Michael Quintos - Page 11

The summer season opens July 6 and runs through August 29 with the Orange County premiere of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, L.A.'s long-running hit musical. This summer also brings the return of two wildly popular shows. First, everyone's favorite 'Sister' returns with 'TIL DEATH DO US PART: LATE NITE CATECHISM 3, which runs Monday nights from July 12 through August 9. Then, back by popular demand after two sold out performances in May, comedienne Rita Rudner brings her stand-up show to The Laguna Playhouse August 15-16 and 22-23.

Lights, water, music, fire and animation will come together like never before on June 11 when 'WORLD OF COLOR' makes its dazzling debut at Disney's California Adventure theme park. The show is choreographed with revolutionary technology that creates a playful, nighttime spectacular and a new way for guests to experience Disney stories-from the charming to the adventurous.

Orange County's newest Black Box Theatre, Mysterium presents NUNSENSE with performances running from May 13-June 19. The original five-woman production of NUNSENSE won four Outer Critics Circle Awards, including best off-Broadway musical, best book and best music. A 1985 London cast recording was made, as well as a 1986 recording with the off-Broadway cast. The show opened on London's West End at the Fortune Theatre in March 1987.

Theatre Out, Orange County's Gay and Lesbian Theatre and O.C. sketch comedy troupe Late Night Leftovers are teaming up to raise money for the 2010 AIDS Walk/Orange County with a cabaret of great music and sketch comedy. 100% of the proceeds directly benefit and support those living with HIV/AIDS in Orange County. The 'One Night Only' benefit will take place on Saturday, May 8 with two performances at 6:30 pm and 9:00 pm.

A season of celebration in honor of Music Director Carl St.Clair's 20th Anniversary culminates on Tuesday, May 18, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, with a very special evening of music, featuring classical music superstar Joshua Bell. Like no other violinist of recent times, Bell has captured the imaginations of both critics and audiences; Interview magazine once said his playing 'does nothing less than tell human beings why they bother to live.' The evening's concert was specially programmed by St.Clair to include music that holds special meaning for him, with guest artists he considers close friends, including pianist Benjamin Pasternack, baritone Christòpheren Nomura, and Pacific Chorale, led by John Alexander.

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to offer the funny, magical and moving theatrical event, JAY JOHNSON: THE TWO AND ONLY!, starring acclaimed actor, playwright and master ventriloquist Jay Johnson, running for an exclusive two week engagement on June 11 - 20 at The Laguna Playhouse.

The award-winning Beatles concert, RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles, makes its debut at the Orange County Performing Arts Center March 23 - 28 in Segerstrom Hall.

PACIFIC SYMPHONY POPS PAYS TRIBUTE TO A MULTIPLE-AWARD-WINNING LEGEND-JOHN WILLIAMS-THE COMPOSER WHOSE FILM SCORES HAVE DEFINED MODERN AMERICAN CULTURE on Thursday-Saturday, March 11-13, at 8 p.m. in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Conducted by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, the orchestra celebrates the man and his music by performing melodies from such blockbuster movies as the Harry Potter films, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, E.T., the Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, the Indiana Jones films, Star Wars, Superman, Hook and many more.

Orange County, CA's multiple Ovation Awards-winning Chance Theater receives grants totaling $17,000 from The James Irvine California Arts Initiative, The Elizabeth George Foundation, and Bank of America.

Men Alive-The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus is proud to announce ACADEMY AFFAIR, its premier gala fundraiser and awards show taking place on the evening of Saturday, March 6. Adding his own special flair to the event will be the one and only Leslie Jordan! Leslie is the 2006 Emmy Award Winner for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his delicious portrayal of "Beverley Leslie" on Will and Grace. Audiences will also remember him for his recurring roles on Ugly Betty, Boston Legal, and Reba.The Chorus has joined forces with celebrity restaurateur Bruno Serato for this one-of-a kind special event to be held in the West Wing of his exclusive Anaheim White House Restaurant, located at 887 South Anaheim Boulevard in Anaheim.

In an exciting and multi-layered display of talent worthy of the spotlight, Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra (PSYO) performs 'RISING STARS' on Sunday, Feb. 28, at 4 p.m., in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Led by the Symphony's Assistant Conductor Maxim Eshkenazy, this Cheng Family Foundation PSYO concert includes a plethora of young talent: cellist Eric Lee-the winner of this year's Concerto Competition-playing the allegretto movement of Shostakovich's Cello Concerto No.1, which earned him the top spot; the inaugural performance of the Pacific Chorale Honor Choir (a new collaboration between the Symphony and Pacific Chorale), singing Faure's 'Requiem' with PSYO musicians; and PSYO's electrifying performance of the 1919 version of Stravinsky's ballet 'Firebird,' accompanied by the Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy.

Musical Theatre West joins two of their favorite performers in an evening of love and music in A Fine Romance…in Song and Dance starring David Engel and Tami Tappan Damiano. This special event will take place Sunday, March 14, 2010 at the spectacular Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.Proceeds from this event will go towards MTW's education and outreach programs, which introduce thousands of children each year to the joy and magic of theater, as well as other important programs.

Tony® Award winner Faith Prince returns to the Center to close the 2009-10 Cabaret Series April 8 - 11 in Samueli Theater. Prince has been dazzling Broadway audiences since she swept the theater awards, winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for her performance as Ms. Adelaide in the critically-acclaimed revival of Guys and Dolls. In 2008, she was nominated for Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for A Catered Affair. This is Prince's second visit to the Center, following her debut here in February 2008. She replaces Paulo Szot who is unable to appear due to his extended run in South Pacific at Lincoln Center.

Pacific Symphony, led by Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman, celebrates 'Valentine's Day with Chris Botti,' featuring the trumpet sensation on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 11-13, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall.

On February 5, the Costa Mesa Playhouse's 44th season continues with Tony® and Pulitzer Prize-winner Neil Simon's semi-autobiographical examination of dysfunctional relationships between the sexes, JAKE'S WOMEN.

Theatre Out, Orange County's gay and lesbian theatre, presents Jonathan Larson's autobiographical musical TICK, TICK...BOOM!. Recalling the life of composer Jonathan Larson in the years leading up to the creation of RENT, TICK, TICK...BOOM! is a deeply personal look at the courage required to follow your dreams through life's most difficult challenges.

The Laguna Playhouse presents the popular and critically acclaimed final movement of Hershey Felder's 'Composer Sonata' trilogy, Hershey Felder AS George Gershwin ALONE, a musical play directed by Joel Zwick with Music and Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Hershey Felder. George Gershwin ALONE runs January 12 through February 21, 2010. The 'Composer Sonata' comprises BEETHOVEN, AS I KNEW HIM; MONSIEUR CHOPIN; and this final movement, George Gershwin ALONE.

'Handel's Messiah,' performed by Pacific Symphony, is perhaps the perfect way take refuge from the hectic pace of the holidays and celebrate the season in a serene and meaningful way. This year, the most famous oratorio in the world is led by British guest conductor William Lacey and features the Pacific Chorale and four seasoned veterans of the opera and solo stages-soprano Christine Brandes, mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Batton, tenor Benjamin Butterfield and baritone Timothy Mix-singing some of the most beautiful music ever written. Taking place on Sunday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m., in the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, the Symphony's annual performance-the first of several holiday concerts-includes blazing trumpets, thundering timpani, the exhilarating 'Hallelujah' chorus, and a message of hope in a year of tribulations.

The Johnny Mathis Christmas Show will put Orange County's holiday season into full swing. America's beloved singer returns to the Center for an evening decked with holiday favorites and many of his most popular hits on Saturday, December 12 in Segerstrom Hall. Since his first two hits, 'Wonderful, Wonderful' and 'Chances Are' hit the top of the charts in 1956, Mathis has been inducted into the Grammy Award Hall of Fame twice and the public has continued to love the singer, his music and that distinct Mathis voice ever since. Mathis will be joined by comedian/singer Gary Mule Deer for part of the evening.

ANNIE's back! America's most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back, and on its 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for five performances only January 29 - 31.