The most beautiful things in life are free. Or they want to be and you won’t want to miss them.
Art.
Art and Chocolate Show in downtown LA. This is further away than my usual weekly listings, but it sounds like a unique event.
Dance
Kings of Dance at Musco on Feb 23.
UCI Dance Visions. Feb. 23 and Feb. 24. This is the prime annual production by the UCI Department of Dance.
Free: LA Dance Projects open studios (12:30pm) and FLAX (France-Los Angeles Exchange) evening performance (7:00pm). Both events are on Feb. 24.
Classical Music. Opera, too.
Feb. 23:
OCC Opera Magnifica at OCC. Scenes from beloved operas. Through Feb 25.
Independent Opera presents 3 comic contemporary works. Also on Feb. 24.
Feb 24:
The Metropolitan Opera’s La Boheme broadcast in high definition. At select theaters. I’ve attended the Bolshoi ballet via this delivery method and was delighted.
Laura Metcalf faculty recital at Irvine Valley College.
Piano Ensemble Festival at Fullerton College.
FREE: Marina Ensemble at The Colburn School. This is in downtown LA, but worth the drive, in my humble opinion.
A Touch of Europe Chamber Music at UCI Winifred Smith Hall.
Feb 25:
FREE: Classical music every Sunday at The Nixon Library. Free parking, too.
FREE: Newport Beach Library Musicales. Viklarbo Chamber Ensemble. Free parking, too.
FREE: Fullerton Friends of Music. Ying String Quartet. Free parking, too.
FREE: Baroque Music Festival in Orange.
Faculty recital at Irvine Valley College. Christine Dow, piano.
Cal State Fullerton Symphony Orchestra.
Film
Sometimes film is high art. Telling people you attended a film festival is always artful Monday morning conversation.
Huntington Beach Film Festival runs from Feb. 22 – Feb. 24. Most films are $5.
Theater
Orange County has several regional and college-affiliated theaters. Prices range between $15 – $25. Playing this weekend:
Cal State Dominguez Hills: Before It Hits Home.
Cal State Fullerton: Taking Steps.
GEM Theater: Bullets over Broadway.
Newport Theatre Arts Theater: The Octette Bridge Club.
Costa Mesa Playhouse: A New Brain.
Vanguard University: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
Golden West College: The Glass Menagerie.
Rose Center Theater: 42nd Street.
Chapman University: Desdemona, A Play About A Handkerchief.
Camino Real Playhouse: Villainy in the Vineyard
Contemporary and World Music
Jen Shyu at CSUF on Feb. 23 Read about her at https://www.jenshyu.com/. This will be a compelling show. This is part of CSUF’s Music Across Borders series.
Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble at CSUF on Feb. 24.
Loadbang at Chapman University on Feb. 24. Part of their New Horizons Concert Series.
Jazz
Jazz is an American art form and it is high art to me. There are some crazy talented jazz musicians in this area. Most of these shows are free.
Feb 23
Hot Club of Orange County at Carlos Mexican Restaurant. Hot club specializes in my favorite genre: Gypsy jazz.
Ron Kobayashi Trio at Bayside. After his set, Ron brings in a bunch of friends for a jam.
Vocalist Sylvia Rodriquez and The Savoy Six at The Sky Room
Vocalist Andrea Miller at The Parks Bistro.
Feb. 24
Vocalist Sylvia Rodriguez and The Rhythm Boys at The Exhibition Room.
Sax player Greg Vail at The Parks Bistro.
Trumpeter Ingrid Jensen at Saddleback College.
Vocalist Elizabeth Lamers at Bacchus Bistro.
Vocalist Amanda Castro at The Public House.
Feb. 25
Vignes Rooftop Revival at Grand Central Market. An odd name, but they specialize in my favorite genre: Gypsy jazz.