Judith Jamison, Patti LuPone, Denzel Washington and More Among The Wallis' 2015-16 Artistic Advisors

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces dates and subscription tickets for the 2015 - 2016 Season Artistic Advisor master classes and events -- Suzanne Farrell, former Principal Dancer in George Balanchine's New York City Ballet and founder of Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center (January 24, 2016); Judith Jamison, dancer, choreographer and Artistic Director Emerita of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (April 5, 2016); Patti LuPone, Grammy, Olivier and Tony Award-winning actor and singer (March 31, 2016); Arturo Sandoval, Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter, pianist, composer and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (October 27, 2015); and Denzel Washington, Academy, Golden Globe and Tony Award-winning actor (September 17, 2015).

Patricia Wolff, Interim Artistic Director for The Wallis stated, "We are proud to welcome five extraordinary Artistic Advisors to The Wallis for the upcoming season. These are artists who define excellence in theater, dance and music. They are not just advisors in name but will participate in the season with a focus on education. Each of our Artistic Advisors will either teach a master class that the public can observe or participate in our Arts & Ideas conversation series."

Patti LuPone said, "When I performed at The Wallis last season, I found the venue to be one of the best in the country, allowing for an unparalleled intimacy between myself and the audience. They helped me arrange for an amazing high school choir to join me on stage as part of my show. I was also very impressed with the future artistic and educational plans for The Wallis. I am thrilled to be returning this season not only as a performer but as an Artistic Advisor, leading a Master Class for young singers, passing along what I know. The Wallis understands that education is one of the most important ways for the arts to thrive in our culture."

Four of the Advisors will be giving Master Classes that can be attended by the public -- Sandoval on October 27, 2015; Farrell on January 24, 2016; LuPone on March 31, 2016; and Jamison on April 5, 2016. LuPone will also perform her Far Away Places concert April 1-2, 2016. Washington will participate in an Arts & Ideas Conversation entitled An Evening with Denzel Washington on September 17, 2015. All of these events will take place in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

Tickets for the Suzanne Farrell, Judith Jamison, Patti LuPone, and Arturo Sandoval Master Classes, the Denzel Washington Arts & Ideas Conversation, and Patti LuPone's concert Far Away Places are currently available to 2015 - 2016 Season Subscribers only at www.thewallis.org, by calling 310-746-4000, or in person at The Wallis Ticket Services located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Single tickets will be available at a later date.

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THE WALLIS ARTISTIC ADVISOR EVENTS:

DENZEL WASHINGTON
Arts & Ideas: An Evening with Denzel Washington
September 17, 2015 at 7:30pm | Bram Goldsmith Theater
Two-time Academy Award, Tony, and Golden Globe winning actor and filmmaker Denzel Washington will share with us an evening of insightful stories and anecdotes about his work on stage and screen. Having acted in over 54 films, over the past several years he has returned to the stage starring in the Broadway productions of August Wilson's Fences, Lorraine Hansberry's classic drama A Raisin in the Sun and Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.

ARTURO SANDOVAL
Master Class: October 27, 2015 at 7:00 PM | Bram Goldsmith Theater
Astounding jazz trumpet player, pianist, composer, Arturo Sandoval has been awarded 10 Grammys and recipient of our nation's highest honor, The Medal of Freedom awarded him from President Obama. Protégé and collaborator with Jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie, Mr. Sandoval is now one of the world's most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugelhorn, as well as being a renowned classical musician. He has also won an Emmy for his original composition on the HBO film based on his life, For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story. Through his Arturo Sandoval Institute, he works to educate, support and inspire music students to continue music education without regard to their economic circumstances. During Mr. Sandoval's master class on the Bram Goldsmith stage, he will work with young musicians to refine their craft and express their soul through their playing.

SUZANNE FARRELL
Master Class: January 24, 2016 at 11:30 AM | Bram Goldsmith Theater
A living legend and Balanchine's most influential muse Suzanne Farrell will be leading an advanced Master Class on the Bram Goldsmith stage with Los Angeles's finest ballet students accompanied by a pianist. The Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. grew from Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, a summer program started in 1993 for young dancers, which Ms. Farrell continues to teach today. As a teacher, she has an amazing gift of passing on her knowledge to others and believes "We know what we can do but we don't know all that we can do."

PATTI LUPONE
Concert: Far Away Places | April 1 - 2 at 8:00 PM | Bram Goldsmith Theater
Master Class: March 31, 2016 at 7:00 PM | Bram Goldsmith Theater
Patti LuPone is an electric performer with one powerful voice. A Broadway legend, Ms. LuPone originated some of the musical theater's most iconic roles both on Broadway and the West End such as Eva Peron in Evita, Norma in Sunset Boulevard, and Fantine in LES MISERABLES. She is also an extremely funny lady. Gracing the Wallis's Bram Goldsmith stage, Ms. LuPone will work with six lucky young singers with a passion for musical theater. Each student will perform one song and work with Ms. LuPone to enhance their performance and deepen their understanding of true vocal artistry and the power of touching an audience through song. This rare treat to witness an extraordinary artist behind the scenes should not be missed.

JUDITH JAMISON
Master Class: April 5, 2016 at 7:00 PM | Bram Goldsmith Theater
Judith Jamison, Artistic Director Emerita of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York is an international dance luminary. Honored with a prime time Emmy Award, an American Choreography Award, the Kennedy Center Honor, a National Medal of Arts, and a "Bessie" Award, she was a soloist for Alvin Ailey for 15 years, most notably for the tour-de-force dance performance Cry which continues to be performed within the Ailey repertoire today. On the Wallis's Bram Goldsmith stage, she will graciously conduct a master class for 20 young dancers. Ms. Jamison will lead a warm up using the Lester Horton technique, the dance form which serves as the foundation for Alvin Ailey's chorography. She will then work on sequences from the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Repertory with the students. The class will be 90 minutes followed by a question and answer session with the dancers providing them new insights into the world of dance.

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