December 17th, 2021
Welcome to our upgraded joint newsletter!

Each week, Arts Orange County and Voice of OC are excited to deliver to you this look at the stories and events happening in our arts and cultural community.
♦ Local Arts Spotlight ♦
Major local arts groups like the Orange Community Master Chorale, Southern California Brass Consortium, and the Anaheim Ballet join forces for this new holiday tradition at the Musco Center For the Arts in Orange MORE
The pandemic has given Americans of every stripe an extended time-out, a chance to re-evaluate their lives – and that has prompted considerable numbers to make major changes to their work lives or even to make major career changes.

However much that might have factored into her decision, Ann E. Wareham, Laguna Playhouse’s artistic director since 2010, has announced that she’s moving on.

A Nov. 19 press release issued by the theater company said Wareham will stay through the end of the calendar year “to assist with the transition.” The release contains brief statements from Wareham and Glenn Gray, president of the theater’s board of directors.

In the release, Wareham says her tenure “has been a tremendous honor to be able to guide the Laguna Playhouse over this past decade and to serve the extraordinary arts community of Laguna Beach. It is such a vibrant and truly special place and I will be forever grateful for this opportunity.”

Gray’s statement says Wareham “has been instrumental in the artistic growth and vision of the Playhouse. The staff, crew, Playhouse donors and board of directors join me in wishing Ann nothing but the best as she embarks on her next journey.”
Acknowledging the population struggling to put a meal on a table is one way to address the topic of food insecurity. Donating one’s time and money certainly helps the cause, but where do people nourish themselves when hunger is at the forefront of their concerns? I researched local resources to better understand what’s available for residents.
Holiday art and culture events are blossoming all over Orange County - lights, carols, and nutcrackers are in abundance. For the next few weeks, we'll be featuring just a few of the many opportunities to celebrate that you can learn about at SparkOC.com. For any in-person events, be sure to check the venue's audience guidelines in advance for the latest health and safety protocols.
♦ Re-Opening ♦
Newport Harbor Lutheran Church is the venue for this final performance of the Meistersingers concert series; returning from last year's hiatus to celebrate the season MORE
♦ Virtual Visit ♦
The Philharmonic Society of Orange County continues its streaming Virtual Concert series with this performance by the boundary-pushing and Grammy-winning string quartet born in San Francisco 45 years ago MORE
♦ For the Family ♦
Have fun indulging in those Grinchy feelings in this free family celebration complete with cartoons and drawing lessons presented by the Chuck Jones Center for Creativity MORE
♦ Extra ♦
The Laguna Art Museum hosts a rare exhibition focused exclusively on the bold renderings of exotic flowers and birds by this early 20th-century California painter MORE
"In these uncertain times, some arts organizations stay in place, while others move ahead and demonstrate their importance. Arts Orange County has truly risen to the challenges presented by COVID-19, by equipping local organizations with funding and educational resources"
- Jerry Mandel, Ph.D., President,
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Voice of OC is Orange County's nonprofit newsroom with a mission to consistently deliver fair, focused and thorough journalism on critical quality of life and local issues for Orange County communities.
Arts Orange County builds appreciation of, participation in and support for the arts and arts education throughout Orange County. Event information provided by SparkOC, an Arts OC program.