Chronology

1950s 1954 - Philharmonic Society of Orange County is founded (then called Orange County Philharmonic Society).

1960s 1964 - South Coast Repertory founded by David Emmes and Martin Benson. In 1965 the company opens a theater in Newport Beach.

1967 - Irvine Master Chorale founded by Dr. Maurice Allard. Under direction of John Alexander, changes its name in 1981 to Pacific Chorale.

1969 - Newport Harbor Foundation formed, the first local group whose primary purpose it was to build a major Orange County cultural center. Feasibility studies conducted determined that Newport Beach would not be an acceptable site.

1970s 1972 - Santa Ana-based organization formed with same goal determined that suitable site would be near confluence of freeways. Nineteen sites examined.

1974 - South Coast Repertory receives commitment of the site for its planned Fourth Step Theater from the Segerstrom Family.

Pacific Symphony Orchestra is founded.

1978 - SCR relocates to its newly opened $3.5 million Fourth Step Theater. The Main Stage is named for the Segerstrom Family, major donors to the Building Fund.

Guilds system set up under the direction of Georgia Spooner.

1979 - The Segerstrom family donates 5-acre site on which to build the Center.

1980s 1980 - Gary Phillips and Associates organizes fundraising campaign. Henry T. Segerstrom becomes chairman of the Trustees, a special group of directors with responsibility for major fundraising. Len Bedsow named first executive director of the Center.

1981 - The Orange County Music Center (later renamed the Orange County Performing Arts Center) receives a commitment of five acres of land and $1 million cash gift for the design and construction of a major performing arts center from the Segerstrom Family.

OCMC changes its name to the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Architect Charles Lawrence named; C.L. Peck Contractors announced to build the Center at cost.

1983 - On July 7, ground is broken and construction commences, which would include the 3,000- seat multi-purpose hall. $40 million cash is in the bank, raised by the Trustees for the Building Fund. Cost estimates for the hall rose to $65 million.

Several dedicated Support Groups combine to form the county’s first professional resident opera company, Opera Pacific.

Orange County Performing Arts Center inaugurates Orange County Imagination Celebration, based on a Kennedy Center model.

1984 - Thomas R. Kendrick succeeds Bedsow as new president of the Center.

1985 - Judith O’Dea Morr appointed as the Center’s general manager.

The Segerstrom Family announces their gift of the Richard Lippold indoor/outdoor sculpture, named “Fire Bird” by Renée Segerstrom (wife of Henry Segerstrom), extending from within the Tier 1 lobby through to the Grand Portal of the new facility.

1986 - The 3,000-seat multi-purpose theater is named Segerstrom Hall.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center opens on September 29, and Henry T. Segerstrom announces from the stage on the opening night that the $73.8 million theater has been fully funded by private contributions raised by the Trustees and volunteers.

The Center launches its International Dance Season with . Since then, the Center has become one of the nation’s leading presenters of international dance.

1987 - Opera Pacific performs its first season at The Center with Dr. David DiChiera as general director.

The Center revises bylaws to combine the trustees with the board of directors, Henry T. Segerstrom named president and chief operating officer.

The Center introduces its Cabaret and Jazz Series in Founders Hall.

1988 - The Center commissions The Harrison & Price Co. to conduct marketing and feasibility studies to determine future audience and facility needs and priorities. Information from regional groups using the Center and SCR is also solicited in these studies.

SCR wins a Tony® Award for Distinguished Achievement by a Resident Theater.

Center Chairman Henry T. Segerstrom and President Thomas R. Kendrick announce board approval to proceed with the plans to design and construct a 2,300-seat concert hall.

1989 - The Center introduces its Concert season, which includes performances in Segerstrom Hall and Founders Hall.

1990s 1990 - Pacific Symphony Orchestra Music Director Carl St. Clair receives the NEA/Seaver Conductors Award, the most prestigious such prize in the nation.

General William Lyon succeeds Henry Segerstrom as chairman of the board.

1992-1994 - Further marketing and feasibility studies are commissioned by the board to update previous studies.

1993 - Thomas H. Nielsen succeeds Lyon as board chairman; Thomas Kendrick and Judith O’Dea Morr retire. Tom Tomlinson appointed executive director and chief operating officer.

1995 - Board unanimously votes Henry Segerstrom founding chairman of the Center for life.

1996 - Mark Chapin Johnson named board chairman.

The Center introduces its Jazz Club season in Founders Hall.

Tom Tomlinson leaves The Center and Judith O’Dea Morr returns as director of programming, later serving as interim chief operating officer.

1997 - Jerry E. Mandel named Center’s new president and chief operating officer.

1998 - SCR announces plans to expand with the construction of a new 300 to 350-seat theater.

PSO celebrates its 20th anniversary season.

Segerstrom Family gift to The Center announced. Developed area will known as Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and will include expanded South Coast Repertory, concert hall facility, visual arts facility and outdoor plaza. Total value of land reported at $13.2 million; Center portion estimated at approximately $8 million. Cesar Pelli and Associates is named as architectural design firm and Russell Johnson and Artec Consultants, Inc. for acoustical design.

1999 - Roger T. Kirwan named chairman of board.

2000s 2000 - Judith Morr named Center’s first executive vice president.

Official launching of the Building on the Vision capital campaign with a $40 million naming gift from Henry Segerstrom. The 2,000-seat concert hall will be called the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Gift is largest cash charitable donation in the history of Orange County.

South Coast Repertory announces $40 million expansion.

2001 - January announcement of a $10 million gift to the Building on the Vision campaign from the Samueli family.

2003 - February 6 groundbreaking ceremony for Center’s new venues on an area of the Center designated as Segerstrom center for the Arts, highlighted by concert in Segerstrom Hall followed by three “waltzing” backhoes taking the first scoops of dirt from the construction site and a fireworks spectacular.

July 7, construction begins on Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, Samueli Theater, studio theater, Boeing Education Lab and restaurants – 20 years to the day when construction began on Segerstrom Hall and Founders Hall (1983).

2004 - Elizabeth Segerstrom named chair for Celebration 2006 galas, honoring the opening of the Center’s new venues and 20th Anniversary in September 2006.

Internationally renowned landscape architecture firm of Peter Walker and Partners joins the expansion design team.

2005 – Michael S. Gordon elected chairman of the board of directors

2006 - Terrence W. Dwyer becomes the Center’s fourth president and chief operating officer since opening in April.

The Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall opens on September 29, launching Celebration 2006, with a concert starring Plácido Domingo singing the world premiere of William Bolcom’s Canciones de Lorca. Carl St.Clair conducts Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale. Additional performances include the world premiere of Philip Glass’ The Passion of Ramakrishna with St.Clair conducting Pacific Symphony and Pacific Chorale, and performances by such artists as violinist Midori, pianist Alexander Toradze, tenor Rolando Villazon and Opera Pacific with a concert version of Porgy and Bess. An unprecedented Kirov Festival features artistic director Valery Gergiev leading the Kirov Orchestra in concerts, the North American premiere of the Kirov Opera’s Ring production and Boris Godunov, followed by performances of Romeo and Juliet and by the Kirov Ballet. Samueli Theater opens with a performance by Grammy Award winner Sheryl Crow. A campus-wide Community Arts Day welcomed more than 5,000 people to special events and tours of all venues.

Center produces Kings of the Dance starring , Johan Kobberg, Ethan Stiefel, Nikolay Tsiskaridze. Production includes world premieres works by Christopher Wheeldon, Nils Christie, Stanton Welch and Tim Rushton. The production went on to New York, and London.

2007 - Merce Cunningham Dance Company creates a campus-wide Event, with a world premiere in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, a performance in Segerstrom Hall, and a multimedia dance presentation on the community plaza.

Three new series were initiated to enhance the breadth of programming and engage new audiences: The Center’s Fall for Dance, The Center’s Free for All and World Currents.

Lawrence and Kristina Dodge make a challenge grant of $10 million to the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Building on the Vision campaign. The Center's new education space resources in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall at Segerstrom Center for the Arts is named the Lawrence and Kristina Dodge Education Center in their honor

2008 - The Center launches new Off Center Series that includes monthly performances by top indie bands, imaginative theatrical companies, solo artists, and contemporary music and dance talents that are leading the new wave of creativity in the performing arts.

The Center co-commissions and presents world premiere dance event: Diana Vishneva: Beauty in Motion. Production featured the Russian prima ballerina Diana Vishneva performing three world premiere works created by renowned choreographers , Moses Pendleton and Dwight Rhoden. The great American dancer Desmond Richardson was paired with Vishneva, as well as well as dancers from the Kirov Ballet. Later performances were offered in New York, Chicago and Moscow. The production received three Golden Mask Awards, Russia’s most prestigious arts honor.

Thomas V. McKernan, CEO of the Automobile Club of Southern California, elected board chairman, succeeding Michael S. Gordon.

2009 - The Center produces Tour de Force: A Gala Dance Spectacular. Celebrated from the , Kirov Theatre, State Ballet, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, National Ballet of Canada, Complexions Dance Company and Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg were showcased in an all-star evening of dance.

Trey McIntyre Project engaged for fall residency. In addition to master classes and community outreach events, TMP dances world premiere of The More I See You, which began in Segerstrom Hall and progressed to a multi media installation and close on the Arts Plaza.

2010 – The Center commissions and presents the world premiere of a new work titled IdEgo from Project Bandaloop. The performances are presented free to the public, as Project Bandaloop dancers repel from the top of Segerstrom Hall and dance across the exterior wall overlooking the Arts Plaza.

The Center presents a screening of the world premiere of LA Opera’s production of Daniel Catán’s Il Postino starring Plácido Domingo and Charles Castronovo. More than 2,500 viewers on the Arts Plaza applaud the performance, which was projected on the side of Segerstrom Hall.

The Center presents the exclusive Southern California engagement – the second in the world – of threesixtyº entertainment’s production of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan. The show is performed in a special state-of-the-art theater pavilion on the site of the future Orange County Museum of Art. The tent is world’s first 360-degree CGI theater set.

Segerstrom Hall is awarded the American Institute of Architects’ (Orange County Chapter) Twenty-Five Year Award. The honor is presented to buildings or artistic installations that are 25 years old and recognizes buildings that demonstrate consistent and lasting excellence in function, distinguished execution of their original program and are highly creative statements measured even by today’s standards. As the Institute noted, the highest criteria in judging is used: that the architectural solution is timeless.

2011 – The Center changes its name to Segerstrom Center for the Arts on January 12 to honor the extraordinary contributions of the Segerstrom family, whose generous transformational gifts of land and unwavering commitment has been at the core of the Center's success. In addition to the organization adopting the new name, the entire 14-acre multidisciplinary campus on which its venues stand is also designated as Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Segerstrom Center encompasses the producing-presenting institution itself and two other major arts organizations. These include the Tony® Award-winning South Coast Repertory. A gift of land from the Segerstrom Family enabled SCR to open its theater in Costa Mesa in 1978 and set the stage for the subsequent creation of the arts complex. In 2002, SCR opened an expanded facility on the campus, the Folino Theatre Center, encompassing the 507-seat Segerstrom Stage, the 336-seat Julianne Argyros Stage and the Nicholas Studio. Segerstrom Center is also the future site of the new Orange County Museum of Art.

Lawrence M. Higby elected chairman of the board of directors.

In September, the Center began a year-long celebration of 25th Anniversary with campus- wide events and performances. Artists and companies include: Free concert on the Arts Plaza by Ozomatli in collaboration with Getty’s Pacific Standard Time project, free Polyglot Theater installation of We Built This City on the Arts Plaza, free recital by organ virtuoso Cameron Carpenter in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, performances by and National Acrobats of China plus the beginning of the Access for All program, which provides $10 tickets to many performances throughout the 2011-12 Season.

The Center partnered with the Bolshoi Ballet on a new projected titled Reflections. Several new works were commissioned by leading choreographers to showcase the extraordinary talents of seven ballerinas who trained at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. These included Maria Kochetkova, Yekaterina Krysanova, , Yekaterina Shipulina, Anastasia Stashkevich, Olga Malinovskaya, . They were joined by Bolshoi stars Vyacheslav Lopatin, Denis Savin, and Alexander Volchkov. Among the works, Mauro Bigonzetti’s Serenata received Russia’s Golden Mask Award and ’s Remansos was nominated.

Kings of the Dance 2011 premieres with new program and dancers from the original 2006 production. Artists included Marcel Gomes and from , Denis Matvienko of the , Ivan Vasiliev of the Bolshoi Ballet and Leonid Sarafanov of the Mikhailovsky Ballet. Six world premieres were created by Mauro Bigonzetti, Edward Clug, Nacho Duato, Jorma Elo, Marcelo Gomes and Edouard Lock.

2012 – Center launches first Off Center Festival to support goal of the Center to be more inclusive and attract new and more diverse audience. Nine days of contemporary theater, music and dance featuring Chautauqua!, Reggie Watts, The Car Plays, ReEntry, The Word Begins, Ten Tiny Dances, indie bands Lord Huron and Mexican Institute of Sound plus the Starving Artists Lounge where audiences could mingle with artists

American Ballet Theatre presented the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s new production of Firebird to celebrate the Center’s 25th anniversary and 20th anniversary of ABT Artistic Director Kevin McKenzie with the Company. ABT has performed at the Center more than any other dance company, virtually making Orange County its West Coast home.

Center inaugurates its Off Center Festival, featuring low cost programming with ticket prices at just $10 or $20. Performances include: theater productions Chautauqua! by the National Theater of the United States of America, The Car Plays, The Word Begins in association with South Coast Repertory; Ten Tiny Dances dance project; music by Lord Huron, Union Line and BLOK and Mesican Institute of Sound and a casual Off Center Lounge in Leatherby’s Café Rouge where patrons and artists could mingle.

2013 – Center showcases the incomparable prima ballerina Diana Vishneva in a program created for her. On the Edge included new works commissioned for from Carolyn Carlson, director of National Centre for Contemporary Choreography in Roubaix and of the Atelier de Paris at La Cartoucherie de Vincennes in Paris and Jean-Christophe Maillot, choreographer-director of Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo.

2014 – Center announces the creation of American Ballet Theatre William J. Gillespie School.

# # #