The Wallis Celebrates the Musical Legacy of Henry Mancini with Star-Studded Tribute on 4/1

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts celebrates the musical legacy of Henry Mancini, one of the world's greatest composers, conductors and arrangers, on Saturday, April 1, 2017. From "Moon River" to "The Days of Wine and Roses" to the "Peter Gunn Theme," the music of Henry Mancini has helped define American film and television soundtracks for nearly five decades, and earned the legendary composer four Academy Awards, twenty Grammy Awards and numerous other honors, including a U.S. Postage Stamp. The evening not only honors Henry Mancini, but also celebrates Ginny Mancini and the Mancini family with a special performance by the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra from the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami-their first Los Angeles appearance since their move to Florida-with all proceeds benefiting the artistic, educational and outreach programs of The Wallis.

"Ginny Mancini is a dear friend and treasure," said David C. Bohnett, The Wallis' Chairman of The Wallis Board. "Ginny's passion for the arts and music education knows no bounds and we are all deeply moved to honor Ginny, Henry and the Mancini family musical legacy with this Wallis tribute."

"Henry Mancini was a man of great and rare talent, and one of the most influential 20thCentury composers whose music and generosity of spirit brought joy to his legions of admirers. We are so delighted to have this celebration at The Wallis," said Paul Crewes, The Wallis' Artistic Director.

"We are immensely grateful to the Mancini family for their support of our artistic, educational and outreach programs," said Rachel Fine, The Wallis' Managing Director. "Their commitment to fostering the next generation of artists and audiences is one that we share at The Wallis."

Mancini Delivered promises to be an unforgettable night at The Wallis, which is the former historic Beverly Hills Post Office. Mancini Delivered will consist of three acts that will showcase the Mancini musical legacy, and the historic building:

Act I: Mancini, Martinis & More
A strolling reception in the Jim and Eleanor Randall Grand Hall and Promenade Terrace that features Mancini inspired craft cocktails, eclectic entertainment and Wolfgang Puck culinary delights.

Act II: Mancini, Music & Magic
Julie Andrews will co-host a star studded tribute on the Bram Goldsmith stage, featuring performances and presentations by Patti Austin, Kristin Chenoweth, Clint Holmes, Quincy Jones, Dave Koz, Matthew Morrison and Robert Wagner. Chris Walden will lead the Henry Mancini Orchestra with a special appearance by John Williams in this unique Los Angeles experience.

Act III: Mancini Reimagined
Seasonal Wolfgang Puck desserts and champagne reception on the Promenade Terrace featuring the art and music of Henry Mancini reimagined by emerging innovative artists.

Benefactor Packages and single tickets are now available starting at $500. For more information about Benefactor Packages or to purchase tickets, visit TheWallis.org/Mancini, call 310.746.4000, or stop by in person at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Services located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. Ticket prices subject to change.

About Henry Mancini (1924-1994)
Henry Mancini was one of the most versatile talents in contemporary music. The Mancini name is synonymous with great motion picture and television music, fine recordings and international concert performances. During his lifetime, Mancini was nominated for 72 GRAMMY® Awards, winning 20. He was nominated for 18 Academy Awards® winning four, honored with a Golden Globe® Award and nominated for two Emmy® Awards.

Mancini created many timeless film scores including Breakfast at Tiffany's, The Pink Panther, The Days of Wine and Roses, Hatari!, Charade, Victor/Victoria, 10, Darling Lili, Arabesque and The Glass Menagerie. He also wrote for a number of television films and mini-series including The Thorn Birds and The Shadow Box, as well as television themes including "Peter Gunn," "Mr. Lucky," "NBC Election Night Theme," "Newhart," "Remington Steele" and "Hotel." Mancini recorded more than 90 albums with styles varying from big band to jazz to classical to pop, eight of which were certified gold by The Recording Industry Association of America®.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on April 16, 1924, Mancini was introduced to music and the flute at the age of eight by his father, Quinto, an avid flutist. The family moved to Aliquippa, Pennsylvania where, at age 12, he took up piano, and within a few years became interested in arranging. After graduating from high school in 1942, Mancini enrolled in New York's Juilliard School of Music but his studies were interrupted the next year when he was drafted, leading to overseas service in the Air Force and later in the infantry.

In 1946, Mancini joined The Glenn Miller-Tex Beneke Orchestra as a pianist/arranger. It was there that he met the future Mrs. Henry Mancini, singer Ginny O'Connor, who was one of the original members of Mel Torme's Mel-Tones. Ginny and Henry were married in Hollywood the following year.

In 1952, Mancini joined the Universal-International Studios music department. During the next six years, he contributed to over 100 films, most notably The Glenn Miller Story (for which he received his first Academy Award® nomination), The Benny Goodman Story and Orson Welles' Touch of Evil. Mancini left Universal-International in 1958 to work as an independent composer/arranger. Soon after he scored the television series "Peter Gunn" for writer/producer Blake Edwards, the genesis of a close relationship that lasted over 30 years and produced 26 films.

Mancini was an in-demand concert performer conducting over 50 engagements a year, resulting in over 600 symphony performances. Among the symphony orchestras he conducted were the London Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

He appeared in 1966, 1980 and 1984 in command performances for the Royal Family. Mancini collaborated with many noted artists such as Sir James Galway, Johnny Mathis, Luciano Pavarotti, Doc Severinsen and Andy Williams.

A leading philanthropist for the arts, Ginny Mancini, her children Christopher, Felice and Monica, have kept the legacy of Henry Mancini intact not only through his music but also by supporting arts education and outreach programs throughout the country. Composer and conductor Jack Eliot, a good friend of Mancini, founded the Henry Mancini Institute at UCLA to honor that legacy. HMI was built with the intention to promote the appreciation of music by providing intensive training and research programs to the budding talents. On April 14, 2004, the United States Post Office issued 70 million copies of a commemorative stamp that pays tribute to the prominent compositions of Mancini.

About the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra from the Frost School of Music
A highly-acclaimed ensemble, the Frost School of Music's Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra (HMI) is comprised of a full orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion), plus a full jazz band (saxophones, trombones, trumpets), rhythm section instruments (piano, guitar, bass, drums) and world percussion. HMI was founded in 1997 by Henry's long-time friend and musical collaborator, Jack Elliott, as a summer institute in Los Angeles before relocating to Miami. HMI is made up of writers, arrangers and musicians who play a multitude of musical styles, including classical, jazz, Latin, world music and others. They often work with artists and composers on the cutting edge of today's music to create unique and contemporary blends of these genres.

Housed at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, Florida, the HMI Orchestra is the resident orchestra for the popular JazzRoots concert series formally produced by Larry Rosen at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts. Frost School Dean Shelly Berg is the Artistic Director for JazzRoots and renowned composer and pianist Dave Grusin produces the event and has used the orchestra for several other events including An Evening with Grusin, a PBS pledge drive WPBT2 (Miami).

HMI has been featured in many other stellar projects such as Ben Folds' performance at the Frost School's Festival Miami as well as performing the music of several films including Raiders of the Lost Ark, Spike Lee's Films as well as music from the hit TV series, House of Cards. HMI has also recorded/performed the music of several powerhouse musicians including Sony/ATV publishing's president Jorge Mejia, American Pop-Singer Bruce Hornsby, Grammy Award winning composer James Newton Howard, as well as recording Gordon Goodwin's arrangements for Patti Austen's upcoming jazz album.

About the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts:
Since opening its doors in October 2013, The Wallis has produced or presented more than 100 dance, theatre, opera, classical music and family programs to an ever-expanding audience. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, California, The Wallis brings audiences world-class theater, dance and music, performed by many of the world's most talented and sought-after artists. Featuring 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 U.S. and around the globe. The mission of The Wallis is to create, present and celebrate unique performing arts events and educational programs that reflect the rich cultural diversity of our community. Nominated for 28 Ovation Awards, four L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Awards and the recipient of six architectural awards since opening in 2013, The Wallis is a breathtaking 70,000-square-foot venue that celebrates the classic and the modern and was designed by Zoltan E. Pali, FAIA of Studio Pali Fekete architects. The building features 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, GRoW at The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education (a gift of Gregory Annenberg Weingarten and Family and the Annenberg Foundation) and the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater. Together, these structures embrace the city's history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for L.A.-area visitors and residents alike.

For more information about The Wallis, please visit: TheWallis.org.

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