SUMMER 2023 DANCE & THEATER EVENTS AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL AND THE FORD
ELLINGTON AND GERSHWIN WITH DUDAMEL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, July 13
ESTANCIA WITH GUSTAVO DUDAMEL AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, July 18
DARREN CRISS AT THE FORD, July 23
THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY AT THE FORD, July 28
EVERYBODY RISE! A SONDHEIM CELEBRATION AT THE HOLLYWOOD BOWL, July 30
LA SOUNDSCAPES: BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER AT THE FORD, August 13
¡Azúcar! BY CONTRA-TIEMPO AT THE FORD, August 18
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE WITH PACIFIC OPERA PROJECT AT THE FORD, August 25
NOCHE DE CUMBIA AT THE FORD, September 1
¡VIVA LA TRADICIÓN! PALOMAS NEGRAS AT THE FORD, September 8
LA SOUNDSCAPES: VIVER BRASIL AT THE FORD, September 17
20 AÑOS DE GRANDEZA MEXICANA AT THE FORD, October 14
LA SOUNDSCAPES: UN VIAJE POR BUENOS AIRES AT THE FORD, October 15
serpentwithfeet: HEART OF BRICK AT THE FORD, October 21
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW AT THE FORD, October 28
ELLINGTON AND GERSHWIN WITH DUDAMEL
HOLLYWOOD BOWL
THURSDAY, JULY 13 at 8PM
https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/2309/2023-07-13/ellington-and-gershwin-with-dudamel
Duke Ellington and George Gershwin each defied genre and categorization with their music, blending ideas from jazz night clubs and orchestral concert halls into something distinctly American. Gustavo Dudamel leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic in this celebration of symphonic jazz, and Tony- and Grammy Award-winning singer Patina Miller lends her voice to songs by Ellington, Gershwin, and others from the Great American Songbook.
ESTANCIA WITH DUDAMEL
Pan-American Music Initiative
HOLLYWOOD BOWL
TUESDAY, JULY 18 at 8PM
https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/2313/2023-07-18/estancia-with-dudamel
Dance company Grupo Corpo—internationally renowned for combining classical technique with a modern take on popular Brazilian dance—joins Dudamel and the orchestra for this rare full performance of Ginastera’s ballet. Set against the landscape of disappearing Argentine gaucho culture, Ginastera’s Estancia tells the tale of a city boy who tries to win the heart of a rancher’s daughter by showing off his skills as a horseman and dancer. Composer Arturo Márquez describes the trumpet as “the queen in the soul of Mexico…a cry of joy and sadness.” In his autumn-inspired concerto for trumpet, Márquez evokes those emotions and more with the help of the technical and musical showmanship of soloist Pacho Flores.
DARREN CRISS
THE FORD
SUNDAY, JULY 23 at 7:30PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2551/2023-07-23/darren-criss
This special summertime concert highlights Darren Criss’ wildly eclectic career as both a songwriter and performer. Come for unique interpretations of contemporary pop and Broadway classics, along with music from his own EP releases throughout the years. Criss makes every set unique for every performance, featuring first-time-ever surprises, requests performed on the spot, and a healthy serving of Criss’ distinct brand of spontaneity, humor, and insight.
Everybody Rise! A Sondheim Celebration
HOLLYWOOD BOWL
SUNDAY, JULY 30 at 7:30PM
https://www.hollywoodbowl.com/events/performances/2323/2023-07-30/everybody-rise-a-sondheim-celebration
The extraordinary emotional range of Stephen Sondheim is on full display for one unforgettable night. Join us for a journey through the world of the most celebrated figure in the history of musical theater, with guest vocalists and an orchestra bringing his iconic songs to the stage.
THE IMPROVISED SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
THE FORD
FRIDAY, JULY 28 at 8PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2804/2023-07-28/the-improvised-shakespeare-company
With nothing more than a title shouted from the audience, The Improvised Shakespeare Company creates an entire play on the spot—comedy, tragedy, or history in the Shakespearean mold, all of it delivered in the “thee” and “thou”-laden English of The Bard. Nothing is planned, nothing is rehearsed, and each play is completely new and starts with one audience suggestion to kick off the fun. The LA-based troupe got its start in Chicago and has performed everywhere from Bonnaroo to Montreal’s Just for Laughs to local comedy spots like Largo at the Coronet. See the show TimeOut Chicago calls “staggeringly brilliant” and “downright hilarious!” You've never seen the Bard like this before!
LA SOUNDSCAPES: IT’S A MUSICAL WORLD with BOB BAKER MARIONETTE THEATER
THE FORD
SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 at 10:30AM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2548/2023-08-13/its-a-musical-world-with-bob-baker-marionette-theater
Explore the sounds and rhythms that can be found in our everyday life through a sing-along hour that celebrates how the world is made of music! It’s a Musical World features a rousing repertoire of symphonious surprises. From self-strumming guitars to a parade of jubilant drums, this variety show gets your toes tapping Bob Baker style!
¡Azúcar! by CONTRA-TIEMPO
THE FORD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 18 at 8PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2558/2023-08-18/azucar-by-contra-tiempo
CONTRA-TIEMPO is a bold, multilingual Los Angeles-based activist dance theater. Their multi-year project ¡Azúcar! is shaped by a creative team of twenty brilliant artists from across the country, rooted and inspired by the sacred feminine, the vibrations of Celia Cruz, personal narratives about sugar, Afro-Latine ancestral technologies, dance, music, and healing as community practice.
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
Produced in partnership with Pacific Opera Project
THE FORD
FRIDAY, AUGUST 25 at 8PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2560/2023-08-25/the-barber-of-seville
Set in current-day Hollywood, pop princess Rosina is fresh out of rehab after a messy breakup and public meltdown. She’s moved in with her overbearing producer and manager, Dr. Bartolo, who has more than her career on his mind. With the assistance of aging rock legend, turned celebrity voice coach, Don Basilio, Bartolo hopes to marry the young Rosina. However, Hollywood heartthrob Count Almaviva also has his eye on Rosina but wants to win her heart the old-fashioned way, not because of his fame, so he disguises himself as a humble student to approach her. Figaro, a stylist to the stars, and a man-about-town is on the scene to aid with the love connection. A host of personal assistants, housekeepers, out-of-work actors, and even the LAPD show up in this laugh-a-minute comedy.
The production is sung in Italian with English supertitles and an orchestra.
NOCHE DE CUMBIA: Yeison Landero, Mariposas del Alma, Discos Resaca, Yosimar Reyes
THE FORD
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 at 8:00PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2563/2023-09-01/noche-de-cumbia-yeison-landero-mariposas-del-alma-discos-resaca-yosimar-reyes
Noche de Cumbia brings Los Angeles based music and art collective Cumbiaton, Bay Area sisters Mariposas del Alma, Discos Resaca, and Yeison Landero grandson of the legendary Andrés Landero to showcase the diversity, beauty, and resilience of Cumbia throughout Latin America. Audiences can expect a safe, intergenerational space with the various styles, dances and rhythms from the heart of Colombia, Centro America, Mexico, and the U.S.
¡VIVA LA TRADICIÓN!
Palomas Negras: Chavela, Selena, and More
THE FORD
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 at 8PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2566/2023-09-08/viva-la-tradicion-palomas-negras-chavela-selena-and-more
For centuries, the voices of women like Chavela Vargas, Lola Beltran, Lucha Villa, Rocio Durcal, and Selena have led the way in Mexican music, breaking barriers, gender roles, borders, and cultural expectations. This night of female power and passion will pay homage to these women featuring LA’s favorite all-female string mariachi ensemble Las Colibrí, the explosive artistry of San Cha, celebrated LA poet Yesika Salgado, the Chicana voice of ranchera music Marisa Ronstadt and the acclaimed dance troupe Ballet Folklorico Ollin.
LA SOUNDSCAPES: CELEBRATING SAMBA WITH VIVER BRASIL
THE FORD
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 at 10:30AM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2569/2023-09-17/celebrating-samba-with-viver-brasil
Celebrating Samba takes audiences on a cultural journey to Salvador, Bahia with electrifying Afro-Brazilian dance and music to experience a jolt of joyful color, thrilling rhythms, and communal celebration. This year’s show will present the royal ORIXAS of the water and the forest, joyful samba, the Bahian Carnaval Bloco afro Motumbaxé, and an interactive dance experience for all.
20 AÑOS DE GRANDEZA MEXICANA
Produced in Partnership with Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company
THE FORD
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14 at 8PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2578/2023-10-14/20-anos-de-grandeza-mexicana
Founded by Jose Vences in September 2003, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company commemorates its 20th anniversary by celebrating the splendor of Mexican folk dance. The program will feature a variety of works like La Marimba del Sureste–a collage of pieces from the regions of Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Tabasco–as well as the Los Angeles premiere of the Dia de Muertos suite. Come and be part of the festivities as they return to The Ford for an incredible night filled with fan favorites from the last 20 years and the debut of new pieces, showcasing Mexico's grandeur, La Grandeza Mexicana.
LA SOUNDSCAPES: UN VIAJE POR BUENOS AIRES WITH GD TANGO
THE FORD
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15 at 10:30AM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2579/2023-10-15/un-viaje-por-buenos-aires-with-gd-tango
Time travel through the different eras of Argentine Tango from its origins to the present. In this stunning new production by Fabrizio Mocata and GD Tango (directed by Guillermo De Fazio and Giovanna Dan), Tango music and dance are mixed with humor, parodies, and heartfelt performances from a multidisciplinary cast. Audiences will be thrilled at the charm and charisma of the ensemble’s movements and the intensity of its music.
serpentwithfeet: Heart of Brick
THE FORD
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21 at 8PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2580/2023-10-21/serpentwithfeet-heart-of-brick
serpentwithfeet’s experimental electronic music explores passion and love between gay Black folks so tenderly, The Guardian said of his 2021 record DEACON, “There can be few albums this year more wholesome, soppy, or unabashedly life-affirming.” He joins with MacArthur “genius” fellow Wu Tsang and choreographer Raja Feather Kelly to present Heart of Brick, a theatrical dance and musical performance that tells the story of two men finding themselves and falling in love in a gay dance hall—and captures the multi-generational spirit of the Black queer community. Combining music created for the performance with material from serpentwithfeet’s new album, as well as older songs, Heart of Brick is an evocative new work that embodies the sweetness and sincerity at serpent’s core.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW
Produced in Partnership with Street Food Cinema
THE FORD
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 at 8:00PM
https://www.theford.com/events/performances/2581/2023-10-28/the-rocky-horror-picture-show
Let’s do the time warp again with The Rocky Horror Picture Show on the big screen! Sing along with the 1975 rock musical classic.
TICKETS
Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl 2023 summer season are available online at hollywoodbowl.com and for The Ford at theford.com or via phone at 323 850 2000 for both venues. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Hollywood Bowl Box Office. Programs, artists, prices and dates subject to change. Ticket limits may apply.
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About the LA Phil
Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, the LA Phil offers live performances, media initiatives and learning programs that inspire and strengthen communities in Los Angeles and beyond. The Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra is the foundation of the LA Phil’s offerings, which also include a multigenre, multidisciplinary presenting program and such youth development programs as YOLA (Youth Orchestra Los Angeles). Performances are offered on three historic stages—Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl and The Ford—as well as through a variety of media platforms. In all its endeavors, the LA Phil seeks to enrich the lives of individuals and communities through musical, artistic and learning experiences that resonate in our world today.
About the Hollywood Bowl
One of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world, with a seating capacity of nearly 18,000, the Hollywood Bowl has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since its official opening in 1922 and plays host to the finest artists from all genres of music, offering something for everyone. It remains one of the best deals anywhere in Los Angeles; to this day, $1 buys a seat at the top of the Bowl for many classical and jazz performances. In February 2023 the venue was named the Outdoor Concert Venue of the Year at the 34th Annual Pollstar Awards, an honor bestowed 15 previous times. The Hollywood Bowl was also named Amphitheater of the Decade at the 32nd Annual Pollstar Awards, as well as Top Amphitheater at the 2017 and 2018 Billboard Touring Awards. For millions of music lovers across Southern California, the Hollywood Bowl is synonymous with summer. hollywoodbowl.com
About The Ford
The Ford is one of the oldest performing arts venues in Los Angeles, with an outdoor 1,200-seat amphitheater and a rich history dating back to 1920. Situated in a 32-acre park and under the stewardship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, The Ford presents an eclectic summer season of music, dance, film and family events that are reflective of the communities of Los Angeles.
Sophie Jefferies, SJefferies@laphil.org
Holly Wallace, HWallace@laphil.org
Laura Cohen, LCMediaPR@gmail.com
Kassandra Winchester, KWinchester@laphil.org