Segerstrom Center for the Arts facts for kids
Exterior view of Segerstrom Hall (c.2007)
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| Former names | Orange County Performing Arts Center (1986-2011) |
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| Address | 600 Town Center Dr Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1916 |
| Type | Performing arts center |
| Capacity | 2,994 (Segerstrom Hall) 1,704 (Segerstrom Concert Hall) 600 (Samueli Theater) 260 (Morr Theater) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 29, 1986 |
| Expanded |
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| Tenants | |
| Pacific Symphony Philharmonic Society of Orange County Pacific Chorale |
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The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a special place in Costa Mesa, California. It's where you can enjoy many different kinds of performing arts. This includes music, dance, and theater shows.
The center first opened in 1986. Back then, it was called the Orange County Performing Arts Center. Some of its first buildings, like Segerstrom Hall, were designed by Charles Lawrence. Later, in 2006, new parts were added. These new buildings, like the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, were designed by a famous architect named César Pelli. He won many awards for his work!
The Segerstrom Center is home to three main groups. These groups often perform there. They are the Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, and the Pacific Chorale.
What Can You See at Segerstrom Center?
The Segerstrom Center has several different halls. Each hall is designed for specific types of performances.
Segerstrom Hall: Big Shows
Segerstrom Hall is the largest building at the center. It has about 3,000 seats. This hall is perfect for big shows. You can often see Broadway musicals, amazing ballet performances, and other large productions here.
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall: Music Magic
Right next to Segerstrom Hall is the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. It has about 2,000 seats. This hall is made for concerts. It has a very special organ called the William J. Gillespie Concert Organ. This organ is huge! It has 4,322 pipes and can make many different sounds.
Samueli Theater: Jazz and More
The Samueli Theater is in the same building as the Concert Hall. It's a smaller space with 375 seats. This theater is very flexible. It's great for jazz music, cabaret shows, and other special events. It was named after Henry Samueli, who gave a large donation to the center.
Judy Morr Theater: Dance Focus
The Judy Morr Theater has 250 seats. It's mainly used for dance. Ballet companies often practice here. It's also the main studio for a dance school called the ABT Gillespie School.
Other Cool Spaces
The center also has an Education Center. This includes spaces for performances and learning. You can also find the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School here. There's even a school for children with disabilities who want to learn dance and music. If you get hungry, there are cafes like Leatherby's Café Rouge and George's Café.
Julianne and George Argyros Plaza: Outdoor Fun
Outside, there's a large area called the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza. It's about 46,000 square feet! This plaza has restaurants, a stage for outdoor shows, and places to sit and have a picnic. It's a great spot to relax before or after a show.
Art and Theater Nearby
The Segerstrom Center campus is also home to other important art places.
Orange County Museum of Art
The Orange County Museum of Art is building a new main facility right on the Segerstrom Center campus. Construction started in 2019. This new building will be about 53,000 square feet. It was designed by Morphosis Architects.
South Coast Repertory: Award-Winning Plays
The South Coast Repertory is another famous theater group located at the Segerstrom Center. They have won a special award called the Tony Award. They are known for creating many new and exciting plays.
