FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday May 7, 2014
Contact: Jessica Wolf 310.825.7789
[email protected]
Images available here: cap.ucla.edu/about/press-images
Videos available here: https://www.youtube.com
CAP UCLA Announces 2014-2015 Season
Program highlights include new Robert Wilson theater production
The Old Woman; 50th anniversary performances from revered Israeli
Dance Company Batsheva; West Coast Exclusive Engagement of
Matthew Barney’s River of Fundament; Los Angeles solo debut of
Japanese sound artist Ryoji Ikeda; a John Zorn Marathon that marks
the composer’s first L.A. performances in 25 years and more
Program celebrates artistic collaboration, explores connections between music
and visual art; presents CAP UCLA co-commissions with local and national artists
Subscriptions on sale May 7; Individual tickets available August 13
LOS ANGELES—Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (CAP UCLA), today announced its
2014-2015 program, featuring complex and collaborative work from renowned contemporary
artists in music, theater, dance and spoken word. In the coming season, CAP UCLA also will
explore the intersection of visual art and music, with a broad slate of presentations that highlight
artists who create, collaborate and perform in both mediums.
The 2014-2015 theater program represents an adventurous exploration of scale, from intimately
intricate work to large-scale collaborative productions. Iconic American theater maker and CAP
UCLA Artist Fellow Robert Wilson returns to the program with The Old Woman (Nov. 14-15), which
stars Mikhail Baryshnikov and Willem Dafoe in a surreal and abstract piece of storytelling based
on a darkly comic 1939 novella of the same name by Russian avant-garde author Daniil Kharms.
World renowned puppeteer-provocateur Ronnie Burkett returns with the 25th Anniversary of his
unique theatrical performance concept The Daisy Theater (Nov. 11-15), featuring a cast of 30
disarming and elaborately realized marionette characters performing new, outrageous and
raucous sketches each night of the show’s run at The Actors’ Gang theater in Culver City.
Leonard Nimoy’s Vincent (April 17-18), performed by French actor Jean-Michel Richaud, is
Nimoy’s thoughtful portrait of Vincent Van Gogh crafted based on letters written between the
famed impressionist painter and his brother.
In a collaboration between the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company and Ann Bogart’s SITI
Company, CAP UCLA presents the Los Angeles premiere of A Rite (March 6-7), a thrilling work of
dance-theater constructed around Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, which seamlessly joins minds,
bodies and voices in a riveting reflection on the groundbreaking score.
One of the most important dance companies in the world, Batsheva returns to Royce Hall as
part of its 50th Anniversary Tour with the latest work from renowned choreographer and Batsheva
artistic director Oded Naharin, titled Sadeh 21 (Nov. 1-2).
The Center takes a deep mid-career look at the work of Bessie Award-winning Kyle Abraham,
presenting two distinct programs from his evocative company Abraham.In.Motion. The
Watershed (Feb. 12) is an all-new evening length work centered around the concepts of
freedom and emancipation, referencing post-Civil War history and the ongoing struggle civil
rights in America, with scenic design by Glenn Ligon and a score ranging from contemporary
cello suite to the sound of Otis Redding. When the Wolves Came In (Feb. 13) is an evening of
multiple new repertory works that explore the historical legacy of the Emancipation
Proclamation and the abolishment of apartheid in South Africa. Abraham drew inspiration from
the iconic 1960 protest album “We Insist: Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite.”
Canadian choreographer Louise Lecavalier brings her enigmatic and transcendent duet “So
Blue” to the U.S. for the first time (Jan. 16). Mexico’s Delphos Danza Contemperanea returns to
Los Angeles with the lyrical and intensely physical Cuando Los Disfraces se Cuelgan (When the
Disguises are Hung Up) (April 14).
In the 2014-2015 season CAP UCLA investigates the compelling intersection between original
music and visual art in myriad forms, including film, graphic art, sound sculptures and
performance art. The Center is proud to present the West Coast premiere and exclusive West
Coast engagement of River of Fundament, a film by visionary artist Matthew Barney with original
music by composer Jonathan Bepler, fusing narrative cinema, live performance, sculpture and
opera in a radical reinvention of Norman Mailer’s novel “Ancient Evenings.”
The Los Angeles debut of sound artist Ryoji Ikeda comes with his latest sonic treatise,
superposition, a conceptual exploration of quantum theory that employs a spectacular
combination of synchronized video screens, real-time content feeds, digital sound sculptures
and—for the first time in Ikeda’s work—human performers.
Post-modern quartet Ethel returns to CAP UCLA with Documerica (April 17), a multimedia
concert that juxtaposes an original score with multiple screen video projections of manipulated
vintage footage from the Environmental Protection Agency’s 1970s photographic archive
Project Documerica. Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novelist Art Spiegelman has teamed with
acclaimed jazz composer Phillip Johnson for WORDLESS! (Oct. 15), an innovative hybrid of visual
art and live music that articulates Spiegelman’s personal belief in the power of the graphic novel
and highlights the masters who influenced his own beloved work, “MAUS.”
CAP UCLA, in collaboration with The Andy Warhol Museum and the Brooklyn Academy of Music
co-commissioned Exposed: Songs for Unseen Warhol Films, a rare collection of footage Warhol
filmed in the early 1960s. Five songwriter-composers who reflect the generational trajectory and
CAP UCLA 2013-2014 Season Announce
2|Page
musical influence of post-Velvet Underground 70s to today — guest music curator Dean
Wareham (Galaxie 500, Luna), Tom Verlaine (Television), Martin Rev (Suicide), Eleanor
Friedberger (the Fiery Furnaces), and Bradford Cox (Deerhunter)—perform live original scores to
these previously unseen celluloid gems.
The Center has also co-commissioned work from two Los Angeles-based artists—Gabriel Kahane
and Sussan Deyhim. With The Ambassador (Feb. 27-28) Gabriel Kahane expands upon his
previous work “25 Addresses” in a theatrical and sculptural work that draws inspiration from a
multitude of sources to tell intimate, human stories against the backdrop of Los Angeles
architecture and popular culture. Sussan Deyhim was a CAP UCLA artist-in-residence during the
2013-2014 season and her recently completed work The House is Black (Jan. 23) officially
premieres on the upcoming program. Set to an original score by Deyhim and Golden Globewinning composer Richard Horowitz, a series of nonlinear tableaux inspired by the writings of
Forugh Farrokhzad, one of Iran's most influential poets, weaves together with archival images
and footage in a profound rendering of an artist.
In a literal comingling of music and art, CAP UCLA partners with the Los Angeles County Museum
of Art (LACMA) to bring legendary avant-garde composer-saxophonist John Zorn for his first Los
Angeles performance in 25 years. A marathon day begins (May 2) as Zorn and a cadre of
performers—including Kenny Wollesen, Dave Lombardo, William Winant and more—harness and
explore sonic connections to paintings, sculptures and architecture, moving through galleries at
LACMA, performing 12 sets of compositions and improvisations (one each half hour) in multiple
configurations. That night Royce Hall plays host to a power-packed triple-bill rock show featuring
New York quartet Abraxas, instrumental rock band Secret Chiefs 3 and Zorn’s own frenetic trio
Bladerunner featuring Bill Laswell and Dave Lombardo. Zorn closes out the epic day with a solo
set of organ improvisations on Royce Hall’s iconic Skinner Organ at midnight.
Pianist-composer Vijay Iyer returns to Royce Hall for Music of Transformation a multi-program
evening (Dec. 5) of music that showcases his boundless energy and versatility. Iyer and the
International Contemporary Ensemble, conducted by Steven Schick will perform Iyer’s original
score for celebrated filmmaker Prashant Bhargava’s RADHE RADHE: Rites of Holi. Iyer’s score
builds upon the fundamental structure of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring. Part two of the program will
feature Iyer’s Mutations 1-X, his first release under a classical rubric on ECM records.
The 2014-2015 music lineup traverses styles, cultures and sounds featuring the joyful sambas of
the one-and-only Gilberto Gil (April 18); a thoughtful pairing of two leading American composers
--mandolinist Chris Thile and bassist Edgar Meyer (Sept. 20), soulful performances from Rosanne
Cash (Oct. 2) and guitarist-composer Marc Ribot (Nov. 21) whose two-part concert will also
include New York party band Los Cubanos Postizos; jazz from Grammy-winning vocalist Gregory
Porter (Jan. 17); jazz from leading trio Plic Moutin Hoenig (March 6); an evening featuring the
godfather of Ethio-jazz Mulatu Astatke plus special guest Ethopian singer-songwriter Meklit (Feb
21); glorious music of Mali from father-son performers Toumani & Sidiki Diabaté in an exclusive
co-bill with singer-songwriter-guitarist Rokia Traoré (Sept. 26); Dr. John and the Nite Trippers bring
the soul of the Big Easy to the Royce stage (Dec. 6); solo flutist and founder of the International
Contemporary Ensemble Claire Chase (April 4) will perform a program based on her latest
album Density, and bring together dozens of migrant flutists for unique work of aural theater,
Salvatore Sciarrino’s immersive Cerchio Tagliato dei Suoni.
The 2014-2015 season marks the Center’s third year of partnership with the Los Angeles Chamber
Orchestra which brings seven performances to Royce Hall—program repertoire ranging from
CAP UCLA 2013-2014 Season Announce
3|Page
Mozart and Beethoven to the world premieres of work from contemporary composers Cameron
Patrick and Ted Hearne.
A series of spoken word performances illustrate the art and power of archive. The multimedia
performance experience Basetrack (Oct 10) is adapted from the wildly popular Facebook page
and website of photographs and videos taken in Afghanistan by embedded journalist Teru
Kuwayama. It draws on the power of individual stories to examine the collective experience of
those who have served in America’s longest war. Blogger Frank Warren’s ever-growing archive
of anonymous secrets takes living shape with “PostSecret Live” (Jan. 28).
Actor, author, photographer and arts philanthropist Leonard Nimoy (April 10) joins the program
for a spoken word event in conversation with CAP UCLA artistic and executive director Kristy
Edmunds to talk about his theater work Vincent, his personal practice and the value of art in the
world.
Actress Victoria Tennant (Oct 18) shares insight into the treasure trove of materials she
discovered that chronicle the life and artistry of her mother Irina Baronova, one of ballet’s most
glamorous stars as she discusses her forthcoming book Irina Baronova and the Ballets Russes de
Monte Carlo. Two creative visionaries celebrate the ties that bind in the worlds of music
recording and live performance as famed theater director (and UCLA professor) Peter Sellars
and Bob Hurwitz, (Dec 7) longtime president of the eclectic and evolutionary label Nonesuch
Records, come together to uncover their shared history of artistic intersection.
Throughout the season, CAP UCLA will announce additional community-engagement events
and activities, related to season performances. The Center also continues a series of “Dig
Deeper” activities and installations curated by staff from UCLA Library Special Collections.
The Center’s ongoing K-12 educational program Design for Sharing (DFS) will offer a series of free
performances on campus for students from across Los Angeles, featuring performances from
season artists Batsheva, Vijay Iyer, Plic Moutin Hoenig, Gabriel Kahane, Kyle Abraham, Delfos
Danza Contemporena, Ethel as well as other programs and workshops.
SERIES TICKETING INFORMATION
Season subscriptions are on sale starting May 7 in Theater, Dance, Spoken Word, Jazz, Music +
Art and the interdisciplinary series Royce Choice, Mavericks, plus a Create-Your-Own (CYO)
series option of five or more events.
Multi-performance series subscription prices run from $102-$315. Series subscribers save 15
percent off individual ticket prices. (CYO subscribers save 10 percent). Individual tickets go on
sale August 13. UCLA student ticket prices are $15. UCLA staff & faculty ticket prices are $25
Orders may be placed online at cap.ucla.edu, by mail, by phone 310.825.2101 or in person at
the UCLA Central Ticket Office in the UCLA James L. West Alumni Center.
For more details visit cap.ucla.edu/tickets.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS AND INFORMATION
A full chronological season calendar is available at cap.ucla.edu/press
Hi-res images are available for download at cap.ucla.edu/press/imagelibrary
CAP UCLA 2013-2014 Season Announce
4|Page
For more information on CAP UCLA: cap.ucla.edu/about
For more information on CAP UCLA’s Design For Sharing Program: cap.ucla.edu/dfs
###
CAP UCLA 2013-2014 Season Announce
5|Page