The Wallis Kicks Off the 2016/17 Season with WelcomeFest

In anticipation of the new 2016/17 Season, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts will throw open its doors and welcome the community for a two-day celebration of the performing arts. WelcomeFest will showcase many of the upcoming 2016/17 season's artists and other Los Angeles-based performers bringing their work to the Beverly Hills campus. WelcomeFest takes place Saturday, September 10 from 2pm - 10pm and Sunday, September 11 from 10am - 2pm. All performances and activities are free to the public. For complete listing of events and up-to-the-minute information, please visit TheWallis.org/WelcomeFest or join the WelcomeFestFacebook event. Detailed timeline and schedule for the weekend to be announced in early September.

"Is there a better way to celebrate our upcoming season than to blow open our doors and have the Beverly Hills High School Marching Band perform a fanfare to launch
Welcomefest?," said The Wallis' new Artistic Director Paul Crewes. "This will be a weekend for the greater Los Angeles community to come together at The Wallis, explore the beautiful campus and celebrate emerging and renowned talent from right here in this amazingly creative and diverse city. We're thrilled to preview the talent of artists that are showcased in our upcoming season-including Debbie Allen, Matthew Bourne, Michael Arden, For The Record, Deaf West Theatre and Jacob Jonas-and equally thrilled to welcome new local artists and organizations to The Wallis."

ABOUT WELCOMEFEST:
Beginning at 2pm on Saturday, every corner of The Wallis' campus will come alive with free public events and performances throughout the day. Among the artists and programming featured is: Pop-Up Sondheim, a roving theater performance directed by Tony Award-nominated director Michael Arden that invites participants to immerse themselves in the music of Stephen Sondheim while exploring the grounds and hidden corners of The Wallis; a special American Sign Language (ASL) cabaret performed by members of Deaf West Theatre, who recently entertained audiences with the Ovation Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated revival of Spring Awakening; performances by select members of the cast of the upcoming Wallis' production of For The Record: Scorsese; a performance ofTwilight Zone UnScripted: Abridged by members of the critically acclaimed improvisational comedy group Impro Theatre; a follow-along outdoor hip-hop dance class taught by world-renowned choreographer Dave Scott and hip-hop master Chantel Heath; a special tap duet by Melinda Sullivan and Sarah Reich; a site-specific dance routine by members of Jacob Jonas The Company; musical performances by the emerging stars of the Colburn School and the Foshay Jazz Band and Combo; and a KCRW dance party at dusk featuring an eclectic mix of music curated by DJ Aaron Byrd to end the night.

The celebration continues on Sunday with an emphasis on dance and activities geared toward families, including hands-on classes for all ages, storytelling, games, family-friendly music, and more. Sunday marks the return of three-time Emmy Award-winner Debbie Allen and her Dance Sundays. The first session focuses on Salsa as Allen teaches a free outdoor class with Debbie Allen Dance Fusion Master Lyrik Cruz and a live band. Dance Sundays will continue every second Sunday of the month throughout the season. Famed UK choreographer Matthew Bourne will take the stage with The Wallis' Artistic Director Paul Crewes for a Sunday morning coffee talk revisiting highlights in his career as well as discussing Early Adventures, a program of hit pieces that launched his career coming to The Wallis in May 2017. Los Angeles Dance Company Invertigo Dance Theatre will conduct a workshop led by its talented company members and open to all levels and ages. Swing dancing enthusiasts and beginners alike are invited to show off their moves on the dance floor as the jazz, rockabilly group Phat Cat Swinger entertains from the WelcomeFestoutdoor stage.

Throughout the weekend, attendees are encouraged to join interactive artmaking sessions including silk-screening workshops from Self Help Graphics & Art's Barrio Mobile Art Studio, mural painting led by artist Wayne Perry, impromptu storytelling by the Beverly Hills Public Library, an interactive social media installation by the Young Storytellers that invites attendees to tell their own personal story, an interactive scavenger hunt leading participants throughout the campus and history of The Wallis and a special participatory "Sign/Sing-Along" led by Deaf West Theatre and select members of the Street Symphony Chamber Choir.

GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education, under the leadership of Director of Education Mark Slavkin,presents workshops, classes and performances throughout the weekend led by regular GRoW @ The Wallis collaborators and teachers including theater director and choreographer Madeleine Dahm, drummer Andrew Grueschow, master puppeteer Beth Peterson and musician Jamey Tate.

For more information about The Wallis' 2016/17 season, please visit: http://bit.ly/2aEsZ6l.

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