ABOUT
Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national, and international artists share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. Distinguished by its eclectic programming that mirrors the diverse landscape of Los Angeles and its location in the entertainment capital of the world, The Wallis has produced and presented more than 400 theater, dance, music, film, cabaret, comedy, performance arts, and family entertainment programs, boasting nominations for 79 Ovation Awards and nine L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Awards as well as six architectural awards. Since its doors opened in October 2013, The Wallis has been committed to robust and distinctive presentations and education programs curated with both creativity and social impact in mind.
Hailed as “au courant” (LaLa Magazine), The Wallis was lauded by Culture Vulture, which proclaimed, “If you love expecting the unexpected in the performing arts, you have to love The Wallis.” Broadway legend Patti LuPone, who was The Wallis’ 2015/2016 Season Artistic Advisor, described the venue as “one of the best in the country, allowing for an unparalleled intimacy between [the artist] and the audience.” A recent patron survey produced audience comments about The Wallis ranging from "amazing, engaging, inspiring!" to "fun. entertaining. educational."
The breathtaking 70,000-square-foot facility, celebrating the classic and the modern, was named after philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, whose original $25-million dollar donation was instrumental in transforming the former Beverly Hills post office building into an arts complex. Designed by acclaimed architect Zoltan E. Pali (SPF:architects), the restored building features the original 1934 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places), whose eight towering fresco murals are one of two sets of WPA frescos remaining in the entire California Federal Building system. The Wallis’ lobby, now known as Jim and Eleanor Randall Grand Hall, serves as the theater's dramatic yet welcoming entryway to the contemporary 500-seat, state-of-the-art Bram Goldsmith Theater; the 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater; an inviting open-air plaza for family, community and other performances; and GRoW @ The Wallis: A Space for Arts Education, where learning opportunities for all ages and backgrounds abound. Together, these elements embrace the city's history and its future, creating a performing arts destination for L.A.-area visitors and residents alike.
Daphna Nazarian is Chair of The Wallis’ Board of Directors and Robert van Leer is Executive Director and CEO.
OUR MISSION
Deeply rooted in our local Beverly Hills community and influenced by cultural change, the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, a public-private partnership with the City of Beverly Hills, strives to be a site for the convergence of relevant, dynamic performing arts, education and civic life, strengthening our local and global community in our role as a presenter, producer, educator and community resource.
We approach our work with the pioneering creative spirit of Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles, while also recognizing that we live in a multi-cultural ever-changing world and that we will face continuous challenges. We navigate that changing world guided by the following core values:
Trust: We believe that trust among our fellow humans is a core tenet of our ability to accomplish our mission and vision and we are committed to building that trust among staff, board, audiences, artists and the community. Inherent in this trust is a generosity of spirit towards each other, a commitment to behaving with integrity, and respect for the views of those with whom we disagree.
Artistic Courage: We believe freedom of artistic expression is essential for our work. Artists and Wallis staff need to feel safe and supported in generating and sharing bold and provocative work. While everyone has a right to dislike any particular work, such views shall not be used to censor or inhibit future programming.
Enlightenment: We value innovation and ambition, allowing us to take on the challenge of bold work that will advance our mission and vision. We strive to provide opportunities to feel, to think, to provoke, and to dream together.
Cooperation: We believe our best work comes though teamwork, trust and the ability to work together in pursuit of our mission.
Communication: We believe the key to effective communication is the art of listening -- , considering and taking seriously all points of view. We embrace diverse voices and respect all points of view, even if we disagree. Our goal is to create human connectedness through meaningful shared arts experiences. Our marketing and community engagement will enable our goal of creating meaningful ongoing relationships with our audiences and community. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: We respect, honor, commit to and celebrate the full range of diverse backgrounds, abilities, identities and orientations that comprise our community, our country and our world. We are committed to equity; to deliberately elevating the voices of those who have not always been heard, using the platform we have to give voice to marginalized groups. We hope our audiences will mirror the wonderful diversity of our local community and our region.
Accountability: We recognize that we have been and continue to be entrusted with the public’s resources and revenue. We will be responsible stewards of these resources and transparent about how they are deployed in pursuit of our mission. We will strive to balance essential artistic risk with fiscal prudence.
COMMUNITY CONTEXT
The Wallis is firmly grounded in, and of service to, the dynamic, ever changing, Beverly Hills and greater Los Angeles community. As a civic hub, a gathering place for the open exchange of arts, ideas, and interests, our vision for this community actively invites everyone to contribute to the rich arts ecosystem of Southern California. We are also an integral part of the local, national and international arts communities and seek to play a leadership role in the advancement of the performing arts.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES
Monday–Friday 10am–6pm @ 310.246.3800
9390 N. Santa Monica Boulevard
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
TheWallis.org
TICKET SERVICES
Monday–Friday 11:30am–6:30pm @ 310.746.4000
During performance dates, Ticket Services will be open two hours before performance time and a half hour after the performance begins. Please note that Ticket Services is unable to process exchanges and future sales one hour prior to curtain time on performance dates.
SAFETY
For The Wallis’ current Health & Safety protocols visit TheWallis.org/Safety
ACCESS
The Wallis is committed to accommodating and ensuring a pleasant experience for all of our patrons with special needs or disabilities. Please contact Ticket Services, our House Manager or an usher to discuss your needs.
LATE SEATING
Should you arrive late for any performance or need to leave your seat during the performance, please expect to be held in the lobby until an appropriate moment or pause. To minimize any disturbance to other patrons, you may be seated in the first available locations by our staff even if different than your assigned seat locations. Please also be advised that some performances or circumstances may not allow for late seating or return seating.
LARGE PRINT PROGRAMS
The Front of House Staff is happy to provide programs with larger print to patrons upon request.
In The Bram Goldsmith Theater
TELECOIL INDUCTION SYSTEM FOR HEARING ASSISTANCE
A state of the art “hearing loop”—a thin copper wire—has been installed beneath the floor of the orchestra seating in the Bram Goldsmith Theater. For guests wearing a hearing aid with a copper telecoil wire or who have a cochlear implant, the system captures electromagnetic waves and broadcasts signals directly to your hearing aid device. For assistance, please inquire with Patron Services.
Gifted by Virginia and Frank Maas
QUIET ROOM
The Lynn and Les Bider Family Foundation Quiet Room is available during the performance for patrons who wish or need to step away for a moment. You can still see and hear the performance in progress, but we can’t hear you.