Live Theater in O.C. – and What the Pandemic Hath Wrought

Can any entity or type of business be said to be more susceptible to damage by the pandemic than that of live theater? Because if so, it would be difficult to think of anything comparable. Even restaurants, so terribly hard hit by the crisis, have been able to generate revenue despite bans on indoor dining and constantly fluctuating guidelines.

By its very nature, theater can be seen as being among the most high-risk entities in terms of contending with a highly contagious virus: Groups of anywhere from 20 or 30 to upwards of 3,000 people congregate indoors, sitting side-by-side for two or more hours – not to mention the actors onstage and technicians backstage in close, enclosed quarters. So much for social distancing.

Nor is every theater company in a position to engineer possible remedies that include having productions outdoors and surrounding audience members with a few feet of empty space.

Boca de Oro to Promote Literacy Through Lending Libraries in Santa Ana

Each year the annual Boca de Oro Festival of Literary, Visual and Performing Arts brings a total of about 10,000 participants to downtown Santa Ana for the free, public celebration. Although Boca de Oro will be online this year, there’s still one aspect of the festival that’s still being held in-person.

Celebrating Black Joy as an Alternative Form of Resistance and Reclaiming of Humanity

Since 1976, the month of February has been recognized in the United States as Black History Month to observe and celebrate the Black diaspora. Forty-five years later in the middle of a pandemic, Black History Month returns with the activism of the Black Lives Matter movement and a newfound urgency for social change.

Despite the recent lifting of the statewide stay-at-home order, Orange County remains in Tier 1 of the California Re-Opening Plan, which sets significant limitations on many activities as well as those businesses which are permitted to partially re-open. Arts Orange County will continue to spotlight a mix of virtual and streaming arts and culture offerings along with in-person events that conform to the most current safety guidelines. We encourage everyone to keep their lives enriched by the arts, but safely! Save lives by wearing masks and respecting social distancing protocols. 

Lunar New Year with Pacific Symphony

The Pacific Symphony celebrates the arrival of the Year of the Ox with this unique virtual program combining past Symphony performances with new presentations by musical artists and other special guests  DETAILS »

DTSA Farmers Market - Native Harvest

Downtown Santa Ana has worked overtime to make its Tuesday night outdoor market, which allows you to peruse local produce and artisan works, and enjoy live music, safe to experience with masks and distancing  DETAILS »

Online Reception: Car Culture

This special virtual reception celebrates the opening of the Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts's new exhibition celebrating the artistic side of the automotive world  DETAILS »

Centennial Farm is Open

One of the most beloved areas of the OC Fair & Event Center, the Farm and all its living, breathing lessons in biology and agriculture are now available to be visited once again, with advance reservations and social distancing  DETAILS »

Valentine's Day Concert - Live at the Museum

The Laguna Art Museum helps usher you into Valentine's Day Weekend with this romantic virtual edition of their "Laguna Beach Live!" concert series  DETAILS »