Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, the world's first LGBTQ+ mariachi band, presents sounds and rhythms from south of the border in back-to-back performances on Thursday and Friday, August 26 and 27, 2021, 8 pm, on the outdoor stage at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Showcasing the musical and folklore traditions of Mexico’s rich culture, the unique and dynamic ensemble, which “encompasses what it means to live harmoniously (Fodors Travel), made history when it created a haven where mariachi musicians who identify as LGBTQ+ come together and perform traditional Mexican regional music in an otherwise “machista” and discriminating subculture of the mariachi world. Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, led by director Carlos Samaniego, features among its ranks Natalia Melendez, the first transgender woman in the history of mariachi.
“Having the opportunity to host the world’s first LGBTQ+ inclusive mariachi band at the Wallis this summer is thrilling,” says The Wallis’ Artistic Director Paul Crewes. “The passion of these innovative artists for traditional Mexican regional music will allow us to experience enchanting and inspiring performances for the whole family. I could not be happier that they are making their Wallis debut this summer.”
For safety updates and protocols, please visit https://thewallis.org/safety
Tickets to Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles are $30 and are on sale now. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit www.thewallis.org/Mariachi or call 310-746-4000 (Tue. - Fri. 9:30 am – 2:30 pm).
About the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts:
The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a dynamic cultural hub and community resource where local, national and international artists share their artistry with ever-expanding audiences. The campus, located in the heart of Beverly Hills, CA, is committed to robust and distinctive presentations and education programs curated with both creativity and social impact in mind. 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 300 dance, theater, opera, classical music, cinema and family programs since its doors opened in October 2013. Hailed as “au courant” (LaLa Magazine), The Wallis was lauded by Culture Vulture, which proclaims, “If you love expecting the unexpected in the performing arts, you have to love The Wallis.” Its programming has been nominated for 79 Ovation Awards and nine L.A. Drama Critic's Circle Awards. The campus itself, a breathtaking 70,000-square-foot facility, celebrating the classic and the modern, has garnered six architectural awards. Designed by acclaimed architect Zoltan E. Pali (SPF:architects), the restored building features the original 1933 Beverly Hills Post Office (on the National Register of Historic Places), which serves as the theater's dramatic yet welcoming lobby, and includes 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. The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is led by Chairman of the Board Michael Nemeroff, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Rachel Fine and Artistic Director Paul Crewes.
For more information about The Wallis, please visit: TheWallis.org.
