8 newportbeachindy . com JUNE 21 , 2024
STEPPING OUT
Segerstrom Center for the Arts Unveils 2024-2025 Broadway Season
By NB Indy Staff Segerstrom Center for the Arts has unveiled its 2024-2025 Broadway seasons featuring an impressive lineup of 10 hits from the Great White Way , including the return of the mega hit , “ Hamilton ,” plus six Orange County premieres .
Segerstrom Center President Casey Reitz calls the Broadway season exciting and incredible .
“ Get ready to be mesmerized , inspired , and entertained as we bring you a lineup of unforgettable performances that will ignite your passion for the arts ,” said Reitz in a press statement . “ From timeless classics to six new groundbreaking Orange County Broadway premieres , this season is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the joy of live performance !
Segerstrom Center offers a full nine-show Mega Broadway season , the six-show Broadway Season of “ Mrs . Doubtfire ,” “ Back To The Future ,” “ Kimberly Akimbo ,” “ Life of Pi ,” “ A Beautiful Noise ,” “& Juliet ” or the three-show Curtain Call series of “ Annie ,” “ Hamilton ,” and “ Mamma Mia .” Available as a season-added attraction for all subscriptions is “ Hadestown ,” the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Best Musical .
2024-2025 MEGA BROADWAY SERIES LINEUP
“ Mrs . Doubtfire ” / Sept . 24 – Oct . 6 , 2024
Everyone ’ s favorite Scottish nanny is headed to Costa Mesa in an internationally acclaimed new hit musical critics call “ wonderful , heartwarming , and laugh-out-loud funny ” ( Manchester Evening News ) and “ a feel-good , family-friendly comedy that delivers ” ( The Hollywood Reporter ). Based on the beloved film and directed by four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks , Mrs . Doubtfire tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids . It ’ s “ the loveable , big-hearted musical comedy we need right now ,” raved the Chicago Tribune .
“ Back to the Future ” / Dec . 26 , 2024 – Jan . 5 , 2025
Great Scott ! Back to the Future , the beloved , cinematic classic is now a Broadway musical with its destination set for Costa Mesa at the end of 2024 .
Winner of the 2022 Olivier Award for Best New Musical and the Broadway World Award for Best New Musical , “ Back to the Future : The Musical ” is adapted for the stage by the iconic film ’ s creators Bob Gale (“ Back to the Future ” trilogy ) and Robert Zemeckis (“ Forrest Gump ”) and directed by the Tony Award-winner John Rando with original music by multi-Grammy winners Alan Silvestri (“ Avengers : Endgame ”) and Glen Ballard ( Michael Jackson ’ s “ Man in the Mirror ”), alongside hit songs from the movie including “ The Power of Love ,” “ Johnny B . Goode ,” “ Earth Angel ,” and “ Back in Time .”
“ Kimberly Akimbo ” / Jan . 21 – Feb . 2 , 2025
A new musical about growing up and growing old ( in no particular order ), “ Kimberly Akimbo ” is the winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical . It features Tony Awardwinning book and lyrics by David Lindsay-Abaire (“ Shrek ”), a Tony Award-winning score by Jeanine Tesori (“ Fun Home ”), choreography by Danny Mefford (“ Dear Evan Hansen ”) and direction by Tony-nominated director Jessica Stone .
Kimberly is about to turn 16 and recently moved with her family to a new town in suburban New Jersey . Kim is forced to navigate family dysfunction , a rare genetic condition , her first crush — and ossible felony charges .
LOCAL FOCUS
Sage Hill School Launches Class of 2024 to Their Dreams
By Daniel Langhorne | Special to the NB Indy
Sage Hill School graduated 130 seniors at its 22nd commencement ceremony on June 7 , capping a journey that had been different since their very first day of high school .
“ It was the first day of school in the history of Sage Hill that did not take place on this school campus . It was a day of Zoom classes and digital introductions to your teachers and classmates as we started that year completely online in fall 2020 ,” Head of School Patricia Merz said in her speech during graduation . “ However , we were so blessed to be able to open our campus back up only about a month later , and I know that ever since then , you have not taken a single day on this campus for granted .”
In lieu of Valedictorians , Sage Hill named the Head of School Award recipients : Alexandra Gomez of Newport Coast and Billy Ray of Fountain Valley . Gomez will attend University of Pennsylvania this fall . Ray was also awarded a U . S . Marine Corps scholarship for $ 180,000 toward his education for committing to join the Naval
Chibueze Ihuoma and company in the “ Hadestown ” North American Tour . Photo by Kevin Berne
Ever the optimist , she is determined to find happiness against all odds and embark on a great adventure .
“ Annie ” / Feb . 18 – 23 , 2025
Holding onto hope when times are tough can take an awful lot of determination , and sometimes , an awful lot of determination comes in a surprisingly small package . Little Orphan Annie has reminded generations of
Alexandra Gomez of Newport Coast crosses the Sage Hill graduation stage on June 7 .
Reserve Officers Training Corps . After graduating from University of Hawaii at Manoa , Ray will earn his commission as a Marine second lieutenant .
Student speaker Briana Bao , a Yorba Linda resident who plans to attend Amherst College , addressed the school community gathered in Wilkins Town Square .
“ Looking ahead , I see our wonderful class taking on the world as environmental activists , graphic theatergoers that sunshine is always right around the corner , and now the beloved musical is set to return in a new production . The original Broadway production opened in 1977 and ran for nearly six years and won a Tony Award for Best Musical .
Directed by Jenn Thompson , “ Annie ” features the iconic book and
BROADWAY Page 10
Sophia Sun of Newport Coast was all smiles while accepting her diploma from Head of School Patricia Merz on June 7 .
designers , foreign service workers , medical researchers , and as Sage Hill ’ s 22nd class , we will probably always dance like we are 22 in whatever it is that fascinates us ,” Bao said . “ Quoting the enduring line from the story I shared almost three years ago now during our retreat talent show , I hope all of us can come to ‘ love the life we live and live the life we love ’ from our upcoming college years to beyond . I cannot wait to see where lightning will strike next .”