OCPAC Visit
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KRISTIN SLOAN |
While I was in LA last weekend, we went out to the Orange County Performing Arts Center for dinner and a mini-tour of their facilities.
I was out of commission the last few times NYC Ballet visited OCPAC, so my only frame of reference was David’s photos and stories from when ABT was there.
The entrance to the original space is very striking, but it was really interesting to see the relatively new Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. It’s beautifully light and airy, and filled with lots of blonde wood and walls of windows. The larger space reminded me a lot of the Allen Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center (with a few tiers of shallow seating behind and above the musicians.) We got to see this space empty, and then came back after dinner for a few songs from the evenings performance with The Crusaders.
An incredible image of Segerstrom Concert Hall ©Damian Dora. Visit the Artec site for more photos.A smaller space there (I’m assuming it must have been the Samuell Theater) is especially interesting to me, because the size and set up is much like Irving Plaza or Bowery Ballroom. Just like those spaces, popular indie bands play there (The Walkmen will be there at the end of February), but in this case, the space is right in the middle of a swanky cluster of theaters and unique performers. I thought that was really great.
Out on the plaza area, they currently have a beautifully striking Richard Serra sculpture. Definitely a fun detour!
