OCPAC goes from ballet to Broadway in 2004-05

The 2004-05 season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center will offer leading Broadway and operatic voices, along with a classical series that includes several performers not previously seen at the Costa Mesa venue.

Barbara Cook and Brian Stokes Mitchell (Jan. 28), Bebe Neuwirth (April 29, 2005) and Tommy Tune & the Manhattan Rhythm Kings (June 11, 2005) bring Broadway credentials to concert performances; Swedish mezzo-soprano Anne Sofie von Otter sings her first center recital (Dec. 14); Kiri Te Kanawa also performs in the concert series (Sept. 26).

The classical series offers the OCPAC debuts of the Lucerne Festival Strings (Oct. 4), Paris Piano Trio and the Ysaye Quartet (Feb. 10, 2005), the Florestan Trio (March 6, 2005) and the Zehetmair Quartet (March 23, 2005). The dance series features noted touring troupes -- New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg -- as well as the Southern California premiere of Matthew Bourne’s “Nutcracker!” (Dec. 7-12).

The lineup of touring Broadway musicals consists of “Hairspray,” “Oliver!,” “The Lion King,” “Movin’ Out,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Rent” in 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall, plus “Side by Side by Sondheim” in the 300-seat Founders Hall.

Full season details are available at www.ocpac.org.