FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact: Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
regherman@lvpac.org
Renowned Photographer to Discuss Portraits of Celebrated World Leaders and
the Inspiring Stories They Reveal, This May at The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (April 7, 2023) – Michael Collopy, one of the world’s preeminent portrait photographers, will share what he has learned photographing some of the world’s most influential individuals in a Rae Dorough Speaker Series presentation at the Bankhead Theater in Downtown Livermore on Thursday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. Collopy has gained global recognition for his commissioned photographs of hundreds of public figures, including seven United States presidents, 41 Nobel Laureates, and top talent from the world of entertainment, including George Clooney, Penelope Cruz, Paul McCartney, B.B. King, the Rolling Stones, and Frank Sinatra, to name just a few. His iconic photos of Mother Teresa in her Calcutta Mission have come to symbolize her work and humanity. Other iconic luminaries Collopy has photographed include Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lama.
Michael Collopy uses the art of portrait photography as part of his advocacy for peace and social justice. Collections of his photos published in books include Architects of Peace and Works of Love Are Works of Peace. His latest book, Courage, profiles people “who have exemplified bravery through specific acts of courage” – Maya Angelou, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Jane Goodall, among others. Proceeds from the sale of this book go to the Architects of Peace Foundation. In his presentation, Collopy will discuss the art of portrait photography, the power of photojournalism to move us, and how he has been inspired in his advocacy by the people he has photographed. He will illustrate his talk with slides of select portraits in an engaging and insightful conversation. Be inspired by this person whose photography work is instantly recognizable to anyone who has ever picked up a news magazine at The Bankhead on May 11.
The Bankhead Theater maintains COVID safety protocols with enhanced air circulation and no touch ticketing. Proof of vaccination is no longer required to enter ticketed performances unless noted as part of a contractual obligation with the artist. Tickets for all shows in the 2022-2023 Bankhead Presents season, including An Evening with Michael Collopy, are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows at 2400 First Street in Downtown Livermore from noon to 6 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays. For a complete list of events, visit livermorearts.org.
The speaker series honors the late Rae Dorough, a respected Livermore resident and strong supporter of cultural events. Members of her family and friends were the initiating sponsors in 2008. The series features provocative, entertaining, and enlightening presentations on a wide variety of topics. Past speakers have included engineers, scientists, fiction and non-fiction writers and historians, entrepreneurs, comedians and entertainers, diplomats, astronauts, journalists, and even a former secretary of defense. Sponsored in part by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC, Sandia National Laboratories, the Alameda County Arts Commission, Towne Center Books, and ImageSetters, the Rae Dorough series also partners with the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District and Las Positas College to provide free or reduced-price tickets to students and educators. Additionally, individual and corporate supporters help sponsor specific presentations. www.RaeDoroughSpeakerSeries.org | www.michaelcollopyphotography.com
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Livermore Valley Arts is an independent 501(c)3 non-profit offering wide-ranging programs that provide access to the arts for the Tri-Valley community and beyond. The Bankhead Theater and Bothwell Arts Center are home to eight resident performing arts companies, over 40 studio artists, and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Show: An Evening with Michael Collopy
Date/Time: Thursday, May 11, 2023, at 7:30pm
Tickets: $20-$40
Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
