Jeans not best for a theater date

Young Chang

Yeah, yeah, fashion is fun, fashion thrives in freedom, fashion

has its own flair. But there is a rare rule that should be observed

when one is going to the theater or a symphony performance.

Do not wear jeans or shorts.

We asked officials at Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Opera Pacific,

the Philharmonic Society, the Orange County Performing Arts Center

and the Orange County Museum of Art what people should bedeck

themselves with when going to an event.

Brian Langston, spokesperson for the Newport Beach museum, said he

has spotted everything from business attire to Bohemian looks at

exhibit openings.

“Frankly, we like that look,” he said. “We have a situation where

it’s pretty likely that if we’re doing a show of living artists

who’re able to be with us, they’re likely to be in rather Bohemian

garb. We certainly don’t think we have to make our patrons dress

better than the artists.”

The one time museum officials expect to see upscale dresses and

tuxes is at the annual Art of Dining fund-raiser, held sometimes at

the museum, sometimes at the Four Seasons Hotel and sometimes at both

venues.

And then there’s the annual Masquerade Ball for the Arts.

“We expect and encourage outrageous outfits,” Langston said of the

costume ball that occurs around Halloween.

The Philharmonic and Opera Pacific agree with each other on the

point that people should dress to their musical events as if they’re

going out to a nice dinner. But Pacific Symphony spokesperson Chris

Trela says it’s sometimes just a matter of whether the sun is still

out, as to whether more casual garb might be appropriate.

For the symphony’s daytime concerts, including the Classical

Connections series and the occasional country-western themed Pops

concerts, jeans are acceptable. Same with the family series on

Saturday mornings.

But for other Pops engagements and regular Symphony performances,

Trela assumes that people would want to dress up and make an

experience of the night.

“It is kind of a fine line, though,” he said. “We want people to

be comfortable but not be intimidated.”