Segerstrom Center's Family Series Continues with BIG BAD WOLF This Weekend

Segerstrom Center's Family Discovery Series continues with two Center debuts, Windmill Theatre: Big Bad Wolf this weekend, March 5 & 6, and Cahoots NI: Egg on March 19 & 20 in Samueli Theater.

Tickets for both shows are $20 each and are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. The TTY number is (714) 556-2746.

Big Bad Wolf, he's the most misunderstood character in fairytale history. Put simply, he has no friends - just incredibly sharp teeth, yellow eyes and his own ideas about personal hygiene. Luckily, Heidi Hood, Little Red's second cousin twice removed, is brave enough to see past this wolf's bad press, and an unlikely friendship is born. This hilarious, table-turning tale that features puppetry, a poetry competition and plenty of dancing will have you wondering why you were so scared of the wolf in the first place. The 10 a.m. performance on Saturday, March 5 will be sensory-friendly. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, March 6 will be ASL interpreted.

Egg is told through the medium of physical theatre, illusion and music. It is a sad, funny and delightful tale that explores the theme of leaving the nest, a theme that resonates as strongly with the adults as it does with children. This gives Egg its real emotional power. The production is a magical experience, sharing the life of the little bird characters in their nest with the audience and telling a story of friendship, wonder and tender loving care. The 10 a.m. performance on Saturday, March 19 will be sensory-friendly.

Sensory-friendly precautions are taken to reduce sound levels, particularly loud or startling sounds; reduce overwhelming stage lighting; provide low ambient lighting in the theater throughout the performance so patrons are able to see should they need to move around or exit the theater; leave some seats unsold to allow extra room for patrons who may need to move or exit during the performance; provide social story and other preparatory materials to parents and children so they know what to expect from the performance; allow use of iPads, other tablet devices and smart phones if needed as a communication device for a child; and break spaces for those who might feel overwhelmed and need a break from the performance. For more information about the sensory-friendly features, call (714) 556-2787 or e-mail Access@SCFTA.org.

Audiences are encouraged to arrive an hour before the performance for free creative activities. The Center's Education Department offers these enriching experiences to provide young people and their families more opportunities to play together creatively. Studies show that this is critical in helping to develop the ability to think and problem solve.

Segerstrom Center's 2015 - 2016 Family Series continues with Oorkan Production's The Box Brothers (April 23-24) and Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (April 19-May 1).

Windmill Theatre, located in Southern Australia, creates and presents incredible performances that captivate audience's imaginations and resonate deeply. The company's artistic vision has created a unique and distinctive house style of theatre that makes true adventure and creative ingenuity synonymous with the Windmill name. Windmill artists are inspired by the vibrancy, sophistication and inventiveness of young people and the exhilarating challenges they pose to creating theatre of genuine relevance in this modern time. In meeting this challenge Windmill Theatre positions theatre for children, young people and families in a dynamic national and international conversation that is defining the future of theatre practice. Since its inception in 2002, Windmill Theatre's enduring purpose has been to continue to create incredible shows, and tour them nationally and internationally.

Cahoots NI, located in Northern Ireland, is a professional children's touring theatre company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Company was formed in 2001 by Paul Bosco, Mc Eneaney and Zoe Seaton. The Company concentrates on the visual potential of theatre and capitalizes upon the age-old popularity of magic and illusion as an essential ingredient in the art of entertaining. Each production is at the center of a body of outreach work designed to maximize artistic potential, customize the individual theatre experience and extend the imaginative life of the piece beyond the actual event.

Segerstrom Center's Education and Community Programs Department offers a variety of programs to students from elementary school through the university level, teachers, arts administrators and individuals who simply want to broaden their own experiences but not in a structure that is strictly academic. These programs achieve two especially important objectives. First, they develop the audiences of the future. Second, they integrate the arts into the standard curriculum and enhance learning, creative thinking, cognitive and social skills. The Education and Community Programs Department works hand-in-hand with a number of boards of education, providing support and assistance to ensure the success and effectiveness of the Center's programs.

The popular Family Series engages, enchants and inspires youngsters with the magic of live performance. International artists combine music, dance and theater that can be enjoyed by the entire family, creating experiences that instill an appreciation for the arts and create lifelong memories.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence on all of its stages, offering unsurpassed experiences, and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring programs.

Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County's largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School, where students ages 3 - 14 are taught by acclaimed teachers utilizing the renowned ABT National Training Curriculum in studios utilized by the world's greatest dancers and choreographers.

The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, intimate performances of jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family- friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events.

The Center's education programs are designed to inspire young people through the arts and reach hundreds of thousands of students each year. In addition to the presenting and producing institution Segerstrom Center for the Arts, the 14-acre campus also embraces the facilities of two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award®-winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region's major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and the Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons at Segerstrom Center for the Arts.

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