OPENS JAN. 30
Sophie Calle: Overshare
French conceptual artist Sophie Calle has been creating deeply personal, autobiographical work for nearly 50 years. Her art serves as commentary on contemporary culture, weaving her intimate relationships and lived experiences into each piece. This exhibition presents a wide-ranging selection of Calle’s work, including text, video, photographs, and installations, and marks the first North American exhibition to showcase work from across her career. UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, 714-780-2130, ocma.art
OPENS JAN. 30
Steve Roden: Wandering
The Los Angeles–based artist Steve Roden was known for his wide-ranging artistic practice and his fascination with discovering meaning in discarded objects found along city streets. Roden, who died in 2023, worked across many mediums including video, sound, collage, and sculpture. This exhibition focuses on his work on paper, featuring drawings and collages that he treated as ongoing experiments rather than finished statements. The pieces reflect his playful and whimsical approach to artmaking. UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art, 3333 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, 714-780-2130, ocma.art
JAN. 31
Brahms and Tchaikovsky with Shunta Morimoto, Scott Dunn, Nathan Le & the Four Seasons Orchestra
Conductor Scott Dunn leads the Four Seasons Orchestra alongside cellist Nathan Le and pianist Shunta Morimoto in an evening of groundbreaking classical music. The program opens with Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, Op. 33, a work that showcases the cello in dialogue with the orchestra. The performance continues with Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15, featuring the movements “Maestoso,” “Adagio,” and “Rondo: Allegro,” placing the piano center stage. Soka Performing Arts Center, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949-480-4278, soka.edu
OPENS JAN. 31
“The Great Race”
Po Po and Kung Kung celebrate Chinese New Year with their grandchildren while making homemade dumplings and sharing the story of The Great Race, a beloved folktale explaining the origins of the Chinese Zodiac. Freddie and Ivy are captivated by the tale of animals racing to cross a mighty river for the chance to have a year named after them. Performed by the Honolulu Theatre for Youth, the musical features traditional Chinese music, martial arts, and the Chinese performing art Jingju. Samueli Theater, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org
THROUGH FEB. 8
“The Notebook”
Based on the bestselling novel and hit film, The Notebook musical tells the enduring love story of Noah and Allie, who fight for each other despite coming from very different worlds. Their romance begins in their teenage years and endures over a lifetime. Featuring an emotional score by singer-songwriter Ingrid Michaelson, the production pairs sweeping visuals with a deeply moving story of love and resilience. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-556-2787, scfta.org
THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY
“Once”
An unlikely connection forms between a Dublin street musician and a Czech immigrant in this Tony Award–winning musical. Two complete strangers discover a beautiful common ground and spend a week together bonding and creating music. Known for its powerful and emotional score, the heartwarming production is a tribute to finding community in the most unexpected places. Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, 714-777-3033, chancetheater.com
THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY
“God of Carnage” and “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”
South Coast Repertory presents two Tony Award–winning plays on alternating nights with an overlapping cast. God of Carnage is a twisted dark comedy offering sharp, biting commentary on civilization and human nature. The classic 1960s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a comedic drama driven by psychological games and escalating tension. South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555, scr.org
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