The Wallis Names Michael Nemeroff New Board Chairman

By: May. 24, 2017
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Businessman and philanthropist Michael A. Nemeroff will take the helm as Chairman of the Board of the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts effective September 27, 2017.

The announcement was made after the organization's Board meeting today by current Chairman David C. Bohnett who will simultaneously assume a new leadership position as Chairman of the Executive Committee charged with leadership initiatives critical to the future growth and success of The Wallis.

"I am delighted that Michael Nemeroff will steer The Wallis into its next chapter," said Bohnett. "As The Wallis continues to emerge as a premier world-class performing arts institution and major cultural destination, it is vital that we continue to have strong Board leadership. Michael is a veteran non-profit board strategist who displays the successful leadership, energy and passion that will help The Wallis elevate its position on the world's stage. In my new role as Executive Committee Chairman, I look forward to collaborating closely with Michael and my fellow Board members. On behalf of our Board, Artistic Director Paul Crewes, Managing Director Rachel Fine and the entire staff, we welcome Michael and look forward to building on the momentum created over the past seasons."

"It is a great privilege and honor to step into this position and put my passion for the performing arts and youth outreach to work. I look forward to working with the Board and the staff to further develop the potential of this young, energetic and ambitious performing arts institution," said Nemeroff. "Under David's brilliant leadership, The Wallis has established a strong presence in our local community and well beyond. His commitment to effecting positive change through community building and social activism is unmatched and I am so pleased we now will collectively ensure The Wallis success for generations to come."

Earlier this month, The Wallis announced its 2017/18 season, the organization's fifth, which will feature 250 performances as well as numerous education and outreach programs. The Wallis will continue to produce and present groundbreaking works in dance, music and theater from locally, nationally and internationally renowned artists and companies. The 2017/18 season begins in October 2017.

Under Bohnett's and the Board's leadership, led by Paul Crewes and Rachel Fine, The Wallis has grown significantly both in the number of performances and in reputation as a major cultural center in Southern California. With high-profile artists and international and local collaborations, The Wallis has seen an increased media profile along with growth in attendance and ticket sales with numerous sold-out performances and engagements including this past week's Matthew Bourne's Early Adventures. GRoW @ The Wallis' extensive youth education and outreach programs continue to receive praise and endorsements while the organization's partnership with the City of Beverly Hills and its many business partners has led it to become a cultural jewel for the city's and county's global standing. The recent Mancini Delivered celebration, for which Bohnett served as Co-Chair, raised more than $1 million dollars for The Wallis' artistic, education and outreach programs. With the appointment of Michael Nemeroff, The Wallis strengthens its leadership team and opportunities going into the future.

Michael A. Nemeroff is President and CEO of Vedder Price, a global law firm with offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco, London and Singapore. He counsels companies and private equity firms in transactions and governance matters. Nemeroff is one of two legal advisors to the G100, an elite international organization of leading CEOs from Fortune 500 publicly traded corporations who meet regularly to share practical collective experience about deal making and leadership challenges. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Oil-Dri Corporation of America (NYSE: ODC). An authority on mergers and acquisitions and financial matters, he makes frequent appearances on broadcast television and is often cited in publications. Nemeroff is active in charitable and civic affairs as a member of the Executive Committee and Board of the Chicago Children's Choir, where he previously served as Chairman, and as a Trustee of the Chicago History Museum. Nemeroff maintains a home in Beverly Hills and is engaged in the community. He has three daughters and is married to Meeghan Nemeroff.

Since opening its doors in October 2013, The Wallis has produced or presented more than 175 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 @ 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, visit TheWallis.org. Like The Wallis on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram.



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