The Wallis
MUSIC
The Wallis
THEATER
The Wallis
DANCE
The Wallis
CINEMA
2021 SEASON
Versa-Style Dance Company
Joe Morton in King Lear
ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Daniel Hope
Vijay Iyer
SEASON OF HOPE
@ THE WALLIS “Our human compassion binds us—the one to the other—not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.” – Nelson Mandela
Nothing compares to the human connection we experience through live performance. Sharing a fleeting moment of awe with fellow audience members around a dynamic performance—a moment that often leaves an indelible mark on our hearts and minds—is unlike anything else. Collective cultural experiences make up the fabric that keeps us connected as individuals.
The Wallis is more than a performing arts center. The Wallis is a vibrant community-gathering space, an incubator for new ideas, a crossroads for dialogue and artistry, a hub for arts education and learning. The Wallis is a sanctuary for artists, arts activists, thought leaders, and advocates. The exquisite creativity that takes place on our stages reflects the present and the past, but most importantly, it invites us all to dream of a better tomorrow. Though we’ve not been able to connect in-person while our campus remains temporarily closed during Covid-19, we have turned our common challenges into promising opportunities. Together, as hopeful participants, we will envision and create a greater future for The Wallis and for our community. Please find in the pages ahead our hope for the future at The Wallis.
THEATER WORLD PREMIERE
The Wallis production of
Tevye In New York
Written and Performed by Tom Dugan Directed by Tom Dugan & Michael Vale FEBRUARY - MARCH, 2021 Lovelace Studio Theater Based on the beloved characters of Sholem Aleichem and from Tom Dugan, the writer and star of Wiesenthal, comes the WORLD PREMIERE of his newest play Tevye in New York. Ever wonder what happened to Tevye, wife Golde and his daughters after the curtain came down in Fiddler on the Roof? Tevye in New York finally answers those decades-old questions. Follow Tevye as he fights for his piece of the American dream in 1914—from his journey with his daughters across the Atlantic Ocean, through Ellis Island, past “the big green lady,” and into the crowded streets of Manhattan’s Lower East Side. You’ll fall in love with Tevye all over again in this funny and poignant one-man show performed by internationally acclaimed actor, writer and beloved Wallis friend, Tom Dugan. The Wallis production of
LEDISI: The Legend of Little Girl Blue
A MUSICAL JOURNEY INTO THE LIVES OF NINA SIMONE AND LEDISI MARCH 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater On the heels of her new album The Wild Card, Grammy-nominated artist Ledisi returns to The Wallis in The Legend of Little Girl Blue. Previously presented in our Lovelace Studio Theater for a sold-out engagement in 2019, this larger-than-life production will be commissioned by The Wallis and reimagined for the Bram Goldsmith stage. Honoring one of her greatest inspirations, the great Nina Simone,
Ledisi beautifully orchestrates classical, jazz, and rhythm & blues sounds with riveting storytelling of the musical bond between an artist from one era influenced by a legend from the past. WORLD PREMIERE
The Wallis presents The 24th Street Theatre production of
Rapunzel Alone MARCH 2021 Lovelace Studio Theater
“Rapunzel! Rapunzel! Let down your hair!” The wonderfully inventive, award-winning 24th Street Theatre is a Los Angeles institution that moves beyond the label of theatre for young audiences by making sophisticated theatre that appeals to both children and adults alike. The Wallis will present 24th Street’s WORLD PREMIERE production of Rapunzel Alone written by the celebrated Olivier Award-winning UK writer Mike Kenny. Set in Europe in the midst of World War II, this will be a Rapunzel like none other before, a reimagining of the classic fairy tale done in Kenny’s usual inventive style with 24th Street’s commitment to diversity and cultural exploration. This program will include Spanish supertitles and is recommended for ages 8+.
The Wallis production of
King Lear
By William Shakespeare Starring Joe Morton Directed by John Gould Rubin MAY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater In a world ravaged by global warming, pandemics, and natural disaster, King Lear is a man who has brought his country through turmoil, but at what cost? Following his award-winning, sold-out performance as Dick Gregory in Turn Me Loose, Joe Morton returns to The Wallis in the titular role of one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies. The timeless story of ignorance, deceit and the struggle TheWallis.org
for power sees Lear, an aging king and father, reject the child who truly loves him and unable to see beyond the lies of his eldest daughters. Lear’s blindness unleashes a tornado of pitiless ambition and treachery, as family and state are plunged into a violent power struggle with a bitter end. Paranoia runs deep, and sanity seems scarce, and yet, the play’s resolution provides hope for what is to come after the storm. This production is made possible with generous support from Meeghan and Michael Nemeroff/VedderPrice.
The Wallis presents
New York, this is the story of the great composer crossing paths with someone he believed to be a descendent of Czar Nicholas II. Living in America and longing for his familiar Russian roots and home, Sergei Rachmaninoff allowed himself to be taken on a journey that few would ever believe. Join us for a trip back in time to 1928 New York, for something shockingly different and new, as we explore the worlds of Anna and Sergei. DANCE
Accidentally Brave
Written and Performed by Maddie Corman Directed by Kristin Hanggi MAY 2021 Lovelace Studio Theater “A riveting performance!” – The New York Times. Courageous, daring, and unflinchingly honest, Accidentally Brave is Maddie Corman’s inspiring true story about discovering a new normal when her world falls apart. This new play challenges perceptions and sparks an emotionally charged discussion that will leave you wondering – what would I do? It is one of the rare evenings in the theater that reminds audiences of the resiliency of the human spirit, and explores what it means to navigate a world with uncertainty. LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
The Wallis presents The Samantha F. Voxakis and Karen Racanelli production of
Hershey Felder: Anna & Sergei
A NEW PLAY FEATURING THE MUSIC OF SERGEI RACHMANINOFF JULY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater Felder will take on a little-known story about the great Russian pianist and composer, Sergei Rachmaninoff. Set at the Garden City Hotel in Long Island,
Dance @ The Wallis programming for the 2021 Season is made possible in part by generous support from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Wallis presents
Heidi Duckler Dance The Chandelier
Directed & Choreographed by Heidi Duckler DATES TBD Promenade Terrace The Chandelier will take the audience on an epic journey from the Promenade Terrace throughout the grounds of The Wallis. Based on a novel of the same title by Brazilian writer Clarice Lispector, Duckler will animate the interior monologues and devise characters to create a moving portrait of a family living amongst the ruins of a colonial society.Through layers of imagery, acts of repetition, and audience engagement, the work explores the contrasting ideas of impermanence and the irrevocable. The Wallis presents
Versa-Style Dance Company Origins of Hip Hop DATES TBD Promenade Terrace
TheWallis.org
Versa-Style Dance Company is dedicated to preserving the essence and culture of Hip Hop dance by inspiring the next generation of artists. Origins of Hip Hop is a high-energy, educational, interactive show on the history of street dance in America, taking the audience on a journey through time and around the world. It begins by paying homage to the roots that American street dance has in African and Latin social dance, moving through the grooves of the Funk era to Hip Hop social dance as we know it today. The Wallis presents
DIAVOLO/ ARCHITECTURE IN MOTION Voyage & Trajectoire MARCH 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
Combining contemporary dance with martial arts, acrobatics, gymnastics and hip-hop, DIAVOLO explores the relation and iteration between the human body and its architectural environment to understand overarching social, physical, and emotional impacts. Their international reputation is highlighted by a Top 10 placing in the 12th season of “America’s Got Talent,” attracting over 90 million television viewers. This program was made possible in part by generous support from MATT Construction.
The Wallis presents LOS ANGELES PREMIERE
Ballet Hispánico CARMEN.maquia Choreography by Gustavo Ramírez Sansano APRIL 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
charged and sensual choreography fuses contemporary dance with nods to the Spanish paso doble and flamenco. MUSIC The Wallis presents
Shai Wosner
Piano
JANUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
Pianist Shai Wosner has attracted international recognition for his exceptional artistry, musical integrity, and creative insight. His performances of a broad range of repertoire reflect a degree of virtuosity and intellectual curiosity that have made him a favorite among audiences and critics, who admire his “keen musical mind and deep musical soul” (NPR’s All Things Considered). Wosner’s Wallis concert will feature Variations on a Theme of FDR, a work he commissioned from five astonishing American composers. The theme is a quote from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s address to the Daughters of the American Revolution: “Remember, remember always, that all of us … are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” Beethoven used a similar idea to test his creative powers when he accepted Anton Diabelli’s invitation to compose variations for piano on his simple C Major waltz. The proceeds from Beethoven’s popular Diabelli Variations were used to support orphans and widows of the Napoleonic Wars. PROGRAM WEST COAST PREMIERE
DEREK BERMEL, ANTHONY CHEUNG, JOHN HARBISON, VIJAY IYER, & WANG LU Variations on a Theme of FDR: A Suite of Five New Works by Five Composers BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) 33 Variations on a Waltz by Diabelli, Op. 120
A Picasso-inspired, contemporary take on Bizet’s beloved classic that Broadway World hailed as “a remarkable theatrical ballet performance.” The physically TheWallis.org
The Wallis presents
The Wallis presents
Vijay Iyer PIANO Linda May Han Oh DOUBLE BASS Tyshawn Sorey DRUMS JANUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
Free Screening of Violins Of Hope: Strings Of The Holocaust
Vijay Iyer Trio
By overwhelming consensus, the Vijay Iyer Trio has become one of the pivotal jazz bands of the twenty-first century. Described as “the best piano trio in jazz today” (Der Spiegel), “the great new jazz piano trio” (The New York Times), “truly astonishing” (NPR), and “the best band in jazz” (PopMatters), the trio makes “cutting-edge music, but always accessible” (The Guardian) — emotionally resonant and deeply interactive, radiating groove and brimming with polyrhythmic detail, rooted in tradition, yet truly innovative in style and form. The Wallis presents
Junction Trio
JANUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater “Electrifying” - New York Times. Three renowned visionary artists of the next generation combine talents in this eclectic new piano trio. Junction Violinist Stefan Jackiw, recognized for artistry that combines poetry and purity with an impeccable technique, returns with pianist Conrad Tao and cellist Jay Campbell. The trio approaches both old and new works with the same curiosity and emotional commitment. PROGRAM
TAO Piano Trio No. 2 BEETHOVEN (1770-1827) Piano Trio in B-flat major, Op. 97, Archduke
Violins Of Hope (WVIZ/PBS IDEASTREAM)
Followed by a concert featuring
Delirium Musicum JANUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
Violins Of Hope is a collection of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Each violin has its own unique and inspiring story that educates both young and old about the Holocaust in a deeply personal and emotional way. The instruments have been featured in film and TV, and have been played in concert halls and exhibited in museums throughout the world. The Wallis is honored to present L.A.-based Delirium Musicum, which will perform on several of the instruments as part of the Violins of Hope Los Angeles tour. Delirium Musicum will perform pieces by S. Barber, J. Williams, F. Mendelssohn, and more, to give life to the instruments, and an homage to the story of the people who played them. Special thanks to Susanne Reyto, Chair of Violins of Hope Los Angeles, for making this evening possible.
The Wallis presents 2021 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Daniel Hope New Century Hope Daniel Hope VIOLIN Vanessa Perez PIANO Clive Greensmith CELLO (JAN 30) JANUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater America! PROGRAM
DVOR̆ÁK Sonatina Opus 100 in G major COPLAND Nocturne RAVEL Sonata No 2 for Violin and Piano ZEISL Menuhim’s Song EISLER An den kleinen Radioapparat TheWallis.org
ROZSA Love Theme from Ben Hur GERSHWIN Three Songs Arranged for Violin & Piano An Audience with Beethoven Written by Daniel Hope, An Audience with Beethoven delves into the innermost thoughts of the beloved composer through his personal diary entries and letters, as well as live performances of excerpts from most of his piano trios. Told through the voice of Frau Streicher, the only housekeeper Beethoven never fired, this artistic offering details her employer’s life and character with a young composer eager for insight into his tortured mentor’s mind. As Streicher puts her master’s papers in order, she gives voice to a man who was, in his own time, at turns lauded, scorned, or just misunderstood, but who was then honored with an era in Western musical history all to himself. The Wallis presents
Sheléa Pretty World: A Tribute To Alan & Marilyn Bergman FEBRUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
From the White House, the Kennedy Center, and Carnegie Hall, to the Grammy Museum and the Emmy Awards, singer, songwriter, and keyboardist, Sheléa has transcended the boundaries of musical classification through a versatile and powerful voice. On this special evening at The Wallis, Sheléa will perform songs written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, the Oscar-winning married couple whose lyrics to songs such as “The Way We Were,” “The Windmills of Your Mind,” and “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” have earned them induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Wallis presents
Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery: Two Lost Souls
FEATURING THE TONY GUERRERO QUARTET FEBRUARY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater Emmy award-winning singer/actor Jane Lynch (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” ‘’Glee”) and Kate Flannery (“The Office”) bring their Two Lost Souls show to The Wallis. During this performance, Lynch and Flannery put their one-of-a-kind spin on songs from Broadway to The Barry Sisters to the Swingin’ Sixties. Tony Guerrero serves as the duo’s musical director.
This presentation is made possible by generous support from the Stacey & Donald Kivowitz Foundation.
The Wallis and LA Opera Off Grand present
Veils For Desire MARCH 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
The history of music is full of gorgeous expressions of hidden desires, from Beethoven’s longing for his “immortal beloved” to Tchaikovsky’s tortured expressions of his sexuality. Veils for Desire, an inventive new chamber concert program originally developed and produced by the American Modern Opera Company (AMOC), is a gathering of music that “veils” or transforms unspeakable desires into new, mysterious forms. The program includes music by Monteverdi, Matthew Aucoin, and Benjamin Britten. Countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo and tenor Paul Appleby are joined by conductor Matthew Aucoin and instrumentalists from AMOC as well as special guest Wayne Koestenbaum, celebrated poet and scholar, whose playful, multi-layered texts—newly written for the occasion—will weave these works together. TheWallis.org
The Wallis presents
Johnny Gandelsman The Complete Bach Cello Suites TRANSPOSED FOR VIOLIN APRIL 2021 Lovelace Studio Theater
Following up on his celebrated debut recording of JS Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas, Grammy award-winning violinist and producer Johnny Gandelsman (Brooklyn Rider, Silkroad Ensemble) brings his new project to The Wallis, presenting Bach’s complete cello suites on the violin. Support for this performance is made possible in part by a generous grant from the Colburn Foundation.
Broadway @ The Wallis & Mark Cortale present
Kelli O’Hara with Seth Rudetsky APRIL 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
The Wallis & Mark Cortale present the return of the internationally acclaimed Broadway @ concert series, hosted and music directed by SiriusXM Radio star Seth Rudetsky with Tony Awardwinner Kelli O’Hara (The King & I, Kiss Me Kate, The Light in the Piazza). The format of this concert is a seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories prompted by Rudetsky’s funny, insightful, and revealing questions— and the music from O’Hara’s stellar Broadway career. The Long Beach Opera Production In Association with The Wallis
Pierrot Lunaire
by Arnold Schoenberg Directed & Choreographed by Danielle Agami in Collaboration with Ate9 and
Voices from the Killing Jar
Directed by Zoe Aja Moore Conducted by Jenny Wong APRIL 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater In collaboration with Long Beach Opera and Interim Artistic Director, Yuval Sharon, The Wallis presents an evening of two “monodramas” performed by female soloist-narrators and chamber ensembles. Pierrot Lunaire is based on a cycle of 21 poems by Albert Giraud centered on one woman’s perspective on love, death and home, in a performance full of mystery and pathos. Voices from the Killing Jar depicts a series of female protagonists who are caught in their own hopeless situations, inescapable fates, impossible fantasies, and other unlucky circumstances – each living in a world constructed from among the countless possible sonic environments of the Wet Ink Band. The Wallis presents 2021 ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE
Daniel Hope & New Century Chamber Orchestra: Call of Destiny
Daniel Hope MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONCERTMASTER Alexey Botvinov PIANO APRIL 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater The internationally acclaimed violinist Daniel Hope leads his San Franciscobased New Century Chamber Orchestra in the WORLD PREMIERE performances of a new work by Academy Awardwinning composer Tan Dun. Tan Dun’s new work for piano and string orchestra will be performed alongside Ernest Bloch’s beloved Concerto Grosso No. ˘ ák’s towering 1, and Antonín Dvor Serenade for Strings. New Century is joined by the celebrated Ukrainian pianist Alexey Botvinov for this performance.
by Kate Soper
TheWallis.org
PROGRAM
BLOCH Concerto Grosso No. 1 DUN New Work DVOR̆ÁK Serenade for Strings The Wallis presents
Bridge to Everywhere MAY 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
Los Angeles-based chamber ensemble Bridge to Everywhere, led by Artistic Director and Resident Composer Derrick Spiva Jr., performs a crosscultural program of contemporary music that reflects our interconnected world. Their concerts often feature composers exploring connections found across diverse musical traditions including Hindustani and Carnatic classical, traditional West African, Mexican folk, Arabic Western classical, and jazz. The group strives to build bridges between instruments, genres, cultures, and people. CINEMA Cinema @ The Wallis In Partnership with Film Independent present
3 Special Events For Film Lovers JANUARY 2021 FEBRUARY 2021 JUNE 2021 Bram Goldsmith Theater
The Wallis and Film Independent have presented star-studded and unique performances, including Paul Dooley, Dennis Christopher and Taika Waititi in a live read of the coming of age film Breaking Away, Michael Keaton and Paula Pell in a stage reading of the film My Dinner with Andre, Ian McShane and Timothy Olyphant examining their characters in HBO’s “Deadwood,“ a staged reading of the iconic rom-com When Harry Met Sally, directed by Randall Park, and a surprise musical performance from GRAMMY
Award-winning artist, Childish Gambino. Stay tuned for show information and announcements. Cinema @ The Wallis In Partnership with National Theatre Live present
3 Exclusive Theatrical Events Direct from the UK
JANUARY 2021 - Present Laughter FEBRUARY 2021- Hansard JUNE 2021- Cyrano de Bergerac Bram Goldsmith Theater National Theatre Live (NT Live) brings the best of British theatre to cinema screens all over the world. With stateof-the-art filming techniques, tailored to every play, NT Live brings you each performance as it happens, in all of its glory. From close-ups that capture every flicker of emotion, to sweeping wide shots of the entire stage - you’ll always have the best seat in the house. Plus, you’ll be a part of something much bigger — there will be thousands of others all around the world watching along with you, sharing every gasp, every laugh, and every dramatic moment. This is theater for everyone! THE SORTING ROOM The Wallis presents
The Sorting Room
JUNE-JULY 2021 - Summer Sessions Lovelace Studio Theater The Sorting Room transforms the Lovelace Studio Theater into a 140-seat custom built nightclub space that offers Los Angeles audiences a rare opportunity to experience some of the best and emerging talent in cabaret, live contemporary music, spoken word, and more. Make a night out of it! Enjoy a cocktail, beer, or wine from The Wallis’ Briskin Bar inside the theater. Wallis Subscribers ALWAYS have first access to the very best singers, dancers, comedians, poets, and more! TheWallis.org
Sheléa
Jane Lynch NTLive Cyrano de Bergerac
Ballet Hispánico
YOUR GIFT TODAY =
LIVE ARTS TOMORROW Inspired by our 2021 Artist-In-Residence Daniel Hope, The Wallis has established Hope @ The Wallis, an optimism campaign and resiliency fund to celebrate our mission and the promise of what the future holds for us when we are able to reopen our campus. We know the power of the arts to heal, connect, and inspire us. The Wallis is committed to the preservation of the arts in our community and to welcoming you back the only way we know how‌with world-class artistic programming and awardwinning educational offerings.
DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT The Wallis Board of Directors has issued a challenge to our Wallis family by matching dollar-for-dollar all contributions to the Hope @ The Wallis campaign made above and beyond your annual donation, ticket purchases, and special event support. Donations are, now more than ever, essential to our ability to resume activity on our creative campus with excellence, stability, and vigor.
MAKE THE WALLIS RESILIENT It is no secret that The Wallis faces reverberating consequences from the significant and unexpected financial losses of ticket sales, rental revenue, and major events while we remain closed to the public during the pandemic. Please make a special gift today knowing your impact will be doubled to directly support our organization, artists, and service of our mission. All donors to the fund will be recognized on The Wallis’ website and in a special issue of Performances Magazine. As a special thank you, all gifts of $1,000 or more to Hope @ The Wallis will be listed on a recognition banner prominently displayed on our beautiful historic building!
WAYS TO GIVE ONLINE:
TheWallis.org/HopeFund CHECK:
Please make checks payable to: Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ATTN: Heather Shuemaker Chief Advancement Officer 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Beverly Hills, CA 90210
WIRE OR STOCK TRANSFER:
Contact Heather Shuemaker Chief Advancement Officer 310.433.9363 hshuemaker@thewallis.org BY PHONE:
Contact Lauren Hayes VIP Patron Services Specialist 310.295.2047 lhayes@thewallis.org
Gifts to Hope @ The Wallis are tax deductible to the full extent the law allows. TAX ID: 95-4467830
$300,000
GOAL
$210,000
UNLO CK $150, A 000 CHAL LENG E
WITH YOUR SUPPORT WE CAN REACH OUR GOAL!
70% FUNDED HOPE @ THE WALLIS TheWallis.org/HopeFund
’ 2021
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