The Braver Player’s youth theater company is determined to put on a show this summer, with a stage in the parking lot and spread out seating.
Author Archives: 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.
Posted inPaul Hodgins
Hodgins: Ticket Givebacks are a Vital Lifeline for Arts Groups During the Coronavirus Pandemic
For many arts organizations struggling with the financial mayhem caused by the coronavirus pandemic, one issue could mean the difference between life and death.
Posted inCountywide
Santa Ana Arts Collective, a New Community for Artists, is Ready for Occupancy
Advocates for affordable housing in OC see the Santa Ana Arts Collective as an excellent example of addressing the needs of a specific population.
Posted inCountywide
Local Arts Groups Get Creative, Look for Funding as They Chart a Difficult Path Forward
With the Orange County Board of Supervisors taking steps to distribute $75 million in CARES Act funding, arts groups are advocating to be included among those eligible for those funds.
Posted inARTS & CULTURE
Laguna Beach Cancels Pageant of the Masters, Festival of the Arts
After holding out as long as possible, the Laguna Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters have finally made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 season.
Posted inCountywide
Hodgins: Theaters Determined to Recreate Magic Online, Is It Worth the Effort?
South Coast Repertory recently streamed its production of “Outside Mullingar.” The production was filmed during a pre-opening night performance so that the theater could stream it online for audiences after its live performances were canceled due to the coronavirus. While organizations are eager to continue to engage with their audiences, are strategies like this worth it?
Posted inCountywide
Losses Mount Quickly for Orange County Arts Groups
The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a staggering blow to Orange County’s arts community. According to a report published this week by Arts Orange County, local arts organizations have suffered losses of $16 million since the start of the crisis.
Posted inARTS & CULTURE
Hodgins: Orange County Arts in Limbo as Groups Big and Small Ponder the Future
Many local arts groups are struggling, but there are also reasons for hope once we get to the other side of the pandemic.
Posted inARTS & CULTURE, Countywide, Culture, Top Stories
Where to Find Easter Services, and a Little Culture, Online
As California’s shelter-at-home period continues, many religious and cultural institutions that regularly welcome large crowds have creatively adapted to new challenges. Plus, a look at options at cultural institutions.
Posted inARTS & CULTURE, Costa Mesa, Theater, Top Stories
South Coast Repertory Announces New Season, Tries to Salvage Current One
Normally, when a performing art organization announces a new season, the main order of business is talking about the subject at hand: all the shows that will tempt the public over the next year. This year, of course, is different.
