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Paul Hodgins

Paul Hodgins was born in Canada, where he studied piano at the Royal Conservatory of Music and became a professional accompanist by the age of 20. Hodgins worked widely in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. as an accompanist and music professor at Simon Fraser University, the Banff Centre for the Arts, Nonington College (Kent), Eastern Michigan University, and many festivals. He moved to the U.S. to pursue graduate studies in the 1980s and has lived here ever since, completing his doctorate in musical composition at the University of Southern California. Hodgins was a professor of music at the University of California Irvine from 1985 to 1992, where he served as music director of the dance department and founding director of the Gassman Electronic Music Studio. After freelancing as a classical music critic at the San Diego Union-Tribune, he became an arts journalist and critic for The Orange County Register, where he wrote principally about theater and later about dance and classical music. In addition to his expertise in the performing arts, Hodgins has written extensively about jazz, architecture, interior design and urban planning. For the last decade he has written a regular column about wine, beer and spirits for the Register. Hodgins has written two books. Music, Movement and Metaphor, a study of dance-music relationships in 20th-century choreography, was published in 1992. The Winemakers of Paso Robles came out in 2017. Hodgins remains active as an educator. He has been on the journalism faculty at California State University, Fullerton since 2001. He has also taught journalism at Cal State Long Beach and UCLA Extension. Hodgins and his wife have lived in downtown Huntington Beach for 20 years. Some day he will learn how to surf. Languages spoken: English Areas of expertise: Orange County, theater, dance, music and arts issues.

Shakespeare OC Announces Its Demise

Countywide

By Paul Hodgins | February 15, 2020

BREAKING NEWS: After a few tumultuous years of trying to keep Shakespeare Orange County alive, the current leadership is shuttering this long-standing Orange County institution.

What’s in Store for Theater on O.C.’s Biggest Stages?

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | February 7, 2020

In our series “The Decade Ahead,” Voice of OC’s Arts & Culture writers speculate on what is on the horizon for Orange County in the next ten years. First up: Paul Hodgins tackles what is possibly in store for the county’s biggest theaters.

‘She Loves Me’ Serves as a Fine Directorial Debut

By Paul Hodgins | February 4, 2020

REVIEW: This talent-filled production of an underappreciated musical keeps it simple with a solid, sweet production directed by SCR artistic director David Ivers.

The Reitz Era at Segerstrom Center is Underway

Countywide

By Paul Hodgins | January 31, 2020

Casey Reitz, Segerstrom Center’s new president, brings a fresh energy to Orange County’s flagship performing arts center. With a background firmly rooted in producing award-winning plays and musicals in New York, could creating new musicals at the Center be part of at Reitz’s legacy?

Early Beethoven Gets the (Emanuel) Ax Treatment

By Timothy Mangan | January 22, 2020

REVIEW: The venerable pianist launches the Philharmonic Society’s yearlong celebration of Beethoven’s 250th anniversary.

South Coast Rep Partners with Playwrights Horizons in New Commissioning Project

Countywide

By Paul Hodgins | January 13, 2020

South Coast Repertory is teaming with New York’s Playwrights Horizons to create a major commissioning program for new plays. The Pinnacle Commission, announced today, will award $60,000 on a recurring basis to a major American playwright.

SCR’s New Leader Tears Down Walls, Builds Bridges, Directs a Musical

Countywide

By Paul Hodgins | January 10, 2020

With almost a year under his belt as the new artistic director at South Coast Repertory, David Ivers is finding his footing and carving out his place with the Orange County institution.

A Busy and Rewarding Inaugural Year for VOC’s Arts & Culture Section

Countywide

By Paul Hodgins | December 27, 2019

Senior Arts & Culture editor Paul Hodgins highlights stories published throughout our first full year of publication.

It’s the End of an Era as Friends and Fans Say Goodbye to Hal Landon Jr.’s Scrooge

Countywide

By Joel Beers | December 25, 2019

Hal Landon Jr.’s final performance as Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” was attended by devoted fans. For many, the annual trip to see the show has been a multi-generational tradition. Landon played the iconic role for 40 years.

A Career Transformed by Tragedy

Arts & Culture

By Paul Hodgins | December 20, 2019

The untimely death of her mother led Susan Lieu, a Vietnamese-American chocolatier, down a path to learning more about her and, ultimately, herself.