Broad Stage Director Dale Franzen Announces $2.5 Million In Lead Gifts From The Lloyd E. Rigler-Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation & Philanthropists Barbara Herman & Richard And Lisa Kendall To Kickoff The Artistic Incubation Fund

SANTA MONICA, Calif., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its unwavering commitment to enhance Southern California's cultural landscape, The Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center today will unveil a fundraising campaign to support Artistic Incubation and the continual creation of productions physically born at The Broad Stage.

"With The Broad Stage's fifth anniversary season coming to a close, we are looking forward to celebrating ACT II—the next five years of groundbreaking programming, original productions and an expanded capacity to create, produce and actualize pioneering and compelling works," said The Broad Stage Director Dale Franzen. "This level of consistent contribution to the arts locally and globally requires substantial, long-term funding; hence building upon the efforts of the last five years, we are kicking off this Artistic Incubation campaign."

ACT II gets underway with collaborations with master artists and remarkable cultural figures and institutions, including Placido Domingo and the LA Opera, Quincy Jones and Herb Alpert.  Sir Kenneth Branagh, David Cromer and many more have been invited to consider projects at The Broad Stage.  As part of the Artistic Incubation, The Broad Stage will enhance its digital portal to the world, documenting, sharing and archiving the evolution of works that are born at The Broad Stage. By creating an online experience that follows the journey of making meaningful art, The Broad Stage will provide insight into the creative, emotional and technical workspace, giving audiences an uncensored and exclusive view of Artistic Incubation in action. New and improved media will allow The Broad Stage to increase its audience without compromising the intimate live art experiences that it cherishes within its inclusive 499-seat theater.

Conceived of and created as a community hub and a shared creative space, The Broad Stage has for the past five years presented groundbreaking and compelling programming that has earned it a reputation as one of the most important and beloved cultural epicenters in Southern California.

Expanding a tradition of extraordinary generosity and major contributions to the cultural life of Los Angeles, the Lloyd E. Rigler-Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation announced today an unrestricted gift to strengthen the Celebrity Recital and Opera Series at The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center.

The Broad Stage has expanded its jazz and blues offerings with a generous gift from Richard and Lisa Kendall to underwrite Jazz and Blues at The Broad.  To support the expansion, The Broad Stage has also introduced the Jazz Council, bringing together producer, composer, musician and 27-time Grammy® Award-winner Quincy Jones; Grammy® Award-winning composer, musician and A&M Records Co-founder, Herb Alpert; Jazz Bakery's Ruth Price and Executive Director, Jeff Gauthier; owner of the Blue Whale jazz club, Joon Lee; West- Coast Director of the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Daniel Seeff; Grammy® Award‐winning singer-songwriter, Luciana Souza; and acclaimed Grammy nominated musician/producer, Ben Wendel, to advance the legacy and spirit of jazz mentorship and innovation by curating pioneering programs, performances and events that will help to secure Los Angeles on the global jazz stage.

In addition with generous support from Barbara Herman, The Broad Stage is forging new partnerships with distinctive theater companies from around the world, including the National Theater of Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland; Bristol Old Vic, Bristol, United Kingdom; Isango Ensemble, Cape Town, South Africa; and Circa, Brisbane, Australia—all of which will make their North American debut at The Broad Stage.

Looking forward to the 2014-2015 season, Franzen will initiate a three-year Musical Theater Project devoted to developing new works to be rehearsed, mounted and performed at The Broad Stage with a full orchestra. This original series will include readings, workshops and community interactions to further engage the venue as a community hub and a shared creative space.

Visit www.TheBroadStage.com.

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE:

The Broad Stage is located at 1310 11th Street at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center. Parking is FREE.

Contact:
Vanessa Butler, 213-446-0774
vanessabutlerpr@gmail.com

SOURCE The Broad Stage