Arthur Thompson's Latest Single Is 'Oasis'

An “Oasis” of joy: R&B-Jazz vocalist-drummer Arthur Thompson releases a spirited version of Roberta Flack’s No. 1 hit

R&B-jazz vocalist-drummer Arthur Thompson wants to have an impact – in and out of music. Launching his solo recording career a year ago after decades of playing drums for contemporary jazz A-listers, he’s releasing recordings with a purpose. His just-released third single, “Oasis,” is an uplifting, energizing, and assuring affirmation of love. Thompson produced his version of the song that was a number-one hit for Roberta Flack.  

Thompson’s previous release was “We Can BEAT Cancer,” which features 9-time Grammy-nominated saxophonist Dave Koz and soul-jazz vocalist Erin Stevenson. The benefit single and video that dropped last October during Breast Cancer Awareness Month raised money for cancer research and spent four months on the national singles chart. Thompson debuted early last year with the soulful “Smile” featuring hitmaker Mindi Abair with whom he regularly tours. The two singles earned Thompson the Breakout Artist of the Year honors from BEATS Magazine.

On the heels of the success of his first two singles which were his original songs, Thompson elected to reimagine the Marcus Miller-Mark Stephens song recorded by Flack in 1988. Vibrantly cheerful and invigorating, the foundation of his version of “Oasis” is a staccato drum groove augmented by his crafty percussion beats. The sunny harmonies and luminous melodies are animated by Jon Gilutin’s keyboards, guitarist David John, and bassist Coretz Johnson. Deftly deployed layers of punchy horns from The Monkey Fist Horns fill up the track, adding jubilation and celebration. Melody Dunlap’s warm and glowing backing vocal provides the perfect support to Thompson’s charismatic tenor lead.

“‘Oasis’ transports you to a place where you feel safe, encouraged, and loved. It describes a longing for that special someone, a feeling of complete peace when you are apart because of the confidence you have in knowing that they will return to you. I decided to record this particular song because I really enjoy Roberta Flack’s sultry and soulful voice. When she sings a lyric, she makes you feel,” said Thompson, who was also drawn to the track because of the original version’s African beats.

“I always thought ‘Oasis’ was a beautiful song, and it has African undertones with the rhythms and drums. If you listen closely, you will hear that influence with my African Djembe, Dundun, Kenkeni, and Sangdon drums.”

The Nashville-based Thompson recorded “Oasis” in his hometown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was joined in the studio by some of the musicians with whom he grew up playing, including his friend Gilutin. As special as that experience was for Thompson, he said that shooting the “Oasis” video with his son was even more meaningful.  

“Watching Arthur Jr. grow in his craft of videography and direction made me feel so proud as a parent to see his love for the arts come to fruition. I never thought that we would work together and have that opportunity,” beamed Thompson.

Thompson, who is at sea this week performing aboard the Dave Koz & Friends all-star cruise, is a mission-based musician. This fall, he’ll be releasing another new single in conjunction with the launch of a mental health awareness nonprofit called Where Are You Now. Thompson created the Music & Math program designed to aid at-risk youth. The curriculum that has been taught in Oklahoma, Texas and California relates basic mathematical concepts with musical notes and scales, incorporating repetitive auditory memorization skills. Thompson co-founded and served for ten years as the director of the Promises for Families Foundation, which provided summer camps and school programs for children and youth who have an incarcerated parent. He continues to teach his Drums Speak school program across the country, offering music and education to children.

“For me, my music career really just gives me a platform to serve and make a difference in the community and to empower kids by providing them with education and tools to grow in the arts. That’s really what’s behind me stepping out from behind the drum kit after all these years. The more success that my records have, the more people I will be able to impact.”

LA New Play Project Announces 4th Year of Funding

Calling all small-to-midsize Los Angeles theatre makers! Applications are being accepted now. Deadline: June 1, 2024: https://lanpp.org/grant-guidelines-and-application/

LA NEW PLAY PROJECT’s (LANPP) two-tiered grant program offers $20,000 grants to playwrights for new, unproduced plays, with an additional $20,000 to producers to help support the play’s world premiere production. The funding is intended to award excellence in playwriting, encourage the production of new and untried plays on the smaller stages of Los Angeles, and help stabilize theatrical productions that originate here but may resonate beyond Los Angeles County's borders.

Producers in partnership with playwrights are invited to submit new scripts under consideration for production. A distinguished peer panel selects one to three projects for the award.

Past Awardees (Photo by Todd Cheney): LANPP Recipients at UCLA Reception

HAPPY FALL: A Queer Stunt Spectacular by Lisa Sanaye Dring

Produced by Rogue Artists Ensemble

 

Four Women in Red by Laura Annawyn Shamas

Produced by Victory Theater Center

2022

Two Stop by David Johann Kim

Produced by EST/LA 

 

Pang Spa by David Johann Kim

Produced by Chalk Repertory Theatre

 

Unrivaled by Rosie Narasaki

Produced in collaboration by Playwrights Arena and Boston Court Pasadena 

 

She by Marlow Wyatt

Produced by Antaeus Theatre Company 

2021

Both And…A Play About Laughing While Black, By Carolyn Ratteray

Produced by Boston Court Pasadena

 

Revenge Porn Carla Ching

Produced by Ammunition Theatre

 

The Hands That Could and Josh Wilder

Produced by Watts Village Theater Company

 

The Los Angeles New Play Project grant is the brainchild of producers Paula Holt and Nathan Birnbaum.

More information on grant guidelines for submissions: http://lanpp.org/grant-guidelines-and-application/

LA New Play Project: http://lanpp.org/

CURRENTLY ON STAGE:

See 2022 Awardee Two Stop and Pang Spa 

by David Johann Kim

 

Currently running in conjunction with 

EST/LA and Chalk Repertory Theatre 

Two Stop by David Johann Kim

May 2-June 9, 2024

 

Pang Spa by David Johann Kim

May 16-June 9, 2024

Helder Guimarães Presents 'The Hope Theory' at Geffen

  

Helder Guimarães

By Darlene Donloe

Helder Guimarães is a master magician and a master storyteller who weaves them together to present a wonderous night of theater called, The Hope Theory.

The world premiere production, directed by EGOT award-winning director/producer Frank Marshall (Indiana Jones, Jason Bourne, Jurassic World) and written and performed by Guimarães, is currently playing in the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theater at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood through June 30, 2024. 

The show, from Guimarães and Marshall, the creators of Invisible Tango, The Present, and The Future, The Hope Theory spins a tale about Guimarães who arrived in America at age 29. 

When he got to the States, he was wide-eyed and full of ideas and soon discovered a fascinating puzzle of cultural and professional challenges to solve while he tried to build a home. 

The Hope Theory offers a unique perspective on America through the eyes of an optimistic outsider.

According to hope theory (and many other schools of thought), at some point in human evolution, we developed the ability to conceptualize time in terms of past, present, and future (psychologist C. R. Snyder, 2002).  As a result, humans can organize their behaviors to bring about desired future conditions (i.e., goals).

A Portuguese-born performer, Guimarães has a unique approach to sleight of hand magic and storytelling that holds an audience spellbound.

A master of illusions, Guimarães starts his show by standing center stage in what looks like a slightly disheveled, newly moved-in apartment.

As he starts to put things in their place, he takes the audience on a journey through his life. It’s a ride that takes him from being a 29-year-old immigrant when he arrives in America, to ultimately becoming a U.S. citizen. 

Two people prominently factor into his tale – one is a so-called friend named Jason, and the other is his girlfriend, who would follow him to America. 

He talks about his country and America’s respective traditions. One in particular is how the Portuguese stand on furniture when the clock is about to strike midnight on New Year’s Eve.  He did it at a party filled with Americans – and received the side-eye. 

He speaks of betrayal by a man he thought was his friend – but who, it turns out – wasn’t.

Guimarães arrived in America wide-eyed and full of ideas – some of which were quickly dashed due to a fascinating mix of cultural and professional challenges that awaited him. Alone in America with his girlfriend, Guimarães soon found that he must understand and deal with all of those challenges while trying to build a home in a new country. 

Written and performed by master illusionist and storyteller Helder Guimaraes and directed/produced by award-winning Frank Marshall – co-creators of “Invisible Tango,” “The Present,” and “The Future” – THE HOPE THEORY made its world premiere in 2024. 

He has earned titles like the World Champion of Magic, Parlor Magician of the Year, Allan Slaight’s Sharing Wonder recipient, and Ascanio Prize winner. 

Helder Guimarães

Guimarães’ unique approach to sleight-of-hand magic and storytelling was featured in his previous creations Nothing to Hide, Borrowed Time, and Verso. 

Using his knowledge of deception, Guimarães regularly consults for entities like NBC, Disney, and Warner. As an example, he trained Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett for Ocean’s 8. 

This play offers a unique perspective on America through the eyes of an optimistic outsider. 

Guimaraes sets just the right tone in his presentation. It’s part like he’s giving a lecture, and part having a conversation with a friend. In between, he amazes the audience with his magical mysteries – leaving everyone shaking their heads. 

It’s a wonderful night of theater that can’t be missed! 

It’s blasphemous to call what Guimaraes does as “tricks.”  His illusions are astonishing. Throughout the night there were whispers of “How did he do that?” especially from some of the audience members who were recruited to be part of the illusion. What he does on stage goes beyond Abracadabra and Presto Chango. It truly is magic. 

How’d he do that? 

THE HOPE THEORY, The Geffen Playhouse, 10886 Le Conte Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024, 8 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sundays, through June 30, 2024. Spanish language performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8; at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19; and at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 7, 2024. Tickets are $30-$129. For information and reservations, call 310-208-2028 or go online.

On the DONLOE SCALE: D (don’t bother), O (oh, no), N (needs work), L (likable), O (oh, yeah), and E (excellent), The Hope Theory gets an E (excellent).

 

 

Cafe Mocha Network Presents 'Women Creating A Legacy' at the 14th Annual Salute HER Awards

 

(Harlem, NY – March 14, 2024) — In its 14th celebratory year, the nationally syndicated Café Mocha radio show’s Salute HER Awards shined a light on Black women who have made history and have excelled beyond odds in honor of Women’s History Month.  The sold-out event occurred at the historic Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem, NY on Thursday, March 7. Hosted by Café Mocha co-hosts Angelique Perrin and hip-hop icon Yo-Yo with pop culture icon Jawn Murray, the evening was treated to an exceptional musical performance by Grammy-Award-winning duo Louis York.

The esteemed group of seven honorees includes: Ann Tripp, news icon and news director at WBLS-FM and the nationally syndicated Steve Harvey Morning Show, who was the recipient of the Broadcast Legacy Award; DeDe McGuire, national media personality, philanthropist, and host of the nationally-syndicated “DeDe In The Morning Show”, was the recipient of the Media Innovator Award; Melba Moore, Legendary singer, and award-winning actress, was the recipient of the Legend Award; Flo Anthony, famed celebrity journalist, was the recipient of the Media Legend Award; Alicia Reece, Hamilton County Commission President and founder of the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame, was the recipient of the Creating the Legacy Award; Jotaka Eaddy, widely-respected social impact activist, was the recipient of the Champion for Change Award; Melba Wilson, well-known Harlem restauranteur and founder of Melba’s, was the recipient of the Business Legacy Award.

The opening prayer was led by Cheryl Polote-Williamson, 2019 Salute Her Award honoree and CEO of Cheryl Polote Williamson, LLC. Each honoree gave acceptance speeches. 

There were various notables in the room such as the former legendary NAACP National President and current President of the NAACP New York State chapter. Hazel Nell Dukes, 91, was given flowers as several honorees expressed their gratitude for her long-time commitment, to fighting for equality and combating injustice.

“The purpose of the Salute HER Awards is to bring together women to collaborate and inspire one another by the journey of our honorees. The evening was already so memorable but having Hazel Dukes present made it historic” said Sheila Eldridge, CEO & founder of Miles Ahead Entertainment & Broadcasting.

The Salute HER Awards supports the Mocha Cares Foundation whose mission is to provide shelter families with transitional housing support to support visit www.mochacaresfoundation.org.

James Conlon To Become Conductor Laureate of LA Opera in 2026

James Conlon

(Los Angeles) March 13, 2024 — James Conlon, Music Director of LA Opera since 2006, announced at an organizational board meeting today that the 2025/26 season will be his final season as music director. It will mark both his 20th season in this leadership role and the 40th anniversary of the company. President and CEO Christopher Koelsch, along with the LA Opera board of directors, has named Conlon as Conductor Laureate, a lifetime appointment, in recognition of his distinguished tenure and contribution to LA Opera and the community at large, and in acknowledgment of the mutual intention for Conlon to return to the company as a guest conductor.

“The long, productive relationship that I have shared with LA Opera and the greater Los Angeles community has been a source of enormous professional fulfillment, and I have decided to make the 2025/2026 season my last as music director,” Conlon said. “Twenty years with the company marks an extraordinary personal milestone. I am moving on to a new phase of my professional activities and am grateful to the board and to Christopher for their understanding."

Conlon continued: “I have been a music director with orchestras, opera companies, and festivals in Europe and the United States for almost 50 years and am looking forward to launching new projects of great importance to me, both musically and personally.

"As a product of the public education system of New York City, at a time when music was a significant presence for young people, I am passionate about using my voice and influence to encourage and develop a new and growing audience for classical music across generations. I will continue to dedicate myself to those goals through future conducting, writing, public speaking, and, most importantly, education and mentorship.

“One of the greatest satisfactions has been working with the musicians of the LA Opera Orchestra. I am deeply grateful to them for their dedication, hard work, and support. I am confident that they will be in very good hands with the next generation of leadership.

"I simultaneously express my deepest gratitude to all of those with whom I have collaborated onstage and backstage: the entire chorus, music staff, and orchestral library; the audio department, stage management, and stage hands; the costume and wig department; all of the administrative staff, volunteers and, in short, all of those whom the public rarely sees but without whom none us would be able to perform at our best. Last but not least, my deepest appreciation to Christopher Koelsch, Board Chairman Keith R. Leonard, Jr., Honorary Chairman Marc Stern, Chairman of the Executive Committee Carol F. Henry, and the entire board of directors, without whose support and caring Los Angeles would not have the opera company it needs and deserves."

Koelsch, who has worked alongside Conlon at the company since the beginning of his tenure as music director, said, “James’ impact as music director is unparalleled and cannot be overstated. He has been a fierce and passionate advocate for the power and beauty of the art form, dedicating so much of his time to connect directly with audiences and community members, enthusiastically sharing his knowledge with everyone from the most learned opera fan to children who have never been exposed to classical music. He is equally committed to the members of the orchestra and ensuring that, as a group, they are continually developing, expanding, and sharpening their collective sound; from my point of view, they have never sounded better as an ensemble. Under his guidance, the LA Opera Orchestra has truly become one of the premiere orchestras in the world.”

“The sustained and remarkable artistic excellence that James has provided LA Opera for almost 20 years has literally made him central to the company’s artistic achievements and growth," said Keith R. Leonard, Jr., chairman of the LA Opera board of directors. "Our commitment to celebrating unsung artists started with his dedication to staging operas by composers silenced during World War II. In addition to his leadership in the orchestra pit, he possesses an unparalleled knowledge, insight and passion for opera history. He has a gift for placing works in historical context and connecting them to current issues and events, which explains the popularity of his pre-show lectures. I personally read everything he writes and love his podcasts.”

Internationally recognized as one of classical music’s most accomplished, versatile, and prolific figures, James Conlon became LA Opera's second music director in 2006. Having conducted 68 operas by 32 different composers and over 460 performances to date with the company, James Conlon has led more productions than any other conductor in LA Opera's history. Highlights of his tenure include the company’s first Ring cycle by Wagner; a 2015 “Figaro Trilogy” consisting of John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, Rossini’s The Barber of Seville and Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro; spearheading Britten 100/LA, a citywide celebration honoring the centennial of composer Benjamin Britten’s birth; and conducting a rare performance of The Anonymous Lover by Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a prominent Black composer in 18th-century France.

Conlon additionally launched the groundbreaking Recovered Voices initiative, an ongoing commitment to staging neglected masterpieces by composers suppressed by the Third Reich. In 1999 he received the Vienna-based Zemlinsky Prize for his work bringing composer Alexander Zemlinsky’s music to a broader audience; in 2013 he was awarded the Roger E. Joseph Prize at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for his efforts to eradicate racial and religious prejudice and discrimination; and in 2007 he received the Crystal Globe Award from the Anti-Defamation League. His work on behalf of silenced composers led to the creation of the OREL Foundation, an invaluable resource on the topic for music lovers, students, musicians, and scholars; the Ziering-Conlon Initiative for Recovered Voices at the Colburn School; and a virtual TEDx Talk titled “Resurrecting Forbidden Music.”

Recovered Voices programming is currently represented onstage at LA Opera with a double bill featuring The Dwarf by Alexander Zemlinsky, an opera based on Oscar Wilde’s fable The Birthday of the Infanta, paired with Highway 1, USA by William Grant Still, often called the “dean of African-American composers,” which marks the first time that an LA Opera Recovered Voices presentation has featured a composition by an American composer subjected to racial prejudice and suppression. Conlon is the conductor of both works.

He also collaborates closely with the members of LA Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, conducting them in concerts and in performances of operas that have included, most recently, Impressions de Pelléas, an adaptation of Claude Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.

Since coming to Los Angeles, Conlon has demonstrated his deep investment in the role of music in civic life and the human experience. At LA Opera, his enormously popular pre-performance talks have blended musicology, literary studies, history, and social sciences to discuss the enduring power and relevance of opera and classical music. He has also frequently collaborated with universities, museums, and other cultural institutions and worked with scholars, practitioners, and community members across disciplines in his efforts to improve awareness of and accessibility to classical music.

Conlon also initiated the annual Community Opera, a signature and unique program for LA Opera hosted at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. The Community Opera brings together more than 400 amateur singers, dancers, and instrumentalists who perform in a fully staged opera alongside LA Opera’s professional singers and musicians of the LA Opera Orchestra. “When I was 12 years old, I participated in a children’s chorus in an opera and it changed the course of my life,” explained Conlon. “It is important to share the experience of art with young people; it is an experience that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives in ways we can’t even imagine today.” Each Community Opera presentation is performed free to the public, for an audience of around 3,000 people. For 2024, LA Opera will host two performances of Benjamin Britten’s Noah's Flood on May 3 and May 4.

Apart from LA Opera, James Conlon has been Principal Conductor of the Paris Opera (1995-2004); General Music Director of the City of Cologne, Germany (1989-2002), simultaneously leading the Gürzenich Orchestra and the Cologne Opera; Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra (1983-91); and Principal Conductor of the RAI Orchestra Nazionale Torino. Conlon was Music Director of the Ravinia Festival (2005-15), summer home of the Chicago Symphony, and is now Music Director Laureate of the Cincinnati May Festival―the oldest choral festival in the United States―where he was Music Director for 37 years (1979-2016), marking one of the longest tenures of any director of an American classical music institution. He also served as Artistic Advisor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (2021-23). He has conducted over 270 performances at the Metropolitan Opera since his 1976 debut there. He has conducted at leading opera houses and festivals worldwide, such as the Vienna State Opera, Salzburg Festival, La Scala in Milan, the Rome Opera, Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Real in Madrid, Teatro Comunale di Bologna and Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in Florence.

Conlon’s extensive discography and filmography spans the Bridge, Capriccio, Decca, EMI, Erato, RCA, and Sony Classical labels. His recordings of LA Opera productions have received four Grammy Awards: two respectively for John Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles and for Kurt Weill’s Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny. Additional highlights include an ECHO Klassik Award-winning recording cycle of operas and orchestral works by Alexander Zemlinsky; a CD/DVD release of works by Viktor Ullmann, which won the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik; and the world premiere recording of Liszt’s oratorio St. Stanislaus

Conlon holds four honorary doctorates, was one of the inaugural five recipients of the Opera News Awards, and was distinguished by the New York Public Library as a Library Lion. He recently received the Cross of Honor for Science and Art (Österreichische Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst) from the Republic of Austria in 2023 and was named Commendatore Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana by Sergio Mattarella, President of the Italian Republic in 2016. He was also named Commandeur de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Minister of Culture and, in 2002, personally accepted France’s highest honor, the Legion d’Honneur, from then-President of the French Republic Jacques Chirac.

IGNITE: A Fire Luxury Gifting Lounge Pays Homage To Doris Bergman

By Darlene Donloe

The late Doris Bergman, a longtime Hollywood publicist, was known for presenting the “best of the best” at her various celebrity-infused gifting lounges.

Doris Bergman

Bergman, who, herself, was the “best of the best,” passed away unexpectedly in 2023.

On a beautiful, sunny day, Nicole Lester and Heather Marianna, founders of The Merritt + Marianna Group paid homage to Bergman with a champagne toast during its IGNITE, A Fire Luxury Gifting Lounge held March 7, at The Ambrose Hotel in Santa Monica.

Lester and Marianna hosted the event to celebrate the hard work of movie writers, producers, and actors during the Oscar awards season.

“Doris meant everything to me,” said Lester, the lead producer of the event. “She was a mentor, friend, and my sister. I worked with her for 13 years. This event will continue every year in her honor. I miss her.” 

The enviable invitation-only event boasted good food, good drinks, an impressive, eclectic gifting suite, and a host of Hollywood notables.

IGNITE: A Fire Luxury Gifting Lounge attendees

The packed event, which included current Oscar nominees, previous nominees and winners, and past presenters, proved to be the place to be and the place to be seen.  The soiree brought out celebrities including Bruce Dern, NBA vet John Salley, KiKi Shepard, Kym Whitley, Kate Linder, and more.

Kate Linder

“I’m here for a couple of reasons,” said Linder, who has played Esther Valentine on The Young and the Restless for 42 years. “This is carrying on a tradition for Doris (Bergman).  She was an amazing person. I supported all her events. I can feel her presence here. I miss how much she cared and how she supported everyone. It’s a huge loss for all of us.”

Beauty Kitchen

Art Lewin Bespoke Menswear

The Reading Room

Quantum Energy

Farah Brushes

Quantum Energy

Several vendors were on hand showering attendees with various gifts.

The gifting lounge featured the unique and luxury brands, Dulce Vida Tequila, Ophora Water, Empress Gin, ATA Cosmetics, Camilla Seretti Jewelry, Precious Vodka, Royal Kingz Skincare, Christine Bond of C-B-OND 20/20, Hidden Hills Coffee, Art Lewin Bespoke Menswear, Beauty Kitchen, Farah Brushes, The Reading Room, La Casa del Camino, Blanche Lip Gloss and Barbie Layton, The Libra Collection, Andre Notice (Coach Andre), and Chef Katie Chin. Attendees were able to experience the Quantum Energy Wellness Bed. 

Blanche Lip Gloss

“My legs were cramping up,” said actress KiKi Shepard. “Within a matter of five minutes laying on the Wellness Bed, I was relaxed.  What you feel first is heat. Heat makes you succumb. It was terrific.”

Christine Bond

“I wrote the book because we have to tap into the power we don’t know we have,” said Christine Bond, author of C-B-OND 20/20. “I wrote the book because of my life story. I am legally blind. I have an eye condition called keratoconus. The cornea doesn’t reflect the light well so I can see. My goal is to teach as many people as I can about their purpose. I want to teach people about their purpose. I enjoy helping people.”

Royal Kingz

“This is an all-natural and organic skincare line for men,” said Tiffany M. Morrow, CEO of Royal Kingz Skincare based in Detroit. “It's a four-step process with active charcoal. There is a cleanser toner, scrub, and mask. I have one hundred percent avocado oil to soften the hair.”

Andre Notice

“I am the poetic purpose coach,” said Coach Andre (Andre Notice), who once was homeless for three years and slept in his car for three months. “I’ve been doing this for five years now. I push people to pursue purpose. My purpose is to encourage, edify, and to ignite. I’m here to spread the message that you’re not just supposed to live life. Most people live and die and never know what they were here for.” 

Coach Andre has a book called ‘Your Purpose Is Not For You.’ 

In the spirit of giving back, attendees donated doggie attire and treats benefiting the Vanderpump Dogs Foundation, the Kids Excelling In College Foundation, and the Business Architects TXG Foundation.

Puppies

Author Delroy O. Walker and rep

CTG and American Conservatory Theater Announce Cast for "A Strange Loop"

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 6, 2024) — Today, Center Theatre Group (CTG) and American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.) announced the cast and creative team for the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award–winning acclaimed musical, A Strange Loop, making its West Coast premiere at A.C.T.’s Toni Rembe Theater (415 Geary St., San Francisco) from Thursday, April 18 through Sunday, May 12, 2024 and then moving to Center Theatre Group’s Ahmanson Theatre (135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles) from Wednesday, June 5 through Sunday, June 30, 2024. Single tickets ($25 - $137) for the San Francisco engagement are on sale now by visiting act-sf.org/strangeloop. Single tickets ($35–$155) for the Los Angeles engagement are on sale now by visiting ctgla.org/a-strange-loop.

Meet Usher: a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer writing a musical about a Black, queer writer. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer Prize–winning, blisteringly funny masterwork exposes the heart and soul of a young artist grappling with desires, identity, and instincts he both loves and loathes. Hell-bent on breaking free of his own self-perception, Usher wrestles with the thoughts in his head, brought to life on stage by a hilarious, straight-shooting ensemble. Direct from Broadway and the West End to San Francisco and Los Angeles, A Strange Loop is the big, Black, and queer-ass Great American Musical for all!

“I began writing what would become A Strange Loop in a small room of a bungalow-style apartment in the middle of nowhere Queens when I was 23 years old,” said Michael R. Jackson. “I had never been so scared or uncertain of my place in the world. Working on the show was my life raft and I never in a million years imagined the miles it would travel. I am so excited to share A Strange Loop with even more audiences and so grateful to A.C.T. and CTG for making this West Coast premiere possible. What a strange loop!”

“It only seems fitting that such a big, bold, and irreverent play would call both CTG and A.C.T. home—two iconic theatre companies in cities known for pushing boundaries and telling wholly original stories,” said CTG Artistic Director Snehal Desai. “A Strange Loop is one of the most discussed and awarded musicals of our time. It is also audacious, hilarious, empowering, and very moving. The company for this co-production joins us from a national search and I can’t wait for SF audiences to experience A Strange Loop starting in April and to keep the conversation going when it plays the Ahmanson Theatre in June.”

“I love that A.C.T. is in partnership with Los Angeles’s Center Theatre Group in bringing this gorgeous, provocative, and full story by Michael R. Jackson to the West Coast,” said A.C.T. Artistic Director Pam MacKinnon. “I’m on the edge of my seat in anticipation to see and hear A Strange Loop at the Toni Rembe Theater.”

The cast of A Strange Loop includes (in alphabetical order): Dave J. Abrams (Understudy, Thought 2 & 3), Angela Alisa (Understudy, Thought 1), Jordan Barbour (Thought 5), J. Cameron Barnett (Thought 2), Carlis Shane Clark (Understudy, Thought 5 & 6), Alvis Green Jr. (Usher Alternate), Albert Hodge (Understudy, Thought 4), Avionce Hoyles (Thought 3), Tarra Conner Jones (Thought 1), Malachi McCaskill (Usher), Jamari Johnson Williams (Thought 6), and Tony Award nominee John-Andrew Morrison (Thought 4).

A Strange Loop features book, music, and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson. Members of the show’s Broadway creative team will join the West Coast engagements. They include Tony Award nominee Stephen Brackett (Director), Raja Feather Kelly (Choreography), Tony award nominee Arnulfo Maldonado (Scenic Design), Montana Levi Blanco (Costume Design), Tony Award nominee Drew Levy (Sound Design), Tony Award nominee Jen Schreiver (Lighting Design), Aaron Tacy (Associate Lighting Design), Candace Taylor (Associate Choreography), Cookie Jordan (Hair, Wig, and Makeup Design), Chelsea Pace (Intimacy), and The Telsey Office / Destiny Lilly, CSA (Casting).

Rounding out the creative team are Nailah Harper-Malveaux (Associate Director), Sean Kana (Music Director), David Möschler (Associate Music Director), Randy Cohen (Keyboard Programmer), Edmond O'Neal (Production Stage Manager), Julia Formanek (Assistant Stage Manager), and Camella Coopilton (Assistant Stage Manager).

A Strange Loop made its world premiere at Playwrights Horizons in May 2019. In December 2021, the show had a critically acclaimed run at Washington D.C.’s Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company prior to coming to Broadway in spring 2022. A Strange Loop won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was the recipient of 11 Tony Award nominations, the most of any show in 2022. The production took home the Tony Award for Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical. A Strange Loop was also named Best Musical by New York Drama Critics’ Circle, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and Off-Broadway Alliance. A Strange Loop recently played a limited 12-week engagement at London’s Barbican Theatre.

Center Theatre Group, one of the nation’s preeminent arts and cultural organizations, is Los Angeles’ leading not-for-profit theatre company, which, under the leadership of Artistic Director Snehal Desai, Managing Director / CEO Meghan Pressman, and Producing Director Douglas C. Baker, programs the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre at The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Center Theatre Group is one of the country’s leading producers of ambitious new works through commissions and world premiere productions and a leader in interactive community engagement and education programs that reach across generations, demographics, and circumstances to serve Los Angeles. Founded in 1967,  Center Theatre Group has produced more than 700 productions across its three stages, including such iconic shows as “Zoot Suit;” “Angels in America;” “The Kentucky Cycle;” “Biloxi Blues;” “Twilight: Los Angeles, 1992;” “Children of a Lesser God;” “Curtains;” “The Drowsy Chaperone;” “9 to 5: The Musical;” and “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo.” CenterTheatreGroup.org

LA Opera Presents La Traviata

(Los Angeles) March 4, 2024 — From April 6 through 27, LA Opera will present Giuseppe Verdi's beloved romantic tragedy, La Traviata, starring soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen. Music Director James Conlon will conduct five of the six performances at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, with Louis Lohraseb conducting the opera on April 18. The production, new to Los Angeles, is directed by Shawna Lucey.

"For 120 years, La Traviata has reigned as a supreme expression of the heightened emotions that can only be fully experienced in the opera house," said Christopher Koelsch, LA Opera's president and CEO. "This season's gorgeous production, with James Conlon in the pit and Rachel Willis-Sørensen in the leading role, provides opera newcomers and seasoned aficionados alike with the perfect opportunity to see why Verdi's masterpiece has held its place as one of the most beloved of all operas."

About La Traviata

Violetta Valéry is the queen of Parisian nightlife for now, but she knows that life in the fast lane can't last forever. The arrival of a fresh-faced suitor offers her an unexpected taste of true love until society’s disapproval threatens to tear them apart.

La Traviata ("The Fallen Woman") is based on the life of a real woman, Marie Duplessis (1824-1847), who rose from poverty to become one of 19th-century Paris's most celebrated courtesans before dying at the age of 23 from tuberculosis. Writer Alexandre Dumas fils (one of her many lovers) based his romantic novel La Dame aux Camélias on their all-too-brief fling. He subsequently adapted it into a hugely successful play, upon which Verdi based his opera.

Marie's tragically short life has also inspired filmmakers from the silent era to modern times. Notable screen adaptations of the story include the 1936 Greta Garbo classic Camille, the 1990 romantic comedy Pretty Woman, which made Julia Roberts a superstar, and the 2001 musical Moulin Rouge! with Nicole Kidman. The latter was adapted into a smash hit stage musical of the same name, opening on Broadway in 2019 and drawing capacity crowds to this day.

Meet the Cast

Rachel Willis-Sørensen, who made her LA Opera debut last season as Desdemona in Otello, returns to sing the leading role of Violetta. One of the most acclaimed American sopranos of her generation, she is known for her diverse repertoire ranging from Mozart to Wagner and is a regular guest at the leading opera houses around the world. Her appearances this season include Elisabeth in Don Carlos in Geneva, Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann in Paris, Elsa in Lohengrin in Munich, and both Desdemona in Otello and Elena in I Vespri Siciliani in Vienna.

Armenian tenor Liparit Avetisyan will make his LA Opera debut as Violetta's lover Alfredo, a role he performed earlier this year in Dresden and Amsterdam. He has also performed Alfredo, one of his signature roles, at London's Covent Garden, the Bolshoi in Moscow, and in Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg, Zürich, Munich, Yerevan and Sydney.

South Korean baritone Kihun Yoon, a former member of the company's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, returns as Alfredo's father Giorgio Germont. His LA Opera appearances include the leading roles of Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Scarpia in Tosca, and Marcello in La Bohème. He is now in his seventh year as a principal artist at the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, where his roles this season include the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah and Wotan in Die Walküre.

Tenor Julius Ahn will make his company debut as Gastone de Letorieres and bass-baritone Patrick Blackwell will perform the role of Baron Douphol. The cast also includes several members of LA Opera's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program: mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino as Flora, baritone Ryan Wolfe as Marquis d'Obigny, bass Alan Williams as Dr. Grenvil and mezzo-soprano Deepa Johnny as Annina.

The Creative Team

Music Director James Conlon conducts five of the six performances. Louis Lohraseb, who conducted the company's production of The Barber of Seville earlier this season, will conduct the performance of La Traviata on April 18.

Shawna Lucey directs a production first seen at the San Francisco Opera in 2022, with scenery and costumes designed by Robert Innes Hopkins. The lighting designer is Michael James Clark, the chorus director is Jeremy Frank and the choreographer is John Heginbotham.

Performance Dates, Times, and Address

There will be six performances of La Traviata presented at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, located at 135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012:

Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 14, 2024, at 2 pm

Thursday, April 18, 2024, at 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 21, 2024, at 2 pm

Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 7:30 pm

Tickets

Tickets begin at $29 and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online at LAOpera.org, by phone at 213.972.8001, or in person at the LA Opera box office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012). For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email LAOpera@LAOpera.org.

Blake Aaron To Drop "Love and Rhythm" In April

The heartbeat of jazz guitarist Blake Aaron’s forthcoming Innervision Records album, “Love and Rhythm,” is his passion for creating music from a wide array of sounds and styles. The expansive scope of music he explores and experiments with on the ten-tracker he wrote and produced with Billboard hitmakers Adam Hawley and Greg Manning spans his winning blend of contemporary jazz, R&B, funk, and pop music along with a couple of audacious departures that venture into fusion and Brazilian jazz. The album, releasing April 19, has already notched two Billboard No. 1 singles, “Dreamland” and “Feels So Right,” and the top three hit “Crush.” Aaron’s current single, the R&B romancer “She’s the One,” is already in the Billboard top 5.

“‘Love and Rhythm’ is all about my musical journey and my love for all kinds of rhythm and music. I have spent my life in pursuit of exploring the beauty of every genre of music there is. I will probably never be bored and because of my vast experience in so many different genres, I will likely always be in demand as a musician. Even if I never retire and spend my entire life in music, I will not even scratch the surface of the depth and beauty of the performance, composition, and production of all genres of music,” said Aaron, a five-time Billboard chart-topping musician, songwriter, producer, and popular concert performer.

“Love and Rhythm” is Aaron’s first outing since his 2020 disc, “Color and Passion,” which earned him three Billboard No. 1 singles and Radiowave’s Song of the Year, “Drive.” In the intervening years between albums, Aaron wrote and recorded new music, releasing singles along the way, and maintaining his presence on the national charts, radio, and Spotify playlists. The singles released since “Color and Passion” are now available on “Love and Rhythm.”  

As he always does, Aaron’s seventh album highlights the first-call guitarist keeping company with the cream-of-the-crop session musicians. He uses plenty of horns and horn section décor to underscore his guitar-driven melodies and harmonies. David Mann, Trevor Neumann, Donald Hayes, Michael Stever, Bob Mintzer, Jimmy Reid, Andrew Neu, and Nick Lane provide the firepower saxophones, trombones, and trumpets. The rhythms are deftly constructed by drummers Eric Valentine, Tony Moore, and Will Kennedy; anchored by bassists Mel Brown, Alex Al, and Hussain Jiffry; and enhanced by percussionist Ramon Yslas. Manning plays keyboards and piano along with Tateng Katindig and Carnell Harrell. Adding to the lush backdrops are strings crafted by Tyries Rolfe. 

“Love and Rhythm” opens with the energizing “Dreamland,” which Aaron said, “captures the imagination, excitement, fun and unbridled curiosity of a dream come true.” He wrote it with Hawley who produced it. It’s one of the tunes that resulted from one of their in-person writing and recording dates.

“Working with another Billboard No. 1 producer inspired ideas and concepts that I may not have thought of on my own. Having a writing and production partner whom I respect but has a different style than mine opens up new musical and creative doors through different approaches and compromises. Utilizing a producer challenges an artist to go to another level with an idea they may have thought was already ‘making the cut’ or conversely, encourages the artist to run with an idea they were ready to throw out, and that can take the song in a whole new direction. In the internet age when most artists are collaborating online, Adam (Hawley) and I have found a certain magic of writing ‘old-school’ by actually meeting in the studio, locking the door, and not leaving until we have a fully recorded rough mix of a hit single,” said Aaron, who has concert dates booked in the coming months to support the album release throughout the U.S., United Kingdom and the Netherlands.  

The sunny and smiley “Feels So Right” is an overtly happy Aaron-Manning collab that shines via the bright vocal touch of Ken Turner. Aaron said that when Manning first presented the concept for the song, with the luminous vocalizations, he was inspired to “compose a melody that would capture the innocence of a woman dancing outside in the sun ‘like nobody is watching.’”   

Writing the melody and remaining sections of the song from a chorus, groove and rhythm track constructed by Hawley and Carnell, Aaron said “‘She’s the One’ captures the feeling of the moment when you realize that the special person you have been with is ‘the one.’ I wanted to create a song that has the perfect combination of romance, elegance, passion, and uninhibited groove.”

Aaron explained that “Crush,” another song that he wrote with Hawley who produced the track, “captures the feelings of summer and driving to the beach with the top down while celebrating a major accomplishment, knowing that you ‘crushed’ it. It’s about adding color to an otherwise black-and-white day.”

Katindig’s piano adds grace and elegance to the sensual groove that is “Irresistible.” Aaron’s guitar play takes on sultry qualities.

“Most of the songs I write are largely up-tempo, made to hopefully be a bright spot in what could otherwise be a dull day, but ‘Irresistible’ is all about sexy. Sexy groove, sexy melodies, sexy production and sounds. ‘Irresistible’ captures that feeling of a magnetic, chemical attraction to someone you just can't stay away from. Sometimes that can be incredibly good, and sometimes that can be…well…not so much,” said Aaron with a smile.

Tipping the cap to high-energy, horn-powered acts like Tower of Power; Earth, Wind & Fire, and David Sanborn, “Big Bounce” features Hayes on sax on this danceable joint. The horns stay hot on “The Way You Sway,” a retro 70s R&B/soul groove.

Shining brightly with a motivational message, “Diamond in the Sun” reflects the wisdom and encouragement that Aaron provides to his children.

“Sometimes we all lose confidence in our talents and abilities to shine in a challenging situation. I tell my kids that not everyone can recognize or appreciate the beauty of a diamond all the time, but when the dawn comes, your talent, abilities, and inner and outer beauty will shine like a diamond in the sun. ‘Diamond in the Sun’ captures the feeling of when it's finally your turn to shine,” said Aaron, a father of two.  

The deep cuts “Rise” and “Alter Ego” reveal seldom-heard sides of Aaron’s artistry, both of which feature a rhythm section comprised of Grammy winner Jiffry (Herb Albert) and Kennedy (Yellowjackets). Along with a gauzy electric guitar, Aaron plays acoustic guitar and mandolin on “Rise.” The brisk Brazilian jazz cadence blends with a spacey fusion excursion into the abyss, braised with an elegant piano solo from Manning.      

“Both “Rise” and “Alter Ego” are an exciting adventure and somewhat of a departure for me into other musical influences that I love,” shared Aaron, who went on to explain the meaning of “Rise.”

“Actually, the ‘Rise’ in my career as a solo artist wasn't due to a direct pursuit on my part of having such a career at all, but rather a love for teaching music. Years ago, one of my students, who was an Olympic gold medal winner, heard one of my first demo EP’s because he was looking for unique musical gifts to give out during his popular motivational speaking seminars. He decided to invest in my career to help me go from being a sideman to being a solo artist, which is how my first full CD, "With Every Touch," was born. Six albums and five Billboard No. 1 hits later, plus three No. 1 hits as a producer, here I am with ‘Love and Rhythm.’”  

“Alter Ego” ventures deep into the fusion stratosphere with a hint of a spirited South African cadence. Amidst Aaron’s fast and feverish fusion guitar play comes a storming sax solo from Mintzer, best known for his work in the Grammy-winning fusion outfit Yellowjackets. Aaron has a long history of collaborating with urban-jazz icon Najee and the two musicians have discussed one day forming a jazz fusion band together, an “alter ego” that would allow them the freedom to make records like Yellowjackets and Brecker Brothers.

“I wrote ‘Alter Ego’ in dedication and with inspiration from Najee’s vision of a jazz fusion band. With our busy schedules, we have yet to form that band together, but ‘Alter Ego’ is a tribute to what will hopefully be another wonderful musical experience in my life. I knew the song ‘Alter Ego’ had to be an important part of the musical journey I am calling ‘Love and Rhythm,’" Aaron said about the album closer. 

In addition to summiting the Billboard chart a handful of times as a solo artist and three times as a producer, Aaron was a featured soloist on two No. 1 singles, including 2022’s Billboard Song of the Year by flutist Kim Scott (“Shine”). As an in-demand guitarist, he’s recorded and/or performed with such diverse R&B, jazz and rock headliners as Philip Bailey (EWF), Sheila E., The Alan Parson Project, The Gap Band, Lakeside, Ronnie Laws, Keiko Matsui, Warren Hill, and Bobby Womack and Carlos Santana. Aaron has film and television music credits that include “MAD TV,” “Super Dave Osborne” and “The Ben Stiller Show.” For more information, please visit https://www.blakeaaron.com.

31st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Announces 2024 Honorees

Adilah Barnes

The 31st Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF) will honor eight deserving women for their exceptional career and life achievements in the Opening Night Champagne GALA and Awards Ceremony on March 28, 2024, at 8 p.m., preceded by a reception and Red Carpet at 6:30 p.m., at Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd.,  North Hollywood, CA 91601. This year’s theme for the Awards Ceremony is In Honor Of. The event will be hosted by Hattie Winston and Margaret Avery.

The 2024 Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival is directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson.

These worthy honorees who have made laudable contributions to the world of theatre are listed here:

The recipient this year of the posthumous Infinity Award, memorializing the exceptional achievements of a theatre artist, is Shirley Jo Finney.

Shirley Jo Finney

Shirley Jo Finney was born in Merced, California, and received an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts at UCLA. She was the first African-American in that Master’s Degree Program.  She achieved early success as an actor, starring as her friend, Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph, in the NBC television movie Wilma. She also appeared in guest roles in episodic television (Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues, Amen) and several feature films before turning to directing. She directed at regional theatres across the country, and locally at Mark Taper Forum, Pasadena Playhouse, and Los Angeles Theatre Center. Her artistic home, however, was the Fountain Theatre, where she directed nine shows. Her many directorial credits included Citizen: An American Lyric, Yellowman, Central Avenue, The Ballad of Emmett Till, From the Mississippi Delta, Runaway Home, and more. Ms. Finney received multiple awards and was revered as an important figure in the Los Angeles theatre community. Her final show was Clyde’s, at the Ensemble Theatre of Houston. 

caryn desai and Maria G. Martinez will be bestowed with the Eternity Award,  presented to an artist or individual whose lifetime achievements have made a lasting contribution to the world of theatre. 

caryn desai is the Artistic Director and Producer at the International City Theatre in Long Beach. The recipient of an M.F.A. in Directing from UC Irvine, her numerous directing credits include Beast on the Moon, Uncanny Valley, Art, Doubt, Cardboard Piano, Other Desert Cities, Red, God of Carnage, Dinah Was, Backwards in High Heels, Raisin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Once on This Island, Contradictions (her original work). She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She taught college for over 25 years and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Long Beach City College, where she was inducted into its Hall of Fame. She was also named Distinguished Alumna at Cal State Long Beach. She teaches Theatre Management at Cal State Fullerton. She was recognized as a Community Hero by the African American History and Culture Foundation., and as an LA 2023 Inspirational Woman by the Los Angeles Times. 

Maria G. Martinez is a Board Member and active supporter of CASA0101. She has participated in CASA as a co-producer, writer, director, and actor with the Chicana, Cholas y Chisme’s Play Festival. Maria also collaborates withTeAda Productions and Frida Kahlo Theater. As a playwright, she staged Breakfast With My Mother at CASA 0101, and at Miles Memorial Playhouse. Her updated version of For My Cause Your Spirit Will Speak has been presented at CASA 0101 and at the Los Angeles Women's Theater Festival.  Maria has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University at Los Angeles and a certificate in Engineering and Construction Management from UCLA. Maria retired from the City of Los Angeles in the Community Development Department where she held the position of Director of the Neighborhood Development Division. A theatre activist, Maria G. Martinez joined the CASA0101 Board of Directors in May 2014.

Two recipients will receive the Maverick Award this year. This award is presented to an artist or individual whose work has set a high standard of individuality and self-styled creativity. The recipients are Naomi Grossman and Wendy Raquel Robinson.

Naomi Grossman created a trilogy of three solo shows: Girl in Argentine Landscape (L.A. Weekly Theatre Award nomination, Pick of the Week), Carnival Knowledge: Love, Lust and Other Human Oddities (“Recommended” by L.A. Weekly, with a transfer to London’s West End), and American Whore Story (winner of Broadway World’s Los Angeles Regional Award for Best solo Production, followed by a run off-Broadway). The New Mexico native graduated from Northwestern University and was a member of the famed Groundlings Sunday Company. She received an Emmy nomination for her acting in the series Ctrl Alt Delete, but became an international TV star for her roles in the series American Horror Story and its spinoffs, for her memorable characters Rabid Ruth, Samantha Crowe, and most especially Pepper, which gained her millions of fans around the world. Additionally, Naomi Grossman has created numerous comedy shorts available for viewing online. 

Wendy Raquel Robinson

Wendy Raquel Robinson was born in Los Angeles and received her B.F.A. from Howard University. Her stage work includes roles in Agnes of God, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Black Women’s Blues, The Colored Museum, The Vagina Monologues, and Vanities, for which she received an NAACP Theatre Award for Outstanding Choreography. She achieved national fame on television for her series regular roles on The Game, The Steve Harvey Show, Minor Adjustments, and Grand Hotel, and won an Emmy for PBS’ Theatre Corner. She has also appeared in twenty feature films, including A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, Miss Congeniality, and Hip Hop Holiday, Wendy Raquel Robinson is also known for her contributions to the community, notably as the Co-Founder of the non-profit Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC). Located in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Los Angeles, AGC focuses on providing personal growth, professional training, and opportunities for inner-city youth.

There will be two recipients of the Integrity Award, presented to an artist or individual who has brought credibility and dignity to her work. This year’s designated recipients are Lisa Sanaye Dring and Carolyn Ratteray. 

Lisa Sanaye Dring is a writer director, and actor originally from Hilo, Hawaii, and Reno, Nevada. She is currently the Tow Foundation Resident Playwright with Ma-Yi Theatre Company. Her plays include Sumo, Hungry Ghost, Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular, Kairos, Seven Hoshi, The Wicked One, The Sea, Big Ones. As a director, she has worked with Theatre of NOTE, Circle X, Antaeus Theatre Company, We the People at Sacred Fools, California Repertory Company, The Blank Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, and more. As an actor, her work includes roles in 4000 Miles, Wood Boy Dog Fish, O Gastronomy!, Measure for Measure, Death Play, Double Me Double You, and Six Seeds. She has also performed on episodic television, including two seasons of How to Get Away with Murder. Her accolades include an Emmy® nomination for Welcome to the Blumhouse Live, which she co-directed and co-wrote, and the PLAY LA Stage Raw/Humanitas Prize. Lisa Sanaye Dring is an alumna of USC. 

Carolyn Ratteray is an Emmy-nominated actor, director, and playwright based in the Los Angeles area. She has appeared in off-Broadway, as well as in TV/Film and voice-over. Credits also include appearances at The Mark Taper Forum, The Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Boston Court Theatre, A Noise Within, Antaeus Theatre, Echo Theatre Company, and The Garry Marshall Theatre. Regional theatres include The Old Globe, The Pearl Theatre Company, and the Classical Theatre of Harlem. In addition to performing, Carolyn has directed By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, In Love and Warcraft, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She received her M.F.A. from The Old Globe/University of San Diego. Carolyn Ratteray is a Resident Artist at A Noise Within Theatre, a member of Antaeus Theatre and Ammo Theatre Company and she is a professor at Pomona College. 

Jessica Lynn Johnson will receive the Rainbow Award, bestowed on an artist or individual for her diverse contributions to fostering non-traditional and multicultural theatre works.  Jessica Lynn Johnson is a published playwright, recipient of the Best National Solo Artist Award from the Dialogue One Festival, Advisory Board Member of the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, Co-Executive Producer of both the Stars Solo Series and the Joshua Tree Solo Theatre Festival, and Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo Studios International. Jessica has aided in the development, direction, and producing of over 150 solo shows (and still going strong)! Jessica was also nominated for the Female Director of Distinction in Theatre by Girl Trip LLC at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival and most recently nominated for Best Director of a Play by Broadway World 2023. Jessica Lynn Johnson is honored to receive this treasured award. 

There will be special performances at the GALA, in addition to the Awards Ceremony. Performers include:

Karen A. Clark in The Women.

In this excerpt, through music and spoken word, Karen honors women and also reflects on the women in her family, particularly her mother. 

Juli Kim, dancer, performs Salpuri Adagio, a slow-tempo Korean cleansing dance that wishes great peace.  Five Drum Dance is a popular Korean dance that incorporates five standing drums.

Founded by Executive Producer Adilah Barnes and Miriam Reed, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival is an Annual Event unique among Los Angeles cultural institutions and should not be missed as LAWTF celebrates its 31st year.

This year’s organizational funders of Official Sponsors and Government Grantors include the Los Angeles County Arts and Culture, California Arts Council, City of Culver City, Department of Cultural Affairs-LA, California Wellness Foundation, City National Bank, Blackbaud Giving Fund, 4imprint, KPFK 90.7 FM, and Adilah Barnes Productions.

Tickets to the March 28 GALA are $60 each or $100 a pair (including reception). Tickets to each of the weekend’s other five shows are $25 for early birds (through March 10) and $30 thereafter. A VIP all-access pass for the entire weekend is $150. Reservations will be available at (818) 760-0408 or go to http://www.lawtf.org. To join and follow LAWTF on Facebook and other social media platforms, click on their links at http://www.lawtf.org

31st Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival Announces 2024 Honorees

The 31st Annual Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival (LAWTF) will honor eight deserving women for their exceptional career and life achievements in the Opening Night Champagne GALA and Awards Ceremony on March 28, 2024, at 8 pm, preceded by a reception and Red Carpet at 6:30 p.m., at Lankershim Arts Center, 5108 Lankershim Blvd.,  North Hollywood, CA 91601. This year’s theme for the Awards Ceremony is In Honor Of. The event will be hosted by Hattie Winston and Margaret Avery.

The 2024 Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival is directed by Jessica Lynn Johnson. 

These worthy honorees who have made laudable contributions to the world of theatre are listed here: 

The recipient this year of the posthumous Infinity Award, memorializing the exceptional achievements of a theatre artist, is Shirley Jo Finney. 

Shirley Jo Finney was born in Merced, California, and received an M.F.A. in Theatre Arts at UCLA. She was the first African-American in that Master’s Degree Program.  She achieved early success as an actor, starring as her friend, Olympic champion Wilma Rudolph, in the NBC television movie Wilma. She also appeared in guest roles in episodic television (Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues, Amen) and several feature films before turning to directing. She directed at regional theatres across the country, and locally at Mark Taper Forum, Pasadena Playhouse, and Los Angeles Theatre Center. Her artistic home, however, was the Fountain Theatre, where she directed nine shows. Her many directorial credits included Citizen: An American Lyric, Yellowman, Central Avenue, The Ballad of Emmett Till, From the Mississippi Delta, Runaway Home, and more. Ms. Finney received multiple awards and was revered as an important figure in the Los Angeles theatre community. Her final show was Clyde’s, at the Ensemble Theatre of Houston. 

caryn desai and Maria G. Martinez will be bestowed with the Eternity Award,  presented to an artist or individual whose lifetime achievements have made a lasting contribution to the world of theatre. 

caryn desai is the Artistic Director and Producer at the International City Theatre in Long Beach. The recipient of an M.F.A. in Directing from UC Irvine, her numerous directing credits include Beast on the Moon, Uncanny Valley, Art, Doubt, Cardboard Piano, Other Desert Cities, Red, God of Carnage, Dinah Was, Backwards in High Heels, Raisin, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Once on This Island, Contradictions (her original work). She is a member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She taught college for over 25 years and received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Long Beach City College, where she was inducted into its Hall of Fame. She was also named Distinguished Alumna at Cal State Long Beach. She teaches Theatre Management at Cal State Fullerton. She was recognized as a Community Hero by the African American History and Culture Foundation., and as an LA 2023 Inspirational Woman by the Los Angeles Times. 

Maria G. Martinez is a Board Member and active supporter of CASA0101. She has participated in CASA as a co-producer, writer, director, and actor with the Chicana, Cholas y Chisme’s Play Festival. Maria also collaborates with TeAda Productions, and Frida Kahlo Theater. As a playwright, she staged Breakfast With My Mother at CASA 0101, and at Miles Memorial Playhouse. Her updated version of For My Cause Your Spirit Will Speak has been presented at CASA 0101 and at the Los Angeles Women's Theater Festival.  Maria has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University at Los Angeles and a certificate in Engineering and Construction Management from UCLA. Maria retired from the City of Los Angeles in the Community Development Department where she held the position of Director of the Neighborhood Development Division. A theatre activist, Maria G. Martinez joined the CASA0101 Board of Directors in May 2014.

Two recipients will receive the Maverick Award this year. This award is presented to an artist or individual whose work has set a high standard of individuality and self-styled creativity. The recipients are Naomi Grossman and Wendy Raquel Robinson. 

Naomi Grossman created a trilogy of three solo shows: Girl in Argentine Landscape (L.A. Weekly Theatre Award nomination, Pick of the Week), Carnival Knowledge: Love, Lust and Other Human Oddities (“Recommended” by L.A. Weekly, with a transfer to London’s West End), and American Whore Story (winner of Broadway World’s Los Angeles Regional Award for Best solo Production, followed by a run off-Broadway). The New Mexico native graduated from Northwestern University and was a member of the famed Groundlings Sunday Company. She received an Emmy nomination for her acting in the series Ctrl Alt Delete, but became an international TV star for her roles in the series American Horror Story and its spinoffs, for her memorable characters Rabid Ruth, Samantha Crowe, and most especially Pepper, which gained her millions of fans around the world. Additionally, Naomi Grossman has created numerous comedy shorts available for viewing online. 

Wendy Raquel Robinson was born in Los Angeles and received her B.F.A. from Howard University. Her stage work includes roles in Agnes of God, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Black Women’s Blues, The Colored Museum, The Vagina Monologues, and Vanities, for which she received an NAACP Theatre Award for Outstanding Choreography. She achieved national fame on television for her series regular roles on The Game, The Steve Harvey Show, Minor Adjustments, and Grand Hotel, and won an Emmy for PBS’ Theatre Corner. She has also appeared in twenty feature films, including A Thin Line Between Love and Hate, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, Miss Congeniality, and Hip Hop Holiday, Wendy Raquel Robinson is also known for her contributions to the community, notably as the Co-Founder of the non-profit Amazing Grace Conservatory (AGC). Located in the Sugar Hill neighborhood of Los Angeles, AGC focuses on providing personal growth, professional training, and opportunities for inner-city youth.

There will be two recipients of the Integrity Award, presented to an artist or individual who has brought credibility and dignity to her work. This year’s designated recipients are Lisa Sanaye Dring and Carolyn Ratteray. 

Lisa Sanaye Dring is a writer director, and actor originally from Hilo, Hawaii, and Reno, Nevada. She is currently the Tow Foundation Resident Playwright with Ma-Yi Theatre Company. Her plays include Sumo, Hungry Ghost, Happy Fall: A Queer Stunt Spectacular, Kairos, Seven Hoshi, The Wicked One, The Sea, and Big Ones. As a director, she has worked with Theatre of NOTE, Circle X, Antaeus Theatre Company, We the People at Sacred Fools, California Repertory Company, The Blank Theatre, Know Theatre of Cincinnati, and more. As an actor, her work includes roles in 4000 Miles, Wood Boy Dog Fish, O Gastronomy!, Measure for Measure, Death Play, Double Me Double You, and Six Seeds. She has also performed on episodic television, including two seasons of How to Get Away with Murder. Her accolades include an Emmy® nomination for Welcome to the Blumhouse Live, which she co-directed and co-wrote, and the PLAY LA Stage Raw/Humanitas Prize. Lisa Sanaye Dring is an alumna of USC. 

Carolyn Ratteray is an Emmy-nominated actor, director, and playwright based in the Los Angeles area. She has appeared in off-Broadway, as well as in TV/Film and voice-over. Credits also include appearances at The Mark Taper Forum, The Geffen Playhouse, Pasadena Playhouse, Boston Court Theatre, A Noise Within, Antaeus Theatre, Echo Theatre Company, and The Garry Marshall Theatre. Regional theatres include The Old Globe, The Pearl Theatre Company, and the Classical Theatre of Harlem. In addition to performing, Carolyn has directed By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, In Love and Warcraft, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She received her M.F.A. from The Old Globe/University of San Diego. Carolyn Ratteray is a Resident Artist at A Noise Within Theatre, a member of Antaeus Theatre and Ammo Theatre Company and she is a professor at Pomona College. 

Jessica Lynn Johnson will receive the Rainbow Award, bestowed on an artist or individual for her diverse contributions to fostering non-traditional and multicultural theatre works.  Jessica Lynn Johnson is a published playwright, recipient of the Best National Solo Artist Award from the Dialogue One Festival, Advisory Board Member of the Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, Co-Executive Producer of both the Stars Solo Series and the Joshua Tree Solo Theatre Festival, and Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo Studios International. Jessica has aided in the development, direction, and production of over 150 solo shows (and still going strong)! Jessica was also nominated for the Female Director of Distinction in Theatre by Girl Trip LLC at the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival and most recently nominated for Best Director of a Play by Broadway World 2023. Jessica Lynn Johnson is honored to receive this treasured award. 

There will be special performances at the GALA, in addition to the Awards Ceremony. Performers include: 

Karen A. Clark in The Women.

In this excerpt, through music and spoken word, Karen honors women and also reflects on the women in her family, particularly her mother. 

Juli Kim, the dancer, performs Salpuri Adagio, a slow-tempo Korean cleansing dance that wishes great peace.  Five Drum Dance is a popular Korean dance that incorporates five standing drums. 

Founded by Executive Producer Adilah Barnes and Miriam Reed, the Los Angeles Women’s Theatre Festival is an Annual Event unique among Los Angeles cultural institutions and should not be missed as LAWTF celebrates its 31st year. 

This year’s organizational funders of Official Sponsors and Government Grantors include the Los Angeles County Arts and Culture, California Arts Council, City of Culver City, Department of Cultural Affairs-LA, California Wellness Foundation, City National Bank, Blackbaud Giving Fund, 4imprint, KPFK 90.7 FM, and Adilah Barnes Productions.

Tickets to the March 28 GALA are $60 each or $100 a pair (including reception). Tickets to each of the weekend’s other five shows are $25 for early birds (through March 10) and $30 thereafter. A VIP all-access pass for the entire weekend is $150. Reservations will be available at (818) 760-0408 or go to http://www.lawtf.org. To join and follow LAWTF on Facebook and other social media platforms, click on their links at http://www.lawtf.org