Grand Performances Brochure 2009

GRAND PERFORMANCES
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Dorothy L. Herbst
CHAIR
Gary Wexler
CO-VICE CHAIR
300 – 350 S. GRAND AVENUE, LOS ANGELES
California Plaza parking is $7.50 after 5 PM on weekdays and all day Saturdays and Sundays on
Grand Performances event dates. We suggest carpooling.
FROM THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY (101) NORTHBOUND
Exit Grand Avenue. Turn right on Grand Avenue. Turn left onto 1st Street. Turn right onto Olive Street.
Straight on Olive Street. California Plaza parking facility is located on the right.
FROM THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY (101) SOUTHBOUND
Exit Temple Street. Turn left onto Temple Street. Make first right turn to Hope Street. Turn left onto
1st Street. Turn right onto Olive Street. Straight on Olive Street. California Plaza parking facility is
located on the right.
DASH ROUTE B (CHINATOWN – FINANCIAL DISTRICT)
Runs from 5:50am – 6:30pm, every 5 minutes weekdays. For further information please call
213-808-2273 or visit the website at www.ladottransit.com
METRO RAIL
From the Metro Rail RED Line, exit at Pershing Square and leave by the north stairs leading to 4th
and Hill Streets. California Plaza is located one block away at 4th and Olive Streets. For further
information please call 1-800-COMMUTE.
James A. Doolittle Foundation
Downtown Center Business
The 2009 Grand Performances Season would
Improvement District
not take place without the support from these
Gary Platt Manufacturing
corporate partners of California Plaza.
Graphics & Beyond
Maguire Properties
Greenberg Glusker
Omni Los Angeles Hotel
The James Irvine Foundation
Fletcher Jones Foundation
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Mendocino Farms
The Community Redevelopment
Agency of the City of Los Angeles Mexican Consulate
Ralphs
Department of Cultural Affairs,
Lloyd E. Rigler – Lawrence E.
City of Los Angeles
Deutsch Foundation
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Wells Fargo
National Endowment for the Arts
Xerox Foundation
CALIFORNIA PLAZA
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Many audience members don’t realize that Grand
Performances is an independent non-profit, with
only 7% of our budget coming from government arts
agencies. More than ever, significant support, from
audience members like you, is critical to this year’s
world-class programming at Grand Performances.
If you haven’t already become “friends” with our Red
Buckets, they will be attending all of the performances
again this season. Our Red Buckets are a way for
audience members to donate by cash or check during
the performances, but while the Red Bucket dollars
are very important to us, they only cover 5% of our
overall fund-raising goal. The rest is left to the
generous individuals, corporations, and foundations
noted in this brochure.
We would love to see your name in these pages next
season and discuss with you the many other benefits
of becoming a donor. For information on Grand
Performances Jewels: Grand Performances’ individual
giving program, or on Corporate or Foundation giving,
please contact Alice Platt at (213) 687-2190.
Contributions of any amount are always welcome and
much appreciated. Please make your gift today!
Donations are fully tax-deductible and can be sent to:
Grand Performances
350 South Grand Avenue, Suite A-4
Los Angeles, CA 90071
CORPORATIONS &
FOUNDATIONS
Aaroe Associates Charitable
Foundation
The Robert M. Adams Foundation
AEG
The Ahmanson Foundation
Bank of the West
Employees Community Fund of
Boeing California
California Community Foundation
The Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
Casa Cocina y Cantina
City National Bank
Concord Document Services, Inc.
The Walt Disney Company
RUBY | $1,000
Zayda & Craig Bloomgarden
Gordon Crawford
V. Dunlap
Joanna Elliott & Jonathan Wechsler
Mark Flaisher
Jan Geringer & Mitch Fogelman
Deborah Glusker
Ayahlushim & Chris Hammond
Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch
Scott Kelley
Misty Sanford & Gideon Kracov
Wendy Leitman & Jonathan Harris
Anne & Rick Llewellyn
Roella & James Louie
James Ortiz & Richard Malott
GRAND PERFORMANCES
Eleanor Portilla Maynard
JEWELS
Jon Neudstadter
THE GRAND JEWELS | $10,000+ Laurel Newmark
Anonymous (2)
Alice Platt & Dan Newmark
The Macdonald Family
Tut & Gary Platt
Jennifer & Robert D. Roback
DIAMOND | $5,000
Chris Safarian
Anonymous
Kristin & Tim Smith
Dorothy L. Herbst
Jay Stark
Ginny Mancini
Eva & Marc Stern
EMERALD | $2,500
Gary Stewart
Victoria Kirsch & Michael Alexander Kathy & Fred Stites
Margaret Adams & Joel Edstrom Francine Lipsman-Tansey &
Heather & Paul Haaga
Michael Tansey
Leigh Ann Hahn
Mark Vargas
Karen Molleson & Lowell Hill
Martha & John Welborne
Anne & Jim Rothenberg
Dana & Gary Wexler
7 Museum Tower
8 Colburn School of
Performing Arts
Mark Vargas
SECRETARY
TREASURER
Exit Fourth Street, staying on the left. Turn left onto Olive Street. The California Plaza parking
facility is located on the left.
4 Spiral Court
5 Omni Los Angeles Hotel
6 MOCA
CO-VICE CHAIR
Mark Flaisher
FROM THE HARBOR FREEWAY (110) NORTH OR SOUTHBOUND
1 One California Plaza
2 Two California Plaza
3 Watercourt
Roy Zuloaga
9 Wells Fargo Center
P Parking Entrances
Clara & Larry Yust
Barbara & Stanley Zax
Roy Zuloaga
Aileen Adams & Geoff Cowan
Byron Gross & Ricky Tovim
Judith Siegel &
Michael Goldstein
SAPPHIRE | $500
Barbara
Enloe Hadsell &
Nancy & Peter Auerbach
Douglas Hadsell
Mark Baker
Robin & Douglas Hinchliffe
Jean Francois Cote
Lucia Cha &
Hal & Eunice David
Jerrold Asao Hiura
Michael J. Downer
Susan Jaffee
Frank Ellsworth
Julia Newton & Michael Feibish Liz & Glenn Johnson
Noemi & Marcelino Ford-Livene Steven Kanter
Rosalie Kirsch
Thadeus Frazier-Reed
Marie Lamotte
Leonard R. Garner, Jr.
Steven Lavine
Bobbie & Philip Glusker
Lee Lawlor
Susan & Steven Glusker
Sheelagh Boyd & Larry Layne Susie North
Mimi Perloff
Michelle & Richard Lewis
Guilherme Rafols
Janice Melton
Judith & James Roach
Terry & Jeffrey Paule
Stefani & Milt Rosenberg
Dean Porter
Heidi Duckler & Daniel Rosenfeld Mark Saltzman &
Walter Hubert
Carol & Carl Selkin
Kristen Schwarz
Jean Singh
Laurie F. Allen & Michael F. Wolf Terry & Madeline Schwarz
Mara Simmons
Gerald A.Tomsic
Alison Morgan &
TOPAZ | $250
Parke Skelton
Shaindy & Seth Alexander
Bonnie Voland
Janelle & Jasen Boyington
Hayley Voland
Alicia G. & Edward E. Clark
And the many other “Jewels” who
Florence & David Conrad
send checks and drop donations
into our Red Buckets.
Craig Bloomgarden
IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR
Joanna Elliott
Jan Geringer
Deborah Glusker
Ayahlushim Hammond
Gideon Kracov
Wendy Leitman
Karen Molleson
Robert Roback
Dan Rosenfeld
Chris Safarian
Martha Saucedo
Tim Smith
Jay Stark
Martha Welborne, FAIA
STAFF
Michael Alexander (21 SEASONS)
EXECUTIVE & ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Kristine Arellano (2 SEASONS)
MARKETING ASSISTANT
Mark Baker (11 SEASONS)
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Alyssa Conrad (3 SEASONS)
DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE
Leigh Ann Hahn (18 SEASONS)
DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING /
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Lee Lawlor (2 SEASONS)
BUSINESS MANAGER
Alice Platt (9 SEASONS)
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT &
GENERAL MANAGER
Dean Porter (9 SEASONS)
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Fred Stites (18 SEASONS)
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Zindy Landeros Valle (9 SEASONS)
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
As I am writing this, we are still in the midst of the worst economic crisis in the memory of most Americans. And, because of
this, we expect more and more families to turn to Grand Performances to keep the arts and culture in their lives. We know that
many major funders and corporate sponsors won’t be able to be supportive in 2009. But we also know that some are specifically
sticking with us, expecting our series to be even more appreciated in these tough times. We also know that individual donors—
people like you—are going to be the critical force in keeping our program stable, keeping incredible international artists on our
stage and keeping the spirit of Grand Performances vibrant and exciting for all who attend. Please be as generous as you can be
when supporting Grand Performances, and remember how much the art on our stages means in your life. Your contribution will
be more important than ever and appreciated more than you can imagine in this year of many changes.
One thing that will not change is our commitment to excellence—the excellence of the performers and performances
that we present; the excellence of the experiences that we aim to provide; and, the excellence of our efforts to let people in
every community in Los Angeles know that they are welcome to be part of our audience.
We want our programming to connect with you and we believe that we have a responsibility to expand our services so
that you can truly consider how each performance can lead to greater understanding of our world.
We have offered post-performance discussions selectively for a number of years. We intend to increase them and to expand
opportunities for audience members to share their reactions to the performances we present. It has been said that “art is a lie in
the service of truth,” and we want to give our audience members opportunities to discuss such questions as “What truths did
this art reveal, and what was it good for?” We hope that the art you discover on our stages helps you discover truths about your
world, your neighbors and yourself. We hope that, by offering more opportunities to be involved in each presentation, we are
offering you expanded opportunities to discover the value that the arts have in your life beyond just being entertained.
Most of all, we look forward to welcoming you to another exciting season of music, dance, film and theatre featuring
exciting local and international artists. Your dancing, laughing and sharing the moment with the others who have come to
Grand Performances helps make our seasons the successes that they are.
Michael Alexander
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
CALIFORNIA PLAZA
THE VOICE: UNIVERSAL AND UNIFYING
PLAZA COMMONS, INC.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The sweet cry of a newborn heralds the beginning of a new life,
and it will be followed by years of exploring what yells, squeaks,
laughs, coos, songs, sonorous oratory and whispers can produce.
This summer, Grand Performances explores that most basic of
instruments—the human voice—as used by singers and actors
working on their own and in concert with others. This year we invited
artists who have created international reputations for themselves
by testing the limits of how the vocal traditions of their cultures
can fuse with others or be pushed into new and uncharted realms
or how their voices can give life to the thoughts and emotions of
literary artists and composers who need these talented performers
to bring their words and music to audiences. Throughout the season
audiences will glimpse history as voices interpret the work of
Emily Dickinson and Paul Robeson and taste contemporary creations
through the voices of Columbia’s Toto La Momposina, Canada’s
Tanya Tagaq, Los Angeles’ Inspiration House Poetry Choir and others
all as part of our series “The Voice: Universal and Unifying” supported
in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Natalie Park
CHAIR – MAGUIRE PROPERTIES,
ONE & TWO CALIFORNIA PLAZA
David B. Shahriari
VICE-CHAIR – OMNI LOS ANGELES HOTEL
Travis F. Addison
MAGUIRE PROPERTIES
GRAND PERFORMANCES
MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION
Grand Performances is a member of the following
professional associations that serve our field.
Arts for LA
Association of Performing Arts Presenters
California Arts Advocates
California Association of Nonprofits
California Presenters
Dance Resource Center
Dance/USA
Grand Avenue Partners
LA Inc.
North American World Music Coalition
Western Arts Alliance
MEDIA SPONSORS
You can support
Arts Education with an
Arts License Plate.
Go to www.cac.ca.gov.
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
MOVIES THAT MATTER
Grand Performances is pleased to present our Movies That
Matter series—films that promote social activism, that encourage
deeper thinking about the world community that we share with
people from so many different cultures and that serve as catalysts
for ongoing discussions about the issues that demand our attention
as world citizens living in an ever more challenging times.
PA I D
LOS ANGELES, CA
PERMIT NO. 3828
MUSIC, MOVEMENT, MEANING
Please note the specially marked MMM events on the
schedule. These programs will be followed by facilitated audience
discussions designed to give everyone participating the opportunity
to share reactions to the presentations and to discuss the different
“messages” that people get from these performances. In a
community as diverse as Los Angeles, it is inevitable that different
people will “see” different things in the performance. The Music,
Movement and Meaning program is your opportunity to talk with
other audience members about the performance you have
experienced. Everyone is welcome—please plan on participating.
2009 SEASON OFFICIAL
MEDIA SPONSOR
SPECIAL EVENTS SPONSORS
350 South
Grand Av
Curren
t Resid
enue, Suit
ent
e
ngeles,
A-4, Los A
California
90071
300 – 350 S. GRAND AVENUE, LOS ANGELES
California Plaza parking is $7.50 after 5 PM on weekdays and all day Saturdays and Sundays on
Grand Performances event dates. We suggest carpooling.
FROM THE HARBOR FREEWAY (110) NORTH OR SOUTHBOUND
Exit Fourth Street, staying on the left. Turn left onto Olive Street. The California Plaza parking
facility is located on the left.
FROM THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY (101) NORTHBOUND
Exit Grand Avenue. Turn right on Grand Avenue. Turn left onto 1st Street. Turn right onto Olive Street.
Straight on Olive Street. California Plaza parking facility is located on the right.
FROM THE HOLLYWOOD FREEWAY (101) SOUTHBOUND
Exit Temple Street. Turn left onto Temple Street. Make first right turn to Hope Street. Turn left onto
1st Street. Turn right onto Olive Street. Straight on Olive Street. California Plaza parking facility is
located on the right.
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 @ 8 PM
WHICH WAY HOME
SATURDAY, JUNE 13 @ 7 PM
THE MUSIC OF
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Begin your summer musical journey with composer
Bear McCreary's live performance of the critically acclaimed
original score for the award-winning drama series "Battlestar
Galactica." He and his team of world class musicians lead the
jump from the small screen to the concert stage via a
thunderous blend of percussive, orchestral, rock and world
music influences. McCreary's iconic score, "the most innovative
music on TV today" (Variety ), will thrill fans of all musical
genres in this one-of-a-kind event.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 @ 8 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 20 @ 8 PM
CITY OF LOS ANGELES (COLA)
ARTISTS PROJECT
FRIDAY: Lionel Popkin, Bruce Bauman and Cheng-Chieh Yu
SATURDAY: Alejandra Flores, Gloria Enedina Alvarez
and Houman Pourmhedi
Cheng-Chieh Yu’s imaginative solo choreography for Dancing
Mother Courage explores the themes of feminism and martiality,
questioning women’s roles and relationships to martial cultures.
There Is An Elephant In This Solo is Lionel Popkin’s rich and
contradictory work that offers metaphors on identity and what
truly lies beneath—all performed in a fluidly bulky elephant
costume. Award-winning author Bruce Bauman’s staged reading
accompanied by female voice brings to life the written word,
while Persian classical santur master Houman Pourmehdi uses
spoken word and music to examine his personal history and the
centuries-old umbilical connection to his homeland. Writer and
visual artist Gloria Enedina Alvarez crosses borders and generations
with her thought-provoking TierraCentro: Echoing Lines/Grabados
entre Memorias. Artist and spoken word performer Alejandra Flores
brings some of today’s most sobering and visceral news headlines
front-and-center in a solo presentation.
PLEASE NOTE: MATURE CONTENT AND STRONG LANGUAGE IN
SOME PERFORMANCES. COLA Fellowship performances are part of the
Department of Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Grant Program.
Executive produced by John Malkovich's Mr. Mudd
Productions, this unprecedented, revelatory documentary
(directed by Rebecca Cammisa), follows three unaccompanied
children on a harrowing odyssey that takes them from their homes
in Latin America, through Mexico with one mighty shepherding
hope: to reach the United States, where they can either
reunite with their own families who made the journey before
them, or create new lives for themselves.
DASH ROUTE B (CHINATOWN – FINANCIAL DISTRICT)
Runs from 5:50am – 6:30pm, every 5 minutes weekdays. For further information please call
213-808-2273 or visit the website at www.ladottransit.com
METRO RAIL
From the Metro Rail RED Line, exit at Pershing Square and leave by the north stairs leading to 4th
and Hill Streets. California Plaza is located one block away at 4th and Olive Streets. For further
information please call 1-800-COMMUTE.
Presented in Association with Los Angeles Film Festival.
1 One California Plaza
2 Two California Plaza
3 Watercourt
4 Spiral Court
5 Omni Los Angeles Hotel
6 MOCA
7 Museum Tower
8 Colburn School of
Performing Arts
9 Wells Fargo Center
P Parking Entrances
THURSDAY, JULY 9 @ 8 PM
MUSICOLOGY 301: WITH HAL DAVID
If you have ever had a lyric running through your head,
it is likely that you have heard the work of Hal David—the
Grammy Award/Oscar-winning lyricist who, most famously, gave
voice to music by Burt Bacharach sung by America’s most popular
singers for over a half a century. Join us as musicologist Alan
Warner converses with this national legend as they talk about
putting the human voice into the music we have all heard
on radio, in films and on Broadway.
FRIDAY, JULY 10 @ NOON
ROCKY DAWUNI
Socially conscious Afro roots Reggae music from L.A.-based
sensation Rocky Dawuni, who has been hailed as “Ghana’s
Bob Marley” by New Nation, England’s leading influential
Afro-Asian weekly newspaper.
FRIDAY, JULY 10 @ 8 PM
ROCKY DAWUNI, MC RAÏ
Acoustic world reggae sound, and rockin’ Raï inflected electro pop
meet on stage to create a global musical feast.
SATURDAY, JULY 11 @ 8 PM
BUIKA & PERLA BATALLA
Buika is a Spanish singer of Equatorial Guinean heritage.
Jazz, bolero, flamenco, funk—all of these genres are
fluidly woven together, then layered with her husky, sensual
voice, and an electric stage presence. Perla Batalla fuses
traditional Mexican mestiza sounds with an eclectic mix of
bluesy ballads, alternative folk and her rich, beautiful voice.
James A. Doolittle Foundation
Downtown Center Business
The 2009 Grand Performances Season would
Improvement District
not take place without the support from these
Gary Platt Manufacturing
corporate partners of California Plaza.
Graphics & Beyond
Maguire Properties
Greenberg Glusker
Omni Los Angeles Hotel
The James Irvine Foundation
Fletcher Jones Foundation
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Mendocino Farms
The Community Redevelopment
Agency of the City of Los Angeles Mexican Consulate
Ralphs
Department of Cultural Affairs,
Lloyd E. Rigler – Lawrence E.
City of Los Angeles
Deutsch Foundation
Los Angeles County Arts Commission
Wells Fargo
National Endowment for the Arts
Xerox Foundation
CALIFORNIA PLAZA
CORPORATE PARTNERS
Many audience members don’t realize that Grand
Performances is an independent non-profit, with
only 7% of our budget coming from government arts
agencies. More than ever, significant support, from
audience members like you, is critical to this year’s
world-class programming at Grand Performances.
If you haven’t already become “friends” with our Red
Buckets, they will be attending all of the performances
again this season. Our Red Buckets are a way for
audience members to donate by cash or check during
the performances, but while the Red Bucket dollars
are very important to us, they only cover 5% of our
overall fund-raising goal. The rest is left to the
generous individuals, corporations, and foundations
noted in this brochure.
We would love to see your name in these pages next
season and discuss with you the many other benefits
of becoming a donor. For information on Grand
Performances Jewels: Grand Performances’ individual
giving program, or on Corporate or Foundation giving,
please contact Alice Platt at (213) 687-2190.
Contributions of any amount are always welcome and
much appreciated. Please make your gift today!
Donations are fully tax-deductible and can be sent to:
Grand Performances
350 South Grand Avenue, Suite A-4
Los Angeles, CA 90071
CORPORATIONS &
FOUNDATIONS
Aaroe Associates Charitable
Foundation
The Robert M. Adams Foundation
AEG
The Ahmanson Foundation
Bank of the West
Employees Community Fund of
Boeing California
California Community Foundation
The Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
Casa Cocina y Cantina
City National Bank
Concord Document Services, Inc.
The Walt Disney Company
RUBY | $1,000
Zayda & Craig Bloomgarden
Gordon Crawford
V. Dunlap
Joanna Elliott & Jonathan Wechsler
Mark Flaisher
Jan Geringer & Mitch Fogelman
Deborah Glusker
Ayahlushim & Chris Hammond
Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch
Scott Kelley
Misty Sanford & Gideon Kracov
Wendy Leitman & Jonathan Harris
Anne & Rick Llewellyn
Roella & James Louie
James Ortiz & Richard Malott
GRAND PERFORMANCES
Eleanor Portilla Maynard
JEWELS
Jon Neudstadter
THE GRAND JEWELS | $10,000+ Laurel Newmark
Anonymous (2)
Alice Platt & Dan Newmark
The Macdonald Family
Tut & Gary Platt
Jennifer & Robert D. Roback
DIAMOND | $5,000
Chris Safarian
Anonymous
Kristin & Tim Smith
Dorothy L. Herbst
Jay Stark
Ginny Mancini
Eva & Marc Stern
EMERALD | $2,500
Gary Stewart
Victoria Kirsch & Michael Alexander Kathy & Fred Stites
Margaret Adams & Joel Edstrom Francine Lipsman-Tansey &
Heather & Paul Haaga
Michael Tansey
Leigh Ann Hahn
Mark Vargas
Karen Molleson & Lowell Hill
Martha & John Welborne
Anne & Jim Rothenberg
Dana & Gary Wexler
Clara & Larry Yust
Barbara & Stanley Zax
Roy Zuloaga
Aileen Adams & Geoff Cowan
Byron Gross & Ricky Tovim
Judith Siegel &
Michael Goldstein
SAPPHIRE | $500
Barbara
Enloe Hadsell &
Nancy & Peter Auerbach
Douglas Hadsell
Mark Baker
Robin & Douglas Hinchliffe
Jean Francois Cote
Lucia Cha &
Hal & Eunice David
Jerrold Asao Hiura
Michael J. Downer
Susan Jaffee
Frank Ellsworth
Julia Newton & Michael Feibish Liz & Glenn Johnson
Noemi & Marcelino Ford-Livene Steven Kanter
Rosalie Kirsch
Thadeus Frazier-Reed
Marie Lamotte
Leonard R. Garner, Jr.
Steven Lavine
Bobbie & Philip Glusker
Lee Lawlor
Susan & Steven Glusker
Sheelagh Boyd & Larry Layne Susie North
Mimi Perloff
Michelle & Richard Lewis
Guilherme Rafols
Janice Melton
Judith & James Roach
Terry & Jeffrey Paule
Stefani & Milt Rosenberg
Dean Porter
Heidi Duckler & Daniel Rosenfeld Mark Saltzman &
Walter Hubert
Carol & Carl Selkin
Kristen Schwarz
Jean Singh
Laurie F. Allen & Michael F. Wolf Terry & Madeline Schwarz
Mara Simmons
Gerald A.Tomsic
Alison Morgan &
TOPAZ | $250
Parke Skelton
Shaindy & Seth Alexander
Bonnie Voland
Janelle & Jasen Boyington
Hayley Voland
Alicia G. & Edward E. Clark
And the many other “Jewels” who
Florence & David Conrad
send checks and drop donations
into our Red Buckets.
FRIDAY, JULY 17 @ NOON
JUSTO ALMARIO’S
AFRO-COLOMBIAN ENSEMBLE
Native Colombian and Los Angeles resident, Justo Almario
brings his Colombian, Afro-Cuban, jazz-funk fusion ensemble
for a tasty noon-time treat.
FRIDAY, JULY 17 @ 8 PM
CUCU DIAMANTES & WATCHA CLAN
FRIDAY, JUNE 26 @ 8 PM
WHICH WAY HOME
SATURDAY, JUNE 13 @ 7 PM
THE MUSIC OF
BATTLESTAR GALACTICA
Begin your summer musical journey with composer
Bear McCreary's live performance of the critically acclaimed
original score for the award-winning drama series "Battlestar
Galactica." He and his team of world class musicians lead the
jump from the small screen to the concert stage via a
thunderous blend of percussive, orchestral, rock and world
music influences. McCreary's iconic score, "the most innovative
music on TV today" (Variety ), will thrill fans of all musical
genres in this one-of-a-kind event.
FRIDAY, JUNE 19 @ 8 PM
SATURDAY, JUNE 20 @ 8 PM
CITY OF LOS ANGELES (COLA)
ARTISTS PROJECT
FRIDAY: Lionel Popkin, Bruce Bauman and Cheng-Chieh Yu
SATURDAY: Alejandra Flores, Gloria Enedina Alvarez
and Houman Pourmhedi
Cheng-Chieh Yu’s imaginative solo choreography for Dancing
Mother Courage explores the themes of feminism and martiality,
questioning women’s roles and relationships to martial cultures.
There Is An Elephant In This Solo is Lionel Popkin’s rich and
contradictory work that offers metaphors on identity and what
truly lies beneath—all performed in a fluidly bulky elephant
costume. Award-winning author Bruce Bauman’s staged reading
accompanied by female voice brings to life the written word,
while Persian classical santur master Houman Pourmehdi uses
spoken word and music to examine his personal history and the
centuries-old umbilical connection to his homeland. Writer and
visual artist Gloria Enedina Alvarez crosses borders and generations
with her thought-provoking TierraCentro: Echoing Lines/Grabados
entre Memorias. Artist and spoken word performer Alejandra Flores
brings some of today’s most sobering and visceral news headlines
front-and-center in a solo presentation.
PLEASE NOTE: MATURE CONTENT AND STRONG LANGUAGE IN
SOME PERFORMANCES. COLA Fellowship performances are part of the
Department of Cultural Affairs’ Cultural Grant Program.
Executive produced by John Malkovich's Mr. Mudd
Productions, this unprecedented, revelatory documentary
(directed by Rebecca Cammisa), follows three unaccompanied
children on a harrowing odyssey that takes them from their homes
in Latin America, through Mexico with one mighty shepherding
hope: to reach the United States, where they can either
reunite with their own families who made the journey before
them, or create new lives for themselves.
Presented in Association with Los Angeles Film Festival.
Cucu Diamantes, firecracker co-founder of New York-based Grammynominated Latin fusion band Yerba Buena steps out with her own solo
ensemble. She will charm, seduce and entice in this performance.
Marseilles, France-based Watcha Clan’s, drum 'n' bass and reggae
rhythmic templates form the backbone of their sound. Mix in Balkan
Gypsy brass, Ashkenazi/Sephardic flavors, and the group’s multi-lingual
lyrics and what emerges is a thick, trance-like stew of body moving music.
ALBITA
Grammy-winning Cuban-American singer, producer and composer
Albita is "…the reincarnation of a 1930's European chanteuse, a
Berlin Cabaret singer transfused with Latin blood." So says Los
Angeles Times writer Mike Clary. One would be hard pressed to find
any statements to the contrary. It will be standing room only for this
event because your feet will command you to dance!
THURSDAY, JULY 9 @ 8 PM
If you have ever had a lyric running through your head,
it is likely that you have heard the work of Hal David—the
Grammy Award/Oscar-winning lyricist who, most famously, gave
voice to music by Burt Bacharach sung by America’s most popular
singers for over a half a century. Join us as musicologist Alan
Warner converses with this national legend as they talk about
putting the human voice into the music we have all heard
on radio, in films and on Broadway.
THURSDAY, JULY 23 @ 8 PM
MUSICOLOGY 302:
PAUL ROBESON – HUMANITY’S VOICE
UCLA Lecturer Paul Von Blum sheds light on renaissance man
Robeson giving voice to theatre, opera and spirituals as well as to
civic and human rights causes while addressing the rising demand
for much of Africa’s liberation from colonial control.
FRIDAY, JULY 24 @ NOON & 8 PM
FRIDAY, JULY 10 @ NOON
ROCKY DAWUNI
Socially conscious Afro roots Reggae music from L.A.-based
sensation Rocky Dawuni, who has been hailed as “Ghana’s
Bob Marley” by New Nation, England’s leading influential
Afro-Asian weekly newspaper.
FRIDAY, JULY 10 @ 8 PM
ROCKY DAWUNI, MC RAÏ
Acoustic world reggae sound, and rockin’ Raï inflected electro pop
meet on stage to create a global musical feast.
SATURDAY, JULY 11 @ 8 PM
BUIKA & PERLA BATALLA
Buika is a Spanish singer of Equatorial Guinean heritage.
Jazz, bolero, flamenco, funk—all of these genres are
fluidly woven together, then layered with her husky, sensual
voice, and an electric stage presence. Perla Batalla fuses
traditional Mexican mestiza sounds with an eclectic mix of
bluesy ballads, alternative folk and her rich, beautiful voice.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 @ NOON & 8 PM
LO CÒR DE LA PLANA
TOTO LA MOMPOSINA Y
SUS TAMBORES
The all-male French acapella group Lo Còr de la Plana is unlike
any other band touring today. The music is sung in a disappearing
language called Occitan. The voices are sometimes augmented
with hand drums and tambourines with vocal melodies related
to Arabic music, Gregorian chants, and percussive call-andresponse hintings from Africa.
The music of coastal Colombia comes alive in Toto la Momposina’s
energetic stage performance. Handclapping, guitarron, gaita (a cactus wood
flute with a bagpipe sound)—all are augmented with pulsating cumbia
style sounds, touches of Cuban son, Afro Latin beats and indigenous
Indian music, to deliver the hypnotic polyrhythmic traditional sounds.
FRIDAY, JULY 31 @ 8 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 @ 8 PM
LO CÒR DE LA PLANA &
FISHTANK ENSEMBLE
See Friday, July 31 description for Lo Còr de la Plana.
LA Weekly calls Fishtank Ensemble “…the rompin', stompin'
leaders of cross-pollinated Gypsy music.” This is a wild
experience you’ll never forget.
THE BAD PLUS
“Better than anyone at mixing the sensibilities of post-60's jazz and
indie rock.....” The New York Times. The Bad Plus is an
audacious, rule-breaking jazz trio that crunches and at times
pulverizes swing to let improvisational freedom shine. Mingus, Monk,
all the fearless fathers of jazz would have been proud of this forward
thinking group that has the temerity to re-invent classic rock tunes
such as Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” and Nirvana’s “Smell’s Like Teen
Spirit.” Wendy Lewis, Minneapolis vocalist, poet and frontwoman for
indie-rock band Redstart adds another daring dimension.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 @ 7 PM
MENTIRITAS, LA SANTA CECILIA
& MR. VALLENATO
Take a Los Angeles journey through Latin America with the
tongue-in-cheek, dance-party cumbia, ska, R&B, banda sounds of
Mentiritas, and the forceful vocal styling of La Santa Cecilia’s La
Marisoul as she sings a smorgasbord of classic and
contemporary pan-Latin songs. It’s cumbia and Colombian roots
music, but most of all it’s Mr. Vallenato’s salt-of-the-earth
accordion driven sound that conjures images of dense bar-rooms,
and smoldering bodies swaying in the tropical heat.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 @ NOON & 8 PM
HAEGUMPLUS
Award-winning Korean-born musician Kang Eun-Il is regarded as the
definitive force behind the contemporary use of the traditional
haegum—a two-stringed instrument with a rod like neck attached to
a hollow wooden box. What sets her group HaegumPlus apart is the
daring addition of non-traditional music genres (jazz and European
classical) and western instruments, to create distinctive lyrical
sounds with a universal appeal.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 @ 8 PM
TANYA TAGAQ & HYPERPOTAMUS
SATURDAY, JULY 25 @ 8 PM
Groundbreaking Inuk throat singer, Tanya Tagaq makes music that
is both unusual and universally appealing on a most primal level.
In performance she emits highly expressive, oftentimes unnerving
visceral sounds that push the boundaries of emotions to the
delight of the audience. Hyperpotamus is a solo voice with four
microphones, a loop station pedal and gallons of water. Huh?
You’ve got to see it to believe it.
CURUMIN & NOVALIMA
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 @ 8 PM
Japanese-Brazilian Luciano Nakata Albuquerque—front-man for
Curumin—happily mixes breezy ballads, 70s Brazilian pop, and
off-kilter soul, with reggae, greasy spoon funk and hip hop.
Traditional Afro-Peruvian marinera folkloric rhythms meets hip hop
beats, funk, salsa and dub in Novalima’s progressive, innovative
sound. Get ready to dive into Latin America’s 21st century sound.
KB SOLOMON—
SPEAK OF ME AS I AM
Paul Robeson, the renowned singer, actor, lawyer, athlete and
political activist is stirringly chronicled in music and words in
KB Solomon’s one-man show. This presentation honors the legacy of
C. Bernard Jackson who we honor annually for his contributions to our city.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 @ 8 PM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 29 @ 8 PM
EL COLEGIO DEL CUERPO
A fusion of modern dance vocabularies and Afro-Indian Caribbean tradition
makes Cartegena, Colombia-based Colegio del Cuerpo one of the most
interesting dance companies coming out of South America. With a core
complement that is from some of the poorest barrios, what unfolds on stage
is oftentimes some of the most breathtaking physical dance expressions.
ROKIA TRAORÉ
One of the most formidable stage performers in today's African music
world, Malian singer-songwriter Traoré is known for her authentic roots
sound. Her cool, urban, Afro-soul fuses North African rhythms,
French/western pop style sounds with traditional arrangements.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 @ 8 PM
INSPIRATION HOUSE POETRY CHOIR:
VOICEMUSIC FOR WHOLE LIVING
SATURDAY, JULY 18 @ 8 PM
Our fundraiser takes place earlier this evening. Preferred seating for
fundraiser attendees. See website for details.
MUSICOLOGY 301: WITH HAL DAVID
FRIDAY, JULY 31 @ NOON
Curated by Peter J. Harris, the program will feature sets by a male choir and
a female choir, culminating in a finale of the Whole, blending the VoiceMusic
of all poets, accompanied guitarist Curtis Robertson, Jr., and cellist Maria
Elena Gaitan's virtuosic improvisation. The poets read their work while
musicians respond, blending words, intonations, audience response and
dynamic silence into a sonic tapestry both entrancing and exhilarating
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 @ NOON
ADAAWE
This six-member international group of women—from Kenya, Morocco,
Brazil and the United States—blend drums, percussions and voices with
high-octane funk, Gospel-infused lyrics and pure joy.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 @ 8 PM
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 @ 8 PM
EMILY DICKINSON:
THIS AND MY HEART BESIDES
Actress Linda Kelsey (“Lou Grant”), soprano Anne Marie Ketchum and
pianist Victoria Kirsch combine their talents to explore the worlds of
American literary icon Emily Dickinson through her poetry and letters.
This moving theatrical presentation also features songs by Aaron
Copland, Lori Laitman, Tom Cipullo and Steve Heitzeg.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12 @ 8 PM
THE LARAMIE PROJECT EPILOGUE
The Laramie Project Epilogue is a staged reading of a new
play being presented on Broadway and various venues across the
U.S. that honors the memory of murdered gay college student Matthew
Shepard. This 11th anniversary presentation seeks to bring together
communities to educate, debate, inspire and raise our
collective consciousness of civil rights, violence and bigotry.
RAHIM ALHAJ
Grammy nominated Iraqi virtuoso oud player Rahim AlHaj has
recorded with flamenco, jazz and rock musicians, including Michael
Stipe and R.E.M. For this performance he is joined by renowned
percussionist Souhail Kaspar.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 @ 8 PM
EL TREN FANTASMA
(THE GHOST TRAIN ) MEXICO, 1927
El Tren Fantasma was directed by Gabriel Moreno, one of Mexico’s
pioneering and most engaging silent film directors. Tonight’s film was
re-edited by Filmoteca de la UNAM using original footage to reconstruct
lost sequences with archival photographs. A new score and sound
track has been electronically composed by Mexico City native
Bernardo Feldman to give us a distinctive and updated experience.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23 @ 8 PM
NÖMADAK TX
Nömadak Tx is a luscious musical travelogue that follows
two Basque percussionists taking their txalaparta—
a unique super marimba played by two people—to India, Lapland,
Mongolia and the Saharan desert to meet and fuse their music with
that of remote nomadic peoples who each live in unique locations.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 28 @ NOON
EL COLEGIO DEL CUERPO
The company will use the entire plaza as it brings the work to our
audience in a special lunchtime presentation that emulates its street
performances in Cartegena, Colombia.
**Due to the nature of live performances, this schedule is subject to change.
Please call our concert line at 213-687-2159 to confirm events or to be added to
the mailing list. **Unauthorized use of recording equipment of any kind during
any performance is prohibited. Audience members who may need to use phonic
ear sound amplification system, please notify us 48 hours in advance.
NON PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
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LOS ANGELES, CA
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