Los Angeles is truly becoming a cultural and performing arts epicenter and at UCLA Live you can see that change taking place. The UCLA Live 2007-2008 Season offers a wide variety of cultural programs that include theatre, dance, classical music, world music, jazz, roots and pop music, spoken word, and family oriented material. Each of the pieces in the series is hand-selected by director, David Sefton who firmly believes in diversity. UCLA Live will feature performers from Armenia, Bali, Belgium, Central Asia, Egypt, England, Israel, Iran, Quebec, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, Peru, Scotland, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, the United States, and Vietnam. Many of its events will serve as North American, United States, West Coast, and Los Angeles premieres.
Under the direction of David Sefton, UCLA Live serves as one of the nation’s leading and consummate performing arts programs. The 2007-2008 Season combines a unique group of artists and musicians from all over the world.
UCLA Live’s Theatre Series will hold the sixth annual UCLA Live International Theatre Festival and will host the United States debut of the National Theatre of Scotland’s United States premiere of the Iraqi War play, “Black Watch”. The show will run from September 19th-20th at the Freud Playhouse. UCLA Live is also very proud to host the West Coast exclusive performance of the Royal Shakespeare Company’s critically acclaimed productions of “King Lear” and “The Seagull” with Sir Ian McKellen.
The theme of diversity will continue through the Dance Series. Beginning in October, UCLA Live will showcase the Los Angeles premiere of Bill T. Jones/Arne Zane Dance Company’s “Blind Date”, a noteworthy political piece confronting intolerance and social change. Also, November will serve as Pina Bausch’s long awaited return to Los Angeles with her dance company, Tanztheater Wuppertal.
If you’re in the mood for classical music, the UCLA Live 2007-2008 Classical Music Series is the perfect evening. Featured in the series is the Russian Patriarchate Choir, in their first United States tour and the Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin. Solo artist performances will consist of a vocal performance from the talented soprano, Deborah Voigt, the unparalleled cellist, Yo-Yo Ma accompanied by Kathryn Stott, and more.
Four seminal African artists namely, the famous trumpet player, Hugh Masekela and his nine-member Chissa All-Stars; Senegalese singer Youssou n’Dour; the Beninese singer-songwriter Angelique Kidjo; and the Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars will headline the World Music Series. UCLA Live will also host an exclusive Day of the Dead Celebration and music from Asian, Spanish, and Israeli artists.
Similarly, UCLA Live’s 2007-2008 jazz music events are matchless with performances from Ornette Coleman, a 2007 Pulitzer Prize-winner and the national tour of the Monterey Jazz Festival. Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, an array of jazz artists will be performing with the tour such as, Grammy-winning trumpeter Terence Blanchard, Grammy-nominated vocalist Nnenna Freelon, and pianist Benny Green, and many more.
The Roots Series mixes a blend of folk, rock, and blues music beginning in September 2007 with The Richard Thompson Band. Guest artists will also include Los Lobos, a contemporary rock and roll band, and a rare performance by Arlo Guthrie. Unique to UCLA Live is the Ash Grove 50th Anniversary: “Legend and Legacy”. The Spoken Word Series will feature appearances from poet and Pulitzer-winner, Mary Oliver and legendary Broadway composer, Stephen Sondheim.
Running February through April 2008, the Family Series will feature “Aurelia’s Oratorio”, performed by, Aurelia Thierree and created by her mother, Victoria Thierree Chaplin, believers of the “new circus” movement. Dan Zanes will return for his fourth UCLA Live appearance blending blues and roots classics with pop and multi-cultural folk songs.
Along with performances, the UCLA Live program serves as an outreach program through Design for Sharing (DFS), which provides more than 25,000 school-aged children with the opportunity to see a performance at Royce Hall. These students receive many firsts including the first time in a concert hall, the first time seeing a live performance, and the first time visiting a University.
The 2007-2008 UCLA Live Season is filled with outstanding and once in a lifetime performances. Each series combines a blend of eclectic artists often exclusive to this program. For more information on the 2007-2008 UCLA Live Season visit www.UCLAlive.org or call 310-825-2101.
