{"id":193402,"date":"2026-02-25T18:18:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:18:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/193402\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T18:18:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T18:18:07","slug":"top-things-to-do-in-o-c-february-25th-through-march-3rd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/193402\/","title":{"rendered":"Top Things to Do in O.C.: February 25th through March 3rd"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Groundlings, From Mozart to Mahler, plus more things to do in O.C. this week. <\/p>\n

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FEB. 25
The Groundlings
The Los Angeles\u2013based improv and sketch troupe helped launch the careers of comedic legends such as Melissa McCarthy and Will Ferrell. More than 50 years after its founding, the company continues to nurture new generations of comics. Current cast members perform a selection of fresh sketches on the Musco Center Stage for an evening of high-energy laughs.\u00a0Musco Center for the Arts, 1 University Drive, Orange, 714-997-6812, muscocenter.org<\/a><\/p>\n

FEB. 26 THROUGH 28
From Mozart to Mahler
The Pacific Symphony presents an evening of masterworks led by conductor Eduardo Strausser. The program features Mozart\u2019s\u00a0Piano Concerto No. 23\u00a0and Mahler\u2019s\u00a0Symphony No. 1, performed with acclaimed pianist Yoav Levanon. Mozart\u2019s concerto is celebrated for its lyrical elegance, while Mahler\u2019s symphony is known for its sweeping, triumphant melodies.\u00a0Ren\u00e9e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5799, pacificsymphony.org<\/a><\/p>\n

FEB. 27 AND 28
Witte Lectures: Julian Gewirtz
Dr. Julian Gewirtz, who served in senior roles on China and Taiwan affairs at the National Security Council and the State Department during the Biden administration, opens the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation\u2019s Witte Lectures series. The author of three books, including\u00a0Never Turn Back: China and the Forbidden History of the 1980s\u00a0(2022), Gewirtz discusses his work and explores how politics and economics in China might have unfolded differently during that pivotal decade.\u00a0949-717-3892, nbplf.foundation<\/a><\/p>\n

FEB. 28
\u201cPeter and the Wolf\u201d
In this beloved children\u2019s symphonic tale, each instrument represents a different character as the story unfolds through music and narration. Follow Peter on his daring adventure to outsmart the Wolf as the Pacific Symphony performs Prokofiev\u2019s classic work. Conducted by Pola Benke, the performance offers an engaging introduction to live orchestral music for young audiences. Pre-concert activities in the lobby include crafts, coloring, and themed photo opportunities.\u00a0Ren\u00e9e and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-755-5799, pacificsymphony.org<\/a><\/p>\n

MAR. 2
U.S. Army Field Band & Soldiers\u2019 Chorus
The 65-member concert band and 24-member Soldiers\u2019 Chorus have performed around the world in grand concert halls, intimate community auditoriums, and venues in between. This free performance features a dynamic program of orchestral works, operatic arias, jazz classics, Sousa marches, and Broadway favorites. Together, the ensemble delivers a stirring showcase of musical excellence and versatility.\u00a0Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646, thebarclay.org<\/a><\/p>\n

THROUGH MAR. 8
\u201cCinderella: A Salsa Fairy Tale\u201d
The beloved fairy tale gets a bilingual, modern makeover in this musical for young audiences. Cenicienta\u2014Cinderella\u2014is a basketball player who speaks only Spanish and is determined to compete in the Super Dooper Eastern Western Division Basketball Game. Her biggest rival is Rosa, a popular and self-centered player who speaks only English. The two face off in a lively production filled with hip-hop and salsa rhythms.\u00a0South Coast Repertory, Julianne Argyros Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555,\u00a0scr.org<\/a><\/p>\n

THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY
\u201cGod of Carnage\u201d and \u201cWho\u2019s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?\u201d
South Coast Repertory presents two Tony Award\u2013winning plays on alternating nights with an overlapping cast.\u00a0God of Carnage\u00a0is a twisted dark comedy offering sharp, biting commentary on civilization and human nature. The classic 1960s play\u00a0Who\u2019s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?\u00a0is a comedic drama driven by psychological games and escalating tension.\u00a0South Coast Repertory, Segerstrom Stage, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714-708-5555,\u00a0scr.org<\/a><\/p>\n

THROUGHOUT FEBRUARY
\u201cOnce\u201d
An unlikely connection forms between a Dublin street musician and a Czech immigrant in this Tony Award\u2013winning musical. Two complete strangers discover a beautiful common ground and spend a week together bonding and creating music. Known for its powerful and emotional score, the heartwarming production is a tribute to finding community in the most unexpected places.\u00a0Chance Theater, 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, 714-777-3033,\u00a0chancetheater.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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FEB. 25
World Ballet Company: \u201cSwan Lake\u201d
Fifty international dancers take the stage in this grand production of\u00a0Swan Lake, accompanied by a live orchestration of Tchaikovsky\u2019s iconic score. Featuring more than 150 hand-sewn costumes and elaborate handcrafted sets, the performance brings the classic ballet vividly to life, including beloved moments such as the Dance of the Little Swans and the Hungarian Dance.\u00a0Irvine Barclay Theatre, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949-854-4646,\u00a0thebarclay.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Groundlings, From Mozart to Mahler, plus more things to do in O.C. this week. FEB. 25The GroundlingsThe…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":193403,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[163,165,164],"class_list":{"0":"post-193402","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-anaheim","8":"tag-anaheim","9":"tag-anaheim-headlines","10":"tag-anaheim-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193402","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=193402"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/193402\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/193403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=193402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=193402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=193402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}