MUSIC
Michael Feinstein
Nov. 6-7
Segerstrom Center for the Arts,
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Michael Feinstein started out playing in piano bars before he was hired by the great Ira Gershwin to archive his record collection. Thus began his path to becoming the unofficial guardian of the Great American Songbook. Performing with the Pacific Symphony, he will sing favorites from Gershwin and others in the American Songbook, as well as the music of Frank Sinatra in a centennial salute to “Old Blue Eyes.” :: pacificsymphony.org
Cheyenne Jackson
Nov. 21
Segerstrom Center for the Arts,
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Long before he was Liz Lemon’s brief love interest on “30 Rock” or Vocal Adrenaline coach Dustin Goolsby on “Glee,” Cheyenne Jackson was a Broadway leading man. His velvety-smooth voice – with a 4½-octave range – has melted hearts across the country. Jackson’s concert will pack in Broadway show tunes, movie soundtrack classics and the American Songbook favorites. He’s even been known to throw in a tune from Lady Gaga, who will be co-starring with him in the next season of “American Horror Story.” Jackson usually surprises audiences with a special guest or two on stage, but if we say anymore, it wouldn’t be a surprise. :: scfta.org
DANCE
Malpaso Dance
Sept. 10-11
Laguna Dance Festival
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company is making its West Coast debut at the Laguna Dance Festival. Founded in 2012, the contemporary dance company features several members who studied at the Cuban National Ballet School. They will perform “Despedida,” choreographed by Malpaso Artistic Director Osnel Delgado, in addition to two other new works, “Under Fire” by guest choreographer Trey McIntyre plus “Porque Sigues” (Why You Follow”) by Ronald K. Brown. Come early and sit in on a preshow talk with Delgado before each performance.
:: lagunadancefestival.org
Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Sept. 12-13
Laguna Dance Festival
Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road,
Laguna Beach
Contemporary dance company Alonzo King LINES Ballet is known for its collaborations with musicians from around the world to create what King calls “thought structures.” The San Francisco-based troupe will perform two new works, “Concerto for Two Violins” and “Biophony,” as part of the Laguna Dance Festival. The company has been featured at such venues as the Venice Biennale, the Edinburgh International Festival and Théâtre National de Chaillot in Paris. A preshow talk with King will be held an hour before the Sept. 13 performance. :: lagunadancefestival.org
Mariinsky Ballet and Orchestra
Sept. 24-27
Segerstrom Center for the Arts,
600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Russia’s celebrated Mariinsky Ballet returns to Orange County with “Raymonda,” performed in its entirety for the first time in Southern California. Choreographed by Marius Petipa, the three-act ballet revolves around a young countess who, on the day before her wedding, must choose between her betrothed, a noble crusader knight, and a handsome Saracen warrior. Dancing the role of Raymonda will be Viktoria Tereshkina. Arrive early to take part in one of the free pre-performance talks prior to each show. :: scfta.org
Twyla Tharp:
50th Anniversary Celebration
Oct. 1-3
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
Twyla Tharp is celebrating her 50th anniversary as a choreographer with a gift to her audiences: two new works – “Preludes and Fugues,” set to the music of J.S. Bach, and “Yowzie,” with the jazz sounds of Henry Butler and Steven Bernstein. The program will feature 12 dancers. At first glance, it may sound surprising to hear Tharp has created a work to the music of Bach’s “Well-Tempered Clavier,” but remember that the Tony and Emmy award-winning choreographer also created works set to the music of Beethoven, Mozart and Brahms, as well as Billy Joel, Frank Sinatra and Allen Toussaint. :: thewallis.org
Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company “Story/Time”
Oct. 10
Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts,
6200 Atherton St., Long Beach
For “Story/Time,” Bill T. Jones combines the traditional art of storytelling with contemporary movement and music, inspired by composer John Cage. Jones narrates vignettes culled from his own life as well as tales passed down by his family. His stories, brought to life by nine dancers, tell of growing up as part of a poor family building a life in New York after migrating from the South and recollections of his struggles to find his place in a white-dominated dance world. :: carpenterarts.org
Festival Ballet Theatre:
Le Corsaire and Mixed Repertoire
Oct. 10-11
Irvine Barclay Theatre,
4242 Campus Drive, Irvine
Orange County’s own Festival Ballet Theatre has been entertaining Southern California audiences since 1988. The company presents a varied repertoire of full-length classical ballets as well as contemporary works.
This year, Festival Ballet Theatre will perform “Le Corsaire,” the romantic tale of young Medora, who is in love with the pirate Conrad but is sold as a slave to Pasha. Will the lovers reunite? “Le Corsaire” features one of the most famous and most performed passages in classical ballet, “Le Corsaire pas de deux.” Festival Ballet will also include a mixed repertoire that will include the world premiere of a new contemporary piece. :: festivalballet.org
