Archived entries for John Anson Ford Ampitheatre

PRESS RELEASE: LA JEWISH SYMPHONY WILL CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY ON SUNDAY 9/7 WITH SPECIAL GUEST HERSHEY FELDER AT FORD AMPHITHEATRE

THE LOS ANGELES JEWISH SYMPHONY
CELEBRATES ITS 20TH ANNIVERSARY
WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED
HERSHEY FELDER

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2014 AT 7:30PM
AT THE JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATRE

Los Angeles Jewish Symphony

The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony has announced a celebratory concert to commemorate the orchestra’s 20th Anniversary on Sunday, September 7 at 7:30pm at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre in Hollywood. LAJS will be joined by award-winning and critically acclaimed pianist, actor, playwright, producer, and composer Hershey Felder, who has written an overture specifically for this occasion. With the anniversary concert, LAJS will be making its 11th consecutive appearance in the Ford Summer Partnership Concert Series.

“I am thrilled that Hershey will be joining us onstage for this exciting milestone,” said Dr. Noreen Green, LAJS Artistic Director and Conductor. “In the orchestra’s early days, he had a tremendous influence on its direction and development. At that time, we were both starting out on our individual journeys … I am so proud of his accomplishments and I know Hershey is proud of ours. I am deeply touched that he is coming back to celebrate with us.”

The LAJS 20th Anniversary Concert will offer something for everyone. The program’s highlights will include Yiddish theatre songs; Felder’s new composition for this occasion, featuring some of the established principal musicians of LAJS — Mark Kashper (concertmaster), Barry Gold (cello), and Zinovy Goro (clarinet); “Aliyah,” Felder’s concerto for piano and orchestra which celebrates the founding of the State of Israel; and selections by legendary composers Leonard Bernstein, Irving Berlin, and George Gershwin including the beloved “Rhapsody in Blue.”

With the encouragement of renowned maestro Murry Sidlin, Dr. Noreen Green founded the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony in 1994. It is the only symphony orchestra in America dedicated to the performance and preservation of music reflective of the Jewish experience. The mission of LAJS is to perform orchestral works of well known as well as not commonly recognized Jewish composers; establish opportunities for the presentation of new compositions by Jewish artists; serve as a professional resource for aspiring Jewish and non-Jewish musicians; act as an educational medium for Jewish music and composers; and provide multicultural opportunities for diverse populations of school age children.

Dr. Noreen Green is a widely recognized lecturer on Jewish music, a conductor, and an accomplished educator. She is known worldwide for her knowledge and skills. Earlier this year, she created and launched a new choir at American Jewish University; for two decades Green served as Music Director for Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue in Encino, CA where she is their Music Scholar-in-Residence. She has received numerous awards for her outstanding contributions to the multicultural music scene in Los Angeles. Green has been guest conductor at Jewish music concerts around the world, and under her baton LAJS has performed in concert with such notable personalities as Billy Crystal, Tovah Feldshuh, Melissa Manchester, Theodore Bikel, Valerie Harper, Pat Boone, Lainie Kazan, Fyvush Finkel, Dave Koz, Marvin Hamlisch, Roslyn Kind, and many others.

Hershey Felder has enjoyed international success in many disciplines. A Broadway star and virtuoso pianist, Felder has created several stage plays (with music), including George Gershwin Alone (winner of 2007 Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Awards for Best Actor and Best Musical), Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, Monsieur Chopin, Beethoven As I Knew Him, and Abe Lincoln’s Piano. His plays, musical compositions, and concerts have won acclaim on Broadway, in London’s West End, and around the world. Felder is a Steinway Concert Artist.

The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony 20th Anniversary Concert with special guest artist Hershey Felder will take place at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, in Hollywood on Sunday, September 7 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $30, $40, and $50, with student discounts available. Tickets are available at FordTheatres.org or by calling (323) 461-3673. To learn about discounts for groups of eight or more, call (323) 769-2147. For information on LAJS program advertising and sponsorship packages, call (818) 436-5260.

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07-15-14

ABOUT THE FORD THEATRES

The Ford Theatres are located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway between Hollywood Blvd. and Barham Blvd. in the Cahuenga Pass. The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink.

The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. On site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. FREE nonstacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City/Studio City Metro Station parking lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the “kiss and ride” area. Please allow an extra 30 minutes if taking the shuttle.

This event is part of the Ford Theatres 2014 Summer Amphitheatre Season, a multidisciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County based arts organizations. A complete season schedule, directions to the amphitheatre and parking information can be found at FordTheatres.org.

The Los Angeles Jewish Symphony. Photo by Guy Madmoni.

PRESS RELEASE — TONY AWARD-WINNER JENNIFER HOLLIDAY HEADLINES ‘BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS’ SATURDAY, AUGUST 16

CHRIS ISAACSON PRESENTS
JENNIFER HOLLIDAY
STARRING IN
BROADWAY UNDER THE STARS
ALSO FEATURING ERICH BERGEN, ROGELIO DOUGLAS, JR.,
DANNY GURWIN AND CHAD KIMBALL

DIRECTED BY DAVID GALLIGAN

ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY
SATURDAY, AUGUST 16 AT 8PM
JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATRE

Following up the triumphant Night After the Tonys With Linda Eder, Chris Isaacson Presents has announced a one-night-only concert event at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre on Saturday, August 16 at 8pm. Broadway Under the Stars will star Tony Award-winner Jennifer Holliday and will also feature (in alphabetical order) Erich Bergen (Jersey Boys, stage and film), Rogelio Douglas, Jr. (In the Heights), Danny Gurwin (Little Women) and Tony Award-nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis).  David Galligan will direct, and the music director is Gerald Sternbach.

Broadway Under the Stars Cast

Broadway Under the Stars will feature songs from some of the most beloved musicals of our time, including Cabaret, Jersey Boys, Pippin, The Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Les Misérables, and Wicked, along with new favorites from the 2013-14 Broadway season including Aladdin, Rocky, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

With one of Broadway’s greatest voices, Jennifer Holliday’s immeasurable range and artistry have long stood in a class by themselves. She was honored with the 1982 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Leading Actress in a Musical for her portrayal of Effie Melody White in Dreamgirls. Through the years, she has appeared on television, in many other stage productions, and as a soloist with Symphony Orchestras all over the country. Holliday has performed for four U.S. Presidents.

Erich Bergen is best known for his stage portrayal of Bob Gaudio in Jersey Boys, a role he played in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and in the First National Tour. Bergen was tapped by director Clint Eastwood to reprise his performance in the Warner Bros feature film, which opened in June. (www.ErichBergen.com).  Rogelio Douglas, Jr. has appeared on Broadway in The Little Mermaid and In the Heights. (www.rogeliodouglasjr.com)

Danny Gurwin’s Broadway credits include Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Kismet, and A Little Night Music at the New York City Opera. He repeated his acclaimed performance in that production at the Los Angeles Opera and the Kennedy Center. (www.dannygurwin.com) Chad Kimball is a 2010 Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Award nominee for his role in Memphis. Other Broadway credits include Lennon, Into the Woods (2002 revival), The Civil War, and Good Vibrations. (www.chadkimball.com)

David Galligan has directed countless stage productions in Los Angeles, New York, and many other major American cities. He is the recipient of the LA STAGE Alliance Ovation Award for Lifetime Achievement and has produced and directed Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event directed for the past 30 years. It is the longest running AIDS benefit in the world.

Broadway Under the Stars is at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, in Hollywood, for one performance only on Saturday, August 16 at 8pm. Tickets are $40, $55, and $95; for students and children, tickets are $20. VIP packages are available (includes premium seating and a post-show reception with the artists). Purchase by August 2 and save $5! Discount tickets are available at FordTheatres.org or by calling 323-461-3673. To learn about discounts for groups of eight or more, call 323-769-2147.

A portion of the evening’s proceeds will benefit The Actors Fund, a national human services organization that helps everyone — performers and those behind the scenes — who works in performing arts and entertainment, serving more than 17,000 people annually. Programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing, and employment and training services. www.actorsfund.org.

For more information about this and other CIP events, including scheduled performers, showtimes, and tickets, visit www.ChrisIsaacsonPresents.com.

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06/23/14

 
 

PRESS RELEASE — 2014 LA SO-CAL DANCE INVITATIONAL AT FORD AMPHITHEATRE FRIDAY, JUNE 20 AT 8:30PM

LA SO-CAL DANCE INVITATIONAL
PRESENTED BY
SOUTH COAST DANCE ARTS ALLIANCE
AT THE JOHN ANSON FORD AMPHITHEATRE

SIX ACCLAIMED SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
DANCE COMPANIES SET TO PERFORM

NANNETTE BRODIE DANCE THEATRE
LULA WASHINGTON DANCE THEATRE
ANDY VACA’S JAZZWORKS—LONG BEACH
COLABO YOUTH DANCE COLLECTIVE
LA CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY
INVERTIGO DANCE THEATRE

ONE NIGHT ONLY
FRIDAY, JUNE 20 AT 8:30PM

LA So-Cal Dance Invitational, presented by South Coast Dance Arts Alliance, has been announced for Friday, June 20 at 8:30pm at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre. Six acclaimed Southern California dance companies will perform: Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre, Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Andy Vaca’s Jazzworks—Long Beach, COLABO Youth Dance Collective, LA Contemporary Dance Company, and Invertigo Dance Theatre.

Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre

Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre

 

Nannette Brodie Dance Theatre, founded in 1986, is a dance company of drama, wit, joy and invention, now celebrating its 25th anniversary. For this year’s Invitational, NBDT will present “Body of Water,” originally choreographed by Brodie in two parts in 2009 and 2010. NBDT will also offer “Beyond the River,” (first premiered at the Ford in 2004), and “Fuerza” (which means force or strength) choreographed by NBDT member Javier Gonzalez. www.nannettebrodiedance.org.

Lula Washington Dance Theatre is a 10-member modern dance company that was founded in 1980. Based in the inner city of South Central Los Angeles, the company has risen to become one of the largest and most admired African-American dance companies in the West. LWDT will present “Beautiful Venus and Serena,” a tribute to the fabulous talents of the tennis stars Venus and Serena. www.lulawashington.org

Andy Vaca’s Jazzworks—Long Beach is dedicated to preserving jazz dance as a viable concert dance form. Under the direction of Andy Vaca, Department of Dance Chair at California State University Long Beach, the company will present “General Education,” a light-hearted and often poignant piece choreographed by Vaca and set to an eclectic score by Pink Martini.

COLABO Youth Dance Collective

COLABO Youth Dance Collective

 

COLABO Youth Dance Collective was established in 2008 by choreographer and dance educator Francisco Gella as a revolutionary alternative to competitive studio training and is affiliated with NUEVO School of Contemporary Dance in Chino, CA. The company will perform two pieces: “Stairway,” an emotional journey associated with the human struggle to maintain connection and accept loss, choreographed by Francisco Gella, and “Stride,” a contemporary piece exploring how empathy builds strength within humanity, choreographed by Saleemah E. Knight. www.nuevodance.com

L.A. Contemporary Dance Company is a non profit dance company based in downtown LA that performs a diverse repertoire of modern, ballet, and jazz-influenced works representative of LA’s vibrant culture. LACDC will present “The Better To See You With,” a dance theatre work that presents a dark, humorous, and graphic rendition of the “Little Red Riding Hood” story, choreographed by Holly Rothschild. www.ladanceco.org

Invertigo Dance Theatre

Invertigo Dance Theatre

 

Invertigo Dance Theatre is a Los Angeles-based company that creates whimsical, compelling dance theatre with a strong educational component, blending athleticism, theatricality, and a healthy sense of the absurd. They will present “Waiting at Home for the Witches,” in which the husbands of the three sisters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth are stuck at home waiting for their wives, getting into toil and trouble of their own. www.invertigodance.org

LA So-Cal Dance Invitational, presented by South Coast Dance Arts Alliance, will play one performance only, on Friday, June 20, at the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, 2580 Cahuenga Boulevard East, in Hollywood, CA, 90068. Showtime is 8:30pm, and tickets are on sale now. Admission prices are $50 for a VIP package (includes premium seating, pre-show reception with company directors and gift bag), $30 (general admission), $20 (students), and $12 (children 12 or under). To purchase tickets, go to www.fordtheatres.org or call (323) 461-3673. General admission tickets purchased prior to June 2 receive a $5 discount. For more event information, visit www.socaldanceinvitational.org.

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ABOUT THE FORD THEATRES

The Ford Theatres are located at 2580 Cahuenga Blvd. East, Hollywood, CA 90068, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway between Hollywood Blvd. and Barham Blvd. in the Cahuenga Pass. The grounds open two hours before showtime for picnicking. The Ford offers a number of dining options: a variety of food and beverages is available on site and box dinners for evening events may be ordered in advance. Patrons are welcome to bring their own food and drink.

The Ford is disabled accessible. Portable wireless listening devices are available upon request. On site, stacked parking costs $5 per vehicle for evening shows and $1 per vehicle for morning family shows. FREE nonstacked parking serviced by a FREE shuttle to the Ford, for evening amphitheatre performances only, is available at the Universal City/Studio City Metro Station parking lot at Lankershim Blvd. and Campo de Cahuenga. The shuttle, which cycles every 15-20 minutes, stops in the “kiss and ride” area. Please allow an extra 30 minutes if taking the shuttle.

This event is part of the Ford Theatres 2014 Summer Amphitheatre Season, a multi-disciplinary arts series produced by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission in cooperation with Los Angeles County based arts organizations. A complete season schedule, directions to the amphitheatre and parking information can be found at FordTheatres.org.

05-16-14