ZEV YAROSLAVSKY SIGNATURE SERIES and More Make Up Ford Theatres' 2014 Summer Season

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission announces the Ford Theatres 2014 summer season. Presented in the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, the Ford lineup features returning favorites, exciting new additions, family friendly performances and fun interactive events. The season opens May 12 and runs through September 13. The full schedule is detailed below. Tickets can be purchased at FordTheatres.org or by calling (323) 461-3673.

Season highlights include several groups new to the Ford this summer. Chris Isaacson Presents two evenings of Broadway - Night After the Tonys with Linda Eder (June 9) and Broadway Under the Stars (August 16). Ford audiences will get a taste of Boyle Heights with Eastside Luv's English as a Second Language, an evening of Mexican American music by local bands. Also new this year is Bellydance Evolution, featuring Middle Eastern and world fusion dance in a reimagined production of Alice in Wonderland. Returning Ford favorites include the L.A. Jewish Symphony with a concert featuring Hershey Felder, Fountain Theatre's iconic Forever Flamenco, Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company with two new works in Fiestas de México and jazz vocalist Mon David in Music Arts Events' Serenata Filipina.

The Zev Yaroslavsky Signature Series returns for a second year featuring an eclectic pairing of world renowned performers with LA County based artists. Benefitting the Ford Theatre Foundation and with support provided by LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, the Signature Series includes three dates: July 5 with a special musical performance, to be announced; August 23 with the Los Angeles premiere of John Adams' I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky performed by the Long Beach Opera; and September 13 with Daniel Ezralow's new dance company Ezralow Dance performing a commissioned premiere piece with live music.

The Big!World!Fun! Family Series offers music and dance for children ages 4 to 12 and their families. Presented on Saturday mornings in July and August in the outdoor amphitheatre, audiences can travel the world from their seat. This season includes visits to Africa, Cambodia and Mexico, to name a few. Children are admitted free and adults pay $5. JAM Sessions is a free interactive series where everyone is invited to jump on the Ford stage and release their inner artist. Sing, dance, play and experience something unexpected. All ages and skill levels are welcome to join in for samba, tap dance, ukulele, Bollywood, son jarocho and many more. New this year is Find Your Space at the Ford, a program that opens up the Ford to the community, providing a place to meet up, create and practice their craft or art form together on the Ford's entryway plazas.

Additionally, when audiences take their seats for the 2014 summer season, they will be greeted by the Ford's iconic neo-Judaic structure restored to its original unpainted concrete. After a wildfire burned down the original 1920 amphitheatre, it was rebuilt in 1931 out of board formed concrete and the interior has been painted various colors over the years. The newly restored structure went through a careful renovation process, overseen by architect Brenda Levin, to remove years of paint build up, resulting in a dramatic new look for the inside of the amphitheatre.

At 1,200 seats, the Ford Theatres creates an intimate concert experience that is a favorite among Angelenos. Each summer, the Ford hosts a diverse roster of events representing music and dance styles reflective of the communities that comprise Los Angeles County. Operated by the Los Angeles County Arts Commission, the Ford summer season events are presented in partnership with Los Angeles County based arts organizations and producers. Unlike a traditional presenting model, these organizations apply to be part of the season and receive significant marketing, box office and house management support while keeping the majority of box office proceeds. This historic venue is located in a beautiful County park in the Hollywood Hills, just off the 101 Hollywood Freeway, between Hollywood Boulevard and Barham Boulevard.

The Los Angeles County Arts Commission fosters excellence, diversity, vitality, understanding and accessibility of the arts in Los Angeles County. The Arts Commission provides leadership in cultural services for the County, encompassing 88 municipalities, including funding and job opportunities, professional development and general resources. For more information, visit lacountyarts.org.

The Ford Theatres' 2014 summer season will run May 31 - September 13, 2014. Check out the full schedule below!

MAY 31
Star Entertainment & Education Group
Fiesta Mexicana XII - Mariachi Los Camperos: Homenaje a los Grandes
The twelfth annual variety show featuring the rich diversity of folkloric music and dance from Mexico.

JUNE 9
Chris Isaacson Presents, LLC
Night After the Tonys with Linda Eder
A concert event with award winning artist Linda Eder singing songs from popular Broadway shows.

JUNE 20
South Coast Dance Arts Alliance
LA So-Cal Dance Invitational
An event that brings together the premier contemporary companies of today to perform alongside the fresh faces oftomorrow.

JULY 5
Signature Series: Surprise Performance TBA

JULY 11
Rong Music & Entertainment
The Journey of... The Crystal Ark
A sonic excursion through musical history from the roots of electronic and dance music to modern day. Produced by DJ and curator Jason Drummond and headlined by The Crystal Ark.

JULY 12
Flypoet Entertainment
Flypoet Under The Stars: Summer Classic
An evening of spoken word, music, comedy and live visual art.

JULY 16-20
Outfest
Under the Stars
A four-night film screening that is part of Outfest 2014: The 32nd Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Film Festival.

JULY 25
Eastside Luv
English as a Second Language
An evening of live music by local Latino groups and DJ sets mixing a range of classic Mexican, American and European rock hits.

JULY 26
Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company
Fiestas de México
An evening of folkloric dance with live music, premiering new works about two of Mexico's celebratory traditions: Dia de los Muertos and Feria Nacional de San Marcos.

JULY 27
Colibri Entertainment
¡Viva La Tradición! A Tribute to Women in Mariachi
A tribute to women in mariachi featuring Grammy nominated and award winning female musicians.

AUGUST 1
Bellydance Evolution
Alice in Wonderland
The world of Alice in Wonderland comes to life through world fusion and Middle Eastern dance.

AUGUST 2
Kollaboration
Kollaboration Summer Acoustic
An evening featuring up and coming Asian-American acoustic singers and musicians.

AUGUST 9
Fountain Theatre
Forever Flamenco at the Ford
A celebration of flamenco music and dance featuring local and international artists.

AUGUST 15
Ballet Folklorico Ollin
Retablos de Mexico: The Tradition Continues
A celebration of the cultural traditions of Mexico through music and dance.

AUGUST 16
Chris Isaacson Presents, LLC*
Broadway Under the Stars
A musical review featuring Tony Award winning artists singing songs from some of the most beloved musicals of our time.

AUGUST 17
Music Arts Events
Serenata Filipina
An evening of choral renditions of popular songs and OPM (Original Pilipino Music) sung in both English and Tagalog, featuring jazz vocalist and instrumentalist Mon David.

AUGUST 22
Justice by Uniting in Creative Energy
The Sixth Annual J.U.i.C.E Hip Hop Dance Festival
A hip-hop dance festival featuring top local hip hop dance companies, spoken word, graffiti art, multimedia, film and live DJs.

AUGUST 23
Signature Series: Long Beach Opera*
LA premiere of John Adams' earthquake romance, I was looking at the ceiling and then I saw the sky produced by Long Beach Opera.

AUGUST 24
The World Stage Performance Gallery
Jazz Masters: A Tribute to Billy Higgins
An evening of jazz featuring jazz notables Kamau Daaood, Carmen Lundy, Bennie Maupin, Kamasi Washington andHubert Laws in honor Billy Higgins' prolific career.

SEPTEMBER 5
Jail Guitar Doors USA
ROCK-OUT for Jail Guitar Doors with Wayne Kramer & Friends
A concert to benefit Jail Guitar Doors featuring rock musicians performing acoustic and electric sets.

SEPTEMBER 6
PAE Live! - Vaud and The Villains
Vaud & the Villains - Original Salvation
A concert featuring Vaud and the Villains, a 19-piece New Orleans orchestra and cabaret.

SEPTEMBER 7
Los Angeles Jewish Symphony
Hershey Felder in Concert with the L.A. Jewish Symphony
A symphonic concert celebrating the 20th anniversary of L.A. Jewish Symphony and featuring a newly composed overture by Hershey Felder.

SEPTEMBER 13
Signature Series: Ezralow Dance*
Director/Choreographer Daniel Ezralow (Sochi Olympics Opening Ceremonies, The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil, Across the Universe, ISO Dance, MOMIX) debuts Ezralow Dance and a commissioned world premiere.

JAM Sessions at the Ford - Artists to be announced
These free and interactive events take place at the Ford Theatres on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
May 12 Hip Hop Dance
May 19 Ukulele/Hula
June 2 African Dance and Drums
June 16 Japanese Folk Dance
June 23 Samba
June 30 Tap Dance
July 7 Son Jarocho Music and Dance
July 14 Lindy Hop
July 21 Drum Circle
July 28 Bollywood
August 4 Chicago Style Stepping
August 11 Middle Eastern Dance and Drum
August 18 Tango
August 25 Klezmer Music and Dance

Big!World!Fun! family series
These one hour music and dance events take place at the Ford Theatres on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m.
July 5 Izinde (South African music and step dance)
July 12 Shin Dance Company (Chinese dance and music)
July 26 Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company (Mexican folklorico dance)
August 2 Sarah Reich & Tap Music Project (American tap dance)
August 9 Khmer Arts Academy (Cambodian dance)
August 16 Versa-Style Dance Company (Hip hop dance)
August 30 Aaron Nigel Smith (Reggae music)
September 6 Viver Brasil (Brazilian dance and drum)