Press Release

Date:            May 14, 2009
Contact:       Katherine Mielke
Phone:         (949) 717-3816
E-mail:         kmielke@city.newport-beach.ca.us           

CITY ARTS COMMISSION SPONSORS SUMMER CONCERTS AND SHAKESPEARE

Newport Beach, CA – The Newport Beach City Arts Commission will host four evenings of free family arts entertainment at local parks this summer including two Concerts in the Parks and two evenings of Shakespeare by the Sea.

Concerts in the Parks are held on Sunday evenings at 6 p.m.  The kickoff concert on Sunday, July 19 will feature Kevin Spirtas in a high-energy Broadway-style concert beginning at 6 p.m. at Mariners Park, 1300 Irvine Avenue, Newport Beach.

Multi-talented Spirtas, who starred in television's Days of Our Lives, Jim Brickman's PBS Special Love Songs and Lullabies and Broadway's A Chorus Line, Hairspray and The Boy from Oz, presents a one-man song and dance performance that celebrates his journey from Broadway to Hollywood and includes a great collection of Broadway and pop standards.

The second Concert in the Park will feature the Susie Hansen Latin Band on Sunday, August 23 at Bonita Canyon Sports Park, Bonita Canyon Road and Mesa View Drive, Newport Beach.  Beginning at 6 p.m. electric violinist Susie Hansen and her band plays fiery salsa and hot Latin music that will rock the park and have the audience up on their feet. 

Shakespeare by the Sea will return to Bonita Canyon Sports Park with “Love’s Labour’s Lost” and “As You Like It” performed on two consecutive evenings, Saturday, August 1 and Sunday, August 2.  The performances feature a professional troupe of actors that tours Los Angeles and Orange County during the summer.  Pre-show activities begin at 6:45 p.m. with the curtain going up at 7 p.m.
           

All of these summer events are free and open to the public.  Those planning to attend should bring lawn chairs and a picnic dinner to fully enjoy the entertainment under the stars.

For more information, call the Cultural Arts FAQ Hotline at 949-644-3211, extension 2156 for Concerts in the Parks and extension 2155 for Shakespeare by the Sea
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