Top Performances and Plays in Orange County this August

Sam Smith: "The Thrill of it All" Tour photo by Capitol Records
Don’t miss Sam Smith at the Honda Center for his “The Thrill of it All” Tour.

From Tony Award-winning plays to Grammy Award-winning singers, check out the top performances and plays in Orange County this August.

Edited by Whitney Lauren Han.

Hunter Hayes
Aug. 1. Five-time Grammy Award nominee and county singer-songwriter Hunter Hayes will perform live at the OC Fair’s Pacific Amphitheatre, along with Nashville’s all-female country group Runaway June and YouTube star Coffey Anderson. 7 p.m. $40+ GA, $10 parking. Pacific Amphitheatre, 100 Fair Dr., Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500. pacamp.com

 

“School of Rock”
Through Aug. 5. Based on the hit film, this New York Times Critics’ Pick musical follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star posing as a substitute teacher, who turns a class of straight-A students into grade-A rockers. This high-octane smash features 14 new songs from Andrew Lloyd Webber, all the original songs from the movie and musical theater’s first-ever kids’ rock band playing live on stage. See website for show times. $29+. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org

 

“End of the Rainbow”
Aug. 8-Sept. 2. Catch this Tony Award-nominated play that looks at Judy Garland—her talent, tenacity and razor-sharp wit. Featuring some of Garland’s most memorable songs, “You Made Me Love You (I Didn’t Want To Do it),” “For Me And My Gal,” “The Trolley Song,” ”The Man That Got Away” and “Over the Rainbow,” this savagely funny play offers a unique insight into the inner conflict that inspired and consumed one of America’s most beloved figures. See website for show times and prices. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787. lagunaplayhouse.com

 

"Isadora" with Natalia Osipova photo by Sergei Misenko
Watch prima ballerina Natalia Osipova perform as Isadora Duncan at Segerstrom Hall.

“Isadora” with Natalia Osipova
Aug. 10-12. Choreographer of Russia’s fabled Mariinsky Theatre, Vladimir Varnava, leads a creative team to bring the modern dance revolutionary Isadora Duncan (1877-1927) to life. Taking center stage in this world premiere is Natalia Osipova, one of today’s reigning prima ballerinas and principal dancer of London’s Royal Ballet. F 7:30 p.m.; Sa 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Su 1 p.m. $29+. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org

 

Charlie Puth and Hailee Steinfeld
Aug. 15-16. Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Charlie Puth takes center stage at the new performance venue in Irvine for the tour of his second album Voicenotes as part of the 2018 Honda Civic Tour. Billboard Music Awards-winner and Golden Globe-nominated actress Hailee Steinfeld will guest star on Puth’s tour. 6:30 p.m. See website for prices. 14800 Chinon, Irvine, 949.988.6800. fivepointamphitheatre.com

 

“On Your Feet!”
Aug. 21-Sept. 2. Directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots), with choreography by Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys) and an original book by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris (Birdman), On Your Feet! features some of the most iconic songs of the past quarter-century—and one of the most inspiring stories in music history. See website for show times. $29+. Segerstrom Hall, 600 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787. scfta.org

 

Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images
Come see country trio Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker perform at FivePoint Amphitheatre.

Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker
Aug. 24. Watch seven-time Grammy Award-winning American country music trio Lady Antebellum and three-time Grammy Award winner Darius Rucker come together to co-headline their Summer Plays On Tour. Joining as a guest performance is American country and pop music singer-songwriter Russell Dickerson. 6 p.m. See website for prices. FivePoint Amphitheatre, 14800 Chinon, Irvine, 949.988.6800. fivepointamphitheatre.com

 

Sam Smith: “The Thrill of it All” Tour
Aug. 25. For the first time ever, four-time Grammy Award-winning artist Sam Smith comes to the Honda Center for his The Thrill Of It All Tour. The tour surrounds Smith’s highly anticipated sophomore album that debuted at Number 1 on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart. 8 p.m. See website for prices. 2695 E. Katella, Anaheim, 714.704.2400. hondacenter.com

 

Shakira: “El Dorado” World Tour
Aug. 31. After postponing her El Dorado World Tour to recover her vocal cords, multi-Grammy Award-winning Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira is back to continue the U.S. leg of her tour at the Honda Center. 7:30 p.m. See website for prices. 2695 E. Katella, Anaheim, 714.704.2400. hondacenter.com

 

Sam Smith: “The Thrill of it All” Tour photo by Capitol Records. Lady Antebellum and Darius Rucker photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images.

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