Community Events at the New Vic
Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Winning Literary Journalist
Tracy Kidder
in Conversation with Pico Iyer
March 14, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
“Kidder’s prose glides with a figure skater’s ease, but without the glam. His is a seemingly artless art… that conceals itself in sentences that are necessary, economical, and unpretentious.” The Boston Globe
“I couldn’t put Rough Sleepers down. I am left in awe of the human spirit and inspired to do better.” – Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone
Pulitzer Prize-winner Tracy Kidder stands at the forefront of American letters as a champion of the heroism of everyday life. With a reputation for faultless prose and profound insights, his mesmerizing profiles include Mountains Beyond Mountains, which brought the world’s attention to Dr. Paul Farmer, and the Pulitzer Prize-winner The Soul of a New Machine. In his forthcoming work, Rough Sleepers: Dr. Jim O’Connell’s Urgent Mission to Bring Healing to Homeless People, Kidder continues to amplify the efforts of unique individuals who transcend cynicism and create hope.
Actor, Filmmaker and Animal Behaviorist
Isabella Rossellini
in Conversation with Pico Iyer
April 27, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
“Classic and progressive, privileged and mistreated, a fearless innocent and a muse to America’s two great post-war directors when they made their finest films… velvet-eyed, satin-skinned, Isabella Rossellini remains a primal, protean beauty of cerebral mischief.” – NPR
“Curiosity is my engine, but laughter is my fuel.” – Isabella Rossellini
A storied model and movie star, Isabella Rossellini represents a startling example of self reinvention. Born into European film royalty as the daughter of director Roberto Rossellini and actor Ingrid Bergman, her own performances are some of the definitive images in film. After a successful career in acting and modeling, she earned a master’s degree in animal behavior and now creates unique and humorous works of performance art based on her research. Known for her philanthropic efforts in animal conservation among other areas, Rossellini runs an organic farm in Bellport, New York. As former muse and partner to artists like David Lynch, Martin Scorsese and Gary Oldman, Rossellini has stories to share and ideas of her own about the trials and tribulations of a life lived almost entirely in the public eye.
Love & Justice: In The Footsteps of Beethoven’s Rebel Opera
Love & Justice: In The Footsteps of Beethoven’s Rebel Operaa documentary film by Kerry Candaele in the Beethoven/Hero Trilogy. www.beethovenhero.com
April 30, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. Doors Open at 2:30 p.m.
Prices: $15 General Admission
On September 11, 1973, a military coup Chile deposed the democratically elected president Salvador Allende, installed General Augusto Pinochet, and unleashed years of vicious repression. Among those rounded up, imprisoned, and executed was Jorge Peña Hen , a composer and the conductor of a renowned children’s orchestra. Forty-five years later, documentary filmmaker Kerry Candaele traveled to Valparaiso, Chile, to make a film about Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio. The opera is about a political prisoner, Florestan, unjustly held in a dungeon but ultimately rescued by his wife, Leonore, who has infiltrated the prison by dressing as a man. In Valparaiso, Candaele assembles an orchestra and performers to stage portions of the opera, but he also meets an eccentric Butoh dancer named María Belén Espinosa Peña. In performance, she dresses as a man—an imprisoned musician—and plays out his final days “to rescue him from the prison of forgetting”. The man is her grandfather, Jorge Peña Hen.
Struck by the similarities between Belén’s story and the story of Fidelio, filmmaker Candaele has created a swirling, poetic, and deeply musical narrative that weaves them together, along with Beethoven’s own search for love and justice.
The film is being released on the 50th anniversary of the Chilean coup, and is dedicated to its victims.
Film Run Time is 90 mins. 30 mins Q & A with the director, editor follows the screening. Santa Barbara author Howard Smith will be master of Ceremonies. Attendees are welcome to a post-show wine reception with the director, editor, local producer Pam Gunther, and “star” of the film visiting from Chile, María Belén Espinosa Peña .
JOSE LUIS DE LA PAZ EN CONCIERTO
with Adolfo Herrera (percussion), Magela Herrera (flute), Ana Bermudez (cello)
May 6, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Prices: $45 or $55
José Luis de la Paz (Spain) is an award-winning guitarist, recognized in all disciplines of flamenco as a performing artist and composer and whose original compositions range from the most traditional to experimental forms of flamenco exploring fusion with world music and touch of jazz. José Luis de la Paz was the musical director and composer for Ballet Cristina Hoyos for ten years before moving from Spain to the U.S. He is currently the musical director and collaborator for the Siudy Garrido Dance Company. He has performed with numerous famous flamenco singers and dancers such as Jose Mercé, Arcángel, Argentina, Manolo Marin, Antonio Canales, Farruquito, Concha Buika, and Belen Maya, among others. In 1995, Jose Luis de la Paz was mentioned in Felix Grande’s book, Agenda Flamenca, as one of the best guitarists in Spain. In 2003 he performed for the Flamenco Arts Festival as the musical director of Compañía Cristina Hoyos in two nearly sold-out shows. In 2015, he collaborated with the LA Philharmonic and Maestro Gustavo Dudamel, under the artistic direction of Siudy Garrido Company, in El Amor Brujo. That same year, he debuted his firstsymphonic work, Suite for Flamenco Guitar and Orchestra, in collaboration with Alex Conde (arrangements) and Berto Boyd (guitar transcriptions).
Digital Mechanix presents
Digital Mechanix presentsContinuous Signal: A Pink Floyd Affair The Pink Floyd Concert Experience
May 13, 2023 at 8:00 p.m. Doors Open at 7:00 p.m.
Opening Act: Stealing Silence begins at 7:30 p.m.
Prices: $45 or $55 for premium seats)
“There are all the other Pink Floyd tributes – and then there are these guys.” -Walt H., Thousand Oaks, CA
“Absolutely the best Pink Floyd tribute, and I’ve seen them all.” – Raymond M., Brea, CA
“Mind: blown.” – Sandy W., San Pedro, CA
Come celebrate the 50th anniversary of one of the top-selling classic rock albums of all time: Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon” with Southern California’s most dynamic Pink Floyd tribute show, Continuous Signal: A Pink Floyd Affair. From “Money” to “Comfortably Numb,” you’ll delight in these faithful, high-energy performances of all your Floyd faves plus deep cuts. Continuous Signal’s immersive sound and light show features an 8- piece band, giant inflatables, puppets, a laser light show and non-stop multimedia, to truly recreate the epic scale of Pink Floyd in concert that most other acts can’t begin to approach. Run Like Hell to get your tickets today! www.PinkFloyd.Live Check out the video promo!