Dear Saddleback Arts Patron:

I am so excited to invite you to spend some time with Saddleback Performing Arts throughout the month of December. This year, we have an outstanding array of Holiday themed performances including the Orange County perennial favorite A Feast of Lights featuring the Saddleback College Choirs and Symphony Orchestra, as well as Laguna Ballet’s exquisite production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker.

This year, we also have the hilarious Inspecting Carol by Daniel Sullivan in our Studio Theatre. This comedy tells the story of a struggling theatre company scrambling toward opening night of their annual production of Dicken’s Christmas Carol. Looming over the show is a critical inspection that will determine the future of their theatre company. Of course, nothing is going right and hilarity ensues.

Internationally known composer, performer and Saddleback Music Department Co-Chair, Joey Sellers, will be leading the Saddleback Big Band in swinging arrangements of classic Holiday tunes. This elite ensemble has some of the best jazz players in Orange County in their ranks and the vibe of the performance is hip, fun, light and joyful. This performance is great for kids of all ages and is becoming another wonderful family tradition for Orange County music lovers.

Piano virtuoso Kirill Gliadkovsky will present a concert of dazzling Holiday arrangements for the piano performed by Saddleback piano students, faculty and other local piano artists. There will be piano duets, trios, quartets and every combination imaginable at the keyboard! A special treat of this concert is the entire Gliadkovsky family of pianists performing together. It is a memorable event of fun seasonal music performed by our fantastically talented Saddleback Piano Community.

If you have been one of the thousands of people who have experienced Laguna Ballet’s Nutcracker, you already know the beauty, humor and elegance of this timeless classic. What a wonderful opportunity to bring the entire family to experience the power and grace of the art of Ballet!

And finally, as the thousands of people who have attended Feast of Lights throughout its thirty-five year history know, this event is filled with an infectious exuberance combined with the beauty of a heartfelt message that sings of “peace on earth.” As always, the production value of this event is stellar, and after every performance the audience is treated to beautiful hors d’oeuvre and hand crafted desserts created by local pastry chefs specifically for Feast of Lights. One of the highlights of this event is the Audience Holiday Sing Along! Join the 135 singers, 55 orchestra members, and the other 400 audience members and belt out some favorite holiday songs in a truly magical moment!

Parking is free for our patrons and the venues are convenient and easy to find. The events are excellent, the students are eager and talented, and the experience is a celebration of the traditions of the holidays.

So come and be part of the Saddleback College Community during the Holidays with Saddleback Performing Arts and support our students as they share their hearts, souls and talents with audiences throughout the season.

(pssst….did you know that Tickets to Arts Events make wonderful presents? Skip the scented candles this year and give the gift of an artistic experience!)

(pssst…..did you also know that the best gift you can give yourself is the gift of education? Check out the complete schedule of classes for the Spring and consider taking a class!)

Happy Holidays and I hope to see you at one of these events!

Scott Farthing

Interim Dean of Fine Arts and Media Technology