GP OFFERS FREE FAMILY SHOWS AS PART OF ITS 30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON
LOS ANGELES – For its 30th anniversary Grand Performances has a special line-up of free, family-friendly concerts and activities on Sunday afternoons as part of its season. A stage set into a waterfall at Grand Avenue’s California Plaza fills each weekend with music, dance, multimedia, and spoken word performances among the tall office and residential skyscrapers in downtown Los Angeles. Performances run from June 10 through August 21.
The family programming series includes a free interactive workshop beginning 30 minutes before show time and themed to the performance.
Shows include:
Cinderella by Sock Puppet Sitcom Theater
(June 12 @3:00pm & 4:30pm)
Dress in your favorite fairytale garb and join the magically and musically reimagined telling of Cinderella in the style of a television situation comedy...with sock puppets.
Flutes Across the World
(June 19 @ 3:00pm)
Award-winning film and theater composer and children’s performer John Zeretzke leads a flute-making workshop and an all-out, interactive jam session for kids with Los Angeles-area world music masters to celebrate music of the world’s indigenous cultures.
José-Luis Orozco ¡Come Bien! Eat Right!
(June 26 @ 3:00pm)
The beloved children’s entertainer leads an interactive musical feast of rhythm, rhyme, and culture blended with a bilingual message to eat right and live life to the fullest.
Lucky Diaz and the Family Jam Band
(July 3 @ 3:00pm)
Known as the face of kindie music, these Latin Grammy and Emmy winners bring smart, bilingual, crafty lyrics with irresistibly fresh pop beats. They star in the PBS series Lishy Lou and Lucky Too.
Additional programming that may appeal to families includes:
daKAH Hip Hop Orchestra
(July 16 @ 8:00pm)
It’s been 15 years since Geoff “Double G” Gallegos’ enormous, OG orchestra first graced our stage. Let’s celebrate as the strings, beats, rhymes, braids and melodies fly, float and lift our spirits ever higher.
Soy Africano
(June 18 @ 8:00pm)
Transportive, complex rhythms and lilting guitars —all West African trademarks —meld with familiar Latin sounds to bring you a spirited evening exploring new territory in diasporic connections. Soy Africano highlights the overlooked history and widespread influence of latin music in West Africa by showcasing the ways in which clave--based Cuban music and New York Salsa were embraced by Africans, and led to thriving “latin afro” scenes in countries like Senegal, Benin, Guinea and the Congo.
Featured vocalists include Afrisa International's Wawali, Son Mayor's Alfredo Ortiz, Chicano Batman's Bardo Martinez, Brazilian songstress Thalma de Freitas and the legendary Lazaro Gallaraga among other surprise guests. Produced for Grand Performances by Radio Afrique and Dexter Story (Music Director/Conductor)
Supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts
Chicana Moratorium: Su Voz, Su Canto
(June 24 @ 8:00pm)
The poetic and musical voices of Latina power light up the night with songs, spoken word, and more led by Martha Gonzalez of the East LA band Quetzal.
Inspired from a series of Story Circles and discussion groups presented by Grand Performances and the Los Angeles Public Library this past spring. Supported by the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities. This performance honors the legacy of C. Bernard Jackson
Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre presents FishEyes
(August 12 @ 8:00pm)
The world premiere of an adventurous, multidisciplinary project exploring water and drought with site-specific choreography around a giant stainless steel fish installation. Water you waiting for? Supported by The James A. Doolittle Foundation
Disco Manila
(August 13 @ 8:00pm)
Put on your boogie shoes and embrace the resurgence of disco from the Manila Sound era, the next wave of global groove music. Manila Sound was a catch all moniker during the 70's describing Philippine popular music that embraced its American soul/folk/pop/jazz influences, combined it with Filipino modern aesthetics and polished it off with the musical proficiency of the vibrant Manila scene that flourished despite an oppressive political regime. Featuring members from VST & Co., Music & Magic, The New Minstrels and more.
For a complete schedule of the 30th Anniversary season, go to www.grandperformances.org.
Grand Performances programs are free and open to the public. Events are held on a stage outfitted with state of the art lighting and sound equipment built into a water fountain at California Plaza, 350 S. Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles. California Plaza is accessible by numerous bus routes and is conveniently located next to the Metro Rail Pershing Square Station.
Seating is open and is filled on a first-come, first-served basis starting two hours before performance. Blankets and low backed chairs are welcome as long as they don’t block designated walking, dancing or wheelchair areas. Audience capacity is 5,000+ people spread out on the upper and lower levels surrounding the fountain. There are 350 amphitheater seats and 800 chairs on the lower plaza. Additionally, dozens of benches dot both levels of the concourse. Reserved seats as well as access to special lounges and artist meet-and-greets are available by becoming a Grand Performances member. For directions, parking and more information, visit www.grandperformances.org or call 213-687-2190.
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ABOUT GRAND PERFORMANCES
Hailed as the “Best Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series” by Los Angeles Magazine and called “a grand gift to the public” by the Los Angeles Times, Grand Performances celebrates its 30th anniversary season in 2016. The not-for-profit presents high-quality music, dance, theater, and more from around the world for free at California Plaza in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Grand Performances has developed a loyal audience, and an industry reputation for presenting and curating the most globally eclectic and forward-thinking summer series on the West Coast.
Follow @GrandPerformances on Facebook, @GrandPerfs on Twitter and Instagram, and YouTube.com/grandperformances.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Andy Perez, E: aperez@zerepa.com P: 323.717.1635