Photo Credit: The Broad Stage
The Broad Stage A True California Treasure California’s performing arts are a vibrant and exciting scene for a bounty of performers. Since opening its doors in 2008, The Broad Stage (not to be confused with The Broad Museum in downtown Los Angeles) has become a formidable California cultural institution and community hub; presenting the world’s finest musicians – from classical, popular, jazz and world genres—theater companies, opera soloists, documentarians and photographers, dance troupes and innovative performing artists to a diverse and growing audience in Santa Monica. Every audience member can find something of interest in their distinct and high quality lineup. No other performing arts center west of the 405 can boast such consistently stellar lineups of performers. This local California treasure with its two intimate and cozy venues consists of a 500-seat state-of-the-art main stage space (The Broad Stage) and 99-seat versatile space (The Edye). Recently I reached out to Ms. Jane Deknatel, current director of the Broad Stage, to catch up with her on this California performing arts treasure in the heart of Santa Monica. As director of the Broad Stage in Santa Monica, CA, how do you feel the “California lifestyle” has influenced and/or played a role in the design and function of this local treasure? Everything about The Broad Stage reflects bringing performing artists from around the world and the nation that would have something to say to our audience here in Santa Monica, and to celebrate theatre and dance companies from our area. It is a quintessential California way to view the arts. The entire venue, with its open feeling of light and air in the lobby, though the blonde wood interior, breathes a welcoming atmosphere of the building itself that says California to me – since we are about a mile from the beach, the spacious lobby was actually conceived without air conditioning to take advantage of the Santa Monica ocean breeze, providing a kind of natural comfort that we enjoy here. Recently I was at The Edye, a smaller performance space with 99 seats, to see Cuban pianist Alfredo
Rodriquez and I was in awe of how intimate and private the setting was. Why has the Broad Stage chosen to support several smaller venues rather than have one large stage? When the buildings were originally conceived there was always the thought that there should be two performance spaces – a larger, 500-seat space, which would provide a full measure of intimacy, but provide enough seating for a larger community to enjoy a performance, and then a smaller very intimate space, that was extremely versatile, and could be used for emerging artists – like Alfredo Rodriguez – or work that was more experimental. The space – a traditional theater “black box” – can be configured for a traditional concert, or configured in any way a director could imagine! As the current director of this Westside gem, what is the best part of your job? I have been with the organization for seven of its nine years – moving from development advisor to director. It has great strengths as an organization – a board that is dedicated to its mission of presenting the community with first class performances, and a history of wonderful artists– including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Helen Hunt in Our Town, Plácido Domingo, Judd Hirsch in Freud’s Last Session, F. Murray Abraham in The Merchant of Venice, five visits from Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre from London, Handspring Puppet Company performing A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Judy Collins, Ben Vereen, Hal Holbrook in Mark Twain Tonight!, Esperanza Spalding, Sir James Galway, Andre Watts, Bobby McFerrin, Colin Hay, Denis O’Hare in An Iliad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Kelli O’Hara. For first time patrons, what do you feel is a “must see” of the 50 attractions for the 2016-2017 season? Of course, I think all of our attractions are all “must sees” – there is jazz pianist Joey Alexander, the sensation of this year’s GRAMMY telecast and one of the most important current breakout performers in any genre, and then the legendary musical theatre performer Chita Rivera, who came to fame as the original Anita in West Side Story. And then there is Glee star Matthew Morrison; two of the most important LA dance companies – DIAVOLO, celebrating its 25th anniversary and performing its
new work Passengers, and BODYTRAFFIC. There is MacArthur Genius award winner Kyle Abraham’s vibrant company Abraham.In.Motion, and seminal musicians like Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman, and Béla Fleck & Abigail Washburn. One of my favorite attractions is the Celebrity Opera Series co-produced by the LA Opera, it is a terrific opportunity to expose young and old to Opera, are there any plans to expand the series? It is amazing to hear these voices, trained to fill opera houses, in our intimate venue. This season’s Celebrity Opera Series, made possible by the generous support of the Lloyd E. Rigler-Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation, includes Vittorio Grigòlo, Angela Gheorghiu, Piotr Beczala, Diana Damrau, and one of Opera’s breakout stars -- the 2014 Richard Tucker and 2014 Beverly Sills Awards winner Michael Fabiano. Each of these performers is accompanied by a full symphony orchestra. What we are able to book and how often is about a different set of parameters than other attractions. We have a wish list of course – but these highly in demand performers book their schedules ahead for five years, so we are constantly working with the most important opera managers in the world figuring out when their schedules match our open times in the theatre. For me there is nothing better than listening to live music, or experiencing live theater, the Broad Stage offers an intimate setting with world class talent. When people come to the Broad Stage to experience an event, what feeling or experience do you hope they take home with them? I think a lot about what our audience gets to take home with them – certainly spending a few hours in the company of one of the world’s great performing artists, whether we are entertained, enchanted, given a lot of consider, or just the beautiful sound of music or the human voice. It all has great value. But in our show we have a chance to celebrate love, in a world gone mad. A few hours of love is beyond measure or our system of value.
written by
Maggy Siegel
is a Los Angeles based lifestyle designer, Vintage Finds buyer for One Kings Lane and a veteran apparel industry leader who pioneered
several popular children’s brands. She is a Mother, art and nature lover, and collector of all things chic for the home. Contact information: maggysiegelcastyle@gmail.com
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