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Kimmel Center announces an exciting season-long series of artist and education events and initiatives to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The Lights Up on Home Anniversary Celebration pays homage to Philadelphia Legends who have either called Philadelphia their home for the performing arts or have contributed to the City's vibrant arts and culture landscape. The Lights Up On Home 10th Anniversary Celebration kicks-off with a performance on October 15 by Philly jazz legends The Heath Brothers, Jimmy Heath and Albert "Tootie" Heath, part of the season-long Jazz Up Close series.
Lights Up On Home also celebrates the Kimmel Center as home to its eight Resident Companies for their wide-reaching contributions to the performing arts. In addition to the Jazz Up Close Series honoring Philly jazz legends the Heath Brothers, Benny Golson, Lee Morgan and McCoy Tyner; and Grammy Award-winning singer and actress Audra McDonald's performance on Nov. 30, an encore to her performance 10 years ago, the Celebration also includes: The Philadelphia Orchestra performing with Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet Séguin; a world premiere by Hannibal Lokumbe with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia and Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir; a world premiere by Philly native hip-hop choreographer Rennie Harris performed by PHILADANCO!; as well as performances by the Pennsylvania Ballet; the Opera Company of Philadelphia; the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society with hometown opera star Eric Owens; Philly favorite Jerry Blavat's rip roaring music revue; and, Broadway musical FELA!, produced by Philly Native Will Smith and ?uestlove. (Complete list of Lights Up On Home performances with corresponding dates follows below release).
"We are absolutely thrilled about our 10th Anniversary Season-Long Celebration," said Anne Ewers, President and CEO of the Kimmel Center. "The arts have a special place in Philadelphia. Our celebration incorporates the extraordinary talent of this region and mirrors the diverse interests of the regional audience we serve. There is something for everyone. This is our opportunity to showcase our eight Resident Companies who have helped shape the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, and have made it an international cultural destination." The Kimmel Center is also committed to ensuring that both their audiences and presenters are representative of the communities they serve with deliberate programming selections to address the region's diverse cultural needs. In fact, according to Ewers, the Kimmel Center's programming department meets regularly with community-based organizations and cultural leaders to discuss how they can best achieve this task. The effort has led to Kimmel Center choosing Can You Hear God Crying?, a musical work presented in association with Art Sanctuary and composed by jazz-trumpeter sensation Hannibal Lokumbe, as the cornerstone of its Lights Up On Home Anniversary Celebration. The world-premiere features the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Enon Tabernacle Mass Choir and the Music Liberation Orchestra performing a combination of music and texts - including historic African American spirituals, Arabic prayers, Judeo-Christian hymns, which takes place in Verizon Hall on December 13, 2011 at 7:30pm.
Additionally, the Free at the Kimmel Series the 10th Anniversary Celebration begins December 16th with free plaza performances December 17, 18, 23, 24, 30, 31 and January 1, programming diverse regional artists and family friendly offerings. Free at the Kimmel continues throughout the season with weekly Saturday afternoon concerts, 5:30pm to 7pm. Organ enthusiasts are also invited to attend a free Community Organ Day on Saturday, June 9, 2012, held in honor of the Kimmel Center's 10th Anniversary Season."We are a performing arts venue for all people. With the offerings of our Resident Companies, co-productions with area concert promoters, our Kimmel Center Presents line-up, our Broadway Season and the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, we believe we've done just that," Ewers continued.As part of its kick off to the Jazz Up Close Series, which this season pays tribute to Philly Jazz Legends, Kimmel Center also debuts Jimmy Heath: A Philadelphia Jazz Retrospective in October. The video, produced by the Kimmel Center and shot by Philadelphia's own Denise James, follows Heath down memory lane as he visits locations which once housed great Jazz clubs. Heath narrates Philadelphia's rich Jazz history recounting stories peppered with appearances by the prolific Jazz greats who played Philadelphia. The piece is set to debut as part of the Kimmel Center's Jazz Up Close Series tribute to the Heath brothers on October 15. Excerpts of the documentary will also be broadcast on the Kimmel Center digital cube on Broad and Spruce streets, with selections also on the Kimmel Center's web site, www.kimmelcenter.org
"Philadelphia has a rich Jazz legacy that dates back to legendary performers who were either born and grew up in Philadelphia, or at one time called the city home to numerous jazz clubs and venues," said Vice President of Programming Matt Wolf, "Artistic Director Danilo Perez specifically curated the Kimmel Center's 10th anniversary Season's Jazz Up Close Series to celebrate Philadelphia's rich traditions and artistic contributions to Jazz."Another season highlight--Kevin Bacon will make appearances throughout the 10th Anniversary Season as the official celebrity spokesperson with a Bacon Brother's performance in spring 2012. Special appearances, TBA."I'm looking forward to returning to my hometown to celebrate the Kimmel Center's 10th Anniversary. Philadelphia has been an important inspiration in shaping my life as an actor and musician. My earliest memories include sitting in the Academy of Music absorbing the awe-inspiring sound of The Philadelphia Orchestra. Since those days, the performing arts have found an additional home in the Kimmel Center where all can enjoy dance, theater, and music of every type," said Bacon.
The Kimmel Center's Education Department will host various community activities, special events, and the installation of the art gallery, Under the Glass: The First 10 Years of the Kimmel Center commemorate the Kimmel Center 10th anniversary milestone, opening early November in the Merck Arts Education Center (Free admission and open to the public, 10am to 4pm and evening concert hours). The Kimmel Center's Creative Music Education Program will host monthly Jazz Jams in the Plaza with the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble.
