Michael Nemeroff
CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
David C. Bohnett
CHAIRMAN, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Arnold S. Rosenstein
EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR & ASSISTANT TREASURER
Honorable Vicki Reynolds
VICE CHAIR, DEVELOPMENT
Ronald D. Rosen
VICE CHAIR, OPERATIONS & SECRETARY
Susan Strauss
VICE CHAIR, PLANNING & ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Jonathan A. Victor TREASURER
Arnon Adar
Ahsan Aijaz
Debbie Allen
Wallis Annenberg
Pamela Beck
John Bendheim
Thomas J. Blumenthal
MeraLee Goldman
Bruce Goldsmith
Carol Goldsmith
Halle Hammond
Chad Hummel
Cinny Kennard
Donald P. Kivowitz
Agnes Lew
Mark Louchheim
Sandra Barros Lowy
Linda May
Daphna Nazarian
Gretchen Pace
Arline Pepp
Ron Simms
Stephanie Vahn
Gregory Annenberg
Weingarten
Grant Withers
Richard S. Ziman
FOUNDING CHAIRMAN
Bram Goldsmith*
FOUNDING PRESIDENT
Paul Selwyn*
CHAIRMAN EMERITUS
Jerry Magnin
PRESIDENT EMERITUS
Richard Rosenzweig*
LIFETIME TRUSTEES
Les Bider | Eunice David
Max Salter* | Luanne Wells* *IN
On behalf of The Wallis’ Board of Directors, I am pleased to introduce our patrons and community to the new Executive Director and CEO of The Wallis, Robert van Leer.
Robert is an exceptionally accomplished arts leader with high level experience at renowned arts organizations in the United States and Europe. His most recent role was Senior Vice President of Artistic Planning for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Robert began his arts administration career at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York and worked in London as an executive administrator at the Wigmore Hall, then as Head of Music and Arts Projects at the Barbican Centre. Subsequently, he became Managing Director of Nederlands Dans Theatre (NDT), where he re-envisioned the mission of the company as a leading international creative ensemble.
Robert is well positioned to lead The Wallis on our mission to be a hub of relevant, dynamic performing arts, education and civic life for the Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles communities. With his world-class experience and expertise, we are confident that Robert will build upon the solid foundation that we have achieved over the past nine years.
The Wallis would like to extend its appreciation to our many patrons and donors; the City of Beverly Hills and its Councilmembers (Mayor Julian Gold, Lili Bosse, John Mirisch, Lester Friedman and Sharona Nazarian); and our dedicated Board of Directors for the contributions and feedback that informed our global search for The Wallis’ new leader. Many thanks to my fellow search committee members, David Bohnett, Cinny Kennard, Erin Mahan, Daphna Nazarian, Susan Strauss and Jonathan Victor, for their tireless efforts and keen focus, as well as to Wallis Annenberg and Debbie Allen for their insight.
Please join me in welcoming Robert to The Wallis and his new Beverly Hills/Los Angeles home, and turn the page to see Robert’s own message to you.
Enjoy the program and your time at Beverly Hills’ civic treasure, The Wallis.
Michael Nemeroff CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDSpring is here - and I am thrilled to have arrived in Los Angeles to work with the wonderful team here at The Wallis and to make my home in this world-class city.
The arts provide us all with common ground, a place to come together and share ideas and perspectives. As I have moved across the globe, from London to The Hague, and now from Washington, D.C. to L.A., my deep belief in the power of the arts to build bridges and foster dialogue and understanding has only grown stronger.
The vision of The Wallis speaks eloquently of the world to which we aspire, “in which sharing stories, creativity, and the arts are celebrated as core elements of the human experience.”
I am deeply committed to this vision and invite you to join in the journey. This month we have a wonderful and diverse line up of events from crowd-favorite Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone, to jazz trailblazer Ulysses Owens, Jr. and opera star J’Nai Bridges making their Wallis debut, and so much more. I am also very proud to see Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie on the Bram Goldsmith stage, a production from the Kennedy Center, my own most recent professional home.
I invite you to try something which might be new to you; I have been fortunate to have worked across the spectrum of music, theater and dance, and this has taught me that the boundaries of form are increasingly fluid. The Wallis provides you the opportunity to explore new forms and creative languages. Be brave.
I look forward to meeting many of you at an upcoming performance, gathering or event, and to hear of your stories and experiences - we all have stories to share.
Robert van Leer EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO
MUSIC AND LYRICS BY George Gershwin & Ira Gershwin
LIGHTING DESIGN
Michael T. Gilliam
BOOK BY Hershey Felder
PRODUCTION MANAGER/SOUND DESIGN
Erik Carstensen
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR Trevor Hay
DIRECTED BY Joel Zwick
APRIL 13 - 16, 2023
Bram Goldsmith Theater
Running Time: Approximately two hours, no intermission.
Originally developed at the Tiffany Theatre, Los Angeles
Produced on Broadway at the Helen Hayes Theatre
Produced in London’s West End at the Duchess Theatre
The worldwide copyright to the works of George and Ira Gershwin for this presentation are licensed by the Gershwin Family. The rights for the name, likeness, and life story of George Gershwin used in this presentation are licensed by the George Gershwin Family Trust. GERSHWIN ® and GEORGE GERSHWIN ® are the registered trademarks of Gershwin Enterprises.
The Gershwin, Godowsky and Strunsky families; Roberta Korus, Elliot Brown, Ray White at the Library of Congress; Al and Kathy Checchi, Ken and Katrina Carlson, Skip and Jon Victor, Peg and Rick Golden, Jerry and Judy Weisfogel, the Cotsen families; Marty and Susan Jannol, Brian Novack, Matthew Walley; Susan Myerberg, Karen Racanelli and MJ Bogatin Esq.
Moses and Susan Libitzky, Josef and Margot Lakonishok, Stephen and Jacqueline Swire, Daniel and Phyllis Epstein, Tom Wirtshafter; Jeffrey Kallberg, Amy Carstensen, Maria and Byron Janis; Dr. Benjamin Salisbury, Natalie Niles, and Steinway & Sons; Kenneth and Maria Cole.
With thanks to the team at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts - Kurt Swanson, Joel Hile, Coy Middlebrook, Michelle Wiesel, Chandra Jackson, Vanessa Mejia, Samantha Else, Lauren Wemischner, the box office and house staff.
Baci e tanti abbracci a la nostra famiglia in Italia –Tomasso, Eva, Elena, Alice, Sergio et al.
An important thank you to Lee and Claire Kaufman for their continued support and friendship.
A heartfelt thank you to my team of devoted artists without whom none of our work would be possible, especially Erik Carstensen, Michael Gilliam, Tammy Globerman, Trevor Hay, Annette Nixon, Samantha Voxakis and the entire Greek Family.
A special thank you to Candice and Joel Zwick, and Joel Zwick “Alone”
Tammy, Avery and Kiley
And of course, Kim and doggie Leo (xo)
The production thanks Steinway & Sons for their courtesy in providing the concert grand piano.
HERSHEY FELDER (George Gershwin/Playwright) American Theatre Magazine has said, “Hershey Felder is in a category all his own.” Following 28 years of continuous stage work and over 6,000 live performances throughout the U.S. and abroad, Hershey Felder created Live from Florence: An Arts Broadcasting Company, which has produced eighteen theatrical films to date. They include the recently-released The Assembly and Musical Tales in the Venetian Jewish Ghetto; A Musical Conversation about Stephen Sondheim; Chopin and Liszt in Paris; Violetta, the story of Verdi’s Traviata; Dante and Beatrice; Mozart and Figaro in Vienna; the world premiere musicals Nicholas, Anna & Sergei; the story of Sergei Rachmaninoff; Puccini, the story of famed opera composer Giacomo Puccini; Before Fiddler, a musical story about writer Sholem Aleichem; Great American Songs and the Stories Behind Them, and Leonard Bernstein and the Israel Philharmonic, a documentary. Two seasons of programming are currently available at www.hersheyfelder.net. Hershey has given performances of his solo productions at some of the world’s most prestigious theaters and has consistently broken box office records. His shows include George Gershwin Alone (Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theatre, West End’s Duchess Theatre); Monsieur Chopin; Beethoven; Maestro (Leonard Bernstein); Franz Liszt in Musik, Lincoln: An American Story, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Our Great Tchaikovsky, and A Paris Love Story and Chopin in Paris. His compositions and recordings include Aliyah, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra; Fairytale, a musical; Les Anges de Paris, Suite for Violin and Piano; Song Settings; Saltimbanques for Piano and Orchestra; Etudes Thematiques for Piano; and An American Story for Actor and
Orchestra. Hershey is the adaptor, director, and designer for the internationally performed play-with-music The Pianist of Willesden Lane with Steinway artist Mona Golabek; producer and designer for the musical Louis and Keely: ‘Live’ at the Sahara, directed by Taylor Hackford; and writer and director for Flying Solo, featuring opera legend Nathan Gunn. Hershey has operated a full-service production company since 2001. He has been a scholar-inresidence at Harvard University’s Department of Music and is married to the Rt. Hon. Kim Campbell.
JOEL ZWICK (Director) directed My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time. Mr. Zwick directed the Broadway production of George Gershwin Alone; he and Hershey Felder have also collaborated on on Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven and Maestro. Mr. Zwick has directed Broadway, OffBroadway and Broadway touring companies and began his theatrical career at La Mama E.T.C., as director of the La Mama Plexus. New York productions have included Dance with Me (Tony nomination), Shenandoah (Broadway national tour), Oklahoma (national tour) and Cold Storage (American Place Theater). He acted in the original New York production of MacBird and directed Esther (Promenade Theater, NY), Merry-Go-Round (Chicago and Las Vegas), Last Chance Saloon and Woycek (West End). Mr. Zwick is recognized as one of Hollywood’s most prolific directors of episodic television, having the direction of over 650 episodes to his credit. He has taught drama at Yale University, Brooklyn College, Queens College, Wheaton College, and the University of Southern California and is a graduate (B.A., M.A.) of Brooklyn College.
TREVOR HAY (Associate Director) Directed the world premieres of An American Story for Actor and Orchestra, Abe Lincoln’s Piano, Hershey Felder as Franz Liszt in Musik, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Our Great Tchaikovsky, and A Paris Love Story. He is Associate Director for Mona Golabek’s The Pianist of Willesden Lane, George Gershwin Alone, and Hershey Felder in Maestro. Former member of the historic Old Globe Theatre in San Diego where, at the age of nine, his first position was selling Old Globe memorabilia. Over the next 32 years, Mr. Hay went on to various aspects of production on more than 80 presentations, including the Broadway productions of Jack O’Brien’s Damn Yankees, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and Twyla Tharpe’s The Times They Are A-Changin’. Included in his 23 seasons at the Old Globe were eleven seasons of the Summer Shakespeare Festival Repertory, as well as work on Tracy Letts’ August: Osage County, directed by Sam Gold, and Hershey Felder’s George Gershwin Alone, Monsieur Chopin and Maestro.
MICHAEL GILLIAM (Lighting Design) Broadway: Bonnie And Clyde, Brooklyn, Big River, Stand-Up Tragedy. The West End: George Gershwin Alone. Off-Broadway: Cagney The Musical, Mr. Joy, The Best Is Yet to Come, Striking 12, Blue, End of The World Party, Zooman and The Sign, Menopause The Musical. National Tours: Spamilton, Looped, Peter Pan, Brooklyn, Guys and Dolls, Big River. Extensive work in many regional theaters across the United States. Awards: Los Angeles Ovation Awards, Dramalogue Awards, Garland Awards, San Diego Critics’ Circle Awards and the 1999 Career Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle.
ERIK CARSTENSEN (Sound Designer/Production Manager) has worked for Eighty-Eight Entertainment since 2008. He has served as sound designer on Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, Our Great Tchaikovsky, A Paris Love Story, Maestro, Louis and Keely ‘Live’ at the Sahara, An American Story, Beethoven As I Knew Him (Ovation Award Winner), The Pianist of Willesden Lane (Ovation Award Nomination), and numerous other productions. Formerly, he was the master sound technician at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and was production engineer on over sixty productions, including Allegiance, Robin and the Seven Hoods, A Catered Affair, Hershey Felder as George Gershwin Alone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chita Rivera-A Dancer’s Life, Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, The Full Monty, Dirty Blonde, and Floyd Collins.
TAMMY GLOBERMAN (Associate Producer) Based in Los Angeles, Tammy joined the Hershey Felder Presents team in the summer of 2020. She worked with Hershey on his earlier projects in the late 1990’s and 2000’s before working with talent agencies specializing in below-the-line talent for film and television. After taking some time off to be with her two children, she is excited to be working again with Hershey and his team.
LEE KAUFMAN (Associate Producer) is a business entrepreneur and musicologist with an interest in classical music that extends from Gregorian Chants in the Middle Ages through to the modern composers. George Gershwin has always been of special interest to him for the part the composer has played in bringing America into the classical culture. In addition to this association, Lee has been an active participant in many organizations promoting the performing arts.
SAMANTHA F. VOXAKIS (Director of Operations) Since shortly after joining the company in early 2004, Sam has been responsible for the day-to-day operations of Eighty-Eight LLC and Hershey Felder Presents. Prior to that, she spent twelve memorable years in the front office of the Baltimore Orioles. With special thanks to her family and Mr. Felder.
The award-winning Miró Quartet (Daniel Ching, violin; William Fedkenheuer, violin; John Largess, viola; Joshua Gindele, cello) is one of America’s most celebrated string quartets, having performed throughout the world for 25 years on prestigious concert stages. In its Wallis debut, the quartet reunites with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Kevin Puts, who has been hailed as one of the most important composers of his generation.
GET TICKETS:
310.746.4000 | TheWallis.org/Miro
& THE KENNEDY CENTER THEATER FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES ON TOUR PRESENTS
ADAPTED FROM THE BOOKS BY Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess
MUSIC BY Randy Preston
MUSIC SUPERVISION, ARRANGEMENTS & ORCHESTRATIONS
Mark G. Meadows
ILLUSTRATION
Tim Bowers
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER / DANCE CAPTAIN
MEET & GREET WITH KWAME ALEXANDER ON APRIL 23!
Join us after the final performance on Sun, April 23 for a book signing of Indigo Blume and the Garden City with Kwame Alexander. Books will be available for purchase.
Joey Blakely
CHOREOGRAPHY BY Breon Arzell
DIRECTED BY
Lili-Anne Brown
CREATIVE TEAM
Kevin Alexander, Delaney Bray, Priscilla Bruce, Dominic DeSalvio, Nadia Guevara, Mark Hamberger, Michelle Kozlak, Marsha LeBoeuf, Andrea “Dre” Moore, Mark Reiter, Arnel Sancianco, Alberto Segarra, Mollie Singer, Erik Teague, Channing Tucker
APRIL 22 - 23, 2023
Bram Goldsmith Theater
Running Time: One hour, no intermission.
This production is made possible by generous support from the Nemeroff family.
ACOUSTIC ROOSTER/DAD DANIEL RILEY
INDIGO BLUME ............................................................................................................ KANYSHA WILLIAMS
CHICKEE MINAJ/MOM LAUREN DAVIS
MISS DAIRY PARTON/SAMANTHA......................................................................................... CAITLIN WITTY
DUCK ELLINGTON/ELIJAH VAUGHN RYAN MIDDER*
MULES DAVIS/MR. WOODY JAYSEN WRIGHT
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR /LIGHTING SUPERVISOR
Montana Kern
ASST. TECHNICAL DIRECTOR/ SOUND SUPERVISOR
Liv Farley
PROPS/ WARDROBE SUPERVISOR
Arah Slagle
KEYBOARD
Mark G. Meadows
BASS
Zack Pride DRUMS
Carroll Dashiell III
VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION
Jordan LaSalle
ARTISTIC PRODUCER, KCTYA
Sean-Maurice Lynch
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND PRODUCTIONS
David Kilpatrick
ASSISTANT MANAGER, TYA PRODUCTION
Maribeth Weatherford
SENIOR PRESS REPRESENTATIVE FOR THEATER EDUCATION
Brendan Padgett
ASSISTANT MANAGER, MARKETING
Hayley McGuirl
TRUMPET
Joe Herrera
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION ACTIVATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Vanessa Thomas
MANAGER, KCACTF
Kelsey Mesa
MANAGER, MARKETING
Steven Dawson
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lena Salins
Commissioned by the Kennedy Center Education Division.
Support for Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume is provided by the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation, the Kimsey Endowment, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education.
LAUREN DAVIS (Chickee Minaj/Mom) hails from Baltimore and is excited to be a part of Acoustic Rooster. Her acting credits include Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (The Kennedy Center); Love’s Labour’s Lost, Romeo and Juliet, The Taming of the Shrew, and A Christmas Carol (Chesapeake Shakespeare Company); Corduroy, Akeelah and the Bee, Shrek the Musical, The Scarecrow and His Servant, Cinderella and Charlotte’s Web (Childrens Theatre Company); Oliver! (Theater Latté Da); Marcus; or the Secret of Sweet (Pillsbury House Theatre/ Guthrie Theater); Greensboro Four and American Song Book (The Smithsonian). Television credits include “America’s Most Wanted” (Lifetime). Most recently she directed the players of Olive Branch and Laurel Crown in a production of To Be A Solider and will be directing a production of MacBeth. She holds an M.F.A. from the Catholic University of America and a theater degree from Frostburg State. She would like to thank God and her family for their love and support.
VAUGHN RYAN MIDDER (Duck Ellington/Elijah) is very excited for his Wallis debut. Privileged to have been a part of the musical’s debut in 2021, Vaughn Ryan is thrilled to share this touching story with even more families throughout the country. Other credits include: The John F. Kennedy Center: A Wind in the Door, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963; Mosaic Theatre: The Emmett Till Trilogy, Native Son; Everyman Theatre: Sweat; Gala Hispanic Theatre: In the Heights en Español (Helen Hayes nomination); Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company: Black Side of the Moon; Adventure Theatre MTC National Tour: Three Little Birds; Constellation Theatre Company: Urinetown, Avenue Q (Helen Hayes Award); Studio Theatre: Choir Boy. Education: B.A. Theatre, University of Maryland, College Park. IG: @vaughn_ryan_ Black Lives Matter.
DANIEL RILEY (Acoustic Rooster/Dad): The Wallis debut. Daniel is excited to join the cast as Acoustic Rooster! Born and raised in Chicago. Favorite roles include Othello (Othello), Coalhouse Walker Jr. (Ragtime), and Narrator (Passing Strange). Jeff Award: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (Best Ensemble), Silver Telly Winner: Christmas Mass at Mercy Home (Use of Music). Featured on Dark Side of the Moon a Capella (VOCOMOTION Records). Regional theatre: Nina Simone: Four Women (MRT). Thanks to everyone at the Kennedy Center. Support live theater! “If music be the food of love, play on.”
KANYSHA WILLIAMS (Indigo Blume) is a Washington Metropolitan Area native who is thrilled to be making her Kennedy Center TYA debut! Kanysha is a graduate of the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C. and George Mason University. Theatrical credits include: Sister Act, The Color Purple, Always...Patsy Cline, Aida, Little Shop of Horrors, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and more! Off stage, Kanysha works as a singer, performer, educator and a private music instructor specializing in vocal and piano training. To God Be The Glory!
CAITLIN WITTY (Dairy Parton) is ecstatic to be at the Barnyard. Workshops/Readings: Alice Bliss (Mark Brokaw/Adam Gwon); Funny Face (Michael Mayer/Dick Scanlan). Regional: Marvelous Wonderettes (Swing: Alabama Shakespeare Festival) Jesus Christ Superstar (U/S Mary/Ensemble: ACT of CT); Sister Act (Sister Mary Robert: Arrow Rock Lyceum); Swingtime Canteen (Katie: Arrow Rock Lyceum); The Little Mermaid (Adella: STL Variety Children’s Theatre). Music Video/ Vocalist: Break The Chain (Eve Ensler/Debbie Allen). Film/ Commercial: Stand Up (SilverArt s.r.o); Neutrogena Promo. BFA Webster Conservatory. Caitlin is a national YoungArts finalist. Thank you for supporting live theatre! Light and love!
JAYSEN WRIGHT (Mules Davis/Mr. Woody) Previous credits: The Ballad of Emmett Till, That Summer in Sumner, and Benevolence (Mosaic Theater); Gaston in Beauty and the Beast (5th Avenue); Choir Boy (Marin Theatre and Studio Theatre productions); I Hate it Here, Wig Out!, and Rocky Horror (Studio Theatre); The Royale (Olney Theatre and 1st Stage co-production); Take Me Out and Now Comes the Night (1st Stage); Smart People and Jubilee (Arena Stage); The Importance of Being Earnest (Everyman Theatre); Actually and Sons of the Prophet (Theater J); Macbeth (Folger Theatre); The Wiz and A Christmas Carol (Ford’s Theatre); Measure for Measure, Wallenstein, and Coriolanus (Shakespeare Theatre); and Looking for Roberto Clemente, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Anatole, and Davy Copperfield (Imagination Stage). Jaysen is an adjunct professor of theater at The George Washington University where he teaches acting. Education: MFA in Acting from Indiana University, BA in Theatre form Grinnell College.
Instagram: @thejayceface; www.jaysenwright.com
KWAME ALEXANDER (Author) has written 37 books, three of them in a chair next to a fireplace at his neighborhood Panera Bread. He now writes in a penthouse in London, where he lives. But, he misses the writing studio he built in Virginia a few years ago. It has huge windows, a large painting of John Coltrane, 3000 books, heated floors, a blue couch, and a loft which was Randy’s idea. Kwame has eaten snails, chocolate covered bugs, and grasscutter, which is like a big rat, which he had no idea he was eating because it was in a really tasty stew he ate in Ghana while building a library and a health clinic in a village called Konko. He’s never eaten frogs. But, he has written a book about them called Surf’s Up. And, some other books you may have heard of like The Crossover and The Door of No Return, and How to Read a Book, all New York Times Bestsellers, which his Dad likes to brag about in grocery stores and doctor’s offices. Oh he also wrote the book this musical is based on: ACOUSTIC ROOSTER’S BARNYARD BAND. Kwame loves jazz. Kwame loves his family. Kwame loves his job. Part of Kwame’s job is to write and produce the Disney Plus TV series based on his novel The Crossover. The other part of Kwame’s job is to Change the World One Word at a Time. Oh yeah, he also won the Newbery Medal. Whoa!
MARY RAND HESS (Playwright) is a poet, playwright, screenwriter, and New York Times bestselling author of notable and award-winning books such as Solo (CABA Honor Book and NAACP Image Award Finalist) and Swing, coauthored with Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander, The One and Only Wolfgang: From Pet Rescue to One Big Happy Family, written with Steve Greig of @wolfgang2242 Instagram fame, and the forthcoming picture books Belong and Quiet is Strength. Hess loves collaboration and is currently at work on several exciting film and media projects. Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: Starring Indigo Blume is Hess’ first musical collaboration, but certainly not her last. She lives in California with her husband, two wildly creative sons, and one quirky dog, who loves to sing while she composes on the piano. www.maryrandhess.com
RANDY PRESTON (Composer), an African Native American is a singer-songwriter, educator and storyteller, was raised and educated in the UK and Kenya. He taught English literature for 18 years before switching careers, spending the past 7 years touring with Kwame Alexander, visiting over 700 schools throughout 6 different countries and 48 of the 50 U.S. states. Preston starred in the Kennedy Center’s limited episode series, Songbook, where he wrote and sang songs with selected young poets. Songbook debuts in 2023. He recently signed a two-book deal with Penguin Books, and is eagerly awaiting the publication of his picture book collaboration with Alexander titled, How to Sing a Song, releasing in the summer of 2023. He was thrilled to present his original score for Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie: starring Indigo Blume, and played the role of Acoustic Rooster in the KCTYA debut in November of 2021.
LILI-ANNE BROWN (Director), a Chicago South Side native, works as a director, actor and educator, and has performed in, directed and produced many award-winning shows in Chicago and nationally. Recent directing credits include: Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (Huntington Theatre), School Girls, or The African Mean Girls Play and the world premieres of Ike Holter’s I Hate It Here and Lottery Day (Goodman Theatre); Ain’t No Mo’ (Woolly Mammoth and Baltimore CenterStage), The Color Purple (The Muny), Once on This Island (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Acoustic Rooster...(Kennedy Center), Put Your House in Order (La Jolla Playhouse), Cullud Wattah (Victory Gardens). She is the former Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, where she focused programming on Chicago-premiere musicals and new play development with resident playwrights. She is a member of SDC, AEA, and SAG-AFTRA, and represented by William Morris Endeavor. {www.lilbrownchicago.com.}
KEVIN LEE ALEXANDER (Sound Designer) is excited to join the Kennedy Center’s Theater for Young Audiences on this production of Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie. Recent regional credits include Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical and Oliver (New Repertory Theatre); Day of Absence and The Raid (Theater Alliance); A Misanthrope (Avant Bard Theatre); Huckleberry Finn’s Big River (Adventure Theatre MTC); Bright Star (Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma); and Step Afrika’s The Migration: Reflections of Jacob Lawrence (National Tour). Kevin holds a Master of Science in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Maryland. He is also a member of IATSE Local USA 829.
BREON ARZELL (Choreographer) Breon’s breakout, and award-winning*, premiere as a choreographer came with a Chicago production of The Hairy Ape. Detroit native, he has worked at various studios, schools, universities (DePaul, Northwestern, and Roosevelt), and theaters. Chicago credits include: Little Shop of Horrors (Metropolis PAC), *Kill Move Paradise (TimeLine Theatre), The Color Purple (Drury Lane), *Head Over Heels & The Wiz (Kokandy Productions), *The Total Bent (Haven Theatre), Marie Christine, *Scottsboro Boys, and more. Regional & TV credits include: The Color Purple (MUNY), Once on This Island (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), Miss You Like Hell (Olney Theatre), ‘South Side’ (HBO Max), ‘The 4400’ (CW), ‘Empire’ (Fox). A dedicated teaching artist, critically acclaimed, and listed as one of the 50 Players for Chicago 2018 & 2020, he has worked/ toured the U.S., England, Italy, Germany, Denmark, & Singapore. Currently, along with developing original works, he is working on the restoration and revival of a historical black musical. Hip-Hop, Jazz, Modern, Lyrical, Contemporary, & Body Percussion. www.breonarzell.com
JOEY BLAKELY he/him (Stage Manager) KENNEDY CENTER: 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert. DC AREA: Shakespeare Theatre: Much Ado About Nothing. Signature Theatre: No Place to Go, The Upstairs Department, Rent, Escaped Alone, Gun & Powder, Assassins, Blackbeard, Billy Elliot, Passion, The Scottsboro Boys, Light Years, A Little Night Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, Titanic, The Fix. Theater J: The Jewish Queen Lear, The How and the Why, The Last Schwartz, Body of an American, Sons of the Prophet.
DELANEY BRAY (Assistant Sound Designer) recently graduated from Rutgers University – Camden, where she served as Sound Designer for Clybourne Park, Top Girls, The Vagina Monologues, and 2018 Student Directed One Act Festival, as well as Assistant Sound Designer for Hamlet and Frankenstein. Recent local credits include Round House Theatre, Constellation Theater Company, and Studio Theatre. Delaney has also worked at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival’s 2019 season, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Delaney would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her, as well as every dog ever.
MARIKA COUNTOURIS (Sub Music Director) is excited to be back after working on last year’s tour launch of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. She holds a BM in Musical Theatre from The Catholic University of America and serves as Vocal Instructor & Area Accompanist for Howard University’s BFA Musical Theatre Program. Some of her credits include: WOOLLY MAMMOTH: A Strange Loop (Pre-Broadway Run); ARENA STAGE: Ride the Cyclone; FORD’S: Grace (World Premiere); SIGNATURE: The Color Purple; FLYING V: We’re Gonna Die (Helen Hayes Nomination for Outstanding Music Direction); GREAT LAKES CENTER FOR THE ARTS: Godspell; CONSTELLATION: The Last Five Years;
MONUMENTAL: Songs for a New World, Head Over Heels, Be More Chill, Daddy Long Legs, and Brooklyn. Next up: SIGNATURE: Passing Strange. Instagram: @marikanne
DOMINIC DESALVIO (Assistant Lighting Designer) has worked on shows throughout the DC area including at The Kennedy Center, Signature Theatre, NextStop Theatre, Solas Nua, and Mosaic Theatre. He has also worked professionally at Shakespeare festivals, regional theaters, opera companies, dance companies, TV news studios, and live music venues across the country. A graduate of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, he was also the proud recipient of the Kenan Fellowship at The Kennedy Center. www.DeSalvioDesigns.com
LIV FARLEY Acoustic Rooster is Liv’s debut show at The Wallis. They are really excited to be working here, and they hope you enjoy the show!
NADIA GUEVARA she/her is the proud recipient of the 20222044 Drama League Stage Directing Fellowship. For Kennedy Center TYA: Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie (Associate Director), Show Way (Associate Director), Beastgirl (Dramaturg). Directing credits include: Fefu and Her Friends (American University), N (Keegan Theatre), Palabras de encanto: Tales of
Borikén (ACA at GWU), Little Women (Johns Hopkins), Guadalupe in the Guest Room, Cinderella Eats Rice and Beans: A Salsa Fairy Tale (NVA), El encuentro (Old Globe Arts Engagement). Readings: L’HÔTEL (Fulton Theatre Stories in Diversity Playwriting Fest), Azul (San Diego Repertory Theatre Latinx New Play Festival) Associate Director: Show Way (Kennedy Center, dir. Schele Williams), The Odyssey (Dallas Theatre Center/Dallas Public Works, dir. Kevin Moriarty), Assistant Director: Daphne’s Dive (Signature Theatre, dir. Paige Hernandez), Put Your House In Order (La Jolla Playhouse, dir. Lili-Anne Brown). www.nadiaguevara.com @nadiaguevaradc
MONTANA KERN A Centre College alumni, Kern moved to Greenville, SC in 2013. He has made his way as a Designer and Theater Mercenary for the last decade, and held house positions with the Peace Center and Warehouse Theatre. In 2022, Montana designed The Wolves (scenic) and Native Gardens (Lighting) for the Warehouse Theatre. Educating Rita (Scenic) for Lean Ensemble Theatre, and Lights and Audio for the Albino Skunk Music Festival. Montana is excited to be joining the Kennedy Center in his first ever touring position.
MARK G. MEADOWS (Orchestrator/Music Director) Acclaimed jazz pianist, music director, & composer/arranger, Mark G. Meadows is a man on a mission: to create a unifying sound that harmonizes different walks of life. Ever since his award-winning turn as lead role “Jelly” in Signature Theater’s electrifying production of Jelly’s Last Jam, venues everywhere, including the Kennedy Center and Jazz at the Lincoln Center, have sought him for his ability to combine the raw, spontaneous nature of jazz with the story-telling component of live theatre. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including DC Jazz Artist of the Year in 2020 and a Henry Award for Outstanding Music Direction in 2022. He has performed alongside world-renowned artists including Cynthia Erivo, Usher, Renee Fleming, Bobby McFerrin, DeeDee Bridgewater, and many more. Mark’s work exudes his joy and fosters a sense of freedom among his collaborators. Website / socials: @markgmeadows
ANDREA “DRE” MOORE (Properties Designer) Her properties and puppet designs have been on proud display at various theatres in the MD/DC area for the past 20 years (Adventure Theatre – MTC, CenterStage Baltimore, Discovery Theatre, Flying V, Imagination Stage, Olney Theatre, Rep Stage, Rorschach Theatre, Round House Theatre, Theatre J). She currently calls the Puppet Co in Glen Echo her artistic home, building sets, puppets, and props for various productions. Several of her works are on rotating display at DoodleHATCH, and interactive art museum experience in Columbia, MD - doodlehatch.com
ARNEL SANCIANCO (Scenic Designer) is an award-winning set designer and a professor of scenic design at Arizona State University. He is a graduate of Northwestern University where he received his MFA in stage design. His nationally recognized portfolio includes, The Color Purple (The Muny), Joe Turner’s Come and Gone (The Huntington Theatre Co.) The Lifespan of a Fact
(Repertory Theatre of St. Louis), Acoustic Rooster’s Barnyard Boogie (Kennedy Center), Ain’t No Mo (Woolly Mammoth), Put Your House in Order (La Jolla Playhouse), Lottery Day (Goodman Theatre), Choir Boy, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, We Are Proud to Present, (Steppenwolf), Athena, A Doll’s House (Writers Theatre), Nina Simone: Four Women (Arizona Theatre Company), The Mousetrap, Photograph 51, The Belle of Amherst (Court Theatre), Twelfth Night (American Players Theatre), The Nerd, The All Night Strut! (Milwaukee Rep). arneldesigns.com
ALBERTO SEGARRA (Lighting Designer) selected DC credits include: The Thanksgiving Play at Olney Theatre Center; Quixote Nuevo at Round House Theatre; Good People at Keegan Theatre; Tender Age at Studio Theatre; El Perro del Hortelano at GALA Theatre; Earthrise at The Kennedy Center; Blood at the Root at Theater Alliance (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lighting Design); Satchmo at the Waldorf at Mosaic Theater; and An Act of God at Signature Theatre. Regional credits include 1776 and The Gift Horse at New Repertory Theatre and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert at Blue Barn Theatre. Alberto received his MFA in Lighting Design from the University of Maryland, College Park, and he is a USA 829 member. albertosegarra.com.
MOLLIE SINGER (Assistant Scenic Designer) A Christmas Carol (Chesapeake Shakespeare Co.) Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed (Scenic, Imagination Stage) Mr. Popper’s Penguins (Props, Imagination Stage), The Glass Menagerie (Scenic, Rep Stage) Fuller (Scenic, Duke University) Hookman (UMD, Scenic Design) Subject to Change (UMD, Scenic Design), Souvenir (Rep Stage, Scenic Design) Lady Day at Emerson’s… (Rep Stage, Scenic Design), True West (Rep Stage, Properties), The Heidi Chronicles (Rep Stage, Properties), Dorian’s Closet (Rep Stage, Properties), What Every Girl Should Know in rep with Dry Land (Forum Theatre, Properties) H2O (Rep Stage, Properties), Richard III (Chesapeake Shakespeare Co., Properties), American Hero (Rep Stage, Props), Hunting and Gathering (Rep Stage, Scenic Design), Sunset Baby (Rep Stage, Properties).
SARAH SLAGLE (Wardrobe & Prop Supervisor) is a wardrobe technician, costume designer & teaching artist from Cleveland, Ohio. Sarah has studied at the Moscow Art Theatre (MXAT) in Moscow, Russia and received her MFA in Costume Design from Northern Illinois University in May 2021. Previous credits: Wardrobe Supervisor Randall L Jones & Englestadt Theaters at the Utah Shakespeare Festival, Dresser at Porthouse Theatre. Design credits: Twelfth Night (Kane Repertory Theatre), Macbeth (Shakespeare at the Castle) and Bent (MUSE Theatre Collective). If you were to ask her whether she prefers teaching, designing, or dressing more the answer is always whichever she’s currently doing. Love to her family & teachers. Thank you for supporting live theater!
ERIK TEAGUE (Costume Designer) DC AREA: Blackbeard: Signature Theatre; The Kennedy Center: Acoustic Rooster; Washington National Opera: The Lion, The Unicorn and Me; Wolf Trap Opera: The Touchstone; National Gallery of Art: Color’s Garden; Constellation Theatre: Master and Margarita, The Wild Party, Equus; Synetic Theater: The Phantom of the Opera, Richard III, The Trial, Titus Andronicus, Sleepy Hollow, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Man in the Iron Mask. REGIONAL: The Atlanta Opera: The Threepenny Opera, Cabaret; The Glimmerglass Festival: The Cunning Little Vixen, La bohéme, Ariadne in Naxos, Odyssey, Wilde Tales, Trouble in Tahiti, The Flying Dutchman; Opera Southwest: Lohengrin; Actor’s Express Atlanta: Les Liaisons Dangereuses; AWARDS: one Helen Hayes Award, six Helen Hayes Award nominations, two Suzy Bass Awards, two-time KCACTF National winner. erikteaguedesign.com
CHANNING TUCKER (Assistant Costume Designer) is a costume and puppet designer and a recent graduate of the University of Maryland’s MFA program. They most frequently design for dance, including various dance concerts for Dance Exchange, the University of Maryland, and Howard Community College. They designed the world premiere of Monstrous at Howard Community College. Past design credits include Puffs! (Howard Community College), The Netherand The Burn (Montgomery College), and Risk of Play, Ghost Bride, Outbound, Flyin’ West, Corpora Caelestia, and Tides (University of Maryland). Their long-term project is a puppet film adaptation of the Epic of Gilgamesh.
THE WALLIS PRESENTS
JUNE 9-11, 2023
40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
310.746.4000
TheWallis.org/Alonzo
Alonzo King LINES Ballet performs Deep River, a new work featuring Grammy Award-winning vocalist Lisa Fischer set to a score by jazz pianist, composer, and MacArthur Fellow Jason Moran. This is King’s second collaboration with Fischer and his ninth collaboration with Moran, created in celebration of LINES Ballet’s 40th anniversary season.
Dance @ The Wallis is made possible in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
VIBRAPHONE
Jalen Baker
PIANO
Ted Rosenthal
GUITAR
David Rosenthal
I. DIVINE HOPE
The Lord’s Prayer
Heaven DUKE ELLINGTON
There is a Balm in Gilead SPIRITUAL
Skin GERI ALLEN (INSTRUMENTAL)
L’invitation au voyage DUPARC
Je te veux SATIE
La Vie En Rose
Boi Bumba WALDERMAR HENRIQUE
Adoration FLORENCE PRICE
Hold Fast to Your Dreams FLORENCE PRICE
It’s Good to Have You Near Again ANDRE PREVIN
Program subject to change.
THURSDAY, APRIL 27 AT 7:30 PM
Bram Goldsmith Theater
Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission.
HARP
Carol Robbins
The human voice is considered the earliest musical instrument and the drum is regarded as one of the oldest instruments. Both are essential to communication and the formation of society and civilization. Simply put, without the drum or the voice there is uncertainty about how far humanity would have advanced. This truth speaks to the power of J’nai’s operatic voice and Ulysses Owens’ powerful drums creating a musical partnership through their Chamber project, Notes On Hope
Notes On Hope spans the musical spectrum, from exploring works of Duke Ellington to reviving classic art songs once performed by opera matriarchs Jessye Norman, Leontyne Price, and Kathleen Battle, all of whom have since passed the torch to J’Nai to carry into the 21st century. Other instrumental moments will highlight Ulysses’ musical direction and prowess as a jazz drummer with his stellar ensemble. The ensemble will feature the works of lesser known jazz composer luminaries such as Geri Allen, whose music fits eloquently within the thematic focus of hope.
With regard to their culture and heritage as African American artists, it is important to note that there is a greater subtext here between Ulysses and J’Nai. They are both utilizing this moment to highlight Black contributors in the classical and opera realm who have been often overlooked. Their artistry will shed light on beautiful works by composers like Florence Price, who truly embodies the adage, “because of them, we are.”
The program is divided into three segments, the first of which is Divine Hope, which focuses on the power of creation and is the conduit between hope and faith. This section begins with “The Lord’s Prayer,” as a devotional musical moment to cleanse the palette and center on the intention for the evening, which is reverence.”
Following “The Lord’s Prayer,” Duke Ellington, who is considered to be one of the greatest American composers, will be featured. Ellington happened to have composed several compositions for soprano voice dating back to the early 1940s. “Creole Love Call” was one of the first compositions that Ellington composed for his orchestra and singer Adelaide Hall, and shortly after he began to work with singers, Kay Davis and Alice Babs. It is important to note that Kay Davis and Adelaide Hall were trained classical African American singers who were unable to gain work because of the discriminatory barriers, so through Ellington’s compositions they were able to perform. Two additional songs will be visited from this era, “On A Turquoise Cloud” and “Heaven.” To conclude the Divine Hope segment, the ensemble will perform the classic spiritual, “There is a Balm in Gilead,” which references an Old Testament scripture that speaks to the concept of a spiritual medicine that heals sinners. This spiritual has been performed by many great opera singers and is a spiritual rite of passage that only a voice like J’Nai can beautifully deliver and serve as a balm for the audience.
The second segment is titled The Crux of Hope which references the most essential shift and point of the process: where difficult matters must be addressed so that hope is a possibility. This segment begins with the composition “Skin” by prolific pianist and composer, the late Geri Allen, who broke many barriers for women in the jazz industry. This composition is very textural and features the band. It allows listeners to unearth the reality of skin, texture, color, race and creed, which unfolds beautifully.
DuParc’s “L’invitation au voyage,” composed in 1970, is a setting of two of three verses of the Symbolist poet Baudelaire's famous poem describing his love of the countryside in Holland. During this time, Baudelaire
“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.”
- LAINI TAYLOR
was in love with actress Marie Daubrun, and this poem describes a mystical trip growing in his mind, which finds them both in an exotic and perfect world.
“Je te veux” (“I Want You”), composed by Erik Satie with a text from Henry Pacory, has a sensual undertone because of the intimate relationship between Satie and Paulette Darty, which this song beautifully displays. It is a popular song rendered by Jessye Norman, Cecile McLorin Salvant, and many other brilliant vocalists. However, the arrangement performed in Notes On Hope is a very unique adaptation featuring unique instrumentation. “La Vie En Rose” (“Life in Happy Hues”) also translated as “Life seen through rosecolored glasses,” is a favorite of J’Nai’s to sing her adaptation of Edith Piaf’s classic lyric.
The second segment will conclude with a beautiful Brazilian composition called “Boi Bumba,” composed by Valdemar Henrique who is from the North of Brazil, and is inspired by Amazonian folklore, as well as Indigenous and Northeastern Afro-Brazilian Rhythms. J’Nai and Ulysses fell in love with a recording of Kathleen Battle and Christopher Parkening, utilizing that sound as the foundation for their arrangement of “Boi Bumba.”
The final segment of the program is titled Hope Fulfilled which speaks to the reality that as we remain committed to the journey, we will experience the fulfillment of our efforts and hard work.
Florence Price was a trailblazer and arguably the first African American woman to have her Symphony No.1 in E Minor performed by a major orchestra. She once stated, “I have two handicaps- those of sex and race.” Her legacy is honored with a performance of two of her songs, first “Adoration,” which was initially published in 1951 for the organ, but this arrangement has been orchestrated for rhythm section, harp, marimba, and voice. “Hold Fast to Dreams” is a song that she composed setting a poem by Langston Hughes, from the song collection Five Art Songs.
Ulysses writes, “A few months ago, I had dinner with Michael Feinstein, his husband Ken, and my mentor/ Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur Alexander Smalls in Harlem. I spoke directly to Michael about J’Nai, this project and the overall goals we desired to accomplish artistically, and he said, 'Ulysses, there is one song you have to perform, because it sounds like it was created for Notes On Hope, and it’s called It’s Good to Have You Near Again.' He began to sing the song to me right at the dinner table, and then introduced me to the album, Right as The Rain featuring Andre Previn and Leontyne Price performing many popular and accessible songs (with this one being my favorite), and Michael was correct. This song opened up a treasure trove for me, and to hear Leontyne’s lyrical approach with Andre’s gorgeous piano playing will, quite frankly, be the perfect close to the evening that illustrates the notes of hope that we have, and continue to have, as we are honored to perform and create again and again.”
ULYSSES OWENS, JR. (drums) A drummer who The New York Times has said, “take[s] a back seat to no one,” and “a musician who balances excitement gracefully and shines with innovation.” Performer, producer and educator Ulysses Owens Jr. goes the limit in the jazz world and beyond; claiming eight successful albums of his own. Owens has also gained special attention for his performances on GRAMMY Award-winning albums by Kurt Elling and The Christian McBride Big Band. In addition to five Grammy nominated albums with Joey Alexander, Christian McBride Trio, John Beasley’s Monk’estra, and Gregory Porter. Both Jazziz and Rolling Stone Magazines picked his album “Songs of Freedom,” as a Top Ten Album for 2019 and in 2021 his most recent Big Band release, “Soul Conversations,” was voted the top album in May 2021 by JazzIz Magazine. “Soul Conversations,” was released on the the Outside In Music Label and received rave reviews; was added to multiple playlists on Apple Music, Spotify, and Sirius XM, and now the band is touring nationally. The Ulysses Owens Jr. Big Band has also been voted “Rising Star Big Band ” of 2022 by Downbeat Magazine. Ulysses is also the creator of multiple online jazz drum video courses: “Finding Your Beat,” “The Art of Swing” and “Jazz Drumming 101: Everything you need to know to get the gig,” for Open Studio. Ulysses was also host of the highly successful weekly live YouTube series, “From The Drummer’s Perspective,” for Open Studio. As an author Ulysses has penned multiple articles for multiple publications (Jazz Times, Downbeat, and Percussive Arts Society.) He has released a Hallmark Drum instructional book titled: “Jazz Brushes for the Modern Drummer: An Essential Guide to the Art of Keeping Time,” which is published and distributed by Hal Leonard. His second
book which is a career narrative and instructional book about Music Business, Entrepreneurship and Career Development for creative students is titled, “The Musicians Career Guide: Turning Your Talent into Sustained Success,” was released by Skyhorse Publishers, and Simon and Schuster on June 8th, 2021 and has been in the a top 5 on Amazon in the Music Business, and Arts and Entrepreneurship book categories. He is now working on is third manuscript “Jazz Big Band for the Modern Drummer” for Hal Leonard Publications. His passion project is his role as the Artistic Director for his family’s non-profit organization, “Don’t Miss A Beat,” in Jacksonville, Florida that utilizes the arts as a bridge to a better life for “At-Hope” students. He is also the Artistic Director for the annual Don’t Miss A Beat Jazz Festival that premiered In 2021 as an Inaugural Community Event; and continues every July at Woodstock Park in partnership with the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Jazz Festival with over 2000 people from the community. Ulysses has also received the “Difference Maker” Award from Beacon College, the “Robert Arleigh White Advocacy Award” from the Cultural Council of Northeast Florida; and has been multi-year recipient of the Individual Artist Grant from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. Most recently he was recognized as part of the 2022 “40 Under 40” list of Influential Business Leaders in Jacksonville by the Jacksonville Business Journal; and recently selected to be part of the 2023 Leadership Jacksonville class. He was also awarded the 2022 Ann Baker Art Ventures Award from the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida for his work in the Beaver Street Community. Ulysses remains consistently in demand for new projects, and consulting opportunities, remaining one of the most sought-after drummers,
bandleaders, educators and thought leaders of his generation. Yet what matters to him consistently is giving back and continuing to be grateful for a new day to make a difference in the lives of others.
J’NAI BRIDGES (mezzo-soprano), known for her “plush-voiced mezzo-soprano” (The New York Times), and “calmly commanding stage presence” (The New Yorker) has been heralded as “a rising star” (Los Angeles Times), gracing the world’s top opera and concert stages. The 2022-23 season will spotlight Ms. Bridges in one of her signature roles as Carmen with debut engagements at the Arena di Verona, Canadian Opera Company, and a return to Dutch National Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. As a native of Tacoma, WA, Bridges eagerly anticipates her Seattle Opera debut in a concert performance of Samson et Delilah as Delilah in January 2023. Additional concert engagements include Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony with the Detroit Symphony in November, and a world premiere by Carlos Simon in April 2023 with the National Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Bridges’ recital engagements for the season begin with the performance of a world premiere by Jimmy Lopez at 92NY in December, and continue throughout 2023 at Washington University, Thomasville Center for the Arts, The Cliburn, Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, San Francisco Performances, and the Mondavi Center in Davis, California. Ms. Bridges’ 2021-22 season highlights included numerous world premiere engagements as a guest artist in The Kennedy Center’s 50th Anniversary Season. Ms. Bridges’ time in Washington D.C. also included performances with The National Philharmonic in the world premiere of Adolphus Hailstork’s A Knee on the Neck, and Mozart’s Requiem, and her first performance of the Verdi Requiem with the Cathedral Choral Society. She also appeared with the Amarillo Symphony as a guest artist in a world premiere piece by Chris Rogerson entitled Sacred Earth, and she gave a solo recital at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton. In June 2022 she performed Lieberson’s Neruda Songs with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel as part of the Power to the People! festival, followed by her debut with the San Francisco Symphony singing Jocasta in Peter Sellars’ production of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. She concluded her summer season singing a solo recital at Caramoor. In the midst of the worldwide pandemic, she emerged as a leading figure in classical music’s shift toward conversations of inclusion and racial justice in the performing arts. In 2022 she was announced as one of the Kennedy Center’s NEXT50 cultural leaders. Bridges led a highly successful panel on race and inequality in opera with the Los Angeles Opera that drew international acclaim for being a “conversation of striking scope and candor” (The New York Times). In early 2021, Ms. Bridges was
featured in the Converse shoe brand’s All Stars Campaign for its Breaking Down Barriers collection. Bridges also performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel for two episodes of the digital SOUND/STAGE series, and as part of the Global Citizen movement’s Global Goal campaign, a program which also included Coldplay, Shakira, Usher and more. The pandemic also forced the cancellation of Ms. Bridges’ numerous debuts during the 2020-2021 season including the title role of Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera. Bridges’ 2019 –2020 season included her highly-acclaimed debut at The Metropolitan Opera as Nefertiti in a sold-out run of Philip Glass’ opera Akhnaten, as well as a house and role debut with Washington National Opera as Dalila in Samson et Dalila. Other recent highlights include the 2022 Grammy® Awardwinning Metropolitan Opera production of Akhnaten and 2021 Grammy® Award-winning recording of Richard Danielpour’s oratorio The Passion of Yeshua with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, performing at the National Library of Congress to honor legendary fashion designer Diane von Furstenburg as she received the 2022 Ruth Bader Ginsburg Woman of Leadership Award, her sold-out Carnegie Hall Recital debut, her role debut of Kasturbai in Satyagraha at LA Opera, and her debuts at Dutch National Opera and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Ms. Bridges also created the role of Josefa Segovia in the world premiere of John Adams’ Girls of the Golden West at San Francisco Opera, and performed in the world premiere of Bel Canto at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, an opera by Jimmy Lopez based on the novel by Ann Patchett. Bridges is a recipient of the prestigious 2018 Sphinx Medal of Excellence Award, a 2016 Richard Tucker Career Grant, first prize winner at the 2016 Francisco Viñas International Competition, first prize winner at the 2015 Gerda Lissner Competition, a recipient of the 2013 Sullivan Foundation Award, a 2012 Marian Anderson award winner, the recipient of the 2011 Sara Tucker Study Grant, the recipient of the 2009 Richard F. Gold Grant from The Shoshana Foundation, and the winner of the 2008 Leontyne Price Foundation Competition. J’Nai completed a three-year residency with the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago, represented the United States at the prestigious BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition and was a Young Artist at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York. A native of Tacoma, Washington, she earned her Master of Music degree from Curtis Institute of Music, and her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance from the Manhattan School of Music.
A six-week performing arts intensive for students ages 8-16!
Students will engage in daily dance, music, and theater classes while rehearsing for a culminating ticketed performance. Every week, performers, designers, technicians, and musical theater professionals will provide master classes in addition to their performing arts curriculum. The experience culminates with a performance for friends and family in the Bram Goldsmith Theater @ The Wallis.
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ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Monday–Friday 10am–6pm @ 310.246.3800
9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
TheWallis.org
TICKET SERVICES
Monday–Friday 11:30am–6:30pm @ 310.746.4000
During performance dates, Ticket Services will be open two hours before performance time and a half hour after the performance begins. Please note that Ticket Services is unable to process exchanges and future sales one hour prior to curtain time on performance dates.
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SAFETY
For The Wallis’ current Health & Safety protocols visit TheWallis.org/Safety
ACCESS
The Wallis is committed to accommodating and ensuring a pleasant experience for all of our patrons with special needs or disabilities. Please contact Ticket Services, our House Manager or an usher to discuss your needs.
LATE SEATING
Should you arrive late for any performance or need to leave your seat during the performance, please expect to be held in the lobby until an appropriate moment or pause. To minimize any disturbance to other patrons, you may be seated in the first available locations by our staff even if different than your assigned seat locations. Please also be advised that some performances or circumstances may not allow for late seating or return seating.
LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS
The Front of House Staff is happy to provide programs with larger print to patrons upon request.
TELECOIL INDUCTION SYSTEM FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE
A state of the art “hearing loop”—a thin copper wire—has been installed beneath the floor of the orchestra seating in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. For guests wearing a hearing aid with a copper telecoil wire or who have a cochlear implant, the system captures electromagnetic waves and broadcasts signals directly to your hearing aid device. For assistance, please inquire with Patron Services.
Gifted by Virginia and Frank Maas.
QUIET ROOM
The Lynn and Les Bider Family Foundation
Quiet Room is available during the performance for patrons who wish or need to step away for a moment. You can still see and hear the performance in progress, but we can’t hear you.
310.475.3540
THE WALLIS IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY: ENJOY LOCAL DINING
The Ahmanson Foundation
Annenberg Foundation/ Wallis Annenberg & Kris Levine
Dan Clivner
The Seattle Foundation/
Katharyn A. Gerlich
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation
Bruce Goldsmith
Peggy Parker Grauman*
GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation/ Gregory Annenberg Weingarten & Family
Los Angeles County
Department of Arts & Culture
Anahita and Jim Lovelace
Meeghan and Michael Nemeroff
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
Arline and Buddy Pepp
Dwight Stuart Youth Fund
Vanity Fair
Luanne Wells*
Camille and Arnon Adar
Ahsan Aijaz
Jacqueline* and Clarence Avant
Leon Lowenstein Foundation/ John M. Bendheim
Thomas J. Blumenthal
David C. Bohnett
Colburn Foundation
Carol Goldsmith
Halle and Oliver Hammond
Chad Hummel and Tara Church
Stacey and Donald Kivowitz
Agnes Lew
Cathy and Mark Louchheim
Peter Lowy
Nigel Lythgoe OBE
Matt Construction
Daphna Nazarian
Neiman Marcus
Linda May and Jack Suzar
The Estate of Ted and Hedy Orden
Vicki Reynolds and Murray Pepper
Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Rosenstein
Ruby Family Foundation/ Wendy and Ken Ruby
Stephanie & Howard Sherwood
The Simms/Mann Family Foundation
Susan and Peter Strauss
Leon and Stephanie Vahn
Jonathan A. Victor
May and Richard Ziman
Anonymous
City of Beverly Hills
Lynn and Les Bider
Family Foundation
Anoosheh Bostani
Capital Group Companies
Charitable Foundation
Louise and Brad Edgerton
Lisa FIeld
Hon. MeraLee Goldman
Betty Hayman
Morris & Shîla Hazan Charitable Fund
Ronnie and Barbara Kahn
Sandra Krause & William Fitzgerald
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National Endowment for the Arts
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Koni and Geoffrey Rich
Karen Sulzberger and Eric Lax
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David Lee Foundation
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Honorable Donna Ellman Garber
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In memory of Gail Silver
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Melissa Rosenberg and Lev L. Spiro
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Ann Sunshine
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Les Weinstein
Richard and Patricia Wilson
Keenan Wolens
Hailey Yoo
Victoria Zalben
Walter Zifkin
* = IN MEMORIAM
= MULTI-YEAR COMMITMENT
WALLIS IS THE PROUD RECIPIENT OF GENEROUS SUPPORT AND RECOGNITION FROM
Robert van Leer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO
Kurt J. Swanson
ACTING CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Christine Bernardi Weil DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Joel Hile DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Erin Mahan
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Coy Middlebrook
ACTING CHIEF ARTISTIC OFFICER
Manuel Prieto
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Edward L. Rada
INTERIM CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Christopher Reardon
DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION
David Truly
DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS
Michelle Wiesel
GENERAL MANAGER
ARTISTIC
Camille Jenkins
PROGRAMMING MANAGER
Meghan Ripchik
ARTISTIC COORDINATOR
DEVELOPMENT
Peter Indall
DIRECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL GIVING
Summer Grubaugh
DONOR EVENTS MANAGER
Loren Hayes
INSTITUTIONAL GIVING COORDINATOR
Debra Steckler
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Lisa Cowell Shams
SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE COMPREHENSIVE CAMPAIGN
Debra Pasquerette DIRECTOR OF CREATIVE
AGING PROGRAMS
Rachel Kilroy
EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER
Pat Taylor
EDUCATION PROGRAMS COORDINATOR
Victoria Kemsley
CREATIVE AGING TEACHING ARTIST
Will Nedved
CREATIVE AGING TEACHING ARTIST
Dan Oliverio
CREATIVE AGING TEACHING ARTIST
Michelle Rearick
GRAUMAN FELLOWSHIP ADVISOR
Annalise Englert
EDUCATION ASSISTANT
MARKETING
Chandra Jackson
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Hannah Burnett
DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER
Libby Huebner
Laura Stegman
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSULTANTS
Studio Fuse GRAPHIC DESIGN CONSULTANTS
PRODUCTION
Samantha Else
PRODUCTION MANAGER
Lauren Wemischner* LIGHTING SUPERVISOR
Sean Kozma*
AUDIO VIDEO SUPERVISOR
Joshua Shelden* ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Joseph Skowronski*
LIGHTING COORDINATOR
Jose Miguel Cortes*
AUDIO VIDEO COORDINATOR
Joyce Maddox
PRODUCTION ADMINISTRATOR
Bryant Heatherly
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
Vanessa Mejia
PAYROLL & ACCOUNTS
PAYABLE MANAGER
Emily Bisno
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & CEO
FACILITIES
Roland Henriquez
FACILITIES MANAGER
TICKET SERVICES
Jacob Houser
ASSISTANT TICKET SERVICES MANAGER
Tori Long
TICKET OPERATIONS SPECIALIST
Eric Latham
Bradley Roa
SENIOR TICKET SERVICES ASSOCIATES
FRONT OF HOUSE
Bryan Puckett
AUDIENCE SERVICES MANAGER
Nick Johnson
Piatrice Shekerjian
HOUSE MANAGERS
Laura Long
Ann McDowell
Timm Carney
GRAND HALL GREETERS
USHERS
Ruby Arreguin
Diana Borja
Annabel Chick
Jacqui Creekmore
Judith Halle
Ruby Layne
Adam Linde
Itzhak Matos
Rachael Neinast
Charlie Pinel
James Poulin
Liv Robertson
WARNING: The photographic or sound recording of any performance or the possession of any device for such photographic or sound recording inside the theater, without the written permission of the management, is prohibited by law. Violators may be punishable by ejection and violations may render the offender liable for money damages.
