Sierra Madre Playhouse, a dynamic and intimate performing arts center in the heart of the San Gabriel Valley, launches its Fall 2024 programming on Saturday, August 3, 2024, 7:30 pm, with Nacht und Träume, a compelling music program delving into the territories of night and dreams presented by eminent pianist Vicki Ray. Joined by acclaimed soprano Elissa Johnston, Ray explores the liminal states of consciousness through the music of Franz Schubert and Alban Berg, alongside newer works by Rachel Beetz, Andrew McIntosh, Noah Meites, and Bill Alves. The program’s title comes from one of the featured works, Nacht und Träume (“Night and Dreams”), a stunning lied for voice and piano by Schubert with text by Matthäus von Collin. Also featured are Beetz’s Unofficial Dreams, an ever-changing landscape of sound; Meites’ Book of Beasts, based on the illuminated text of a bestiary, or encyclopedia of animals, created during the Middle Ages; and McIntosh’s Intermezzo: December 28, 2020, After Midnight, dedicated to Ray, in which, according to the composer, the rain he recorded that night “provides a canvas for a field of piano harmonics.” In addition, Ray features three songs from Alban Berg’s Seven Early Songs – “Nacht” (Night), “Die Nachtigall” (The nightingale), and “Traumgekrönt” (Crowned in dream), concluding the program with composer/video artist Bill Alves’ minimalist Liminal Landscape, for which he created the music and video in tandem. Ray, hailed as “a master at constructing a program, as well as a focused and probing performer” (San Francisco Classical Voice), is spotlighted on an array of keyboards, including acoustic piano and sampler/synthesizer with video.
Sierra Madre Playhouse is at 87 West Sierra Madre Boulevard, Sierra Madre, CA.
Flashes of Light (5/25/25-6/9/25)
Flashes of Light, New Musical about Inventor Nikola Tesla, Premieres at Sierra Madre Playhouse, May 25-June 9 (5/25/25-5/25/25)
Sierra Madre Playhouse Presents World Premiere of New Dance Work by Steven Atwater & Thomas Ford (5/17/25-5/17/25)
Sierra Madre Playhouse Presents Acclaimed Silent Film “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928) with Live Orchestra (5/10/25-5/10/25)
John Schneider: The Well-Tempered Guitar (4/26/25-4/26/25)
Internationally Acclaimed Clarinetist Joshua Rubin on “Waves in Bloom” (4/19/25-4/19/25)
Terrence McNally’s Tony Award-Winning Play “Master Class” (2/14/25-3/9/25)
Lunar New Year Series Features Musikaravan, A Dynamic String Trio (2/12/25-2/12/25)
Sierra Madre Playhouse Lunar New Year Series Features JAZZ: Eric Ching, One of L.A.’s Premiere Jazz Drummers (2/9/25-2/9/25)
Lunar New Year Series Features DANCE: "Pagdiriwang - A Celebration of Philippine Culture” Presented by Kayamanan Ng Lahi Philippine Folk Arts (2/8/25-2/8/25)
Videos
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Louisa Gillis
North Coast Repertory Theatre (1/14 - 2/8) | |
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Ann Hampton Callaway - Here's to Life
Feinstein's at the Nikko (1/31 - 1/31)
PHOTOS
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Ballybunion Backs Bill!
The Broadwater Main Stage (2/26 - 3/15) NEW PLAY LOS ANGELES PREMIERE | |
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BOY IN A BOX
The Whitefire Theater (2/27 - 2/27)
PHOTOS
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Primary Trust
Mark Taper Forum (5/20 - 6/28) | |
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SYLVIA SYLVIA SYLVIA
Gil Cates Theater (2/4 - 3/8) | |
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Patti LuPone in Concert
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (2/21 - 2/21) | |
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James Conlon Concert
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (4/24 - 4/24) | ||
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Danny Elfman's Music From the Films of Tim Burton
Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall (2/13 - 2/14) | |
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