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Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts

From Kimberlee Morrison, former About.com Guide

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To O.C. outsiders, Costa Mesa may seem like just another quiet suburb. But people who know Orange County know that Costa Mesa has become a cultural hub of sorts. Not only is the city home to the O.C. Fairgrounds, which hosts dozens of events throughout the year -- including the Orange County Fair, you can also find some of the best shopping in the county. Costa Mesa is also the location of the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts, an 8.5-acre performing arts complex in the heart of the South Coast Metro area of Orange County.

A Brief History:

Originally named the The Orange County Performing Arts Center, the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts was envisioned in the 1960s, by a few business leaders who decided the county needed a "world-class" performing arts venue. There were already two major performing arts groups in the county -- the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Symphony -- and they needed a concert hall. In 1979 the Segerstrom family -- prominent Orange County developers -- donated some five acres of land as the site for the Center. Seven years later, Segerstrom Hall opened its doors for the first time. Over the years, the Segerstrom family has been a principle benefactor for the Center, providing another land donation in 1998 and donating millions of dollars to the Center's growth.

Venues & Amenities:

Since opening it’s doors in 1986, the Center has become a premier performing arts destinations with four main venues:

Segerstrom Hall: This opera-house style concert hall has nearly 3,000 seats and was the first venue built for the Center. The first performance was held in September of 1986. Performance series include: an International Dance Series, a Broadway Series, a Curtain Call Series and other shows.

Renee & Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall: Built in 2006, this concert hall has more than 1,700 seats, a private-donor room and two private salons. In addition to two concession stands, there is formal dining at Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge, and casual dining at The Market Center. Performance series include: a Concert Series, a Jazz Club Series, a Cabaret Series and a variety of special events.

Samueli Theater: A versatile venue, the Samueli Theater is a Cabaret-style theater with an option for stadium seating and a capacity of up to 1,200 guests. Performance series include: a Cabaret Series, a Jazz Club Series, the Off Center Series and a Family Series.

Founder’s Hall: This club-style banquet hall is the smallest of the main venues with a maximum of 600 seats.

Resident Companies:

There are three resident companies at the Center:

Pacific Symphony: This renown symphony orchestra is one of biggest musical groups of its kind formed in the last 40 years. The orchestra performs more than 100 concerts throughout the year including the popular “Pops” Series, the Cafe Ludwig chamber series, as well as performances by the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra.

The Philharmonic Society of Orange County: Established in 1959, the Philharmonic Society is the oldest musical organization in Orange County. It presents performances from symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles, as well as soloists and other artists. The Philharmonic Society is also supports music education programs throughout the county through fundraisers and other volunteer efforts.

Pacific Corale: An award-winning choral organization with a professional core of 140 singers who perform approximately 20 concerts per year.

Dodge Education Center:

The Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center opened in 2007 as the permanent home for the Segerstrom Center’s performing arts education programs, including the “Summer at the Center” at-risk youth program. The Dodge Center also hosts other events throughout the year including banquets, seminars, artist meet-and-greets, conferences and recitals.

Admission & Membership:

The Segerstrom Center is supported entirely through private donations, including regular ticket sales, corporate sponsorships and membership dues. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office for individual concerts and performances a la carte. Season passes are also available for select performance series.

Location & Address:

The Segerstrom Center is located in the heart of South Coast Metro Orange County, just east of the South Coast Plaza.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts
600 Town Center Drive
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Box Office Hours:

The main box office is located in Segerstrom Hall and is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Contact the Segerstrom Center:

Phone: (714)556-2121
Website: http://www.scfta.org