Under-the-stars theater productions and concerts – of both the classical and pop music variety – are singular ways to enjoy the breezes and cooler temps evening brings during the dog days.
For anyone looking to battle the doldrums of the dog days of summer in a way that’s fun and relaxing, we have these two words: outdoor performances.
Theater under the stars has been around since the days of ancient Greece, and al fresco concerts are and always have been popular worldwide, especially in summertime.
For those who might think summer is mostly over, Culture OC offers a roster of outdoor plays and concerts yet to unfold.
For the plays – a musical, two Shakespeares, and a new original – you’ll be dazzled by supreme theatrical talent, and it’s just like being at your favorite local venue, except you’re enjoying the less-scorching temps and cooler night skies of the evening hours.
Blankets, lawn chairs and picnic baskets are the essential ingredients for the concerts, whether classical or pop and rock. Bring these along, and the musicians and vocalists will provide the rest at a variety of venues throughout Orange County.
Outdoor plays require a ticket purchase, but most of the concerts are offered free – and for those that do sell tickets, the charge is usually nominal.
THEATER
Working with Concord Theatricals, the Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts (TACFA) and GiveKidsPanto have teamed up to present an outdoor staging of “Grease.” The production stars recording artist Mary Desmond in the role of Sandy and Hayden Kharrazi as Danny in the ever-popular stage musical about restless, high-spirited high school kids during the 1950s.
When: Aug. 6-10
Where: Peppertree Park, 230 W. First St., Tustin
Admission: $15 starting price
Contact: www.tacfa.org
PHOTO 1: Recording artist Mary Desmond portrays Sandy and Hayden Kharrazi is Danny in Tustin Area Council for Fine Arts, GiveKidsPanto and Concord Theatricals’ outdoor production of the popular musical “Grease,” in Tustin’s Peppertree Park through Aug. 10. PHOTO 2: Casey Anne Apregan, Brook Lord, Jaina Jallow and Benni Ruby, from left, play the Pink Ladies in the same production. Photos courtesy of TACFA and GiveKidsPanto / Leonardo George
South Coast Repertory presents the ethereal 2012 folk tale “The Old Man and The Old Moon.” With book, music and lyrics by PigPen Theatre Co. and directed by SCR’s Kim Martin-Cotten, “Old Man/Old Moon” sweeps audiences up in a story that’s part epic adventure, part tall tale brought to life by two key elements: the inventive way it’s staged and the use of indie-folk music.
When: Through Aug. 11
Where: Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Old Mission Road, San Juan Capistrano
Admission: $40-$60
Contact: 714-708-5555, www.scr.org
New Swan Shakespeare Festival once again rolls out two summertime Shakespeare productions – one comedy, one drama – while providing fresh approaches to works by the Bard of Avon.
“Twelfth Night” is the comedy, and this time around, Eli Simon, the company’s artistic director, has gone all-out pirate, with the story’s characters reimagined and set against the backdrop of the Golden Age of Piracy. Director Simon has also injected the production with music, poetry and plenty of swordplay.
Directed by New Swan’s Beth Lopes, “Measure for Measure” is not only one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays, it’s also rarely seen, which places New Swan’s staging at a premium. With Vienna as his setting, the Bard displays all seven of the deadly sins running rampant in society, then asks whether would-be nun Isabella can navigate such widespread corruption without losing her soul.
When: “Measure for Measure” through Aug. 30, “Twelfth Night” through Aug. 31
Where: University of California, Irvine, Gateway Commons / Gateway Plaza, 4004 Mesa Road, Irvine
Admission: $25-$80
Contact: 949-854-4646, newswanshakespeare.com
PHOTO 1: Zachary Trent, left, as Sir Andrew Aguecheeck and Greg Ungar as Sir Toby Belch in New Swan’s staging of “Twelfth Night.” PHOTO 2: “Measure for Measure” runs at New Swan through Aug. 30 and stars Annelise Hermsen, left, as Marina, and Heather Lee Echeverria in the key role of Isabella. Photos courtesy of New Swan Shakespeare, Paul Kennedy
MUSIC
The tradition of gathering at a public location to hear live music is a storied one, and summer seems and feels like the ideal season for it. Be sure to scout each location and its parking, and to arrive a bit early since many of these concerts are preceded by family-friendly activities that often include vendors and food trucks.
CLASSICAL MUSIC
While the Philharmonic Society and Orange County Symphony have nothing scheduled for the remainder of summer, Pacific Symphony has at least six more outdoor Symphony on the Go! concerts set for the rest of August.
PACIFIC SYMPHONY: FREE CONCERTs (symphony on the go!)
Aug. 14: 6:30 p.m., Boisseranc Park, 7520 Dale St., Buena Park
Aug. 15: 6:30 p.m., Central Park, 7821 Walker St., La Palma
Aug. 24: 6:30 p.m., Heller Park, 257 E. 16th St., Costa Mesa
Aug. 25: 10:30 a.m., Oso Grande Park, 30251 Sienna Parkway, Ladera Ranch
Aug. 29: 6 p.m., Ole Hanson Beach Club, 105 W. Avenida Pico, San Clemente
Aug. 31: 6 p.m., Cabot Park, Cabot Road and Rapid Falls Road, Laguna Hills
PACIFIC SYMPHONY: TICKETED CONCERTS
Aug. 10: Star Wars – “Return of the Jedi” in concert, 8 p.m.
Aug. 18: Summer in the City, 8 p.m.
Aug. 24: John Williams’ Music of Harry Potter, 8 p.m.
All at Great Park Live Amphitheater, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
POP / ROCK ’N’ ROLL
Anaheim
Anaheim Town Square, 2180 E. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, CA
Lose Your Illusion (Guns N’ Roses Tribute) 7 p.m., Aug. 9
Live From Earth (Pat Benatar Tribute) 7 p.m., Aug. 23
Skin & Bones (Foo Fighters Tribute) 7 p.m., Sept. 6
Grand Park Town Center Amphitheater, 6101 City Lights Drive, Aliso Viejo
Flashback Heart Attack, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13.
Pearson Park Summer Nights Under the Stars, Pearson Park Amphitheatre, 401 N. Lemon St., Anaheim
Santanaways (Carlos S tribute) 7 p.m. Aug. 10 ($4 admission)
Britishmania (Beatles tribute) 7 p.m. Aug. 17 ($4 admission)
Catch a Wave (Beach Boys tribute) 7 p.m. Aug. 24 ($4 admission)
Brea
City Hall Park, 401 S. Brea Blvd., Brea
Identity Theft (‘80s music) 6:30 pm Aug. 7
Buena Park
Boisseranc Park, 7520 Dale St., Buena Park
New Romantics: Taylor Swift tribute band, 7 p.m. Aug. 7
CYPRESS
Civic Center Green, 5275 Orange Ave., Cypress
80z Allstars, 6 p.m. Aug. 9
Dana point
Bluff Park at Salt Creek Beach, 33333 S. Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point
Full Strength and Tijuana Dogs, 6 p.m. Aug. 11
The FABBA Show, 6 p.m. Aug. 15
Queen Nation 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Common Sense and The Aggrolites, 6 p.m. Aug. 18
Jimmy’s Buffet, 6 p.m., Aug. 22
Flashback Heart Attack 6 p.m., Aug. 24
FOUNTAIN VALLEY
Mile Square Park, 16801 Euclid St., Fountain Valley
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 6 p.m. Aug. 8
The Aquabats, 6 p.m. Aug. 10
Huntington Beach
Pier Plaza, 315 Pacific Coast Highway (PCH at Main St.), Huntington Beach
Surfin’ Sundays concert series, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 18
Irvine
Mike Ward Community Park, 20 Lake Road, Irvine
Tijuana Dogs, 6 p.m. Aug. 5
Dance Party Event 6 p.m. Aug. 12
DW3 Soul (plus R&B), 6 p.m. Aug. 17
Great Park Live Amphitheater, 8000 Great Park Blvd., Irvine
Jimmy’s Buffet (Jimmy Buffet tribute), 6 p.m. Aug. 30
Ladera Ranch
Founders Park, 28275 Avendale Blvd., Ladera Ranch
Fooz Fighters, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9
Laguna Beach
Bluebird Park, 772 Cress St., Laguna Beach
Betamaxx (80s covers) 5 p.m. Aug. 11
Tina Turner tribute, 5 p.m. Aug. 18
Laguna Hills
Laguna Hills Community Center, 25555 Alicia Parkway, Laguna Hills
Yachty by Nature, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9
Laguna Niguel
Crown Valley Community Park Amphitheater, 29751 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel
Smith Country Band, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 16
La Habra
Portola Park, 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra
Mariachi Divas, 7 p.m. Aug. 8
Lake Forest
Lake Forest Sports Park, 28000 Rancho Parkway, Lake Forest
Who’s Zeppelin (and car show), 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24
Newport Beach
Civic Center Park, 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach
Wilbury Super Group, 6 p.m. Aug. 11
Orange
Grijalva Park, 368 N. Prospect St., Orange
Stone Soul, 6:30 p.m. Aug. 7
Placentia
Tri-City Park, 2301 N. Kraemer Blvd., Placentia
Soto (Latin American rock), 6:30 p.m. Aug. 8
Rancho Santa Margarita
Central Park, 30842 La Miranda, Rancho Santa Margarita
80z Allstars, 6 p.m. Aug. 11
San Clemente
San Clemente Pier, 622 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente
Flock of the ’80s, 6 p.m. Aug. 8
Common Sense (reggae), 6 p.m. Aug. 22
Linda Lane Park, 400 Linda Lane, San Clemente
Wigs and Ties, 6 p.m. Aug. 15
San Juan Capistrano
San Juan Capistrano Historic Town Center Park, 31852 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
Flashback Heart Attack (80s rock), 6 p.m. Aug. 22
Westminster
Civic Center Sunken Gardens, 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster
The C Band (Latin/vibes), 6 p.m. Aug. 15
The New Originals (’70s/’80s dance), 6 p.m. Aug. 22
Yorba Linda
Hurless Barton Park, 4601 Casa Loma Ave., Yorba Linda
Surf’s Up (Beach Boys tribute), 5:30 p.m. Aug. 11
Rebel Heart (country music), 5:30 p.m. Aug. 18
