Culture OC Staff Pick the Best for the 2023 Arts & Culture Fall Season
- Culture OC Staff
- Sep 15, 2023
- 14 min read
Updated: Sep 17, 2023
Welcome to Culture OC’s inaugural fall arts preview!
We’re excited to bring you the best in visual arts, culture, classical music, theater, food and drinks, and dance.
Culture OC’s talented team of arts writers has scanned the schedules, communicated with the presenting organizations and culled the calendars to bring you the best of fall 2023 — and, in some cases, a peek at what’s coming up in 2024. While some groups are relying on the tried and true, others are pushing the envelope and hoping to attract audiences seeking adventure and perhaps something a little different.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up in the Orange County arts and culture scene. (Click on the topics below to see the details.) And if we missed something important, please let us know.
VISUAL ARTS
Orange County visual art venues have a plethora of exhibitions planned for the fall calendar. Highlights include UCI Langson IMCA’s intriguing take on a collective of early 1900s artists, “Bohemian of the Arroyo Seco: Idah Meacham Strobridge” (Sept. 30-Jan. 13); and “Threads That Bind” (Oct. 14-Dec. 8), Brea Gallery’s collaboration with Muzeo, exploring contemporary women artists’ achievements in various textiles.
Since there are more promising shows than we have space for, here are just a few new exhibitions coming to Orange County’s "big three," time-tested visual art venues. For a deeper cut, we suggest looking into the two exhibits above and/or exploring on your own. — Richard Chang
‘Jennifer Guidi: And so it is.’
When: Sept. 15-Jan. 7, 2024
Where: O.C. Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa
Cost: Free admission
Contact: 714-780-2130 or ocma.art
The Orange County Museum of Art is featuring the first U.S. museum solo exhibition for Jennifer Guidi, a Los Angeles-based artist known for her sand-and-acrylic creations that employ systematic mark-making to investigate the full spectrum of color. The exhibition spans a decade of her practice, including several significant new paintings on view for the first time, and the largest sculpture the artist has created to date.
The curator is Heidi Zuckerman, who’s also CEO and director of the museum, which opened last year on Oct. 8.
‘The Power of Photography’
When: Oct. 7-Jan. 14, 2024
Where: Bowers Museum, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Cost: Free-$18
Contact: 714-567-3600 or bowers.org
The Bowers Museum is presenting over 70 original prints curated by Peter Fetterman, a well-known curator and gallerist. The photos include Edward Weston portraits, rare interior shots by famed nude photographer Ruth Bernhard, and “Afghan Girl,” a color photo by Steve McCurry that famously graced the June 1985 cover of National Geographic.
If you are visiting the Bowers in October or later, check out “Beyond the Great Wave: Wave by Hokusai from the British Museum” (Oct. 21-Jan. 7), featuring more than 100 paintings, drawings, woodblock prints by Katsushika Hokusai, one of Japan’s most revered and celebrated artists.
‘Breaking the Rules: Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown’
When: Oct. 14-Jan. 7, 2024
Where: Laguna Art Museum, 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach
Cost: $9-$12
Contact: 949-494-8971 or lagunaartmuseum.org
This showcase of 75 paintings, watercolors and drawings will pay tribute to the accomplishments of Paul Wonner and Theophilus Brown, known for their contributions to the Bay Area Figurative movement. The two artists – who came from different backgrounds out of state – met at UC Berkeley, where they pursued master’s degrees in art. They “proudly identified as both queer and Californian,” according to museum executive director Julie Perlin-Lee.
Also at Laguna Art Museum, “Making an Era: Celebrating Self-Help Graphics at Art at 50” recognizes the 50th anniversary of the influential, L.A.-based Latinx printmaking center. “Making an Era” is on view now and runs through Jan. 15.
CULTURE
Are you looking for thrills and chills this season? For a family-friendly spooky experience, Creep It Real OC is back for its fourth year, or maybe something a little more unsettling is the vibe, which is where Haunted Orange County might be able to make some skin crawl. Whatever the vibe is for the season, here are some events to look forward to and help get into the fall mood. — Kristina Garcia
Camp Creep It Real OC 2023
When: 1 to 7 p.m., Sept. 16 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sept. 17
Where: Heritage Museum of Orange County, 3101 W. Harvard St., Santa Ana
Cost: $17 general admission, $27 weekend pass, free for children 10 and under
Contact: contact@CreepItRealOC.com, creepitrealoc.com
This year’s theme for Creep It Real OC is “Camp Creep It Real OC,” but no need to bring a sleeping bag because it’s not an overnight event. Creep It Real OC is back for its second year, so stop by the Heritage Museum of Orange County for a family- and pet-friendly event, centered around everything Halloween, horror and spooky.
“Camp Creep It Real OC” will have over 120 Halloween and horror-themed vendors for attendees to check out, as well as food and snack options. When attendees want to take a break from shopping, the event will also feature photo ops and live entertainment as well as a Halloween-only music DJ, the Vinyl Ghoul.
The event will also be hosting a Hocus Pocus 30-year anniversary reunion with cast members Omri Katz who played Max, Vinessa Shaw who played Allison, and Jason Marsden who voiced Thackery Binx the cat. As a part of the anniversary, the event will also have props, costumes, art and photos from “Hocus Pocus” and “Hocus Pocus 2.”
A portion of the ticket sales are donated to the Heritage Museum of Orange County.
Haunted Orange County
When: Check the website for tour availability
Where: Various locations throughout Orange County, including: Old Town Orange, Downtown Santa Ana, Bowers Museum, The Kellogg House, Black Star Canyon, and more
Cost: Starting at $32
Contact: 866-446-7803, hauntedoc.com
It’s getting closer to that time of year when the creepy crawlies are out and people start looking for a scare to kick off the Halloween season. If that sentiment strikes a chord then Haunted Orange County is the horror tour for creepy, ghoulish and unsettling locations.
Take a stroll through Downtown Fullerton, San Juan Capistrano, or locations in Los Angeles County like Hollywood or Pasadena, where tour groups will be led by a guide who dives deep into the location's local and haunted history.
The most popular tour is the Old Town Orange Ghost Walk, starting at $32. Old Town Orange is also the first tour to be offered when Haunted Orange County made its shift from being a website that only details the histories of these locations, to offering ghost walks and tours. Groups will meet at the Royer Mansion, located next to the Orange Public Library, and be led through Old Town Orange for about an hour and a half as they stroll by antique stores and restaurants that have had ghostly guests.
If spooky tours at Orange County’s most historic destinations sound thrilling, it’s best to order tickets as soon as possible because spots fill up quickly.
‘Hallo-Queen Spook-tacular’ and the ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’
When: Doors open at 6 p.m., event starts at 7 p.m. Oct. 13
Where: Julianne and George Argyros Plaza at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Free
Contact: 714-556-2787, scfta.org
Stroll over to the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza for a free movie showing of the 1975 cult classic, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show,” directed by Jim Sharman. The movie doesn’t start till 8 p.m., but starting at 7 p.m. the queens are back for their third year performing for the “Hallo-Queen Spook-tacular!” drag show.
The drag show will feature Orange County native Miss Clair Voyance, alongside her sinister drag sisters. Miss Clair Voyance has been doing drag for over five years and is known for her love of horror, as well as her performances for Segerstrom’s “Broadway Divas” at the Samueli Theater.
The first 200 guests to arrive will receive prop bags to interact and immerse themselves in the movie. Seating will be based on a first-come, first-served basis when the doors open, and moviegoers are expected to bring their own folding chairs because chairs will not be provided at the event.
For more information visit the Segerstrom Center for the Arts website. Below are a few other shows for the season.
“Lila Downs — Dia De Los Muertos” (Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall) — Oct. 11
“Halloween & Fabulous Fall Festivals” (Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall) — Oct. 21
“Phantom of the Opera” (Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall) — Oct. 22
CLASSICAL MUSIC
Summer is over and that’s good for classical music, which moves indoors. That means more substantive programming, and here in Orange County, that means taking advantage of our embarrassment of riches in terms of splendid concert halls. Overall, the repertoire hasn’t changed that much (there are several opportunities to hear Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto again), but the connoisseur will find nooks of innovation, freshness and adventure. My selections below should appeal to both the novice listener and expert ear. — Timothy Mangan
Einhorn: Voices of Light / The Passion of Joan of Arc
When: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7
Where: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: $28-$147
Contact: pacificchorale.org
Conductor Robert Istad and the Pacific Chorale join forces with strings from the Pacific Symphony for Richard Einhorn’s oratorio Voices of Light, performed as live underscore to Carl Dreyer’s silent film masterpiece, “The Passion of Joan of Arc.” Dreyer’s haunting film, long thought lost, now beautifully restored, tells the story of Joan of Arc’s trial and death and features what is often considered one of the greatest performances on film, by a mesmerizing Renée Maria Falconetti, in the title role. Einhorn’s medieval-style score, written in 1994, and incorporating texts from Joan’s accusers and female mystics of the time, intensifies the film’s claustrophobic power.
California Dreamin’
When: 8 p.m., Nov. 16-18
Where: Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: $25-$215
Contact: pacificsymphony.org
The Pacific Symphony dives into the inaugural California Festival, a statewide celebration featuring dozens of performing ensembles and exploring new music written by more than 100 of our “free-spirited” composers. Here, the Pacific musicians offer performances of Los Angeles-based composer Adam Schoenberg’s Canto and Berkeley-born Gabriella Smith’s Bioluminescence Chaconne. The much-admired French conductor Ludovic Morlot leads the program and leavens it with Rachmaninoff’s rarely-heard Fourth Piano Concerto (with Van Cliburn winner Vadym Kholodenko as soloist) and Debussy’s spectacular depiction of the sea, La Mer.
Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center: The Complete Brandenburg Concerti
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 9
Where: Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo
Cost: $45-$105
Contact: philharmonicsociety.org
As ubiquitous as they are on radio and recording, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerti don’t actually turn up very often in concert, especially the complete cycle. The venerable Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, a flexible collective of collaborative virtuosi, is the perfect group to take on the entire set. Soka’s warm yet lucid acoustics should boost the effort.
THEATER
Orange County theater lovers have a lot to celebrate, what with the extensive level of theater activity and the seemingly endless variety of choices on hand. Troupes range from the most high-profile companies to those working with smaller budgets and whose identities are lesser known – so local theater audiences are literally spoiled, in a good way. Here are three productions arriving soon that are likely to make the first half of the 2023-2024 season a memorable one. — Eric Marchese
‘Quixote Nuevo’
When: Sept. 30 to Oct. 28
Where: South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Tickets: $29 to $105
Contact: 714-708-5555, scr.org
How would Miguel de Cervantes’ famed epic novel “Don Quixote” look if it were brought up to date and its story and characters accompanied by Tejano music? Theater fans need imagine no more, for here comes “Quixote Nuevo” by playwright and director Octavio Solis, and on the main stage of South Coast Repertory. SCR fans know Solis well for the enchanting Christmas tale “La Posada Magica” (1994 through 2008) as well as “Scrappers” and “Man of the Flesh” from the ‘90s, and 2012’s “Cloudlands.”
Lisa Portes, director of dozens of major regional theater company productions across the U.S., is at the helm of this “new Quixote,” with Jesse Sanchez as music director. Herbert Siguenza, a co-founder of Culture Clash, stars in a play described on SCR’s website as “a fast-paced, bilingual fable about the joys and perils of being the hero of your own story.” The show is produced in association with Seattle Repertory Theatre and Portland Center Stage.
‘On Your Feet!’
When: Oct. 6 to 29
Where: La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard, La Mirada
Tickets: $14-$85
Contact: 714-994-6310, lamiradatheatre.com
Jukebox musicals come in every shape and size, and a handful have even told the life stories of the performers whose songs are featured in them. “On Your Feet!” is one such show. The 2015 Broadway musical has “The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan” as its subtitle, and the show and its book by Anthony Dinelaris Jr. are based on the lives of the husband-and-wife team of Gloria and Emilio Estefan and the Cuban-fusion pop music they created, popularized by Gloria Estefan.
From 2017 to 2019, the show’s U.S. tour visited 28 cities, including the Southern California cities of Costa Mesa, Los Angeles and San Diego. The current (2022-2023) national tour includes a three-weekend stop in La Mirada, starring Samuel Garnica and Gaby Albo as the Estefans, directed and choreographed by Luis Salgado and music-directed by Daniel Alejandro Gutierrez. Theater fans can expect a playlist packed with hits performed, produced and recorded by their group, Miami Sound Machine, including “Get on Your Feet” and “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” The show also features the new original song “If I Never Got to Tell You,” its lyrics written by Gloria Estefan and music composed by the Estefans’ daughter Emily.
‘Rotterdam’
When: Nov. 10 to 19
Where: Grand Central Arts Center, 125 N. Broadway, Suite E, Santa Ana
Tickets: $35 general, $25 student
Contact: 657-205-6273, thewaywardartist.org
Around the time playwright Jon Brittain first conceived the ideas that led to “Rotterdam,” stories on stage and in film and TV that dealt with those transitioning gender were rarities – but no longer. In late 2015, Brittain’s smart, bittersweet rom-com premiered at a tiny London fringe venue before transferring to London’s West End, where it snagged an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre. Now it’s coming to Orange County, where The Wayward Artist will deliver a two-weekend run of a show that depicts a lesbian couple about to navigate the shoals of a gender identity crisis.
Craig Tyrl, Wayward’s founding artistic director, said he chose the play “because we’re living in a world where the trans experience is misunderstood, demonized and marginalized” and touts its “comedy and heartfelt characters.”
FOOD & DRINKS
Orange County might not have foliage to look forward to, but the change from summer to autumn is a special kind of transition when it comes to culinary arts. From elevated sushi experiences to food-centric fundraising, we’ve got you covered when it comes to local activities. We aren’t responsible for heartburn, however. — Anne Marie Panoringan
ShariNori Sushi Bar
When: Opening October
Where: 4th Street Market, 201 E. 4th Street, Santa Ana
Contact: ShariNori on Instagram
Replacing Electric City Butcher in this DTSA food hall is an extension of the ShariNori by Chef Han stall (known for its premium sushi boxes) also located at 4th Street Market. Possessing a dedicated bar now allows ShariNori the ability to serve dishes at their ultimate freshness. Greatly inspired by his father, Chef Han is excited to showcase his Korean background and chef journey in his menu. “With over 20 years of experience in Japanese and French cuisine, my childhood favorites and all of the cultures I experienced as a chef will be featured in the dishes found at ShariNori Sushi Bar,” Han said.
The restaurant will also enlighten customers with dialogue on topics such as dry-aged fish plus how to pair a meal with wine and sake.
MaxLove Project App-Off
When: 4:30 to 9 p.m., Sept. 16
Where: Tanaka Farms, 5380 ¾ University Drive, Irvine
Cost: $175-$450
Contact: forkchildhoodcancer.org/app-off-finale
As part of the finale for this nonprofit's annual fundraiser, the Fork Childhood Cancer Challenge, MaxLove Project is hosting the App-Off in which four teams compete for bragging rights while serving their respective tastings with paired beverages on Tanaka Farms’ hillside at sunset – all while educating guests about MaxLove (an organization improving the quality of life of families facing chronic hospitalizations, rare diseases and childhood cancers with evidence-based integrative care and culinary medicine), as well as discussing auction items teams have donated.
Lead chefs include Shachi Mehra of Adya and Azmin Ghahreman of Sapphire Culinary Group, while guest judges include chef personality Jet Tila. A pairing dinner with additional live auction wraps up the event.
Caló Kitchen + Tequila
When: Opening October
Where: South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa
Contact: calokitchen.com/
Inspired by Clemente Heredia’s love of food and service, Caló is an upscale, yet relaxed dining room offering both classic and modern takes on Mexican dishes featuring recipes passed down from Heredia’s grandparents (who were restaurateurs in 1962). Popular plates include the carnitas and enchiladas stuffed with crab and shrimp. Bonus: Caló also houses one of the largest collections of sipping tequilas in the region. Its eye-catching restaurant aesthetic was curated by Orange County-based VanRooy design group.
Taikun Sushi Omakase Experience
When: 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. seatings, through Nov. 5;
Where: Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz Carlton Drive, Dana Point
Cost: $195 food only; optional $125 wine and sake pairing
Contact: Reservable on Tock
The West Coast debut of an immersive sushi journey, Taikun’s 16-course omakase pop-up takes place along a bespoke eight-seat counter within an intimate dining space. A feast for both the eyes and taste buds, this seasonal selection of specially sourced seafood is crafted with precision by a team led by Executive Chef Kei Yoshino on loan from New York City. Guests may view their next course being thoughtfully prepared throughout the meal.
DANCE
It’s shaping up to be an exciting fall dance season in Orange County with many of the most-anticipated productions coming off of critically appraised runs elsewhere. The dancemakers themselves have varied training experiences–– a Southern California native and Chapman University alumna, a New York City Ballet principal dancer, and a co-founder to Mikhail Baryshnikov. Each has made unique contributions to dance, meaning that variety is the watchword of the fall dance season.
In addition to the picks below, we can count on a flurry of “Nutcracker” performances while we wait for the recently announced “Woolf Works” by Wayne McGregor for American Ballet Theatre to make its North American premiere at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in April 2024.
–– Kaitlin Wright
Mark Morris Dance Group’s ‘The Look of Love’
When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 4
Where: Musco Center for the Arts, 415 N. Glassell St., Orange
Cost: Start at $41.25
Contact: muscocenter.org or 714-997-6812
Mark Morris is a hugely prominent figure in the dance world, being called by one New York Times writer as the “most successful and influential choreographer alive.” Morris started the Mark Morris Dance Group in 1980 and today the company continues its legacy of presenting musically driven modern dance.
In “The Look of Love,” Morris plays homage to composer Burt Bacharach, who is recognized for popular hits “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and “What the World Needs Now.” The work features unique interpretations of these classic songs with musical arrangements by Ethan Iverson (who also teamed up on Morris’ Beatles-inspired “Pepperland” and has collaborated on many other Morris works). The accompaniment features piano, trumpet, bass and percussion, with Broadway’s Marcy Harriell on lead vocals.
‘Turn It Out with Tiler Peck and Friends’
When: 7:30 p.m., Nov. 4 and 2 p.m. Nov. 5
Where: Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Cost: Tickets start at $29
Contact: scfta.org or 714-556-2787
During lockdown in 2020, New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck started teaching ballet classes on Instagram Live to 15,000 viewers, resulting in a trending hashtag, #TurnItOutWithTiler. Years later, the hashtag inspired the name of Peck’s self-curated program that features four distinct works including a live version of William Forsythe’s Zoom-coordinated film “The Barre Project,” which was made during the pandemic. Other works include a collaboration with tap dancer Michelle Dorrance and a pas de deux choreographed by Alonzo King.
This appearance at Segerstrom Center for the Arts marks the West Coast premiere of the production following a sold-out world premiere in New York. Peck, as an award-winning dancer, choreographer, actress, author, curator and designer can now add director to her list of accomplishments.
Backhausdance
When: 8 p.m., Nov. 18
Where: Old Town Temecula Community Theater, 42051 Main St., Temecula
Cost: $25
Contact: TemeculaTheater.org or 866-653-8696
Backhausdance will celebrate its 21st season with a performance at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater. The company was named the resident dance company for “Temecula Presents” beginning in the 2022-2023 season. The upcoming mixed repertory program will include three new works by Backhausdance associate artistic director Amanda Kay White, Alice Klock and Florian Lochner of Flock dance company, and Peter Chu, respectively.
The fourth work in the program is a restaging of artistic director Jennifer Backhaus’ “Love and Other Impossibilities” which won the Lester Horton Award for choreography in 2007. As Orange County’s premier professional contemporary dance company, Backhausdance is likely to announce additional performances in Temecula, Los Angeles and Orange County as it continues its educational work at Orange County schools and throughout the community.
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