CONTACT Scalla Jakso (714) 556-2122 x4710, SJakso@SCFTA.org Laura Lanzi (714) 556-2122 x4371, LLanzi@SCFTA.org Images: SCFTA.org/media RELEASE DATE Segerstrom Center s 2017-18 Family Series Opens with Two Adventurous Tales Sing Along with The Muppet Movie October 14 & 15; tickets on sale now The Secret Life of Suitcases October 28 & 29; tickets on sale now ASL Interpreted Performances Available The Secret Life of Suitcases audience is encouraged to arrive early and stay late to enjoy the Julianne and George Argyros Plaza grand opening celebrations on October 28. COSTA MESA, CA Segerstrom Center s Family Series opens with two tales of adventure brought to life in Samueli Theater: Sing Along with The Muppet Movie, created by Heather Henson and IBEX Puppetry, on October 14 & 15 and The Secret Life of Suitcases, co-produced by Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker and London s Unicorn Theatre, on October 28 & 29. The Center s popular Family Series engages, enchants and inspires the young and the young at heart with captivating stories brought to life through the magic of live performance. Extraordinary performers combine music, dance and theater that will be enjoyed by the entire family and create experiences that inspire an appreciation for the arts and create lifelong memories. Everyone will find a rainbow connection with the irresistible Muppets in Sing Along with The Muppet Movie, an interactive film experience. The Muppet Movie (1979) is a film classic that follows Kermit the Frog on a cross-country trip to Hollywood. Along the way, he meets many other misfit Muppets who join him to overcome danger, discover their true selves and build a future of friendship together. This totally gonzo interactive screening is full of surprises, including bubbles, streamers, kites, confetti pops and characters coming right out of the screen into the audience. Children and adults alike are urged to yell out
Sing Along with The Muppet Movie & The Secret Life of Suitcases NEWS 2/5 famous lines, dance in the aisles, and, of course, sing along as they discover or rediscover this beloved film. Admission is free with the purchase of a goodie bag. They are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. Goodie bag must be purchased to reserve a seat. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, October 15 will be ASL interpreted. Larry is an office worker. Everything in Larry s life is in place until a mysterious suitcase appears at his door one day, beckoning him on an adventure. Packed with wit and whimsy, The Secret Life of Suitcases takes Larry and audiences on a wild journey as his routine world gets turned upside down by a fantastical flying suitcase. Join Larry and discover the thrill of adventure and the joy of coming home again. This funny and enchanting puppet show is the first ever co-production between Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker, one of Scotland s leading puppetry companies, and the Unicorn Theatre, the UK s leading theater for young audiences. Tickets are $20 and are available online at SCFTA.org, at the Box Office at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa or by calling (714) 556-2787. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, October 29 will be ASL interpreted. Segerstrom Center for the Arts will celebrate the opening of its new Julianne and George Argyros Plaza on October 28 starting at 11 a.m. Audiences for The Secret Life of Suitcases are invited to enjoy the free performances and events on the Argyros Plaza before and after the show. Every Family Series show offers free creative activities before each performance in Samueli Theater. The Center s Education Department offers these enriching experiences to provide young people and their families more opportunities to play together creatively. Studies show that this is critical in helping to develop the ability to think and problem solve. Segerstrom Center for the Arts applauds its corporate partners including Kia Motors America, Official Automotive Partner; United Airlines, Official Airline; and Omaha Steaks International, Official Fine Food Retailer. Parenting OC is the Media Partner of the Family Series. Segerstrom Center s 2017 2018 Family Series continues with Journey to Oz (November 18-19, 2017), Anatomy of the Piano (For Beginners) (February 17-18, 2018), The Gruffalo (March 24-25, 2018), Shh! We Have a Plan (April 14-15, 2018) and Mr. Popper s Penguins (April 22, 2018). About IBEX Puppetry IBEX Puppetry is devoted to health and healing for the planet through artistic spectacle, outreach and devotion to the fine art of puppetry. Founded in 2000 by Creative Director Heather Henson, IBEX Puppetry is based in Central Florida, but maintains activities in Los Angeles, CA and New York, NY. IBEX Puppetry produces Heather Henson s original works, including environmental spectacles, movie singalongs and education initiatives. Heather Henson, daughter of Jim Henson, has a degree from Rhode Island School of Design and studied at CalArts in 2000.
Sing Along with The Muppet Movie & The Secret Life of Suitcases NEWS 3/5 About Ailie Cohen Puppet Maker and Unicorn Theatre Hailing from Scotland, Ailie Cohen is an illustrator, designer, puppet maker, performer and puppetry director, creating emotionally rich and compelling theatrical experiences which highlight the beauty and surreal in the everyday. Her productions have travelled to China, Dubai, Japan, America, Australia and extensively throughout the UK. The Unicorn Theatre was founded in 1947 with a commitment to giving children a valuable and often first ever experience of quality theater, and a philosophy that the best of theater for children should be judged on the same high standards of writing, directing, acting and design as the best of adult theater. Today, the Unicorn is the UK's leading professional theatre for young audiences, dedicated to inspiring and invigorating young people of all ages and empowering them to explore the world on their own terms. Segerstrom Center s Education Programs Segerstrom Center s Education Departments offer a variety of programs to students from elementary school through the university level, teachers, arts administrators and individuals who simply want to broaden their own experiences but not in a structure that is strictly academic. These programs achieve two especially important objectives. First, they develop the audiences of the future. Second, they integrate the arts into the standard curriculum and enhance learning, creative thinking, cognitive and social skills. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is an acclaimed arts institution as well as a beautiful multi-disciplinary cultural campus. It is committed to supporting artistic excellence, offering unsurpassed experiences and to engaging the entire community in new and exciting ways through the unique power of live performance and a diverse array of inspiring arts-based education and community engagement programs. Previously called the Orange County Performing Arts Center, Segerstrom Center is Orange County s largest non-profit arts organization. In addition to its six performance venues, Segerstrom Center is also home to the American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School. The Center presents a broad range of programming for audiences of all ages, including international ballet and dance, national tours of top Broadway shows, jazz and cabaret, contemporary artists, classical music performed by renowned chamber orchestras and ensembles, family-friendly programming, free performances open to the public from outdoor movie screenings to dancing on the plaza and many other special events. Segerstrom Center is a leader among the nation s performing arts centers for providing education programs designed to inspire young people through the arts. The Center s programs reach hundreds of thousands of students each year in five Southern California counties. Community engagement programs developed through the Center for Dance and Innovation and Center Without Boundaries also connect the Center more comprehensively with Orange County s many diverse communities. The CDI supports flagship artistic programming and a wide range of projects that celebrate innovation, nurture creativity and engage audiences of the future. It is home to the ABT Gillespie School and the School of Dance and Music for Children with Disabilities. The Center Without Boundaries develops partnerships with noncultural organizations to help them in their own efforts to respond the ever-changing needs of the
Sing Along with The Muppet Movie & The Secret Life of Suitcases NEWS 4/5 community. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is also proud to serve as the artistic home to three of the region s major performing arts organizations: Pacific Symphony, Philharmonic Society of Orange County and Pacific Chorale, who contribute greatly to the artistic life of the region with annual seasons performed at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. In addition to Segerstrom Center for the Arts as a presenting and producing institution, it also identifies the beautiful 14-acre campus that embraces the Center s own facilities as well as two independently acclaimed organizations: Tony Award -winning South Coast Repertory and a site designated as the future home of the Orange County Museum of Art.
Sing Along with The Muppet Movie & The Secret Life of Suitcases NEWS 5/5 SING ALONG WITH THE MUPPET MOVIE Segerstrom Center for the Arts Samueli Theater Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 15, 2017 at 1 and 4:30 p.m. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, October 15 will be ASL interpreted. 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA Tickets - Admission is free with the purchase of a goodie bag. In person - The Box Office 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Online - SCFTA.org Phone - (714) 556-2787 Group Sales - (714) 755-0236 THE SECRET LIFE OF SUITCASES Segerstrom Center for the Arts Samueli Theater Saturday, October 28, 2017 at 1 p.m. Sunday, October 29, 2017 at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The 1 p.m. performance on Sunday, October 29 will be ASL interpreted. 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA Tickets - $20 In person - The Box Office 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Online - SCFTA.org Phone - (714) 556-2787 Group Sales - (714) 755-0236 Information provided is accurate at the time of printing, but is subject to change. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a private, nonprofit organization. Segerstrom Center for the Arts is a registered trademark. # # #