musical, In The Heights, for which Mandy received a Drama Desk Award. Mandy also starred as Elphaba in the Broadway production of Wicked, blowing the roof off of New York’s Gershwin Theatre each night as she belted out the signature song, “Defying Gravity.”

Mandy also received an OBIE Award and overwhelming critical praise for her performance in the

Off-Broadway production of Eli’s Comin’. Television viewers have had the pleasure of seeing Mandy in her recurring roles in the hit series “Madam Secretary” and “Bull”, and alongside Steve Martin and Martin Short in “Only Murders in the Building.” Equally at home on the big and small screen, she has appeared in “Across the Universe,” directed by Julie Taymor, “After,” starring opposite Pablo Schreiber, and “Man on a Ledge” with Sam Worthington. Mandy can also be heard as the voice of Mei in Disney’s “Mulan 2.”

A frequent concert soloist, Mandy has performed with symphony orchestras around the world, including at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops. Mandy is a Warner Music East / West artist and released her debut album, FEARLESS, which debuted at #13 on the iTunes pop charts.

Mandy is also an author—she wrote the Young Adult novel series, FEARLESS, published by Simon and Schuster.

In her quest to create positive change, Mandy is the proud founder of #FearlessSquad—a social media movement for inclusiveness and positivity. #FearlessSquad connects people around the world, encourages them to be their best selves, and helps them empower each other.

Javier Muñoz is an actor and activist whose impressive body of work spans theater, film and television. He is currently starring in the pre-Broadway run of the The Devil Wears Prada: A New Musical, with music by Elton John, based on the feature of the same name. He plays Miranda Priestley’s right hand man, Nigel.

Javier is best known for starring as Alexander Hamilto” in the cultural-phenomenon musical Hamilton on Broadway for two years, after Lin-Manuel Miranda departed the show (and was his alternate prior to that). He got his break starring as Usnavi in In The Heights on Broadway, also created by Miranda.

On the TV side, he’s appeared on “Shadowhunters,” “Blindspot” and “Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.” Recent theater credits include The New Englanders at MTC and the starring role in the North American premiere of Stephen Lloyd Helper’s A Sign of the Times. He also voices a lead character on the Disney Jr. animated series, “Eureka!”

Javier appears in the Paramount+/MTV Films feature, “Three Months,” and recently starred in the indie feature, “Monuments,” by Jack Newell, which took home several awards on the festival circuit. Next up, he’ll appear in “Love Reconsidered,” opposite Sophie von Haselberg and Colton Haynes.

Javier is also an outspoken activist for LGBTQ+ rights and a Global Ambassador for (RED), which fights to end HIV/AIDS. Muñoz was honored with the prestigious OUT100 “Breakout of the Year” award in 2016, as well as the Howard Ashman Award by the Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC). Javier now serves on the Board of GMHC.

Hitting New Heights: Mandy Gonzalez and Javier Muñoz
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall

Sunday, March 5, 2023 at 2:00pm

Tickets start at $39

Box Office

In person

The Box Office

600 Town Center Drive

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Monday 10am to 2pm

Tuesday through Friday 12pm to 5pm

Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Phone: Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm

(714) 556-2787

Online – SCFTA.org

Group Sales – (714) 755-0236

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an innovative, nonprofit arts organization committed to supporting artistic excellence, creating impactful educational programs, and dedicated to engaging a culturally connected, inclusive and vital Orange County community for all, through the power of live performance.

As the leading cultural arts hub, the Center presents a variety of programming with performances by international dance companies, Broadway national tours, jazz and cabaret musicians, chamber orchestras and ensembles, comedy, and speaker series. Through the Education and Community Engagement departments, the Center also delivers family-friendly programming and performances on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza; these events include outdoor movie screenings, concerts, dance classes, diverse festivals and more.

With six venues on a beautiful multi-disciplinary campus, Segerstrom Center for the Arts proudly serves as the artistic home to three of the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site opening this fall as the home of the Orange County Museum of Art. Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and Studio D, Arts School for All Abilities.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds its corporate partner Kaiser Permanente, Official Health Care Partner and recognizes RAGE Monthly as media partner for the Cabaret Series.

Information provided is accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a public, non-profit organization. “Segerstrom Center for the Arts” is a registered trademark

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

& McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT

announce our

“GET ON YOUR FEET!” 2023/2024 Season of Shows!

ON YOUR FEET! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, 

BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical, 

West Coast Premiere of New Musical MYSTIC PIZZA, 

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, 

and THE LITTLE MERMAID! 

Not just a show, we’re an experience…

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT are thrilled to announce our 2022/2023 “Get On Your Feet!” season of shows.  We open this exceptional season with the Southern California regional premiere of ON YOUR FEET! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, featuring all of your favorite “Miami Sound Machine” songs!  We follow that show with another regional premiere:  BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical, featuring such classics as “So Far Away,” “One Fine Day,” You’re No Good,” and “You’ve Got a Friend.”  Our third show is the West Coast premiere of a new musical based on the hit film, MYSTIC PIZZA, featuring feel-good pop hits from the ‘80s & ‘90s.  Our fourth show is the legendary musical about family, love, and “tradition,” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.  To close our season, La Mirada will once again take you “under the sea” with a spectacular production of our most popular show ever, an all-new production of Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID!    It’s a season that will have you “on your feet,” standing and cheering at all five of these extraordinary musicals, in our “beautiful” state-of-the-art theatre, which continuously brings you the best theatrical experiences in all of Southern California!        

Our “2023/2024” Season will feature:

SOUTHEN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PREMIERE!

ON YOUR FEET!

The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan

October 6 – October 29, 2023 (Press Opening October 7 at 8 pm)

Featuring Music Produced & Recorded by

EMILIO & GLORIA ESTEFAN & MIAMI SOUND MACHINE

Book by ALEXANDER DINELARIS

Produced by GFour Productions and Evan Bernardin Productions through a special license from Theatrical Rights Worldwide, and represented by Columbia Artists Theatricals.

“With its smoking-hot choreography…and tear-it-up band…

the rhythm will almost certainly get you!” – Wall Street Journal

Her voice.  His vision.  Their story.  ON YOUR FEET! is the inspiring true story of Gloria and Emilio Estefan – two people who believed in their talent, their music, and each other – and became an international sensation. Now their triumph is an all-new exhilarating original musical winning the hearts of critics and audiences alike.

Exploding with some of the most iconic songs you’ve loved for years – “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Don’t Want to Lose You Now,” “1-2-3,” and “Coming Out of the Dark” – prepare to be on your feet from start to finish!

ANOTHER SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PREMIERE!

BEAUTIFUL

The Carole King Musical

November 10 – December 3, 2023 (Press Opening November 11 at 8 pm)

Book by DOUGLAS MCGRATH

Words & Music by GERRY GOFFIN & CAROLE KING, 

BARRY MANN & CYNTHIA WEIL
Music by Arrangement with Sony/ATV Music Publishing

Orchestrations, Vocal, and Music Arrangements by STEVE SIDWELL

“Out Of Control AMAZING!” –  Wall Street Journal

Follow the inspiring true story of Carole King’s remarkable rise to stardom – from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation, with countless classics like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “Take Good Care of My Baby,” “You’ve Got a Friend,” “So Far Away,” “It Might as Well Rain Until September,” “Up on the Roof,” and “The Loco-motion.”  Don’t miss this smash Broadway hit that ran for 6 years!

WEST COAST PREMIERE!

MYSTIC PIZZA

January 19 – February 11, 2024 (Press Opening January 20 at 8 pm) 

Book by SANDY RUSTIN
Based on the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Motion Picture
With Story and Characters by AMY HOLDEN JONES

“Rocks the 1980s music to perfection!” – BroadwayWorld.com

A new musical you’ll love at first slice!  The Julia Roberts movie is now a delightful new show!  Based on the classic 1988 movie, MYSTIC PIZZA charts the lives and loves of three unforgettable waitresses in the harbor town of Mystic, CT.  Featuring some of the best pop songs of the ‘80s and ‘90s such as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” “Addicted to Love,” “Small Town,” “Hold On,” and “Take My Breath Away,” MYSTIC PIZZA has all the ingredients for a spectacular new romantic comedy!

A Broadway classic in the great tradition of La Mirada Theatre!

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF

April 19 – May 12, 2024 (Press Opening April 20 at 8 pm)

Book by JOSEPH STEIN
Music by JERRY BOCK

Lyrics by SHELDON HARNICK

Original Broadway production directed and choreographed 

by JEROME ROBBINS

Originally produced on the New York stage by HAROLD PRINCE

Overflowing with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset,” “If I Were A Rich Man,” “Matchmaker, Matchmaker,” and “To Life (L’Chaim!),” FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love, and laughter.  Our beautiful production will introduce a new generation to this uplifting celebration that raises its cup to joy!  To love!  To life!     

TAKING OUR AUDIENCES “UNDER THE SEA” ONE MORE TIME!

THE LITTLE MERMAID

May 31 – June 23, 2024 (Press Opening June 1 at 8 pm)

Music by ALAN MENKEN

Lyrics by HOWARD ASHMAN and GLENN SLATER

Book by DOUG WRIGHT

In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above.  Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney’s THE LITTLE MERMAID is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages.  With music by eight-time Academy Award winner Alan Menken, this perfect for the whole family, fishy-fable will capture your heart with its irresistible songs including “Under the Sea,” “Kiss the Girl,” and “Part of Your World.”

Subscriptions to this extraordinary season are now available by calling the Box Office at 562-944-9801 or 714-994-6310.  Subscription prices range from $71.25 to $323.75 (La Mirada Resident Discount prices are $57.00 to $260.00).  Single ticket for ON YOUR FEET and BEAUTIFUL will go on sale May 26; MYSTIC PIZZA, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and THE LITTLE MERMAID will go on sale October 30 and will be available by calling the Box Office at 562-944-9801 or 714-994-6310 or online at www.lamiradatheatre.com.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free.         

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS COVID PROTOCOLS

 Complete safety guidelines for La Mirada Theatre can be found at: 

lamiradatheatre.com/safeatlamirada/updates/  

The Tony-nominated LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California.”  This beautiful state-of-the-art theatre has been presenting quality productions since 1977.  The theatre has produced several national tours and is the recipient of numerous accolades, including Tony, Emmy, and Ovation Award nominations and the L.A. Stage Alliance OVATION AWARD for “Best Season of the Year.”  The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, California, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.  Parking is theatre-adjacent and free. For further information call (562) 944-9801 or visit 

 www.LaMiradaTheatre.com.

Celebrating its 30^th Anniversary season at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (MRE), is one of the world’s premier theatrical production companies and continues to be grateful to share a wildly successful collaboration with the City of La Mirada.  Headed by Executive Producers Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby, MRE has produced over one hundred musicals, plays, and concerts featuring some of the biggest stars in the industry today and garnering many Emmy Awards, Tony nominations, and LA Ovation Awards.  

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents Broadway The Calla-Way with Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway performing a cabaret in the Samueli Theater for three nights from March 30 – April 1, 2023.

This spring, these award-winning sisters are bringing their joint cabaret show to the Center for an evening of delightful music. As a dynamic duo of incredible talent, both Ann and Liz are gearing up for a wonderful cabaret show that combines humor, harmonies, and showtunes!

Liz Callaway has voiced numerous roles in well-known animated movies such as Anastasia, The Swan Princess, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride, amongst others. In addition to this, her Broadway credits include Merrily We Roll Along, The Three Musketeers, and The Look of Love. Most notably in her Broadway career, she played Ellen in the original Broadway cast of Miss Saigon.

As a champion of The Great American Songbook, Ann Hampton Callaway made her mark as a multi-hyphenate performing artist. As a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator TV host and producer, Ann blends jazz and traditional pop to create a unique musical style unlike any other. She is a Platinum Award-winning writer whose songs are featured on seven of Barbra Streisand’s albums, and she’s known for her Tony-nominated performance in Swing! on Broadway. She also wrote and sang the theme song for “The Nanny”!

Tickets start at $79 and are available at online at 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 discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.

Photo Credit: SCFTA

(L) Liz Callaway; (R) Ann Hampton Callaway

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents a family series of shows as part of their 2022/2023 season programming. The first is Somos Amigos on March 4 and 5. Following will be Ugly Duckling on March 18 and 19. Next is Grimmz Fairy Tales on April 22 and 23. Doctor Kaboom: Look Out! Science is Coming! will close the series on May 6 and 7. Tickets on sale now at scfta.org.

Somos Amigos: Songs on Common Ground

Friendship is at the heart of this joyful new collaboration between Mexican songstress and Latin GRAMMY® nominee Sonia De Los Santos and the GRAMMY® Award-winning Americana folk duo The Okee Dokee Brothers. This bilingual program for kids includes both old and new songs that span the musical traditions of North America and illustrate the collective power of singing together and learning from each other. With an adventurous spirit and a common vision of peace and understanding, Somos Amigos encourages young and old to explore, dance, sing and laugh together, hand-in-hand.

As childhood friends growing up in Denver, Colorado, Joe Mailander and Justin Lansing were always exploring the outdoors. Now, as the musical duo The Okee Dokee Brothers, they have put this passion for the outdoors at the heart of their Americana Folk music.

Sonia De Los Santos was born with a smile on her face in Monterrey, Mexico, and in 2007 started touring the world with GRAMMY® Award-winning group Dan Zanes And Friends. In 2015, she launched her solo career, and has since released three family music albums while touring the United States, singing in Spanish and English. Sonia has been hailed by Billboard as “Best Latin Children’s Music” and earned a Latin GRAMMY® Nomination in 2019 for her album ¡Alegría!.

Ugly Duckling

Meet the most unusual duckling the pond has ever seen! Teased and called Ugly by his siblings, a hero goes on an adventure in search of a place to fit in. Tutti Frutti brings to life Hans Christian Andersen’s well-known tale with a variety of characters, inventive physicality, and live music and songs that quack and trill. This charming production plays with the importance of identity, self-worth and takes us on a journey to discover inner beauty.

Tutti frutti has been creating imaginative, visual, and meaningful story-based theater for children for over 25 years. They specialize in bringing fantastic, distinctive, and carefully crafted shows to children aged 3+ and their families and teachers across the UK and the world.

Tutti frutti currently perform to around 37,000 children and their families giving over 250 performances per year.

Grimmz Fairy Tales

Jay and Will Grimmz, the hip-hop fable story dance-pop sensation, have come back home to the city where they grew up to give a concert. They’re known not just for their sounds, but for their powerful storytelling, an inventive remix of familiar classics. The brothers put a modern spin on valuable life lessons in Snow White and the Seven Shawties, Down with Rapunzel, Hanzel & Gretel: Lost in the Hood, and their featured first Granny-winning song, Break, Cinderella, Break! Pay your bling, hear them sing, and get ready to drop the mic in this unforgettable theatrical experience.

Grimmz Fairy Tales is a co-production from Experiential Theater Company and the Children’s Theatre of Charlotte. Experiential Theater Company, previously at the Center with Journey to Oz and Sunjata Kamalenya, is dedicated to creating high, quality, immersive theater experiences for young audiences where everyone in the room is part of the performance. Children’s Theatre of Charlotte has grown to become one of the top theatre and education organizations for young people in the United States. Nationally recognized for the breadth and strength of its programs, Children’s Theatre of Charlotte provides more than 250,000 experiences for children and families a year.

Doktor Kaboom: Look Out! Science is Coming!

Nothing says science like KABOOM! Doktor Kaboom is an over-the-top German physicist with an unbridled and contagious passion for science. Sporting chrome goggles, orange lab coat, motorcycle boots, and wicked cool hair, Doktor Kaboom travels the world, thrilling adults and children alike with an explosive comedic style that is guaranteed to please. Returning to Segerstrom Center with his original show, the good Doktor will captivate audiences with his hilarious and fun series of increasingly spectacular, and (often)successful, demonstrations of the physical sciences including an homage to Mister Wizard, a tabletop catapult, illusions of the mind, and impressive chemical reactions.

David Epley, Doktor Kaboom creator and performer, is a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and has been fortunate enough to discover two passions in his life. Science, his first, took him to studies at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics. His second, performing, became his career, and for 20 years David has made his living writing, performing, and directing original interactive theatre across the US and Canada. David is thrilled to be able to bring his passions together and honored to share them with you.

All performances include one hour of free, fun activities for families to enjoy together before the show in Samueli lobby. The Center offers these enriching experiences to provide young people and their families with opportunities to play together creatively, explore the themes and content of the performances and connect with other patrons at the Center. Pre-show activities have included puppet making, drum circles, conducting lessons, and even a silent disco!

The performances of Somos Amigos and Ugly Duckling at 10:00 AM are Sensory Friendly/Relaxed (SF/R) performances. To give everyone in our community the opportunity to experience the joy of attending a live performance, the Center presents a series of sensory-friendly/relaxed performances as part of our Family Series. These shows are designed specifically for patrons with sensory sensitivity to enjoy with their families. These performances include pre-visit guides, a reduction of any overwhelming lighting or sound cues, low ambient lighting throughout the performance, and the ability to move around and use electronic devices as needed.

Tickets for all four shows are just $20 and are available at online at 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 discounts for 10 or more, call the Group Services office at (714) 755-0236.  All Sunday performances at 1:00 PM are ASL interpreted.

Somos Amigos: Songs on Common Ground

Saturday, March 4 at 10:00 AM (SF/R) and 1:00 PM

Sunday, March 5 at 1:00 PM (ASL) & 3:30 PM

Samueli Theater

Ugly Duckling

Saturday, March 18 at 10:00 AM (SF/R) & 1:00 PM

Sunday, March 19 at 1:00 PM (ASL) & 3:30 PM

Samueli Theater

Grimmz Fairy Tales

Saturday, April 22 at 1:00 PM

Sunday, April 23 at 1:00 PM (ASL)

Samueli Theater

Doktor Kaboom: Look Out! Science is Coming!

Saturday, May 6 at 3:00 PM

Sunday, May 7 at 1:00 PM (ASL) & 3:30 PM

Samueli Theater

Tickets are $20

Box Office

In person

The Box Office

600 Town Center Drive

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Monday 10am to 2pm

Tuesday through Friday 12pm to 5pm

Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Phone: Monday – Friday 10am to 5pm

(714) 556-2787

Online – SCFTA.org

Group Sales – (714) 755-0236

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an innovative, nonprofit arts organization committed to supporting artistic excellence, creating impactful educational programs, and dedicated to engaging a culturally connected, inclusive and vital Orange County community for all, through the power of live performance.

As the leading cultural arts hub, the Center presents a variety of programming with performances by international dance companies, Broadway national tours, jazz and cabaret musicians, chamber orchestras and ensembles, comedy, and speaker series. Through the Education and Community Engagement departments, the Center also delivers family-friendly programming and performances on the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza; these events include outdoor movie screenings, concerts, dance classes, diverse festivals and more.

With six venues on a beautiful multi-disciplinary campus, Segerstrom Center for the Arts proudly serves as the artistic home to three of the region’s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site opening this fall as the home of the Orange County Museum of Art. Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School and Studio D, Arts School for All Abilities.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds its corporate partner Kaiser Permanente, Official Health Care Partner and recognizes Parenting OC as its media partner for the Family Series.

Information provided is accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a public, non-profit organization. “Segerstrom Center for the Arts” is a registered trademark.