Brief
Segerstrom Center celebrates 40 years as Orange County arts hub
More than 5,000 locals attended the anniversary events as the center reports $106 million in revenue and a return to financial health.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The Segerstrom Center for the Arts marked its 40th anniversary this month with a campus‑wide celebration that attracted over 5,000 Orange County residents, according to the Los Angeles Times.
President and chief executive Casey Reitz, who moved to Costa Mesa in January 2020, said the center survived a pandemic‑induced shutdown that cut 63% of its staff and erased roughly three‑quarters of its income. Last year’s tax filings show revenue of $106 million, expenses of $91.4 million and assets of $558 million, indicating the organization is now back in the black.
Reitz highlighted recent honors, including an award from Broadway Across America for the most welcoming spot on Broadway tours. He also recalled the center’s origins on a former lima‑bean farm donated by philanthropist Henry Segerstrom, the founding chairman when the venue opened in 1986 as the Orange County Performing Arts Center.
Board member ambassador Gaddi H. Vasquez praised Segerstrom’s vision, noting that before the center opened locals had to travel to Los Angeles for major shows.
Key facts
- More than 5,000 residents attended the Segerstrom Center's 40th‑anniversary celebration. (latimes.com)
- The center laid off 63% of its staff during the COVID‑19 pandemic. (latimes.com)
- 2025 tax filings show $106 million in revenue and $91.4 million in expenses. (latimes.com)
- Casey Reitz became president and CEO in January 2020 after moving from New York. (latimes.com)
- The venue was originally called the Orange County Performing Arts Center when it opened in 1986. (latimes.com)
Sources
- [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “40 years later, a dream to rival L. A. 's art scene has become Orange County's cultural epicenter”
