Orange County has a wide range of places to see live theater and performing arts, from professional theater companies and major performing arts centers to community theaters, college productions, youth theater programs and outdoor cultural venues. Use this city-by-city guide to find the type of live performance experience you’re looking for.
Performance schedules, ticket information and, for some theater companies, performance locations can change. Check each organization’s official website for current shows, tickets and the location of your performance before you go.
Find the Right Theater
| Venue | City | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Segerstrom Center for the Arts | Costa Mesa | Major performing arts center | Broadway, dance, classical music and touring performances |
| South Coast Repertory | Costa Mesa | Professional theater | Contemporary plays, classics and new works |
| Laguna Playhouse | Laguna Beach | Professional theater | Plays, musicals, comedy and stage performances |
| Irvine Barclay Theatre | Irvine | Performing arts venue | Dance, music, theater and visiting artists |
| Musco Center for the Arts | Orange | University performing arts center | Music, dance, theater and guest artists |
| Chance Theater | Anaheim | Professional theater | Plays, musicals and family programming |
| Maverick Theater | Fullerton | Community theater | Plays, musicals and intimate productions |
| The GEM Theatre | Garden Grove | Community theater | Plays and musicals |
| Musical Theatre Village | Irvine | Community musical theater | Musicals and family-friendly theater |
| Cabrillo Playhouse | San Clemente | Community theater | Plays and local live theater |
| Westminster Community Playhouse | Westminster | Community theater | Plays, musicals and community productions |
| Orange County Children’s Theatre | Huntington Beach | Youth theater | Young performers and family audiences |
Browse by city: Anaheim | Brea | Buena Park | Costa Mesa | Fullerton | Huntington Beach | Irvine | Laguna Beach | Mission Viejo | Orange | San Clemente | Westminster
Types of Performing Arts Venues
Professional theater companies present productions with professional artists and creative teams. Community theaters bring local performers and volunteers together for plays and musicals. College performing arts programs give the public opportunities to see student, faculty and guest performances. Youth theater organizations combine performing arts education with staged productions. Orange County also has multidisciplinary cultural centers and civic venues where theater is presented alongside music, dance, visual arts and other programming.
Anaheim
Chance Theater
Location: 5522 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim
Type: Professional theater
Official Website
Located at the Bette Aitken Theater Arts Center, Chance Theater presents plays and musicals in an intimate setting. Its programming includes contemporary theater along with productions and educational opportunities for younger audiences.
Pearson Park Amphitheatre
Location: 401 N. Lemon St., Anaheim
Type: Outdoor civic amphitheater
Official Website
Pearson Park Amphitheatre is an outdoor city venue used for concerts, community performances and seasonal entertainment. Because programming varies, check Anaheim’s current event calendar before planning a visit.
Brea
Curtis Theatre
Location: 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea
Type: Performing arts theater
Official Website
Located at Brea’s Civic and Cultural Center, the Curtis Theatre offers an intimate setting for theater, music and other performing arts. The city-operated venue presents a changing mix of productions and guest performers.
Buena Park
Buena Park Youth Theatre
Type: Youth theater program
Official Website
Buena Park Youth Theatre gives young performers opportunities to learn theater skills and participate in staged productions. Performance locations can vary, so use the program’s website for the current show venue.
Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa Playhouse
Type: Community theater organization
Official Website
Costa Mesa Playhouse is a longstanding community theater organization presenting live theatrical productions. Because some productions may be presented in partnership with other theaters or at alternate venues, confirm the performance location when purchasing tickets.
Orange Coast College Performing Arts
Location: 2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa
Type: College performing arts
Official Website
Orange Coast College presents public performances and arts events featuring students, faculty and guests. Programming spans theater, music, dance and other visual and performing arts disciplines.
Segerstrom Center for the Arts
Location: 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Type: Major multidisciplinary performing arts center
Official Website
Segerstrom Center for the Arts is one of Orange County’s primary destinations for touring Broadway productions, classical music, dance, concerts and other live performing arts. Its Costa Mesa campus contains multiple performance spaces, allowing it to present both large-scale productions and more intimate programs.
South Coast Repertory
Location: 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa
Type: Professional theater company
Official Website
South Coast Repertory presents contemporary theater, classic works and new plays in Costa Mesa. Its ongoing conservatory and educational programs also make theater training an important part of the organization’s work.
Starlight Theatre OC
Location: Costa Mesa
Type: Theater company and performing arts education
Official Website
Starlight Theatre OC combines theater education with staged productions for youth and adult performers. Check the organization for current productions, workshops and performance locations.
Cypress
Cypress College Theatre Arts
Location: 9200 Valley View St., Cypress
Type: College performing arts
Official Website
Cypress College’s theater program presents student and college productions that are open to the public. It is a useful option for audiences interested in seeing emerging performers and college theater work.
Fountain Valley
Saigon Grand Center
Location: 16149 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley
Type: Theater and event venue
Official Website
Saigon Grand Center hosts live shows, cultural performances and special events in Fountain Valley. Programming often reflects the surrounding Little Saigon community, while the venue also accommodates other entertainment and event formats.
Fullerton
Fullerton College Fine Arts
Location: 321 E. Chapman Ave., Fullerton
Type: College performing arts
Official Website
Fullerton College presents theater, improv, music and other performances featuring students and guest artists. The college’s arts programming gives the public another way to see live performance in downtown Fullerton.
Maverick Theater
Location: 110 E. Walnut Ave., Fullerton
Type: Community theater
Official Website
Maverick Theater is an intimate Fullerton theater with cabaret and black-box performance spaces. Its programming includes plays, musicals and genre-oriented theatrical productions in a small-theater setting.
Muckenthaler Cultural Center
Location: 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton
Type: Cultural center
Official Website
The Muckenthaler is a historic cultural center with galleries, gardens and spaces for live performance. Theater is part of a broader arts program that also includes music, visual arts and community cultural events.
Garden Grove
The GEM Theatre
Location: 12852 Main St., Garden Grove
Type: Community theater
Official Website
The historic GEM Theatre is home to locally produced live theater in downtown Garden Grove. Audiences can find plays, musicals and other stage productions in a traditional theater setting.
Huntington Beach
Golden West College Performing Arts
Location: 15751 Gothard St., Huntington Beach
Type: College performing arts
Official Website
Golden West College presents theater and other performing arts programs featuring college students and guest participants. Check the college’s theater calendar for public performances.
Huntington Beach Central Library Performing Arts Theatre
Location: 7111 Talbert Ave., Huntington Beach
Type: Civic performance venue
Official Website
The Performing Arts Theatre within the Huntington Beach Central Library complex hosts occasional theatrical and community performances. It does not function like a year-round producing theater, so check the current calendar for scheduled public events. For seasonal family theater, see our guide to The Nutcracker in Orange County.
Huntington Beach Historic Theater
Location: Huntington Beach High School, 1905 Main St.
Type: School and community performance venue
The Historic Theater is located on the Huntington Beach High School campus and is primarily associated with school performing arts. Outside organizations may also use the auditorium for selected performances, so verify the event and public access before visiting.
Orange County Children’s Theatre
Type: Youth theater organization
Official Website
Orange County Children’s Theatre gives young performers opportunities to learn acting, singing, dance and stagecraft while participating in theatrical productions. The organization also offers performing arts education and youth programs.
Irvine
Irvine Barclay Theatre
Location: 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine
Type: Multidisciplinary performing arts venue
Official Website
Irvine Barclay Theatre, adjacent to UC Irvine, presents dance, music, theater and visiting artists in an intimate performing arts setting. Its calendar mixes university-connected performances with regional, national and international artists.
Irvine Valley College Performing Arts Center
Location: 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine
Type: College performing arts
Official Website
The Performing Arts Center is home to Irvine Valley College’s public performances in theater, dance, music and related disciplines. Events feature students, faculty and guest artists.
Musical Theatre Village
Location: 36 Mauchly, Suite C, Irvine
Type: Community musical theater
Official Website
Musical Theatre Village is a nonprofit community theater focused on musical productions involving performers of varying ages. Its family-oriented format makes it a useful option for audiences looking for community musical theater in Irvine.
La Habra
Phantom Projects Theatre at La Habra Depot
Location: 311 S. Euclid St., La Habra
Type: Theater company and performance venue
Official Website
Phantom Projects programs the historic La Habra Depot Theatre with plays, musicals and other live productions. The organization also has a strong educational and youth-theater component.
Laguna Beach
Laguna Playhouse
Location: 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach
Type: Professional theater
Official Website
Located in Laguna Beach’s arts and cultural district, Laguna Playhouse is a longstanding professional theater presenting plays, musicals, comedy and other stage performances throughout the year.
No Square Theatre
Location: 384 Legion St., Laguna Beach
Type: Community theater
Official Website
No Square Theatre provides opportunities for local performers and creative teams to participate in community theater. Programming includes musicals, revues, youth productions and other locally created performances.
Lake Forest
Lake Forest Performing Arts Center
Location: 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest
Type: Civic performing arts and meeting space
Official Website
The Lake Forest Performing Arts Center is a multipurpose civic space that can host community theater, performances and public programs. Check the city’s calendar or presenting organization for current events.
Los Alamitos
Bold Theatre
Location: 10631 Bloomfield St., Unit 5, Los Alamitos
Type: Small theater venue
Official Website
Bold Theatre is an intimate Los Alamitos performance space created for theatrical productions and artists. Because its public performance schedule can vary, check the theater directly for current programming before planning a visit.
Mission Viejo
Creative Kids Playhouse Children’s Theatre of Orange County
Type: Youth theater company
Official Website
Creative Kids Playhouse combines performing arts education with opportunities for young performers to appear in staged productions. Check the organization for current programs and performance locations.
Saddleback College Performing Arts
Location: 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo
Type: College performing arts
Official Website
Saddleback College presents public arts programming that includes theater, music, dance and other performing arts. Performances feature students, faculty and guest artists in campus venues.
Z Playhouse
Location: 24196 Alicia Parkway, Suite M, Mission Viejo
Type: Community and youth theater
Official Website
Z Playhouse produces classic, modern and original theatrical works while also supporting performing arts education for children and teens. Its programming includes community theater and youth productions.
Newport Beach
Newport Theatre Arts Center
Location: 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach
Type: Community theater
Official Website
Newport Theatre Arts Center presents community theater productions in Newport Beach. Its intimate format is suited to audiences looking for locally produced plays and stage performances.
Orange
KIDS Musical Theater
Type: Youth performing arts program
Official Website
KIDS Musical Theater gives young performers opportunities to learn and participate in musical theater productions. Check the program for current performance locations and participation information.
Musco Center for the Arts
Location: Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange
Type: University performing arts center
Official Website
Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University presents music, dance, theater and visiting artists. The venue hosts performances connected to Chapman’s College of Performing Arts as well as guest performers and arts organizations.
Waltmar Theatre at Chapman University
Location: Chapman University, Orange
Type: University theater
Official Website
Waltmar Theatre is one of Chapman University’s theater performance spaces and is used primarily for productions connected with the university’s theater program.
Rancho Santa Margarita
Ovations Performing Arts Conservatory
Location: Rancho Santa Margarita
Type: Youth performing arts organization
Official Website
Ovations combines performing arts education with youth productions in theater, music and dance. Its programs give young performers opportunities to train and participate in staged performances.
San Clemente
Cabrillo Playhouse
Location: 202 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente
Type: Community theater
Official Website
Cabrillo Playhouse is a longstanding San Clemente community theater presenting plays and other live theatrical performances in an intimate setting.
Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens
Location: 415 Avenida Granada, San Clemente
Type: Cultural center
Official Website
Casa Romantica is a historic cultural center where performing arts are part of a broader program of music, dance, theater, visual arts and cultural events. Its setting and programming make it different from a conventional producing theater.
San Juan Capistrano
Camino Real Playhouse
Location: 31776 El Camino Real, San Juan Capistrano
Type: Community theater
Official Website
Camino Real Playhouse is a community theater organization presenting plays, musicals, comedy and other live events. It also offers opportunities for local performers and students to participate in theater.
Tustin
Top Hat 8 Repertory
Location: 3002 Dow Ave., Unit 106, Tustin
Type: Community theater and theater education
Official Website
Top Hat 8 Repertory provides performance and theater-education opportunities for participants of different ages and backgrounds. Its programming centers on community productions and developing performers in a supportive theater environment.
Westminster
Rose Center Theater
Location: 14140 All American Way, Westminster
Type: Performing arts theater
Official Website
Rose Center Theater presents musical theater, dance and other live performances in Westminster. Its programming includes community-oriented productions and performing arts events.
Westminster Community Playhouse
Location: 7272 Maple St., Westminster
Type: Community theater
Official Website
Westminster Community Playhouse presents locally produced plays and musicals and provides opportunities for community participation in the performing arts. Its programming also includes educational and youth-oriented theater activities.
Yorba Linda
Virginia De Land Theater at Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center
Location: 4802 Lakeview Ave., Yorba Linda
Type: Civic cultural arts venue
Official Website
Virginia De Land Theater is part of the Yorba Linda Cultural Arts Center, a city arts facility that accommodates theater, music, dance, comedy and community cultural programming.
Live Theater & Performing Arts FAQ
What are the major performing arts venues in Orange County?
Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory, Irvine Barclay Theatre, Laguna Playhouse and Musco Center for the Arts are among the county’s prominent destinations for professional and touring performing arts. The best venue depends on whether you’re looking for theater, Broadway touring productions, dance, classical music or another type of performance.
Where can I see Broadway shows in Orange County?
Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa is Orange County’s primary destination for touring Broadway productions. Check its official calendar for the current lineup.
Where can I see community theater in Orange County?
Community theater options include Maverick Theater, The GEM Theatre, Musical Theatre Village, Cabrillo Playhouse, Camino Real Playhouse, Newport Theatre Arts Center, Westminster Community Playhouse and others listed in this guide.
Where can families see live theater in Orange County?
Family-oriented options include youth theater organizations, Musical Theatre Village and selected productions at professional and community theaters. Because age recommendations vary by production, check the individual show’s guidance before buying tickets.
Which Orange County colleges have public performing arts events?
Orange Coast College, Cypress College, Fullerton College, Golden West College, Irvine Valley College, Saddleback College and Chapman University all present public performing arts events through their arts programs or campus venues.
Where can I see live theater in South Orange County?
South Orange County options include Laguna Playhouse, No Square Theatre, Z Playhouse, Saddleback College, Cabrillo Playhouse, Casa Romantica and Camino Real Playhouse, along with youth and community performing arts organizations.
Are there youth theaters in Orange County?
Yes. Orange County Children’s Theatre, Buena Park Youth Theatre, Creative Kids Playhouse, KIDS Musical Theater, Ovations and other organizations give young performers opportunities to learn and participate in theater.
Do Orange County theaters offer acting and performing arts classes?
Many professional, community and youth theater organizations offer classes, conservatory programs, workshops or camps. Programs and eligibility change, so check the organization’s education page for current opportunities.