april-june 2018 - thesoraya.org · some enchanted evening (reprise).....nellie honey bun (reprise)...

180329 Program Cover.indd 1 4/4/18 12:17 PM

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3www.TheSoraya.org

A NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

rand. A word that has infiltrat-

ed everyday vocabulary. Every

company and every product has a brand.

Apple, Nike, Disney – brands that are rec-

ognized worldwide. Brand. A byproduct

of consumer culture?

For an organization like ours, brand is

our way of connecting with you. You’re

not a customer in a faraway shopping mall.

You’re here with us, in the lobby and audi-

torium. You live nearby. You opt to spend

your valuable time with us. Our brand is a

way of distinguishing ourselves, of telling

our story, and of reflecting our shared

values and our precious differences.

As we prepared to launch our new name – The Soraya – we enjoyed the opportunity

to reflect on our brand. We visited the Nazarian’s home and admired dozens of Soraya

Nazarian’s sculptures. We explored features of the architecture of this beautiful venue.

We engaged in long conversations internally and with CSUN leadership. And we reflected

on the past few years, our growth in programming and community engagement, our arts

education programs, our artists, and our audience.

The first and most visible result is a new logo. We’re excited to unveil it as we launch

the upcoming 2018-19 Season. But a brand is so much more, and you are a part of that

story. Thank you for helping us shape our new brand.

Thor Steingraber, Executive Director

Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts

B

WELCOMING YOU TO THE SORAYA!

Backstage, in the lobby, behind the ticket window, and in the office —

the staff of The Soraya deserves to take a bow. Their dedication to our

patrons and to quality performances is only surpassed by their shared

values. At The Soraya, diversity thrives everywhere, starting with the

staff. Please join us for the 2018-19 season. Everyone is welcome.

5www.TheSoraya.org4 TheSorayaStage

WELCOMING YOU TO THE SORAYA

CONTENTS

8 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific

24 Cécile McLorin Salvant

28 ¡La Nueva Cuba! The Next Generation

32 Amir ElSaffar’s Two Rivers Ensemble

36 LA Opera Presents Great Opera Choruses

38 Terence Blanchard Featuring The E-Collective

42 Quetzal With Flor de Toloache

48 An Evening with David Sedaris

52 Billy Porter: The Soul of Richard Rodgers

President, CSUNDr. Dianne F. Harrison

Vice President of Administration and

Finance, CSUNColin Donahue

Executive Director, The Soraya

Thor Steingraber

Associate Executive Director, The SorayaTerence McFarland

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE!Check-in on Facebook, tag us in your Instagram photos, Snapchat your moments, or trend with us on Twitter. / TheSorayaStage

Juliana AlvarezAnthony E. CantrellCarey ChristensenCrystal DiazJose FelixSheryl JonesLakhpreet KaurAnnikki LottaCharles MatthewDennis MillerZac NorthcraftCameron O’Hanlon

Nick OldhamMaria ParedesChristian ParkerKim E. ParkerRaechelle PedrajaJennifer SamselAlberto Sistos Joey SolanoJustin SouzaMegan Spellmeyer Nicki SunAnabel Villalobos

Davidson & Choy Publicity | Gary W. Murphy Public Relations

Cover: The Soraya Logo and pattern by Keith & Co; P.02: The Soraya Staff by Luis Luque; P.03: Thor Steingraber by Luis Luque; P.04-5: Pedrito Martinez Group by Danielle Moir; P.08: South Pacific artwork designed by Lisa Sarkissian; P.13-18: Kim Arnett, Brittany Bentley, Richard Bulda, Caitlyn Calfas, Hajin Cho, Justin Cowden, John Cudia, Marc Ginsburg, Lucas Jaye, Jodi Kimura, Adam Lendermon, Caryolyn Lupin, Dino Nicandros, Katie Perry, Araceli Prasarttongosoth, Matt Rosell, Michael Rothhaar, Jake Saenz, Brent Schindele, Brian Steven Shaw, Jeff Skowron, Shannon Stoeke, Alissa Tucker, and Stephanie Renee Wall courtesy of McCoy Rigby Entertainment; P.24: Cécile McLorin Salvant courtesy of The Kurland Agency; P.27: Sullivan Fortner courtesy of Sullivan Fortner; P.28: Pedrito Martinez Group by Danielle Moir; P.30: Daymé Arocena by Gabriel Guerra Bianchini; P.31: Roberto Fonseca by Arien Chang; P.32: Amir ElSaffar by Michael Crommett; P.36: Grant Gershon courtesy of LA Opera; P.38: Terence Blanchard by Greg Miles; P.41: Terence Blanchard by Henry Adebonojo; P.42: Flor De Toloache courtesy of Flor de Toloache; P.44-45: Quetzal courtesy of Riot Artists; P.47: Quetzal courtesy of Riot Artists; P.48: David Sedaris by Adam DeTour; P.51: David Sedaris by Ingrid Christie; P.52: Billy Porter by Ron Cadiz for Sony Music Entertainment; P.55: Billy Porter by Rebecca Sapp ; P.59: Porter Pavilion by Joey Solano; P.60: The Soraya Great Hall by Luis Luque; P.62: Mexico’s Past and Present: A Cultural Journey by Christopher Duggan; P.64: Usher Holding Tickets by Steve Babuljak; P.67: Bistro on the Terrace by Joey Solano.

PEDRITO MARTINEZ GROUP

7www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

VALLEY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER RENAMEDin Honor of Younes and Soraya Sarah Nazarian’sTransformative Gift

“We found the perfect opportunity to impact theentire region by supporting two of our family’smost treasured values — education and the arts.” —Younes Nazarian

From left to right: Soraya Sarah, Younes, and Sharon Nazarian

171024_BookletAD_Nazarian_5.5x8.5.indd 1 10/24/17 1:40 PM

9www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

180312_SP_Program_Page.indd 1 3/13/18 11:33 AM

SOUTH PACIFIC

FRIDAY, APRIL 13 | 8PM SATURDAY, APRIL 14 | 3PM & 8PM

SUNDAY, APRIL 15 | 3PM**Sign Language Interpreted Performance

MEDIA SPONSOR: KPCC

OPENING NIGHT IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY THE ST. NICHOLAS FOUNDATION

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S

DIRECTED BY GLENN CASALE LA MIRADA THEATRE & MCCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT

MUSIC BY RICHARD RODGERS

LYRICS BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II BOOK BY OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II & JOSHUA LOGAN ADAPTED FROM THE PULITZER PRIZE WINNING NOVEL TALES OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC BY JAMES A. MICHENER

THERE WILL BE A TWENTY-MINUTE INTERMISSION

www.TheSoraya.org10 11TheSorayaStage

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MCCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT

PRESENT

RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN’S

SOUTH PACIFICMusic by RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN IIBook by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II and JOSHUA LOGAN

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener

Starring

JOHN CUDIA& STEPHANIE RENEE WALL

WithKIM ARNETT, BRITTANY BENTLEY, RICHARD BULDA, CAITLYN CALFAS, HAJIN CHO,

JUSTIN COWDEN, MARC GINSBURG, LUCAS JAYE, JODI KIMURA, ADAM LENDERMON,CAROLYN LUPIN, DINO NICANDROS, KATIE PERRY, ARACELI PRASARTTONGOSOTH,

MATT ROSELL, MICHAEL ROTHHAAR, JAKE SAENZ, BRENT SCHINDELE,BRIAN STEVEN SHAW, JEFF SKOWRON, SHANNON STOEKE, ALISSA TUCKER

Scenery DesignROBERT KOVACH

Costume DesignMARY FOLINO

Lighting DesignJARED A. SAYEG

Sound DesignJULIE FERRIN

Hair/Wig/Makeup DesignEB BOHKS

Properties Design JOEL MARKUS

Casting DirectorJULIA FLORES

Technical DirectorMICHAEL ROMAN

General Manager

PATTI McCOY JACOB

Production ManagementANA LARA,

LINDSAY BROOKS,DAVID NESTOR

Production Stage ManagerJOHN W. CALDER, III

Assistant Stage ManagerLISA PALMIRE

PublicistDAVID ELZER/

DEMAND PRMusical Direction byBRENT CRAYON

Choreographed byPEGGY HICKEY

Directed byGLENN CASALE

SOUTH PACIFIC is presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals: www.rnh.com

PLACE & TIME

The action of the play takes place on two Islands in the South Pacific during World War II.

There is one week’s lapse of time between the two acts.

There will be one 20-minute intermission during this performance.

*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors

and Stage Managers in the United States.

Ensign Dinah Murphy/Ensemble ...........................................................................................KIM ARNETT*

Ensign Genevieve Martin/Ensemble ..................................................................BRITTANY BENTLEY

Ensign Rita Adams/Ensemble .......................................................................................RICHARD BULDA*

Ensign Rita Adams/Ensemble ...................................................................................... CAITLYN CALFAS*

Liat .............................................................................................................................................................. HAJIN CHO

Private Darrell “Doe Doe” Dean/Ensemble ............................................................... JUSTIN COWDEN

Emile de Becque ...............................................................................................................................JOHN CUDIA*

Stewpot .................................................................................................................................... MARC GINSBURG*

Jerome .....................................................................................................................................................LUCAS JAYE

Bloody Mary .................................................................................................................................... JODI KIMURA*

Radio Operator Bob MaCaffrey/Ensemble ....................................................... ADAM LENDERMON*

Lt. J. G. Sue Yaeger/Ensemble ............................................................................................CAROLYN LUPIN

Lt. Buzz Adams/Shore Patrolman/Ensemble ...................................................... DINO NICANDROS*

Ensign Cora MacRae/Ensemble ............................................................................................. KATIE PERRY

Ngana .........................................................................................................ARACELI PRASARTTONGOSOTH

Lt. Joseph Cable .............................................................................................................................MATT ROSELL*

Captain George Brackett .......................................................................................MICHAEL ROTHHAAR*

Seaman Tom O’Brien/Ensemble ............................................................................................... JAKE SAENZ

Cmdr. William Harbison ..............................................................................................BRENT SCHINDELE*

Seaman Eustis Carmichael/Ensemble ...........................................................BRIAN STEVEN SHAW*

Luther Billis ............................................................................................................................... JEFF SKOWRON*

Professor...............................................................................................................................SHANNON STOEKE*

Ensign Bessie Noonan/Ensemble ....................................................................................ALISSA TUCKER

Ensign Nellie Forbush .......................................................................................STEPHANIE RENEE WALL

Production Stage Manager....................................................................................... JOHN W. CALDER, III*

Assistant Stage Manager ..................................................................................DAVID JORDAN NESTOR*

Military Advisor ..................................................................................................................... LARRY MOWLES

(formerly L. Mowles, MM2, United States Navy, 1964–1968, Vietnam)


BR ENT CR AYON - Musical Director/Conductor/Keyboard 1

ROBERT PETERSON - Violin IGER RY HILER A - Violin II

JASON BONHAM - ViolaEVGENY TONKHA - Cello

EILEEN HOLT - Flute/PiccoloL AR RY HUGHES - Clarinet

JOHN MITCHELL - Clarinet/BassoonADAM BHATIAL - Trumpet

CHAR LIE MORILL AS - TromboneDANIELLE ONDAR ZA - French Horn

PAUL BAKER - HarpMAR K CONVERSE - Percussion

TIM CHRISTENSEN - Bass/Contractor

ORCHESTRA

MUSICAL NUMBERSACT I

Overture……………..............................................................................................................................OrchestraDites-Moi ................................................................................................................................Ngana and JeromeA Cockeyed Optimist……………………...……….….....................…………………………………NellieTwin Soliloquies......................................................................................................................Nellie and EmileSome Enchanted Evening.........................................................................................................................EmileDites-Moi (Reprise) .............................................................................................Ngana, Jerome and EmileBloody Mary...................................................................................................Sailors, Seabees and MarinesThere Is Nothin’ Like A Dame .................................................. Billis, Sailors, Seabees and MarinesBali Ha’i ..............................................................................................................................................Bloody MaryCable Hears “Bali Ha’I” ................................................................................................................................CableI’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.....................................................Nellie and Nurses Some Enchanted Evening (Reprise) ..............................................................................Emile and NellieA Wonderful Guy .................................................................................................................Nellie and NursesBali Ha’i (Reprise)....................................................................................................French and Native GirlsYounger Than Springtime ........................................................................................................................CableI’m In Love With A Wonderful Guy..................................................................................Nellie and EmileThis Is How It Feels................................................................................................................Nellie and EmileI’m Gonna Wash That Man .......................................................................................................................EmileFinale Act I ......................................................................................................................................................Emile

ACT IIEntr’Acte..................................................................................................................................................OrchestraOpening Act II (Dance)............................................................................................Nellie, Nurses and G.I.’sHappy Talk. ....................................................................................................................Bloody Mary and LiatHoney Bun .......................................................................................................... Nellie, Billis and EnsembleYou’ve Got To Be Carefully Taught.........................................................................................................CableThis Nearly Was Mine ................................................................................................................................EmileSome Enchanted Evening (Reprise).....................................................................................................NellieHoney Bun (Reprise) ......................................................................................................................................... AllFinale Ultimo ..........................................................................................Nellie, Ngana, Jerome and Emile

KIM ARNETT

(Ensign Dinah

Murphy/Ensem-

ble) joins McCoy/

Rigby for her 9th

production. She

was a part of the

‘97-‘00 Broadway/National Tour of Peter

Pan which was filmed for A&E. Other MRE

shows include: Little Mermaid, Mary Pop-

pins, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Evita,

Unsinkable Molly Brown, Crazy for You, and

Annie Get Your Gun. Also, the Dance Cap-

tain for Mamma Mia! (Vegas/1st National).

BRITTANY

BENTLEY

(Ensign Genevieve

Martin/Ensem-

ble) most recently

was the female

swing and dance

captain for the National Tour of Rudolph

the Red Nosed-Reindeer: The Musical. Film/

TV credits: James Corden’s Carpool

Karaoke, Glee, and The Curious Case of

Benjamin Button. Thank you to all who

have served or currently serve in our

military. Special thanks to Anthony Boyer/

DDO Artists Agency, her real life military

man: Joshua, the South Pacific creative

team, and McCoy Rigby Entertainment.

She dedicates her performance in loving

memory of Richard Dunn.

RICHARD BULDA

(Henry/Seabee

Morton Wise/

Ensemble) was last

seen as Max in

Cabaret, and as

Pomahac in the

world premiere of Empire the Musical.

Favorite roles include CATS (Macavity),

West Side Story (Bernardo), and Seven Brides

for Seven Brothers (Benjamin). He has also

danced for California Ballet (Cinderella), and

has performed with LA Opera, L.A. Philhar-

monic, and Dallas Opera. Thank you Peggy,

Glenn, and McCoy Rigby Entertainment!

CAITLYN CALFAS

(Ensign Rita

Adams/Ensemble)

is thrilled to be

back with McCoy

Rigby after

appearing in

Empire the Musical. Favorite credits include

Nina in In the Heights (Moonlight), Hattie in

Ella Enchanted (South Coast Rep), The Who’s

Tommy (East West Players), Serena in

Legally Blonde (Cabrillo), and Anytime

Annie in 42nd Street (MTW). Caitlyn is a

proud graduate of UCLA (insert 8-clap here).

Many thanks to her supportive friends and

family, Anthony/DDO, Glenn, Peggy, Brent,

Julia, and the entire South Pacific team.


HAJIN CHO (Liat)

is thrilled to be

making her La

Mirada debut as

Liat in South

Pacific. Most

recently she

played Marcy Park in The 25th Annual

Putnam County Spelling Bee and voices the

role of Saturday in an animated series called

The Weeklings. You can find her singing as

Mulan in the Disneyland show Mickey and

the Magical Map. Training: USC School of

Dramatic Arts. Many thanks and love to her

agent Anthony, managers at Cinterra,

friends and family.

JUSTIN COWDEN

(Private Darrell

“Doe Doe” Dean/

Ensemble) is

honored to be

making his

McCoy Rigby/La

Mirada debut with South Pacific. Recent

credits include MTW’s Carousel (Enoch

Snow), Miracle on 34th Street (Fred) with

Plan B Entertainment, and the Ova-

tion-nominated hit Memphis with

Cabrillo Music Theatre (Perry Como/

Huey u/s). Love to his amazing agent

Anthony Boyer, his family and, most of

all, his phenomenal wife Lexi, and their

daughter Layni Rose for being his

constant rock of support.

JOHN CUDIA

(Emile de Becque)

holds the distinct

honor of being

the first and only

actor to have

appeared on

Broadway as both the Phantom and Jean

Valjean. He received the Joseph Jefferson

award for his portrayal of Valjean at the

Marriott Theatre in Chicago. Also on

Broadway, Evita. For Vancouver Opera:

Cassio in Othello and Juan Peron in Evita.

Curley in Oklahoma! at Lyric Opera of

Chicago. Other credits include Jesus in

Jesus Christ Superstar, Tony in West Side

Story, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Emile and

Lt. Cable in South Pacific. As a featured

soloist he has appeared in concert with

orchestras nationwide. A classical lyric

tenor, John studies voice in New York City

with Mark Oswald, is married to Broad-

way actress Kathy Voytko, and is the

proud father of Alena Joyce and Evelyn

Rose. www.johncudia.com

MARC

GINSBURG

(Stewpot) is happy

to return to La

Mirada/McCoy

Rigby Entertain-

ment after his

Ovation Award-nominated performance

as Aaron in First Date and the Foreman

in Les Misérables. Other favorite roles

include Che (Evita – Ovation Nomination),

Chauvelin (The Scarlet Pimpernel), and

Fagin in the First National Tour of Cam-

eron Mackintosh’s Oliver! Thank you to

Glenn, Tom, Cathy, BT, Julia, Kelley, Peggy,

Brent, John, Steven, and everyone behind

the scenes and offstage at La Mirada/MRE.

All my love, forever, to Liza, Phoenix, and

Egon! www.marcandliza.com

LUCAS JAYE

(Jerome) started

acting at the age

of six, starring in

several national

and regional

commercials.

Lucas is most known for his role as Taylor,

the recurring and delightful “frenemy” of

Max Fuller on the Netflix Original series,

Fuller House. He has also enjoyed working

on projects such as The Gilmore Girls: A

Year in a Life, Angie Tribeca, CBS’s Pure

Genius and can be seen on an upcoming

episode of TVLand’s hit comedy, Teachers.

JODI KIMURA

(Bloody Mary)

was most recently

seen as Mrs.

Kipfer in Tim

Rice’s new

musical From

Here to Eternity at the Ogunquit Playhouse.

Broadway/Tour: First National US Tour:

South Pacific (Helen Hayes nominee, Bloody

Mary), First National UK Tour: South Pacific

(Bloody Mary). Regional: If All the Sky Were

Paper (Testuko Tanaka, Kennedy Center,

and Kirk Douglas, LA with Annette Ben-

ning), Another Side of the Island (Juno,

Orlando Shakespeare Festival, and Alpine

Theatre Project with Olympia Dukakis).

Mahalo to Dustin and The Mine, to Tom,

Cathy, Glenn, Peggy, Brent, Julia, and all the

folks at La Mirada. And love to my family,

friends, and Amber-Sky. jodikimura.com

ADAM

LENDERMON

(Radio Operator

Bob MaCaffrey/

Ensemble) re-

cently moved to

LA after 17 years

in NYC and is thrilled to be working with

McCoy Rigby/La Mirada. Off Broadway/

NYC: The Anthem (Lynn Redgrave

Theatre), Cinderella (Avery Fisher Hall).

Regional: Thoroughly Modern Millie

(Performance Riverside), A Midsummer

Night’s Dream (Repertory Theatre of St.

Louis), H.M.S. Pinafore (Guthrie - filmed

for PBS), and The Who’s Tommy (Arkan-

sas Rep.) He has toured nationally with

Cats (Skimbleshanks) and international-

ly with West Side Story (Big Deal).

CARYOLYN

LUPIN (Lt. J. G.

Sue Yaeger/

Ensemble) Credits

include Jesus

Christ Superstar

at Performance

Riverside, Joseph and the Amazing

Technicolor Dreamcoat at 5 Star Theatri-

cals, The Scarlet Pimpernel with Contempo

Productions, South Pacific at Candlelight

Pavilion, My Fair Lady at the Welk Resort

Theatre, Picnic at Oceanside Theatre


Company, and Sweeney Todd with South-

gate Productions. Carolyn holds a Master’s

of Music in Musical Theatre from Oklaho-

ma City University and a BA in Vocal

Performance from Pepperdine University.

DINO

NICANDROS

(Lt. Buzz Adams/

Shore Patrolman/

Ensemble) is ex-

cited to return to

the McCoy Rigby

family. Previous credits: Hunchback of

Notre Dame (Voice of Quasimodo), National

Tours of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:

The Musical (Boss Elf), and Les Misérables

(Ensemble). Regional credits: Young

Frankenstein (Frederick): 3-D Theatricals,

How to Succeed in Business Without Really

Trying (Finch): Candlelight Pavilion, The

Addams Family (Lucas): 3-D Theatricals.

Endless thanks to Glenn, Brent, Peggy,

Julia, Tom, Cathy, Anthony, and Jonathan.

KATIE PERRY

(Ensign Cora

MacRae/Ensem-

ble) is thrilled to

be making her

debut with McCoy

Rigby Entertain-

ment! Recent credits include: Little Women

(Beth), The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel),

Beauty and the Beast (Belle), The Wizard of

Oz (Ensemble), A Christmas Carol (Sally), La

Cage aux Folles (Anne), Carousel (Julie u/s),

and Carrie (Swing). She has also appeared at

54 Below in NYC in Bartram and Hill’s new

musical, The Theory of Relativity (Mira) and

Susan Egan: The Belle of Broadway (Soloist).

Katie has a BFA in Musical Theatre from

University of Oklahoma.

ARACELI

PRASARTTONG-

OSOTH (Ngana)

made her broad-

cast TV debut on

the season one

finale of Lethal

Weapon on FOX. Recently she shot the short

film American, starring George Takei, due

out this year. Her first professional gig was

as 4-year-old Tommy in The Who’s Tommy

at East West Players. Araceli attends a Man-

darin dual language immersion school and

she is working toward her black belt in the

Korean martial art hapkido.

MATT ROSELL

(Lt. Joseph Cable)

A Los Angeles

native, this is

Matt Rosell’s first

production with

La Mirada

Theatre/McCoy Rigby Entertainment.

His most recent credits include Les

Misérables (Broadway and National Tour),

A Wall Apart (NYMF) music by

Air Supply, and various other regional

productions. TV/Film: Marvelous Mrs.

Maisel and Glee. Matt is beyond excited

to be in his hometown performing after

spending eight years in NYC.

MICHAEL

ROTHHAAR

(Captain George

Brackett) Michael

is happy to return

to La Mirada

Theatre. Previ-

ously he appeared in Spring Awakening,

Last Night of Ballyhoo, and King O’ The

Moon. Broadway: The Front Page and The

Corn is Green. Off-Broadway: Frankenstein

and Brand, the San Francisco company of

The Foreigner, and appearances at various

regional theatres. Film and TV include

Bones, True Blood, The Nutty Professor,

and Modern Family. He served as the

Artistic Director of Pennsylvania’s

Allenberry Playhouse 1987 to 1992.

JAKE SAENZ

(Seaman Tom

O’Brien/Ensem-

ble) Regional:

Legally Blonde

(3-D Theatricals),

Big Fish (Musical

Theatre West), All Shook Up (Moonlight

Amphitheater), Shrek (Moonlight Amphi-

theater), Young Frankenstein (Palos Verdes

Performing Arts), Grease (The Welk

Resort). National Tour: Rudolph the

Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical (McCoy

Rigby Entertainment). You can currently

catch Jake performing at the Disneyland

Resort with The Red Car Trolley Newsboys!

Love to Mom, Dad, Joey, and Team KMR!

BRENT

SCHINDELE

(Cmdr. William

Harbison) just

played Frank

Butler at the

Candlelight

Pavilion and is happy to be back with

McCoy-Rigby. He toured the country as

Tony in West Side Story and in Jack

O’Brien’s national company of The Sound

of Music. Off-Broadway: the Leading Man

in The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!

and originated the role of Johnny Blue in

South Street at the Pasadena Playhouse.

Musical credits: Guys & Dolls (Sky

Masterson), The Music Man (Harold Hill)...

and of course South Pacific (Joe Cable).

BRIAN STEVEN

SHAW (Seaman

Eustis Carmi-

chael/Ensemble)

National Tour:

The Little

Mermaid.

Regional Favorites: Cabaret, Cats, Billy

Elliot (McCoy Rigby), La Cage Aux Folles,

South Pacific, Brigadoon (Sacramento

Music Circus), Legally Blonde (3-D

Theatricals), Frozen - Live at the Hyperion,

Aladdin A Musical Spectacular! (Disneyland

Resort). Commercial: Frozen Fun (Disney-

land, Bell Hop).


JEFF SKOWRON

(Luther Billis)

co-stars as

Dorfman opposite

Billy Bob Thorn-

ton in Bad Santa

2. Broadway:

Enron, How the Grinch Stole Christmas,

The Lion King, Beauty and The Beast,

High Society. With MRE: Cabaret (Emcee,)

Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Collins/Ovation

Nomination), Les Miserables (Thenardier/

Ovation Nomination), Lend Me a Tenor

(Bellhop); With 3DT: Parade (Leo Frank/

Ovation Award Lead Actor in a Musical). Jeff

won Best Actor in a Drama at the 2017 New

York Television Festival for his work as the

title role in Max Riddle, a pilot he co-cre-

ated/directed with Matt Yeager. They also

co-created and co-star in Greg And Donny

(www.greganddonny.com) which landed

them a development deal with IFC.

SHANNON

STOEKE (Profes-

sor) Last season Dr.

Carrasco in Man of

La Mancha. Tour

and regional:

Camelot (Mordred,

national tour and

Arthur, Pasadena Playhouse), Peter Pan

(Starkey and Hook national tour), Hair

(Claude, European tour), Emma (Mr. Knightly),

Wizard of Oz (Tin Man), Hunchback (Jehan),

Les Miserables (Bishop), Love to Mom, Dad,

BB, Smee, and Gracie.

ALISSA

TUCKER (Ensign

Bessie Noonan/

Ensemble) moved

to NYC to study

at Broadway

Dance Center and

performed in several regional theater produc-

tions, including West Side Story (Graziella),

Peter Pan (Tiger Lily), and Cats (Silabub). Alissa

is a NASM certified personal trainer and a

Senior Trainer at AKT InMotion. Most recently

Alissa was seen in the 5-Star Theatricals pro-

duction of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor

Dreamcoat. Alissa is thrilled to be joining

the cast of South Pacific and making her

La Mirada debut!

STEPHANIE

RENEE WALL

(Ensign Nellie

Forbush) Cur-

rently: Michele in

the pre-Broad-

way production

of Romy and Michele’s High School

Reunion: The Musical (Seattle’s 5th Ave

Theatre), Elsa in Frozen - Live at The

Hyperion (Disney California Adventure).

Broadway: Marilyn Wald in Beautiful: The

Carole King Musical. Regional: Elle Woods

in Legally Blonde (3-D Theatricals), Mary

Poppins in Mary Poppins (Performance

Riverside), Louise in Gypsy (West Coast

Ensemble), Cindy Lou in The Marvelous

Wonderettes (original LA company).

GLENN CASALE (Director) Broadway:

Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby (Tony

Award nomination Best Revival) which

was filmed by A&E and garnered two

Emmy Awards. Off-Broadway: The Prop-

erty Known as Garland starring Adri-

enne Barbeau, and Dragapella at Studio

54 (Drama Desk Lucille Lortel Award

nominations for Best Production). Inter-

national: Disney’s The Little Mermaid,

Beauty and the Beast (The Netherlands,

Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan, and Russia),

and The Wiz. Regional: Disney’s Hunch-

back of Notre Dame, The Little Mermaid,

Ballroom, Camelot with Rachel York and

Lou Diamond Phillips. Wrestlers starring

Mark Harmon and George Clooney, Bingo!,

M, From the Top starring Carol Burnett.

Los Angeles Ovation Award-winning Best

Musical Anything Goes starring Rachel

York, Brent Barrett, Sally Struthers, and

Fred Willard, Camelot starring Michael

York, The Prisoner of Second Avenue

with Jason Alexander. Television: ABC’s

The Faculty starring Meredith Baxter

and The Wayans Brothers.

BRENT CRAYON (Musical Director) has

had the privilege to work with such notable

artists as Stephen Schwartz, Daisy Prince,

John Caird, Paul Gordon, Robert Longbot-

tom, John Bucchino, and Richard Maltby,

Jr. Favorite theatrical productions include

Dreamgirls in Tokyo, Japan and the West

Coast premieres of First Date, Songs For

a New World and Tick, Tick…BOOM!, as

well as the world premiere productions of

Stephen Schwartz’s Snapshots, John Buc-

chino’s It’s Only Life, and Bubble Boy, The

Musical. An accomplished and multi-fac-

eted musician, Brent has been a featured

soloist in ensembles throughout Southern

California, including the Santa Monica

Symphony Orchestra, the Long Beach

Symphony Orchestra, and the Ventura

Chamber Orchestra. www.brentcrayon.com

PEGGY HICKEY (Choreographer) Broadway:

Anastasia, A Gentleman’s Guide to Love &

Murder (Astaire and Outer Critics Circle

Nomination, Best Choreography, 2014 Tony

Award for Best Musical); National Tour: A

Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder (Di-

rected & Choreographed). Lincoln Center:

My Fair Lady (NY Philharmonic), The Most

Happy Fella, Lucky to Be Me, The Music Of

Leonard Bernstein (New York City Opera).

Selected Regional: Romy & Michele’s High

School Reunion (5th Avenue Theatre), Kiss

Me, Kate (Hartford), A Midsummer Night’s

Dream (Old Globe), Carnival (Goodspeed),

Oklahoma! (Paper Mill). Selected Opera: LA

Opera (Wonderful Town), Washington Opera

(Die Fledermaus), Lyric Opera of Chicago

(Celebrating 100 Years of Bernstein). Film:

Woodshock, The Brady Bunch Movie (MTV

Nomination, Best Choreography). Televi-

sion: Hansel and Gretel (Live from Lincoln

Center), Die Fledermaus (Live from The

Kennedy Center), Beck’s The New Pollution

(MTV Award, Best Choreography), Hot in

Cleveland, General Hospital (ABC), 90210

(The CW), Days of Our Lives, Passions (NBC).

www.peggyhickey.com

JULIA FLORES (Casting Director) Twen-

ty-four seasons with McCoy Rigby Enter-

tainment and La Mirada Theatre for the


Performing Arts. MRE productions include

touring productions of The Little Mermaid,

Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby, Camelot

starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Jesus

Christ Superstar starring Carl Anderson.

Onstage Series productions include Amer-

ican Idiot, Spring Awakening and Floyd

Collins. Additional credits include produc-

tions for Boston Court Theatre, A Noise

Within, The Pasadena Playhouse, Theatre-

works, Denver Center Theatre, Ensemble

Theatre Company, Portland Center Stage,

B Street Theatre, Universal Studios, Los

Angeles Philharmonic, 24th Street Theatre,

San Jose Repertory Theatre and Reprise!

JARED A. SAYEG (Lighting Design) is a

four-time Ovation Award Nominee and

winner of the Ovation, StageRaw, and

Garland Award. For McCoy Rigby: Mary

Poppins, Empire the Musical, Hunchback

of Notre Dame. Broadway designs: The

Illusionists (Neil Simon Theatre, Pan-

tages, and US Tour), Gotham Glory at

Carnegie Hall. Regional: Center Theatre

Group, Pasadena Playhouse, Sacramento,

and CLO of South Bay. On the West End

he designed Rolling with Laughter at Her

Majesty’s Theatre. He was on the design

teams for the Broadway productions of

The Woman in White and the national

tour of Blithe Spirit starring Angela

Lansbury. Other credits include 18 pro-

ductions for Holland America Line, the

2011 NBA All Star Game, Neil Diamond’s

world tour, and in 2008 had the honor of

lighting Pope Benedict XVI for the Papal

Rally in NYC. In 2010 he was appointed

Principal Designer for the prestigious

USA International Ballet Competition

held every four years. Jared creates the

lighting for the nationally touring music

group, The Company Men, and has served

as designer to artists such as Jason Alex-

ander, Barbara Cook, Martin Short, and

Betty Buckley. His architectural designs

are in restaurants and exhibits as well as

the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific.

Jared became the youngest member of

the United Scenic Artists-Local 829 and

serves as a trustee to the executive board.

JULIE FERRIN (Sound Design) is honored

to be designing South Pacific with this

awesome cast and crew! Julie recently

designed Million Dollar Quartet with

3-DTheatricals and Seussical the Mu-

sical and Mary Poppins with Encore of

Southbay. Ms. Ferrin is president of Sound

Advice LLC, a sound design, engineering,

and rental company. Please visit www.

soundadvicedesigns.com for more infor-

mation and follow us on Facebook at Sound

Advice LLC. Julie is a proud member of USA

829 and IATSE Local 504. Thank you for

supporting the arts and enjoy show!

EB BOHKS (Hair/Wig/Makeup Design)

studied at Fullerton College in the The-

atre Arts program then moved on to their

Cosmetology program, graduating and

receiving her State Board Certification in

the summer of 2013. You may have seen

her work before in and around Orange

County. Past credits include: Sister Act,

Ain’t Misbehavin’, A Funny Thing Hap-

pened on the Way to the Forum, Sweeney

Todd, Bonnie and Clyde, Into the Woods,

The Glass Menagerie, Kiss Me, Kate, The

39 Steps (wig designer); Rudolph the Red-

Nosed Reindeer: The Musical, West Side

Story (Supervisor); Man of La Mancha,

The Little Mermaid, Dreamgirls, Empire

the Musical, Side Show, Ragtime (wig assis-

tant); Sweeney Todd and One Flew Over the

Cuckoo’s Nest (makeup designer). Thanks

and love to the family and friends that

support her and everything she does. She

would also like to dedicate this show to her

late grandmother, Lois Gentzler, I love you

more! Follow her on Instagram @wigsbyeb

JOHN W. CALDER, III (Production Stage

Manager) Equity member since 1980.

McCoy Rigby/La Mirada Theatre: Four Sis-

ters, End of the Rainbow, West Side Story,

Disney’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame. LA

Credits: Forbidden Broadway-2 (Ovation

Winner), Roger and Hammerstein’s Cin-

derella, Light in the Piazza, She Loves Me,

The Piano Lesson (Tonya Pinkins). National

Tours: Les Misérables, Hal Prince’s Show-

boat, West Side Story, White Christmas (7

years), A Chorus Line (Donna McKechnie),

Dreamgirls (Jennifer Holliday), Anything

Goes (Chita Rivera), Hello, Dolly! (Madeline

Kahn). He’s worked with President Bill

Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Al Gore,

Madonna, Michael Jackson, Muhammad

Ali, Gwen Verdon, Meryl Streep, Angela

Lansbury, Jane Powell, Barbara Cook, and

Julie Andrews. Musical theater collector

(+10,000 recordings). JWCalder3@gmail.

com

DAVID ELZER (Publicist) represents Cabril-

lo Music Theatre, Independent Shake-

speare Co., Laguna Playhouse, La Mirada

Theatre for the Performing Arts, and The-

atre of NOTE. He is also an Ovation, Drama

Desk, Los Angeles Critics Circle, LA Weekly,

and Garland Award-winning theatrical pro-

ducer and the proud recipient of the LADCC

Joel Hirschhorn Award for Outstanding

Achievement in Musical Theatre. His most

recent productions include Justin Love

(Best Production – LA Drama Critics Circle

Award; Best Performance – LA Weekly

Award) which he conceived, commissioned,

and co-wrote, The Color Purple, and the

multi-Ovation-nominated, critically ac-

claimed world premiere musical Having It

All. He also produced the record-breaking,

19-month run of The Marvelous Wonder-

ettes and Winter Wonderettes at the El

Portal Forum Theatre and the smash-hit

production of Life Could Be A Dream,

which ran for a year at the Hudson Main-

stage in Hollywood. Many thanks to Tom,

Cathy, BT and Jane for having me along

for the ride and thank you for supporting

La Mirada Theatre!

ACTORS’ EQUITY ASSOCIATION (AEA),

founded in 1913, represents more than

49,000 actors and stage managers in the

United States. Equity seeks to advance, pro-

mote, and foster the art of live theatre as an

essential component of our society. Equity

negotiates wages and working conditions,

providing a wide range of benefits, including

health and pension plans. AEA is a member

of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with FIA, an

international organization of performing

arts unions. The Equity emblem is our mark

of excellence. www.actorsequity.org


McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION STAFF

McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT

(Tom McCoy & Cathy Rigby McCoy,

Executive Producers) Celebrating its 24th

Anniversary season at La Mirada Theatre

for the Performing Arts, McCoy Rigby

Entertainment (MRE), is one of the world’s

premier theatrical production companies.

Headed by Executive Producers Tom McCoy

and Cathy Rigby, MRE has produced over

one hundred musicals, plays, and concerts

featuring some of the biggest stars in

the industry today. In addition, MRE has

launched several Emmy Award-winning

and Tony Award-nominated Broadway,

international, and national touring produc-

tions including Peter Pan, Seussical the Mu-

sical, and Annie Get Your Gun, all starring

Cathy Rigby; Frank Wildhorn’s Jekyll and

Hyde starring American Idol contender and

Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis

along with Grammy Award nominee and

R&B superstar Deborah Cox; Jesus Christ

Superstar starring Carl Anderson and

Sebastian Bach; Camelot starring Michael

York and Lou Diamond Phillips, and Happy

Days written by Gary Marshall and Paul

Williams. Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby

has made four stops on Broadway and

received four Tony Award nominations in-

cluding Best Revival of a Musical and Best

Actress in a Musical. The A&E TV network

premiere of Peter Pan, starring Cathy

Rigby, received one Emmy Award and four

Emmy Award nominations. MRE’s other

credits include numerous award-winning

documentaries and stadium events.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE

PERFORMING ARTS Winner of the Los

Angeles Ovation Award for 2012-13 “Best

Season of the Year,” La Mirada Theatre

for the Performing Arts, now celebrat-

ing its 40th Anniversary, has been hailed

by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the

best Broadway-style houses in Southern

California.” This beautiful state-of-the-

art theatre has been producing quality

productions for its Southern California

audiences since 1977. The theatre has

produced several national tours and is

the recipient of many accolades includ-

ing Ovation and Emmy Awards and Tony

Award nominations.

TOM McCOY AND CATHY RIGBY ......................................................................... Executive Producers

ANA L AR A ..................................................................................................................................... Office Manager

PATTI McCOY JACOB .............................................................................................................General Manager

DAVID NESTOR ................................................................................................ Contracts, Payroll Manager

MICHAEL ROMAN ................................................................................................................Technical Director

KELLEY DORNEY ....................................................................................................................Casting Assistant

DONNA MacNAUGHTON .......................................................................................... Wardrobe Coordinator

KEVIN WILLIAMS.......................................................................................................Properties Coordinator

DAVID PATRICK ..............................................................................................................Lighting Programmer

MOLLY ATKINS ................................................................................................................ Production Assistant

ELISSA SZIEFF ..............................................................................................................Production Accountant

KATE KING, PAUL ZELHART ..................................................................................Accountant Assistants

LINDSAY BROOKS ........................................................................................................................... Social Media

JARED SAYEG ........................................................................................................................... Lighting Designer

BO TINDELL .........................................................................................................Assistant Lighting Designer

MEGHAN HONG ........................................................................................2nd Assistant Lighting Designer

DAVID PATRICK ............................................................................................................. Lighting Programmer

Lighting Equipment Supplied by PRG Lighting

“A SHOW OF RARE ENCHANTMENT.”

– New York Times

JAS LIGHTING DESIGN STAFF

25www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 18 | 8PMTHURSDAY, APRIL 19 | 8PM

MEDIA SPONSOR: KJAZZ

THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENEROUSLYSPONSORED BY CAROLYN C. POWERS

CÉCILEMCLORINSALVANT

ONSTAGE SESSIONS: JAZZ

CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT



CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT grew up in a

bilingual household in Miami, the child of

a French mother and Haitian father. She

started piano studies at age five, and at

eight began singing with the Miami

Choral Society. After graduating high

school, McLorin Salvant decided to

pursue her education in Aix-en-Provence

in the south of France. In this unlikely

setting, she embarked on a new career as

a jazz performer, while pursuing a degree

in French law and her training as a classi-

cal and baroque singer.

Shortly before the release of McLorin

Salvant’s debut Mack Avenue album

WomanChild, critic Ben Ratliff made a

bold prediction in the pages of The New

York Times. McLorin Salvant, he claimed,

“is still mostly unknown to jazz audiences”—

then added: “though not for much longer.”

McLorin Salvant has more than vali-

dated that forecast. The last 3 years have

been a whirlwind of success and acclaim

for the young vocalist, who first came

to the attention of jazz fans with her

triumph at the 2010 Thelonious Monk

International Jazz Competition. Woman-

Child went on to earn a bevy of honors,

including a Grammy Award-nomination

and selection as Jazz Album of The Year by

the DownBeat International Critics Poll.

Her 2016 Grammy Award-winning al-

bum, For One To Love may be the defining

jazz statement on romance in the new

millennium, a heartfelt album that both

embodies the full range of the American

popular song idiom, but distills it into a

distinctly personal expression of a mod-

ern-day poet-troubadour.

On For One To Love, McLorin Salvant

shows her uncanny knack of channeling

her own personality into the work of her

predecessors, both the acclaimed (Bessie

Smith) and the less well-known (Blanche

Calloway, whose fame during her lifetime

was eclipsed by her brother Cab). “I’ve made

some choices about celebrating strong

women,” McLorin Salvant explains. “And

I want to celebrate independence, the cour-

age not to look or act a certain way.”

She’s taking another big leap forward

with Dreams and Daggers, her highly-an-

ticipated third album for Mack Avenue

Records, (released on September 29,

2017), for which she received the

Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Al-

bum. McLorin Salvant says of this project,

“The songs on this album are of dreams

and daggers. The daggers have been used

at times to attack, at times to defend. For

power, no doubt, to take it, to keep it. The

dreams are the ones I caught looking out

a window, or from the light sleep before

the deep. I don’t always know what they

mean, but they are the ones I was able to

keep. And yet dreams can be desires too.

I wrote them down to make them true.

That we may bring our wildness into view.

That we may be unruled and unruly.”

If anyone can extend the lineage of the

Big Three – Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan

and Ella Fitzgerald – it is this 28-year-old

virtuoso.” – Stephen Holden in the New

York Times.

Lauded as one of the top jazz pianists of

his generation, SULLIVAN FORTNER is

recognized for his virtuosic technique and

captivating performances. The winner of

three prestigious awards – a Leonore An-

nenberg Arts Fellowship, the 2015 Cole Por-

ter Fellowship from the American Pianists

Association, and the 2016 Lincoln Center

Award for Emerging Artists – Sullivan’s

music embodies the essence of the blues

and jazz as he connects music of all eras and

genres through his improvisation.

As a leader, The Sullivan Fortner Trio

has performed on many of the world’s

most prestigious stages including Jazz

at Lincoln Center, Newport Jazz Festival,

Monterey Jazz Festival, Discover Jazz

Festival, Tri-C Jazz Festival, Jazz Stan-

dard, and the Gillmore Keyboard Festival.

Fortner has been heard with other lead-

ing musicians around the world including

Dianne Reeves, Roy Hargrove, Wynton

Marsalis, Paul Simon, John Scofield,

Cecile McLorin Salvant, Fred Hersch,

Sean Jones, DeeDee Bridgewater, Rober-

ta Gambarini, Peter Bernstein, Stefon

Harris, Nicholas Peyton, Billy Hart, Dave

Liebman, Gary Bartz, Etienne Charles,

and Christian Scott.

SULLIVAN FORTNER

29www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

THE NEXT GENERATION

SATURDAY, APRIL 21 | 8PM

MEDIA SPONSOR: KJAZZ, KCET

THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY NEDA NOBARI FOUNDATION

¡LA NUEVA CUBA!

ROBERTO FONSECADAYMÉ AROCENA




ROBERTO FONSECA

Pianist, composer, Grammy-nominated,

and Artistic Director for Cuba’s Interna-

tional Jazz Plaza Festival, Roberto Fonseca

has toured the world’s most prestigious

venues with Orquesta Buena Vista Social

Club and the legendary Omara Portuondo.

As a bandleader, Fonseca is undoubtedly

one of the most innovative Cuban pianists

in generations, with a sound at the fertile

crossroads of jazz, traditional music, and

soul, steeped in a spirituality faithful to

his Afro-Cuban roots. Fonseca’s November

2016 release ABUC (Verve/Universal) is

dedicated to the island he calls home — it

spells CUBA backwards, after all. Teeming

with rascally rhythms and burly brass and

woven from allusions, souvenirs and con-

trasts, ABUC is a kaleidoscope of dancing

colors through which Roberto tells the

great and rich story of Cuban music, from

yesterday to today. The album incorpo-

rates elements of the island’s traditions

such as contradanza, mambo, cha-cha-cha,

danzon, and bolero, infused with the spirit

of the descarga jam and hip-hop. Featured

on a number of PBS programs in 2017-

2018, including Weekend In Havana, a

series about a changing city with amazing

artistic traditions, Roberto serves as a

representative and guide to the country’s

musical culture. As BBC says, “By matching

tradition with experiment, Fonseca has

become one of the most exciting musicians

in the new Cuban scene.”

ROBERTO FONSECA, piano & keyboardsYANDY MARTINEZ, bassMICHEL CASTELLANOS, drums

DAYMÉ AROCENA

Cuba is one of the most creative places

on the planet, gifting the world with an

occasional superstar from its musical

homeland. Today that gift is singer/com-

poser Daymé Arocena. With exceptional

warmth and a powerful presence to aug-

ment her virtuosity, Daymé is one of the

“most inviting ambassadors” for Cuba’s

contemporary music. Santerian chant,

rhythmic complexity, fluid jazz styling

and a nuanced Afro-Cuban soulfulness –

Daymé channels the elements in service

to her audience and culture.

“Ms. Arocena unites cosmopolitan musi-

cianship with deep roots.” New York Times

Daymé’s talent was recognized by

the Havana Cultura Mix project which

saw Gilles Peterson mentoring select-

ed producers from around the world to

record in Cuba with local musicians, and

Dayme enchanted a packed audience

at the London album launch. In May,

2016 Daymé released her third album,

One Takes (Brownswood Recordings),

featuring Horace Silver’s powerful

“Gods of Yoruba” among a collection of

masterfully reimagined rare covers

that further bridge her musical worlds.

With this release, Daymé’s impact upon

the unfolding history of Cuban music is

unmistakably underway.

Daymé’s newest album, Cubafonía, is a

soulful mix of Latin, jazz, and R&B influ-

ences, a perfect blend for her powerful

vocals. NPR featured the 2017 album in

First Listen: “There is not a dull moment

on Cubafonía. It is a major statement on

the progress of Daymé Arocena as an art-

ist for the ages. And it reminds us that the

best music moves the body and the spirit.”

DAYMÉ AROCENA, vocals JORGE LUIS LAGARZA, pianoRAFAEL ALDAMA, bassRULY HERRERA, drums


Grammy-nominated, Pedro Pablo “Pe-

drito” Martinez was born in Havana, Cuba,

Sept 12, 1973. Since settling in New York

City in the fall of 1998, Pedrito has record-

ed or performed with Wynton Marsalis,

Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, and Sting

and has contributed to over 50 albums.

Pedrito was a founding member of the

highly successful, Afro-Cuban/Afro-Beat

band, Yerba Buena, with which he record-

ed two albums and toured the world. He

has received the Thelonius Monk Award,

Sphinx Award for Excellence, and been

named “Percussionist of the Year” by the

Jazz Journalists Association every year

from 2014-2017 and been named Percus-

sionist of the Year 2014-2017 by

Jazz Times Magazine.

His career as a leader began in 2005

with the formation in NYC of The Pedrito

Martinez Group whose performances

have included festivals, performing arts

centers, and venues throughout the US,

Europe, Australia, and Latin America.

The group’s self-titled first album

(Motema Music) was released October,

2013, and was nominated for a Grammy.

It was among NPR ’s Favorite Albums of

2013 and The Boston Globe Critics Top

Ten Albums of 2013.

Habana Dreams (Motema Music), their

second album, was released in June 10,

2016. Guests include Ruben Blades, Isaac

Delgado, Wynton Marsalis, and Angelique

Kidjo. Accolades have included #1 Latin Jazz

Album in the NPR Critics Top Jazz Albums

for 2016. Wall Street Journal: “…the thrill of

real Cuban rumba transformed into some-

thing as hip and irresistible as great pop.”

PEDRITO MARTINEZ,percussion & lead vocalsJHAIR SALA, percussion & vocalsISAAC DELGADO JR, keyboards & Vocals SEBASTIAN NATAL, bass & vocals

ROBERTO FONSECADAYMÉ

AROCENA

33www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

AMIR ELSAFFAR’S TWO RIVERS ENSEMBLE

THURSDAY, APRIL 26 | 8PM

MEDIA SPONSOR: KJAZZ, KCET

THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY NEDA NOBARI FOUNDATION


TWO RIVERS ENSEMBLE

THERE WILL BE NO INTERMISSION


The TWO RIVERS ENSEMBLE is a sextet

of jazz and Middle Eastern musicians that

has made innovative strides in using the

maqam modal system to transform the

jazz idiom. Deeply rooted in musical forms

of Iraq and nearby regions, the music still

speaks the language of swing, improvisa-

tion, and group interaction, and the resul-

tant sound is distinct from other contempo-

rary cross-cultural musical fusions. After 8

years of extensive performing and touring

and the release of three critically-ac-

claimed albums on Pi Recordings, Crisis

(2015), Inana (2011), and Two Rivers (2007),

the Two Rivers Ensemble has developed an

instinctive ease with ElSaffar’s highly com-

plex music, enabling the band to play with

a creativity that transcends pure technical

challenge in a style that is rooted in tradition,

while creating an entirely new aesthetic.

Trumpeter, santur player, vocalist,

and composer AMIR ELSAFFAR has

distinguished himself with a mastery

of disparate musical styles and a sin-

gular approach to combining aspects of

Middle Eastern music with American

jazz, extending the boundaries of each

tradition. A skilled jazz trumpeter with a

classical background, ElSaffar has created

new techniques to play microtones and

ornaments that are idiomatic to Arabic

music but are not typically heard on the

trumpet. Additionally, he is an acknowl-

edged performer of the classical Iraqi

maqam tradition and performs actively

in the US and internationally as a vocalist

and santur player. As a composer, ElSaffar

has used the microtones found in maqam

music to create a unique approach to har-

mony and melody. He currently leads four

critically-acclaimed ensembles: Two Riv-

ers; the Amir ElSaffar Quintet, performing

ElSaffar’s microtonal compositions with

standard jazz instrumentation; Safaafir,

the only ensemble in the US performing

and preserving the Iraqi maqam in its tra-

ditional format; and The Alwan Ensemble.

In addition, he has worked with jazz legend

Cecil Taylor and prominent jazz musicians

such as Mark Dresser, Gerry Hemingway,

Marc Ribot, Henry Grimes, and Oliver

Lake. ElSaffar has appeared on numerous

recordings and has released six under his

own name: Maqams of Baghdad (2005),

Two Rivers (2007), Radif Suite (2010), Inana

(2011), Alchemy (2013), and Crisis (2015).

A critically acclaimed saxophonist,

OLE MATHISEN is an active performer on

the New York and international jazz scene.

In addition, he steadily works as a studio

musician, composer, arranger, and produc-

er. Over the years he has been involved with

classical, jazz, electronic, ethnic, and exper-

imental music, and he draws heavily on his

wealth of musical experience when com-

posing. He is currently a member of the Jazz

Studies faculty at Columbia University. Ole

has worked on more than 80 albums, com-

posed several film and TV scores, and has

performed and/or recorded with Paula Cole,

Louie Vega, Omar Hakim, Darryl Jones, Hi-

ram Bullock, William Kennedy, Tom Coster,

Mark Egan, Steve Smith , and many more.

He is the lead on Chinese Horoscope and a

member of NYNDK, SYOTOS, Afromantra,

and Mamak Khadem Ensemble.

TAREQ ABBOUSHI is a multi-instrumen-

talist, composer, and bandleader. Born and

raised in Ramallah, Palestine, Tareq received

his BM in jazz piano from William Paterson

University in New Jersey. He has played

buzuq since 1997 and has performed with

numerous bands throughout the US, Canada,

and the Middle East. His past collaborations

include such notable musicians as Simon Sha-

heen, Omar Farouk Tekbilek, and Dan Zanes.

He has lectured and led workshops on Arab

music at Columbia University, NYU, Juilliard,

the National Conservatory of Music in Pales-

tine, and the Music Conservatory in Norway.

He has contributed to the award-winning

film scores for Encounter Point (Best Musical

Score, Bend Film Festival, 2006) and Chicken

Heads (Best Short Film, Dubai Film Festival,

2010), as well as to Jonathan Demme’s Jimmy

Carter: Man From Plains and the Oscar-nomi-

nated Rachel Getting Married.

ZAFER TAWIL is New York based Pales-

tinian-American and a virtuosic perform-

er on the oud, violin, qanun, and a full

range of Arab percussion instruments.

Tawil performs across the US and in the

Middle East and holds workshops in oud

technique and Arabic music theory. He

was part of the Spirit of Fez US Tour 2006

and has performed with numerous musi-

cians, ranging from Sting to Arab music

greats such as Simone Shaheen, Chab

Mami, and Bassam Saba to avant-garde

composer and performer Elliot Sharpe,

among others. Zafer has composed music

for a number of films including two Jona-

than Demme’s films, Oscar-nominated Ra-

chel Getting Married and Zeitoun, based

on Dave Eggers’ book about Abdulrahman

Zeitoun’s post-Hurricane Katrina odyssey.

Shifting Foundation grantee DAN WEISS

has been hailed as one of the top five jazz

drummers in The New York Times, and his

large ensemble recording Fourteen made the

top ten list of their best recordings of 2014.

With his piano trio, he’s released two

recordings entitled, Now Yes When (2006)

and Timshel (2011), which have been critically

acclaimed for their unique approach to song

structure and endless creative improvisation.

Weiss also leads his sixteen-piece large ensem-

ble that features some of NYC’s most gifted

musicians. The two albums Fourteen (2014)

and Sixteen: Drummers Suite (2016) released

on the Pi record label have made numerous

critic polls. His newest project features Craig

Taborn, Matt Mitchell, Ben Monder, and Trevor

Dunn and is an amalgam of jazz, metal, and

new music. The recording will be released on

the Pi record label in the Spring of 2018.

CARLO DE ROSA has worked with a wide

variety of artists such as Ray Barretto, Ravi

Coltrane, Dave Valentin, John Faddis, Yo-Yo

Ma, Jack DeJohnette, Bruce Barth, John

Scofield, Chico O’Farrill Afro-Cuban Jazz

Orchestra, NYC Ballet, and many more. He

collaborates and performs with many other

great artists including Vijay Iyer, Rudresh

Mahanthappa, Amir ElSaffar, Arturo

O’Farrill, Nasheet Waits, Mark Shim, Ingrid

Jensen, Cristina Pato, Tyshawn Sorey, Sam

Newsome, Donny McCaslin, and many

more. Proficient, creative, clearly an in-de-

mand bassist, Carlo De Rosa has earned a

reputation for very high standards.

37www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

GREAT OPERA CHORUSES

SATURDAY, APRIL 28 | 3PM

FREE PERFORMANCE

CONDUCTED BY GRANT GERSHON

LA OPERA PRESENTS

GRANT GERSHON

THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY FRANCINE OSCHIN ‘84, MA ‘85

39www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

TERENCE BLANCHARD

TUESDAY, MAY 1 | 8PMWEDNESDAY, MAY 2 | 8PM

MEDIA SPONSOR KJAZZ, KCET

FEATURING THE E-COLLECTIVE

TERENCE BLANCHARD




Composer and trumpeter TERENCE

BLANCHARD said that “Music and

art have the power to change hearts

and souls.” It is a belief brought to life

through the work of Blanchard and his

E-Collective, a revolutionary ensemble

that thrives off the perfect mixture of

Blanchard’s genius and the innovations

of four young musical pioneers: guitarist

Charles Altura, pianist Fabian Almazan,

bassist David “DJ” Ginyard, Jr., and drum-

mer Oscar Seaton. “This band represents

the best of America’s ideals. We’re five

very different personalities with differ-

ent visions who play together for a com-

mon goal: creating music that hopefully

heals hearts and opens minds.”

Blanchard and Seaton began to foster

the idea of a band that layered grooves

teeming with funk, R&B, and blues col-

ors while recording the scores for Spike

Lee’s Inside Man and Kasi Lemmons’ Talk

to Me. Years later, that dream came to

fruition and formed the foundation for

the E-Collective’s signature sound. Herald-

ed as “a trumpeter of expressive urgency

and a composer of expansive vision,” by

The New York Times, Blanchard’s E-Col-

lective is not only a stellar quintet, but he

natural next dimension for a master trum-

peter who has helped shape the contours of

modern jazz today.

Blanchard was overwhelmed by the

healing impact of his music on the audience

during a poignant E-Collective perfor-

mance in Staten Island this in August

2016. In attendance were many friends and

family of Eric Garner — a local man who had

been fatally injured in an altercation with

police and to whom the E-Collective’s debut

album, Breathless (2015), is dedicated.

Motivated by this experience, the E-Collec-

tive’s new album LIVE, was recorded live in

cities around the country that have been

similarly impaired by racial tension. The

recordings began in 2017 on January 2-3

in St. Paul, MN; January 4-5 in Cleveland,

OH; January 7 in Dallas, TX, and finally on

January 8 in NYC and was released on Blue

Note Records on April 20, 2018.

As a USA Artist fellow and multi-Gram-

my winning composer and musician,

Terence Blanchard extends a jazz tradition

that embodies the work of Louis Armstrong

and is grounded in their shared hometown

of New Orleans. The Wall Street Journal

said, “Blanchard’s sound is advantageous

without losing its grip on creativity.”

As a performer and composer,

Blanchard’s individuality can be heard

in over 70 films and television shows; in

his modern opera Champion-“An Opera

in Jazz”; a dance collaboration with

Desmond Richardson’s Complexions; a

commission for the Detroit Symphony

Orchestra, Detroit 67; a commission for

the Los Angeles Philharmonic Herbie

Hancock: By Himself; and two Broadway

plays. Blanchard has defined his place

in contemporary culture and it extends

well beyond jazz’s reach.

THE E-COLLECTIVE

CHARLES ALTURA, guitarFABIAN ALMAZAN, piano DAVID “DJ” GINYARD, JR., bassOSCAR SEATON, drums TERENCE BLANCHARD

43www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

QUETZAL WITH

FLOR DETOLOACHE

SATURDAY, MAY 5 | 8PM

MEDIA SPONSOR: LA OPINIÓN, KCET

GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY NEDA NOBARI FOUNDATION

FLOR DE TOLOACHE


QUETZAL is a Grammy award-winning en-

semble of deeply committed musicians that

tell the social, cultural, political, and mu-

sical stories of people in struggle. Martha

Gonzalez (lead singer, percussionist, and

songwriter) calls it an “East LA Chican@

rock group,” summing up its rootedness

in the complex cultural currents of life in

the barrio, its social activism, its strong

feminist stance, and its rock and roll musi-

cal beginnings. Besides being a rock band,

the group and its members participate in a

much larger web of musical, cultural, and

political engagement.

The group Quetzal emerged out of a

particularly contentious time generated

by events such as the 1992 Los Angeles

uprising, the 1994 Proposition 187 cam-

paign (to deny medical and public services

to undocumented immigrants and public

education to undocumented children),

and the repercussive reach of the Zapatis-

ta insurrection in Mexico. These events

spurred a powerful synergy, in which

avenues of expressive culture such as mu-

sic and public art emerged as platforms

from which to voice marginalized people’s

desires, opinions, and resistance to the

conditions in which they found them-

selves. The proactive strategy of Quet-

zal and other artists was to maneuver

through the societal problems that were

affecting the communities in which these

artists were living. As a prominent force

in this East L.A. creative culture-scape,

Quetzal vividly portrays how music,

culture, and sociopolitical ideology come

together in a specific place. For members

of Quetzal, music expresses the ultimate

struggle for dignity.

Since 2000 the band has taken part

in building a transnational dialogue

with a burgeoning revival of traditional

and participatory practice of music and

dance in Veracruz called Fandango. This

resurgence, known as El Movimiento

Jaranero, began in Veracruz in the late

1970’s. It has since crossed the border

QUETZAL


into California, where it and other Mex-

ican folk music traditions had already

been adapted by Mexican Americans

as an expression of mexicanidad-Mexi-

can roots. Local Chican@ music groups

performed the music at rallies, marches,

and events flowing from the Chicano

vein of the Civil Rights movement. The

band has taken up the music and its folk

instruments and incorporated them into

his own musical blend, which included

sounds and sentiments from many sourc-

es: The Smiths, Ruben Blades, Stevie

Wonder, and much more.

Latin Grammy winner FLOR DE

TOLOACHE make New York City history

as its’ First and Only All-Women Mariachi

Group. Founded in 2008, Flor de Toloache

is lead by singers Mireya I. Ramos &

Shae Fiol. Reminiscent of the early days

of mariachi the group started as a trio,

Harp, Violin, and Vihuela. Today, Flor De

Toloache performs as a full Mariachi en-

semble. The members hail from diverse

cultural backgrounds such as Mexico,

Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Cuba,

Colombia, Germany, Italy, and the United

States. This defines their unique flavor

and sound. The result of this cultural

bouquet is an edgy, versatile and fresh

take on traditional Mexican music. They

coalesce as would a band of sisters, with

a grace and vibrant beauty that casts a

spell over their audiences not unlike the

legendary Toloache flower still being used

in Mexico as a love potion. While working

to preserve centuries old traditions of

Mariachi, their melange of the traditional

and the modern pushes the boundaries of

the genre and brings Mariachi music to

new audiences.

Over the course of the last few years,

Flor de Toloache’s performances have

illuminated world renowned stages in Eu-

rope and India. In 2015 & 2016, the group

embarked on an extensive European and

U.S. tour as the opening act of Black Keys’

singer Dan Auerbach’s new band, The

Arcs. After performances to sold out audi-

ences in the UK, Germany, Holland, Italy,

and France, they continued to captivate

crowds in the U.S. at legendary venues

such as First Avenue in Minneapolis, The

Vic in Chicago, Terminal 5 in New York,

DC 930 Club, Nashville’s Ryman Theater

(The Grand Ole Opry), and Coachella. In

2017 Flor de Toloache just completed a

beautiful tour with Cafe Tacvba through-

out the U.S. The ladies will finish out

the year with a celebratory Day of the

Dead tour with Grammy winning act La

Santa Cecilia and Mexrrissey and share

the stage with Natalia Lafourcade, Mon

Laferete, Carlos Rivera, and Gaby Moreno

at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA.

Flor De Toloache’s critically acclaimed

self-titled debut album received a Latin

Grammy nomination for Best Ranchero/

Mariachi Album in 2015. Sharing the po-

dium with legends Pedro Fernández and

Aida Cuevas was an embrace from the

Latin Music Community. In 2017 their

latest album Las Caras Lindas released

won the Latin Grammy for Best Ranche-

ro album which features collaborations

with Pedrito Martinez, Velcro, and was

produced by Felipe Fournier.

The group’s live performances are

praised by Rolling Stone, Billboard

Magazine, The New Yorker, GQ Magazine,

The New York Times. Following a highly

praised NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert”, their

collaboration with rock supergroup The

Arcs landed them on the Late Show with

Stephen Colbert, and BBC 2’s Later with

Jools Holland.

Ran by NYC Salsa powerhouse Los

Hacheros’ leader, Jacob Plasse, Chulo Re-

cords, the home of the band’s new record

Las Caras Lindas was also the connect-

ing bridge between Flor De Toloache and

The Arcs, with whom Flor De Toloache

recorded Yours, Dreamily, released in

the fall of 2015. Also recently released

were collaborations and featured

appearances of Flor De Toloache on

Chicano Batman’s new album Freedom

is Free, No Te Va Gustar‘s new album

Suenan Las Alarmas, the band’s special

arrangement of “That’s What I Want for

Christmas” on Paul Mcartney’s pro-

duction Holiday Rules Vol. 2 which also

features acts such as The Roots, Norah

Jones, and The Decemberists, and Luba

Mason’s new record Mixtura – produced

by Jimmy Haslip and Luba Mason. More

releases included three collaborations

with Fania Records recorded and filmed

live for the legendary label.

QUETZAL

49www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

AN EVENING WITH DAVID SEDARIS

SATURDAY, MAY 12 | 8PM

DAVID SEDARIS

THERE WILL BE NO INTERMISSION


With sardonic wit and incisive social cri-

tiques, DAVID SEDARIS has become one of

America’s pre-eminent humor writers. He is

the master of satire and one of today’s most

observant writers addressing the human

condition, especially apparent in his latest

book, a collection of his diaries entitled

Theft By Finding: Diaries (1977-2002).

Beloved for his personal essays and

short stories, David Sedaris is the author

of Barrel Fever, Holidays on Ice, Naked, Me

Talk Pretty One Day, Dress Your Family

in Corduroy and Denim, When You Are

Engulfed in Flames, Let’s Explore Diabetes

with Owls, and Theft By Finding: Diaries

(1977-2002). He is also the author of Squir-

rel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary,

a collection of fables with illustrations

by Ian Falconer. Each of these books was

an immediate bestseller. He was also the

editor of Children Playing Before a Statue

of Hercules: An Anthology of Outstanding

Stories. His pieces regularly appear in The

New Yorker and have twice been included

in The Best American Essays. There are

over ten million copies of his books in

print and they have been translated into

25 languages. In 2018 he was awarded the

Terry Southern Prize for Humor, a prize

honoring humor and wit in writing.

He and his sister, Amy Sedaris, have

collaborated under the name “The Talent

Family” and have written half a dozen

plays which have been produced at La

Mama, Lincoln Center, and The Drama

Department in New York City. These

plays include Stump the Host, Stitches,

One Woman Shoe, which received an Obie

Award, Incident at Cobbler’s Knob, and The

Book of Liz, which was published in book

form by Dramatists Play Service.

Sedaris’s original audio pieces can often

be heard on the public radio show This

American Life. He has been nominated for

three Grammy Awards for Best Spoken

Word and Best Comedy Album. His latest

audio recording of new stories (record-

ed live) is “David Sedaris: Live for Your

Listening Pleasure” (November 2009).

A feature film adaptation of his story

“C.O.G.” was released after a premiere at

the Sundance Film Festival (2013). Since

2011, he can be heard annually on a series

of live recordings on BBC Radio 4 entitled

Meet David Sedaris.

As a companion piece to Theft By Find-

ing, Jeffrey Jenkins published and edited

an art book of Sedaris’s diary covers,

entitled David Sedaris Diaries: A Visual

Compendium (October 2017). A forthcom-

ing book of essays entitled Calypso is set

to be published May 2018, and a second

volume of his diaries is expected for

summer 2019.

DAVID SEDARIS

“Sedaris ain’t the preeminent humoristof his generation by accident.”

— Whitney Pastorek, Entertainment Weekly

53www.TheSoraya.org

PROGRAM

BILLY PORTER:

SATURDAY, JUNE 2 | 8PM

THIS PERFORMANCE IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY THE OWEN W. AND CHRISTINE H. SMITH ENDOWMENT

FOR THE YOUNES AND SORAYA NAZARIAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

THE SOUL OF RICHARD RODGERS

BILLY PORTER


BILLY PORTER is a Tony and Grammy

Award-winning actor, singer, director,

composer, and playwright from Pitts-

burgh, PA. As a recording artist, Porter’s

solo albums include his first CD, Untitled;

his sophomore album, At the Corner of

Broadway + Soul – LIVE, and his 2014

release, Billy’s Back on Broadway. His new

album, Billy Porter Presents the Soul of

Richard Rodgers, for Sony Masterworks

was released spring 2017.

Porter’s voice can also be heard on

the albums A Very Rosie Christmas,

Jim Brickman’s Destiny, the cast album

of the first revival of Grease, Adam

Guettel’s Myths & Hymns, the movie

soundtracks of Hercules and Anastasia,

Alvin Ailey/Revelations, Dreamgirls in

Concert, Great Joy: A Gospel Christmas

with The Broadway Inspirational Voices,

Rosie O’Donnell’s A Really Rosie Christ-

mas, The Human Rights Campaign’s Love

Rocks, and many more.

Porter won the 2013 Tony and Drama

Desk Awards for his groundbreaking per-

formance as “Lola” in Kinky Boots. Other

Broadway acting credits include Miss

Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Grease,

Smokey Joe’s Café, the 20th Anniver-

sary Broadway concert of Dreamgirls,

and most recently the highly-acclaimed

Shuffle Along. Off-Broadway and region-

al credits include Angels in America,

Romance In Hard Times, The Merchant

of Venice, House of Lear, Radiant Baby,

Birdie Blue, Going Native, Jelly’s Last Jam,

Topdog/Underdog, King Lear, Jason Robert

Brown’s Songs For A New World, Jesus

Christ Superstar, Antigone, A Chorus Line,

and Chicago. His one-man show, Ghetto

Superstar: The Man That I Am, debuted

at The Public Theater in NYC in conjunc-

tion with City Theatre of Pittsburgh and

was nominated for a 2005 GLAAD Media

Award. Porter was also named “Pitts-

burgh’s Performer of the Year 2003-2004”

by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Porter’s film and television credits in-

clude Barry Levinson’s The Humbling op-

posite Al Pacino, Sundance Film Festival

features The Broken Hearts Club and In-

tern, Noel (with Susan Sarandon and Rob-

in Williams), Shake Rattle & Roll as Little

Richard for CBS’ Another World, Twisted,

Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, The Big

C, The Oprah Winfrey Show, A Very Rosie

Christmas, The Tonight Show, and multi-

ple appearances on The Rosie O’Donnell

Show and Baz Luhrman’s The Get Down

for Netflix. He will soon be featured as a

series regular on Ryan Murphy’s highly

anticipated FX series POSE. His original

song “Time” has been featured twice on

the mega-hit television series So You

Think You Can Dance, as well as at the

2011 Miss America Pageant. Porter’s

concert credits include opening for Rosie

O’Donnell and Aretha Franklin as well as

appearances at Carnegie Hall, The Ken-

nedy Center, Town Hall, John McDaniel

and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra,

The Buffalo Philharmonic, Peter Nero

and The Philly Pops, The Boston Pops, as

soloist for President Bill Clinton, and at

various venues around the world.

As a director, Porter recently helmed the

revivals of George C. Wolfe’s The Colored

Museum and Suzan-Lori Parks’ TopDog/

UnderDog at Boston’s Huntington Theatre,

receiving The Elliot Norton Award for Best

Direction for the latter. He also directed

a critically acclaimed reimagining of The

Wiz in Pittsburgh and conceived a musical

revue entitled Signed, Sealed, Delivered:

The Music of Stevie Wonder, which starred

Chaka Khan and ran at the Venetian Hotel

in Las Vegas in 2002. In 2007 Porter con-

ceived and directed Being Alive, in which

he reinterpreted the music of Stephen

Sondheim in the African-American mu-

sical idioms of jazz, r&b, soul, gospel, and

rap. It premiered at the Westport Country

Playhouse then moved to the Philadelphia

Theatre Company. Porter won the NAACP

Theatre Award for Best Direction of a

Musical for his production of Once On This

Island at Reprise Theatre Company, where

he also conceived and directed a new

musical revue called The Soul of Rodgers.

Other directing credits include Twilight

In Manchego, Five Guys Named Moe and

Altar Boyz. He was the Associate Director

for the off-Broadway revival of RENT and

has directed concerts featuring Shoshana

Bean, Eden Espinosa, Patina Miller, and

Stephen Schwartz.

In 2014, Primary Stages presented the

highly successful World Premiere of While

I Yet Live, Porter’s autobiographical play at

off-Broadway’s Duke Theater.

Porter is a graduate of the Professional

Program In Screenwriting at UCLA and

is an adjunct professor at his alma mater

Carnegie Mellon University’s School Of

Drama, where he has directed produc-

tions of Company and Letters From ‘Nam.

He also received an honorary doctorate

from Washington & Jefferson College.

BILLY PORTER

56 57www.TheSoraya.orgTheSorayaStage

Dr. Paulette ShafranskiRenee TepperMarcella & Richard TylerU-Frame-ItVillage Travel StoreFlorentina WestAlma R. Zatarain ‘80

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

$500–$999Ed K. Burke ’59, MA ‘69Dr. Gail Fonosch ‘68Yvonne L. GreenKaren W. Harper &

Don HarperLinda KleigerAnn Lowe &

Raymond W. Lowe ‘84Natalie & Jeffrey M. NoblittPeggy T. Robin ’75 &

Edward B. RobinRenee TepperAlma R. Zatarain

$100–$499Leslie & Thomas BeersJudy BenedictStephen T. Brown ‘87Jean O. Buesing & Gregory P. BuesingChristine Burdick-BellBarbara CoffeyAnna M. Cohen ‘84Eileen Cordi ’75 & James M. CordiRhea DavisDr. Marjorie S. Denker ‘77Kathleen Dooley &

Charles Terry DooleyDaniel J. Duehren ‘72Jaye M. Eigler & Neal EiglerSuzanne H. Epstein

Thomas J. FordLila GellerVirginia Spielberg GibbsHoward GradetSuzette Gordon & Jon ZuberMarjorie A. Henderson ‘86Toni HertzMs. Karyl A. Hirschmann ‘76Carol J. Roberts & Michael J.

Hiscocks ‘94, MM ‘97Louis L. Hoban ‘98Araya HoisungPamela JacksonRebecca A. Jacobson &

Kenneth A. JacobsonBea F. Kaye & David KayeLillian KimbellDr. Barbara Kornblau ‘74 &

Dr. Donald KornblauTaushi A. Lee & Richard K. LeeAnna M. LehrerHarriet &

Dr. Eric R. LeibovitchJennifer J. Leonard ‘62Elizabeth Lesan &

Katsuyoshi NishimotoCarolyn LevineMelody Mansfield ‘90 &

Jerry MansfieldAndreas Marbach ‘76Kathleen Metrovitsch ‘70 &

Paul J. Metrovitsch ‘69Joel MillerPatricia I. Miller ‘72, MA ‘76

& Robert H. Miller ‘73Justin OkinRichard A. PackardMaria S. ParedesDmitry RachmanovKim L. Randall ‘77Laura L. Rishe ‘72 &

Jerrold E. Rishe ‘72

Ann C. Ronus &Robert E. Ronus

The RubinsteinFamily Foundation

Ken Howard & Michael RyanPamela SangiacomoHelene Schacter &

Dr. Robert SchacterRoberta & Dr. Ronald SchafferFred J. ScholderVivienne Steele &

Frank R. SilkwoodMariann & Paul D. SpringerFrances A. Stengel &

Arnold L. StengelKatherine Swanson ‘17Donna H. Talamantez ‘77Jose L. TejedaEleanore M. Vega ‘93Cecilia E. VillinesPauline Wong ‘83Laura Zucker

THE SORAYA DONORS 2017-18

THE SORAYA LEGACY GIFTSCSUN HERITAGE SOCIETY

THE SORAYA DONORS 2017-18

CHAMPIONS

$50,000+The Ahmanson FoundationJosephine ’61, M ’70 &

Robert BarberaSheila Kurland ’78 &

Stanford L. Kurland ‘75Colburn Foundation

$25,000 - $49,999Evelyn Bautista TrustDignity Health - Northridge

Hospital Medical CenterThe Ralph M. Parsons

Foundation

SPONSORS

$10,000 - $24,999Carol Colburn GrigorHorace Heidt Big Band

FoundationEntravisionFanny & Svante

Knistrom FoundationDavid C. LeeSaint Nicholas FoundationKathleen P. MartinElizabeth Ann PurcellLinda Swarzman &

Judd T. Swarzman CLUDr. Carol Ann S. ShubinOwen W. & Christine H. Smith EndowmentBob Stiefel ‘67 &

Ed T. Imparato

PATRON CIRCLE

$5,000–$9,999Rosalyn & Neal Berg ‘80Labowe Family Foundation Sherry LapidesLatino Educational FundNeda Nobari FoundationChristi K. Robinson ’07 &

John RobinsonDr. Raul RuizDebbie Valera &

Milt Valera ‘68

$1,000–$4,999Jeffrey M. Abell & Linda AbellNorma AndradeJeffrey Baker &

Rodney DavisDr. Marlene BaneJill B. Barad & Ross HopkinsPaul J. Beress ‘69Dr. Shari A. Tarver-Behring

& John D. BehringChuck Berney & FamilyIrene & Dr. Stuart D. BoydJoan Reynolds BoyettRobert F. &

Susan Pfeiler BrownSuzan L. Brownlee &

Dr. Don R. BrownleeCatherine &

Dr. Donald Cameron Allison ClagoNancy & Mike EasterlyJilanne P. Fager ‘63, MA ‘72 &

Richard A. Fager ‘62Dr. Bonnie Faherty &

Edward G. FeldmanThe Ella Fitzgerald

Charitable Foundation

Forbes NorakoPhyllis K. Russell ‘76 &

Timothy W. FoxDeanna & Jim GormanMarian Gould ‘79 &

Jerry GouldTama HolveMiriam JaffeChristina JaskiewiczGeorge A. Johnson Sr. Patricia A. Kiddoo &

Dr. Robert J. Kiddoo ‘69Dr. Sandra L. Klasky ’77 &

Dr. Irving KlaskyJulianna Korenstein ‘70Deirdre Larkin ‘88 &

Edwin C. TingstromMarla Lefton ’83 &

Cary LeftonHelen Gordon Lowy M.P.H.’75

& Alan LowyParry Weet O’Brien &

Edward O’BrienParadoxical Pictures Inc.Francine Oschin ‘84, MA ‘85The Hon. Joy &

Dr. Gerald PicusBarbara & Sheldon PinchukNancy J. PorterCarolyn Clark PowersJoyce & David PrimesDr. Cynthia Z. Rawitch &

Robert J. Rawitch ‘67Gerald M. Reiche ‘79Andrea Reinken ’80 &

Don ReinkenSony PicturesKathleen B. SchwartzmanCharlene M. Sievers &

Michael W. SieversThor Steingraber

Evelyn V. Bautista*Paul J. Beress ‘69*Ed K. Burke ’59, MA ‘69Janet A. KaplanHoward F. Layne*Larry LayneJoy N. PicusClyde R. Porter*Dr. Carol Ann S. ShubinBob Stiefel ‘67 & Ed T. Imparato

*Deceased

Thank you for supporting The Soraya’s 2017–18 Season with your annual contributions!


HERITAGE SOCIETY PORTER PAVILION

JOIN US!Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for

the Performing Arts generous supporters

make it all happen—from arts education

for young students to a sustainable future

for The Soraya’s extensive programs and

state-of-the-art facility.

The Soraya loves to shower its support-

ers with recognition and perks, so please

consider joining our family. In addition

to invitations to special events, annual

contributions of $2,500 qualify for

Porter Pavilion membership (full-season

subscribers are in for $1,500). Porter

Pavilion is open before evening perfor-

mances, with complimentary drinks and

a quiet place to sit with friends.

For more information on how to make a gift to The Soraya, please contact Maria Paredes at 818.677.8849.

CSUN HERITAGE SOCIETY–A LEGACY TO INSPIRE

Help establish an enduring legacy–a lasting heritage for the commu-

nity that will continue to touch lives for generations to come. The CSUN

Heritage Society recognizes and honors alumni and friends of California

State University, Northridge who have made a financial commitment to the

college or The Soraya’s future through their estate plans.

WAYS TO GIVE

Include a bequest in your will or living trust

Create an estate note, an irrevocable

pledge against one’s estate

Create an endowed fund

Establish a charitable gift annuity or

charitable remainder trust

Designate CSUN/THE SORAYA as a beneficiary

of your retirement plan

•

•

•

•

•

For more information on how to make a planned gift to The Soraya please contact

The Soraya Senior Director of Development Jennifer Samsel at 818-677-7854.


THE SORAYA FOUNDING DONORS

THE SORAYA AMBASSADORS ADVISORY BOARD

THE SORAYA FOUNDING DONORS

CORNERSTONE FOUNDERS$5,000,000+

Linda & Mike Curb ’63, Hon. D. ’09

FOUNDERS$1,000,000 - $4,999,999Mary ’63 & Jack Bayramian

Jean & David Fleming Hon. D. ’09

Sheila & Stanford L.

Kurland Family Foundation

The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation

Nancy & Clyde Porter

Nextel Communications

Office of Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

$500,000 - $999,999The Ahmanson Foundation Office of Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich CSUN Foundation Board Follett Higher Education Group Joseph Drown Foundation Larry Layne & Sheelagh Boyd

Muriel Pollia Foundation

FOUNDING BENEFACTORS

$100,000 - $499,999 Josephine ’61, M ’70 & Robert Barbera

Dr. Ami & Remo Belli

California Community Foundation

CSUN Alumni Association

Robbi & Rickey Gelb

Laurence K. Gould, Jr.

The Green Foundation

HGA Architects & Engineers

Mary & Samuel Bond Haskell, III

Sherry & Albert Lapides M ’68

Virginia Mancini

MGM & UA Service Company

National Notary Association

Northern Trust, NA

Lisa & Charles Noski ’73, M ’95, Hon. D ’07

Valerie & Sanford P. Paris

JoAnn & Leonard Roth

Eda & Robin Rousselet ’79, M ’97, M ’10

State Farm Insurance

U.S. Congressman Brad Sherman

Bob Stiefel ’67 & Ed Imparato

Manja & Dennis Swanson

Milt ’68 & Debbie Valera

Valley Alliance for the Arts

Walter Lantz Foundation

Wells Fargo

FOUNDING DISTINGUISHED PATRONS

$25,000 - $99,999ADP Foundation

Edythe & Eli Broad

Linda Brown

Nancy Cartwright

Charlene & Burton

Sperber Foundation

Karen Dunbar-Enzer ’81 &

Earl Enzer ’83

Jaleh ’86 & Galen Etemad

Ilene & Stanley Gold

Goldman Sachs & Co.

John Golisch ’72

Cynthia Haas Griffeth ’78 &

William C. Griffeth ’80

Elizabeth Levitt Hirsch

Horace Heidt

Big Bands Foundation

Janet & Benjamin Kaplan

Ellie & Mark Lainer

Elizabeth & Howard Layne

Marla & Cary Lefton

Dr. Jolene Koester &

Dr. Myron W. Lustig

Erika & Gus Manders ’64

Timothy Miklaucic & Ana Loehnert

Miller, Kaplan, Arase & Co., LLP

Barry J. Nadell

Walter J. Perez, Calif. Industrial Grp. Corp.

Samuel Goldberg &

Sons Foundation, Inc.

Stern Family Foundation

Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Jeffrey BakerDr. Marlene BaneJill B. Barad Irene M. BoydJoan Reynolds BoyettSusan Pfeiler BrownEd K. Burke ’59, M.A. ’69 Dr. Donald CameronRodney DavisNancy EasterlyJilanne Fager ’63, M.A. ’72

Deanna GormanKaren HarperTama HolveMiriam JaffeGeorge A. JohnsonJulianna Korenstein ’70Sherry LapidesMarla Lefton ’83Genein LetfordHelen Gordon Lowy

M.P.H. ’75 & Alan Lowy

Francine Oschin ’84, MA ’85The Hon. Joy PicusBarbara PinchukAndrea Reinken ’80Christi Robinson ’07Dr. Carol Ann S. ShubinEllen R. Stohl ‘94Dr. Shari Tarver-BehringMarcella Tyler

THE SORAYA GREAT HALL

62 TheSorayaStage

ARTS EDUCATION

YOUNES & SORAYA NAZARIAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

EVERY GIFT MAKES A DIFFERENCEThe Soraya Circle of Friends

A gift of $50 Gives two CSUN students free tickets to attend any of our performances

A gift of $100 Provides a free artistic workshop at our community festivals

A gift of $250 Inspires local K-12 students with an in classroom workshop by a teaching artist

A gift of $500 Engages 1000 students to attend a Student Matinee performance

Make An ImpactHelp us continue to present unique performances from international artists, inclusive arts education programs for local students and engaging public programs for our community.

• The Soraya inspires over 15,000 students andteachers with its Student Matinee Series for local K-12schools, teacher training workshops and master classesfor CSUN students.

• Free, outdoor festivals provide families the opportunityto enjoy workshops, visual-arts programs, andparticipatory activities such as African drumming andBrazilian dance.

• The Soraya presents over 50 diverse performances ayear with international artists highlighting multiple artforms that, instill empathy and elevate our spirits.

For more information on making

a tax-deductible gift and exact

giving levels and benefits please

contact Maria Paredes, Assistant

Director of Development, at

818-677-8849

You may make a gift online at

http://bit.ly/supportsoraya

The Soraya The Valley’s Center for the Performing Arts

Executive Director, Thor Steingraber

180220_Booklet_Arts-ed-2_5.5x8.indd 1 2/22/18 5:49 PM

Mexico’s Past and Present: A Cultural JourneyFriday May 4, 2018 10AM & 12PM (each 1hr.)(Grades K-12) | Great Hall

Through music, dance and storytelling, Mexico’s Past and Present puts

audiences fingers’ on the pulse of the magical reality that is always present

in Mexican culture, all the while respecting the intelligence and capacity of

even the very young to viscerally connect and understand the multi-dimen-

sional culture of our neighbor to the south.

Generously sponsored by Latino Educational Fund

FINAL FREE STUDENT MATINEE OF THE SEASON!

MEXICO’S PAST AND PRESENT: A CULTURAL JOURNEY

65www.TheSoraya.org

MEDIA SPONSORS

CONNECT WITH US!

Sign up for “Your Account Manager.”

Your Account Manager is Younes and

Soraya Nazarian Center for the Perform-

ing Arts’ way of providing you the best

service to take care of your ticketing

subscription online. Visit the site to sign

up today. You may renew or purchase a

new subscription with this feature.

The Ticket Office is located to the north

of Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center

for the Performing Arts’ courtyard on

Orange Grove Walk across from the Mat-

ador Bookstore. Patrons may park in the

G3 Parking Structure located on Zelzah

and Prairie streets.

HOURS OF OPERATIONTUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 11 AM – 4 PM (HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Want the latest information and special

offers from The Soraya? Make sure you

sign up for our e-newsletter.

Just visit our website and click the

option on the upper-right hand corner.

We know you’ll enjoy it!

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE FOLLOWING SPONSORS AND PARTNERS FOR THESE EVENTS

Southern California Public Radio

ONLINE

WWW.THESORAYA.ORGIN PERSONTHE SORAYA TICKET OFFICECALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE18111 NORDHOFF STREETNORTHRIDGE, CA 91330-8448

VPACatCSUN

TICKETS & ORDERING


IN VENUE DINING OPTIONSART GALLERY | LOGE LEVEL

Visually detached from their original context, Lesley Krane’s black & white and

color photographs of interiors emphasize psychological spaces more than physical

dimensions. The large-scale images of walls, windows, and other domestic surfaces

provide content by conveying a sense of familiar intimacy. The spaces contain the resi-

due of human activity, and straight-forward and random double exposures made with

analog and digital approaches imbue ordinary settings with a mysterious significance

that establishes an unlikely pictorial space. Lesley has been teaching Photography in

the Department of Art at CSUN since 1999.

WALLOWINGLESLEY KRANE

March 23 – June 2, 2018

WALLOWING, 2018 COLOR TONER PRINT ON VINYL

BISTRO ON THE TERRACE

Join us on the 4th Floor Balcony level for

a gourmet bistro bite, a glass of wine, and a

spectacular view of the Valley. Open most

evenings (weather permitting) one hour

before the show and closing 5 minutes

before curtain.

CONCESSIONS IN THE LOBBY

Light fare and drinks available before

the show and open during intermissions

(by show basis).

Avoid waiting in line and pre-pay for

your intermission food and beverage in

person before the performance begins!

NEW DRINK TUMBLERS

You may now bring a beverage into the concert! Available for purchase at concessions.

For more information Please Call Stephanie Goodson at 818-677-2076 or csun.edU/ORANGEGROVEBISTRO

BISTRO ON THE TERRACE

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Sergio M

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Lea Salon

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Dian

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eeves Decem

ber 15

IMPORTANT DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

4/13

Series on sale with priority seating

Choose 8 on sale

Series renewal period begins

5/19 Series renewal deadline period ends

5/29Single tickets presale for subscribers

6/12Single tickets on sale

Choose 5 on sale

7/31 Subscribers’ exchanges begin

9/22 Series sales end

9/29 Opening Night

TheSoraya.org 818.677.3000

180329 Program Cover.indd 2 4/4/18 12:17 PM

april-june 2018 - thesoraya.org · some enchanted evening (reprise).....nellie honey bun (reprise)...

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