Ken Downing to Lead 'DESIGNER AS DRAMATIST' Discussion with Zac Posen at The Wallis, 4/20

Wallis Center for the Performing Arts ("The Wallis") and Neiman Marcus present Ken Downing, Senior Vice President, Fashion Director at Neiman Marcus, leading a discussion titled "Designer As Dramatist -- The Intersection Of Fashion And Theater" with special guest, fashion designer Zac Posen. Ken will also welcome mother-daughter supermodels Pat and Anna Cleveland and designer Christian Siriano. This inside look into the world of fashion and a lively conversation led by Ken is sponsored by Neiman Marcus and is the final presentation of The Wallis' Arts & Ideas 2014-2015 series. This event is on Monday, April 20, 2015 at 7:00 PM in the Bram Goldsmith Theater.

At Neiman Marcus, Mr. Downing interprets, articulates and sets the fashion direction for the Neiman Marcus brand as well as serves as their international fashion ambassador and spokesperson. He provides oversight to the company's merchant and creative divisions, and is responsible for dictating the seasonal trends for Neiman Marcus stores and online businesses.

In his role as Fashion Director, Mr. Downing travels the globe to bring luxury and style to the Neiman Marcus customer. He is a constant fixture during the Men's and Women's Collections in New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. Annually, he hosts more than 20 customer events within the 41 Neiman Marcus stores, often alongside esteemed designers such as Stella McCartney, Derek Lam, Zac Posen, Donna Karan, Olivier Theyskens, Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, and David Yurman.

Established designers and new talent, frequently tap Ken Downing's talents and insights to inform their brands and develop their collections. In recent seasons, he collaborated with Pop Sugar as well as Nest Fragrances and Le Métier de Beaute on exclusive Ken Downing Branded collections inspired by his fashion direction. He has worked on partnerships and events with the fashion media elite, including Anna Wintour of Vogue, Glenda Bailey of Harper's Bazaar, Stellene Volandes of Town & Country Magazine, Joanna Coles of Cosmopolitan, and Stefano Tonchi and Karla Martinez of W Magazine.

Additionally, Mr. Downing regularly speaks at many of the nation's art museums about fashion as art. He has recently hosted events at the St. Louis Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Denver Art Museum and the Phoenix Art Museum. He speaks nationally at Colleges and Art Institutes to up and coming design talent of the future.

Mr. Downing maintains a regular presence in Neiman Marcus' own published magazine, the book and on the website, neimanmarcus.com. He is a frequent contributor to the Neiman Marcus blog, as well as Neiman Marcus social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

A native of Seattle, Washington, Mr. Downing was educated at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, where he studied fashion and apparel design. He is on the board of the prestigious CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation. Mr. Downing resides in Dallas, Texas. He is an avid collector and connoisseur of 20th Century contemporary furniture and art. His expansive collections and well-appointed style have been featured in numerous national publications.

Zac Posen launched his eponymous collection in 2001, with a vision for modern American glamour that married couture technique with striking innovation. Raised in New York, Zac began his design training early. Today, Zac is known globally for his technique in artisanal craftsmanship, anatomical construction and textile manipulation. His daywear, suiting and red carpet eveningwear are infused with his bold sophistication, sexy femininity and distinctive glamour. Worn by leading women, including Uma Thurman, First Lady Michelle Obama, Gwyneth Paltrow and Naomi Watts, he has become a staple on the red carpet.

Zac Posen serves as a judge with Heidi Klum and Nina Garcia on Lifetime's mainstay "Project Runway," now approaching its fourteenth season.

Most recently, Zac Posen was announced as Creative Director for the Brooks Brothers signature women's collection and accessories. The first collection will debut in Spring 2016 and will be available worldwide.

Pat Cleveland was one of America's first black supermodels in the 1970's, and a muse to designers such as Halston and Yves Saint Laurent. Her daughter, Anna Cleveland, is also a model and fixture on the runways from Marc Jacobs to Missoni. Recently, both Pat and Anna Cleveland were featured together in a look book for Zac Posen's Resort Collection.

Christian Siriano launched his namesake label in 2008 and opened his flagship store in Manhattan in 2012. A member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Siriano was named one of Crain's top 40 Entrepreneurs under 40.

Tickets are available at www.thewallis.org or by calling 310-746-4000 or in person at The Wallis Ticket Services located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210.

About The Wallis - Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, California, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts ("The Wallis") brings audiences world-class theater, dance and music, performed by many of the world's most talented and sought-after artists. With eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles, and its notability as the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis offers original and revered works from across the US and around the globe. This fall marks The Wallis' second season, which also includes its prestigious "Arts & Ideas" series, conversations with guests from the realms of culture, literature and politics. Housed in a breathtaking 70,000-square-foot venue designed by Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA of Studio Pali Fekete architects, The Wallis celebrates the classic and the modern. This is reflected in the juxtaposition of the restored, original 1933 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places) that serves as the theater's dramatic yet welcoming lobby, and houses the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater, as well as a theater school for young people, and the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater. Together, these two structures embrace the city's history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for LA-area visitors and residents alike.

About Neiman Marcus - Neiman Marcus Group LTD LLC is a luxury, multi-branded, omni-channel fashion retailer conducting integrated store and online operations under the Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Last Call, Horchow, CUSP, and mytheresa brand names. For more information, visit www.neimanmarcusgroup.com.

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