FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Livermore Valley Arts
Contact:
Ruth Egherman (925) 583-2306
Arthur Barinque
All-Ages Welcome to Celebrate Both Pride Month and Juneteenth at The Bankhead
Livermore, CA – (May 3, 2024) – June is a celebratory month for many different reasons, and Livermore Valley Arts is thrilled to be a destination for such festivations. Pride Month is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQ+ Americans. Pride Anthems, full of Broadway and cabaret stars, will be making a second tour around the country kicking off its month-long celebration of the story of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality right in the Tri-Valley on Friday, May 31. Moving to another reason for this special month, LVA is proud to be celebrating Juneteenth over many weeks this June at the Bankhead Theater. Originating in Galveston, Texas and celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth is the US holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans, where on that date in 1865, all enslaved people were finally declared free under the terms of the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. On Saturday, June 1, Tri-Valley’s favorite motivational speaker, KKIQ radio personality, and comedian Faith Alpher will be back on the Bankhead Stage in More Than A Song, for an afternoon of uplifting songs, accompanied by the inspiring stories behind them. A few weeks later on Saturday, June 15, Livermore Valley Arts is partnering with Tri-Valley for Black Lives to host its third-annual Juneteenth Celebration on the Bankhead Plaza for another free, community event. Closing out the joyful month, The Bankhead is proud to present in a ticketed event the return of the impressive Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir in a soaring performance that will both entertain and enliven on Friday, June 21, after 2023’s audience-acclaimed show. The public is invited to celebrate both Pride Month and Juneteenth at all of these events in Downtown Livermore.
Join us on May 31 to kick off Pride Month with a journey through the past 50 years of Pride Anthems. From Donna Summer and Queen to George Michael, Erasure, Madonna, Lady Gaga, and much more,
these essential songs take us from disco to the present day. The story of the fight for LGBTQ+ equality is linked to this music, which evokes the struggles, heartache, and liberation of queer lives, then and now. PRIDE ANTHEMS is an all-ages concert that creates a vibrant musical experience that celebrates, inspires, and commemorates the legacy and power of the Stonewall Riots, and takes one on a musical and cultural journey through the past 50 years to today. Produced in partnership with Pride Live, a portion of the proceeds will benefit Pride Live and the Stonewall National Monument Visitors Center (SNMVC), which will open in June 2024. PRIDE ANTHEMS is a show for all to come together in song and celebration of where the LGBTQ+ community has come from and how far it has come since Stonewall. The star talents on tour with PRIDE ANTHEMS this year are:
Kevin Smith Kirkwood most recently appeared onstage in the Off-Broadway revival of Kinky Boots as the Referee Angel and as Victor in Fulton Theater’s production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe to rave reviews. He was seen on television in The CW’s Katy Keene and also appeared as a featured performer in the 2019 World Pride Parade on the Procter & Gamble float. Kirkwood made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and earned a 2005 New York Innovative Theater Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor for It’s Karate, Kid! Kirkwood would go on to receive a New Hampshire Theater Alliance Award Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor for Violet and won the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his performance in RENT. After performing in the entire Broadway run of the Tony Award-winning Musical Kinky Boots, Kevin went on to play the role of the Scarecrow in the Broadway at Sacramento Music Circus production of The Wiz, which received rave reviews. On film, Kirkwood stars as Roxy in the horror feature film entitled Condemned, and he can also be heard voicing the character DJ on season two of Marvel’s Wolverine Podcast: The Lost Trail. Kirkwood created and stars in the wildly popular and critically acclaimed solo show, “CLASSIC WHITNEY: ALIVE!” which has played to sold-out houses at Joe’s Pub, The Cutting Room, on cruise ships around the world, and even a command performance at the Whitney Houston estate.
Amy Jo Jackson (they/she) is an award-winning cabaret artist for their acclaimed Tennessee Williams solo show “The Brass Menagerie” (2022 Bistro Award). Film credits include Sister Tammy in Dicks: The Musical (A24), and the singing voice of an animated crab from New Jersey in Under the Boardwalk (Paramount). Fave stage credits include Singin’ in the Rain (Weston), Fun Home
(SpeakEasy Stage), Matilda (Constellation), The Little Mermaid (Arkansas Rep), Cymbeline (Opera House Arts), Boeing-Boeing (Seven Angels). As a text/dialect coach, they’ve worked extensively in NYC and regionally, most notably on Broadway’s Kinky Boots. Their work as a kabarettist and nightlife artist has found them on just about every cabaret and comedy stage in NYC. Amy Jo is also a playwright and composer/lyricist. @hatchetationthemusical
Brian J. Nash (Musical Director) is an award-winning pianist, singer, musical director, orchestrator, and producer who has been based in New York since 2002. Brian has been the Music Director of many off-Broadway and regional musicals and works in concert with Jennifer Holliday, Deborah Cox, Andy Bell (Erasure), Ana Gasteyer, Laura Benanti, Tiffany, Shoshana Bean, Natalie Joy Johnson, Ada Vox, Christina Bianco, and many others. Brian recently sold out a run at the Sydney Cabaret Festival, performs around the world as both an award-winning solo artist and music director, and from March 2020 to September 2022 performed a weekly series of streaming all-request shows. As a record producer, he has produced and played on pop and rock records for Justin Tranter, Shanna Sharp, Boys Like Girls, Peppermint, Stacy Allyn Baker, and many cabaret and cast albums. He holds a degree in opera performance from Boston Conservatory and has taught master classes in song interpretation all over the world. His collaboration with Natalie Joy Johnson has resulted in two multi-year residencies in NYC and recordings with their band, Miss Natalie. His solo album, Forever/After, is available on iTunes. For more info, please visit BrianJNash.com.
Marty Thomas is a Grammy-nominated recording artist and actor who made his Broadway debut at age 11 as Colin in The Secret Garden. His first major label recording was singing backing vocals for Carly Simon at the age of 12. That same year, Marty was named a Junior Vocalist Champion on Ed McMahon’s Star Search, beating out a then-unknown Britney Spears. Marty used his success as a child actor to parlay a very successful stage career on and off Broadway. He performed in the Broadway smash hit musicals Wicked and Xanadu. Marty was featured in the independent film Big Gay Musical and played Damon on the CBS sitcom Two Broke Girls and Charlie on the Netflix series Grace and Frankie. He has toured internationally with groups like The Harlem Gospel Singers and Postmodern Jukebox. He has sung with the likes of Billy Porter, Grace Jones, Patti Labelle, Barry Manilow, Johnny Cash, Kristin Chenoweth, Jessica Vosk, and many more. Marty has three full-length albums available on all streaming platforms. He has appeared on every major cruise line and has sung the national
anthem for the New York Islanders and the Brooklyn Nets. Marty has appeared on MTV, VH1, The Oxygen Network, The Today Show, and The Tony Awards. Follow on Instagram @Martythomaslovesyou and read more at www.Martythomas.com.
In More Than A Song, educator, speaker, and radio personality Faith Alpher will present an afternoon of uplifting songs, accompanied by the inspiring stories behind them. A native of Teaneck, New Jersey, Faith Alpher has been delighting audiences for years. A trained actress, comedian, radio personality, wife, mother, and dog-lover, Faith has a remarkable gift for connecting with people of every background. On stage, her larger-than-life personality and willingness to share her life’s experiences openly and honestly connect audiences not just to her, but to each other. In this June 1 show, these narratives will showcase individuals who triumphed over insurmountable odds, contributing to the diverse sounds of our cultural landscape today. Audiences are invited to experience the event, departing with a song in their hearts, feeling empowered and inspired by the profound impact of these historical figures, realizing they’ve left us with ‘More than a Song.’ This event is free and open to the public; reservations are required. This is a don’t-miss event for the entire community.
While More Than A Song on June 1 at 1 pm is free with a reservation, the Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 15 from 10 am–8 pm is also free and open to the general public, with no reservations required. For the Celebration on the Bankhead Plaza, Livermore Valley Arts is partnering once again with Tri-Valley for Black Lives to host this event, where family and friends are encouraged to come enjoy food, festivities, fun, music, dancing, drumming, singing, art, storytelling, performances, and entertainment. (While the final list of organizations involved is still being finalized, LVA’s inaugural Juneteenth Celebration included appearances by Master Drummer King Tacuma, Singer Songwriter Alise Bradford, Oakland Originalz, Feline Fitness Dance Crew, and booths sponsored by Lawrence Livermore National Lab African Body of Laboratory Employees (ABLE), Livermore Library, Diablo Black Men’s Group, Grandmothers Who Help, and more. Stay tuned for a finalized list of community organizations and companies.) These free community and cultural events are part of LVA’s core value and belief that everyone in the Tri-Valley should have the opportunity to experience the arts at whatever age and whatever level they are. The public is invited to share in this month of events and activities, to not only celebrate African-American culture but also to learn and grow from our shared history as Americans.
About a week later, The Bankhead is overjoyed to present once again the acclaimed Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir. Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir will celebrate Juneteenth with experience and music that brings and shares the resiliency, joy, and strength of the African-American community. Under the direction of Terrance Kelly, this diverse, inclusive group takes us through a gospel music journey – introducing different styles of Black gospel music, and connecting it to the Freedom Songs of the Civil Rights movement and to music today. Founded in 1986 by Kelly, the mission of OIGC is to inspire joy and unity among all people through Black gospel and spiritual music traditions, weaving together more than 300 singers across multiple choirs from a wide range of faiths, races, and cultures. Under Artistic Director Kelly, the Choir performs 25-30 times a year and is inclusive of an ensemble of nine to fifteen singers representing OIGC at additional events, with performance highlights including jazz festival tours, the CA Governor’s Tree Lighting, inauguration ceremonies, and annual performances with the Oakland and San Francisco Symphonies. Tri-Valley audiences can get ready to stand up, clap, and even sing along with a joyful sound on June 21.
The Bankhead Theater and Plaza are located at 2400 First Street, Livermore. Tickets for all remaining shows in the 2023-2024 Bankhead Presents season and in the 2024-2025 Bankhead Presents season are available online, by calling 925-373-6800, or at the box office windows. For a complete list of events, visit livermorearts.org.
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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 nine resident performing arts companies and over 40 studio artists and cultural arts instructors. LivermoreArts.org
Event: Pride Anthems
Date/Time: Friday, May 31, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25—$80 ($25 student/military personnel)
Event: More Than A Song by Faith Alpher
Date/Time: Saturday, June 1, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Tickets: Free, Reservations Required
Event: Juneteenth Celebration on the Bankhead Plaza
Date/Time: Saturday, June 15, 2024, 10am—8pm
Tickets: Free & Open to the Public
Event: Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir at the Bankhead Theater Date/Time: Friday, June 21, 2024 at 8:00 pm
Tickets: $25—$35 ($25 student/military personnel)
Dates, times, and ticket prices for other events available at www.LivermoreArts.org
