With the new year comes a whole new slate of shows touring the nation and playing at local theaters for us to enjoy. The two theaters I recommend for the UCI student interested (or obsessed) with the musical genre are the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, only 15 minutes away in Costa Mesa, and the Hollywood Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, for those willing to brave the drive over.
The Segerstrom Center is a local and beautiful spot over by South Coast Plaza, made up of a few auditoriums beside the main Segerstrom Hall. To start off 2018, the 2005 Broadway musical “Jersey Boys” is showing for only a weekend this January, from the 19th to 21st. It tells the story of the career of the Four Seasons, including fan-favorite songs such as “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Segerstrom also offers a student discount for tickets, allowing even the poor college student to save up and enjoy a musical performance such as this one.
As for the Pantages Theatre, following its sold-out run of Hamilton comes the Tony-award winning production of Disney’s “Aladdin.” The beloved Disney cartoon truly comes to life onstage with new music written by Alan Menken himself, and the show-stopping number “Friend Like Me,” with the greatest tap dancers to make it even more memorable. Original Broadway actors for Aladdin and Jasmine, Adam Jacobs and Courtney Reed, will be starring in the production, bringing audiences a little taste of how “Aladdin” began. The musical is running from January 10 to March 31, with tickets starting at $35. And I can promise, there’s not a bad seat in the Pantages Theatre. Wherever you sit, it will be a spectacular experience.
From the UTC theater and the newest Irvine amphitheater, there are entertainment opportunities for students everywhere, and with these two locations, the world of Broadway is also available to the people of Irvine.