Bankhead Presents Program | December 2025
PINK MARTINI ALL-STARS
PRESENT
A SEASON OF STARS
SUN DEC 7 @ 7:30 PM
Thomas M. Lauderdale, bandleader and pianist
Ari Shapiro, lead vocals
Edna Vazquez, lead vocals
Jimmie Herrod, lead vocals
Thomas Barber, trumpet
Antonis Andreou, trombone
Phil Baker, upright bass
Dan Faehnle, guitar
Nicholas Crosa, violin
Reinhardt Melz, drums
Miguel Bernal, percussion
Timothy Nishimoto, percussion and vocals
Thomas Lauderdale’s globe-trotting “little orchestra” Pink Martini is back with an all-new holiday show that brings triple the joy! Featuring three of the band’s favorite singers and long-time collaborators, the Pink Martini All-Stars present: A Season of Stars tour conjures up a mix of old holiday favorites and sweet new treats, glittering with the band’s unique brand of catchy classic pop, big band sound, and Hollywood glamour. Led on stage by NPR’s dashing Ari Shapiro, the soulful Edna Vazquez, and the sensational America’s Got Talent finalist Jimmie Herrod, these three vibrant voices will deck the halls with a spirited global holiday journey, destined to bring three times the sparkle into this festive season.
One of the most recognized and trusted voices in the United States, Ari Shapiro has spent a decade as host of NPR’s flagship evening news program All Things Considered and the podcast Consider This. He has reported from above the Arctic Circle and aboard Air Force One. He has been a question on Jeopardy and an answer in the New York Times crossword puzzle. Among his many journalism accolades, he has won three national Edward R. Murrow Awards, the American Bar Association’s Silver Gavel Award, and was named Journalist of the Year by NLGJA, the association of LGBTQ+ journalists. His debut memoir, The Best Strangers in the World: Stories From a Life Spent Listening, was an instant New York Times bestseller. He also hosts the reality competition show, The Mole, on Netflix. His 12-part course for Wondrium, “The Power of Storytelling,” received a Gold Telly Award. As a performer, he has been a frequent guest singer with Pink Martini since making his debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009. He has performed with the band in some of the world’s most storied venues and recorded songs in a variety of languages. He also tours the country with the actor Alan Cumming in their two-man show, Och and Oy: A Considered Cabaret, as well as with his own original solo show, Thank You For Listening: An Evening of Songs and Stories. Ari was born in Fargo, North Dakota and grew up in Portland, Oregon. He lives in Washington, DC, with his husband and two dogs.
Edna Vazquez is a fearless singer, songwriter, composer, and guitarist whose powerful voice and musical talent transcend the boundaries of language to engage and uplift her audience. She is a creative musical artist with a vocal range that allows her to paint seamlessly with her original material, an intersection of Mexican Tradicional, rock, pop and other genres. Edna’s passion for music and performance grew from her bicultural roots and, with songs deeply rooted in universal human emotion, she has traveled far and wide spreading her message of light, love and cultural healing.
Vazquez has grown as a musical artist and collaborator over the last years, touring all over the world since 2017 with the acclaimed “little orchestra” Pink Martini, while still performing as a solo artist as well. In the past, she led her own band projects, the Edna Vazquez Quartet, the rock band No Passengers, and the latest, the Edna Vazquez Band. Vazquez also participated in the Latin Grammys with the all-female mariachi fusion band from New York City, Latin Grammy 2017 winners, Flor de Toloache and accompanying Natalia Lafourcade that night.
In 2022, as a soloist, Vazquez participated in two great events, one in Canto en Resistencia (Power to the People!) with the LA Philharmonic, with Davendra Banhardt, Ile, Silvana Estrada, Rodrigo Amarante, Jorge Glem, and conducted by Gustavo Dudamel. She also appeared at The Hollywood Bowl with the acclaimed pianist Lang Lang and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, performing DESTINO (1946), a film collaboration between Salvador Dalí and Walt Disney.
With Pink Martini, Edna Vazquez has performed with major Symphonies and in legendary concert venues all over the world, including London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Hollywood Bowl, Red Rocks, the Montreal Jazz Festival, and many more.
In 2017, Vazquez released an EP album with Pink Martini entitled “Besame Mucho” and featuring her original single “Sola Soy.” And in the Summer of 2025, Edna Vazquez released her new album “Te Esperaba,” a collection of mostly original compositions based in traditional Northern Mexican styles like Banda and Norteño, and also in traditional Mariachi. Edna is proud to continue to venture into these traditionally male-dominated genres with her powerful interpretive voice.
Since late 2017 Jimmie Herrod has been touring with Pink Martini across the US, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Europe. Outside of performing arts centers and jazz clubs, Herrod is regularly featured with major orchestras across the US, and has shared the stage with artists such as Lalah Hathaway, Brian Blade, Vince Mendoza, Renee Fleming, and many more.
With “a voice like a beacon of hope” (Seattle Times), vocalist Jimmie Herrod brings singular power and expressivity to his globe-trotting career as a singer, songwriter, and entertainer on stage and screen. Herrod first came to worldwide prominence as a finalist on the NBC nationally broadcast television show, America’s Got Talent, earning the rare “Golden Buzzer” recognition from actress Sofia Vargara and returning the following year on the AGT All-Stars series.
Irish Christmas in America
MON DEC 8 @ 7:30 PM
Back for a 18th season, the hugely popular holiday show Irish Christmas in America brings a fascinating performance of music, song, dance, and stories of seasonal Irish traditions.
The holiday show was first conceived in 2005 with past tours featuring such stellar guest vocalists as Niamh Farrell, Séamus & Méabh Begley, Teresa Horgan, Lumiere (Pauline Scanlon & Eilis Kennedy), Karan Casey, Cara Dillon, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, Cathie Ryan and Michael Londra. Mac Diarmada enthuses about the program as a way to bring traditional and often unknown Irish customs to the States. “One of the most heartfelt themes of Irish Christmas is emigration,” says Mac Diarmada. “Music was a way that people stayed close to home.”
A sparkling tradition among holiday events, Irish Christmas in America is a special show to see this season. For more information visit irishchristmasinamerica.com.
Sponsored in part
Christmas Dreaming with Stella Cole
THU DEC 18 @ 7:30 PM
Stella Cole is hitting the road this December to celebrate the holiday season and support her new Decca single, “Merry Christmas, Darling.” In response to her timeless reimagining of the beloved Carpenter’s classic, Richard Carpenter said “I’ve been waiting fifty-five years for a fresh take on what I consider to be one of my better songs, and Ms. Cole knocks it out of the park.”
Last year, the “powerhouse rivaling Judy Garland and Rosemary Clooney” (People) released her holiday EP Snow! featuring a duet on the title track from the classic White Christmas with Tony Award-winner Darren Criss. Snow! presents Stella interpreting well-known holiday classics like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” “White Christmas,” and “It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas” in addition to discoveries like “Christmas Dreaming” and “That’s What I Want for Christmas.” Arranged by Grammy-winning arranger Alan Broadbent, Snow! is sure to become a holiday classic.
On August 22, 2025, Stella released her sophomore album It’s Magic on Decca Records US. Also arranged by Broadbent and produced by Grammy-winner Matt Pierson (Samara Joy, Brad Mehldau), the album breathes new life into classic love songs. Recorded at New York’s legendary Power Station, the vision for It’s Magic was to take on songs that were familiar, but somewhat unconventional. The repertoire varies from standards like “Fools Rush In,” iconic film themes like “As Time Goes By” (a favorite of Cole’s from Casablanca), Burt Bacharach’s main title theme from Alfie (1966), Cole’s dreamy interpretation of “Say It,” and the tender “Till There Was You,” made familiar by the 1957 Broadway musical The Music Man and later The Beatles.
With a voice that bridges generations, Stella Cole has cultivated nearly 2 million social media followers through her fresh interpretations of timeless songs by iconic artists, including Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, and Nat “King” Cole. Often described as a Laufey-meets-Bublé sensation, Cole brings a fresh interpretation of classic repertoire to a new generation.
Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico
MON DEC 22 @ 7:30 PM
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande invite you to celebrate the holiday season with Campana Sobre Campana: Christmas in Mexico! Named for the beloved Andalusian Christmas Carol, this vibrant show weaves cherished Mexican traditions into a magical story of the season! Through the joyous rhythms of “Bells Upon Bells” and the colorful spectacle of Mexican dance, we capture the heartwarming reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s journey! You’ll experience the spirit of Posadas, the majesty of the Reyes Magos, and the thrill of breaking piñatas! Join Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande for an unforgettable program where every note and dance step embodies the rich cultural tapestry of Christmas in Mexico!
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar y Ballet Folklórico del Río Grande te invitan a celebrar la temporada navideña con Campana Sobre Campana: Navidad en México. Nombrado en honor al querido villancico andaluz, este vibrante espectáculo entrelaza tradiciones mexicanas entrañables en una mágica historia de la temporada. A través de los alegres ritmos de “Campana Sobre Campana” y el colorido espectáculo de la danza mexicana, capturamos la conmovedora representación del viaje de María y José. ¡Experimentarás el espíritu de las Posadas, la majestuosidad de los Reyes Magos y la emoción de romper piñatas! Únete a Ballet Folklórico del Río Grande y Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar en un programa inolvidable donde cada nota y paso de baile encarnan la rica cultura de la Navidad en México.
New Year’s Eve with Matt Axton & Badmoon
WED DEC 31 @ 7 PM
Some say rock is dead, but fans of Matt Axton know that Mountain Soul – Rock & Roll is alive and kicking. Grown in the mountains of Tahoe and with The Axton Musical Legacy as his guide, this West Coast-based singer/songwriter and band leader’s music is a powerful mix of classic storytelling folk-roots with modern guitar-driven Americana rock twists. Matt is known for his distinct baritone voice, unique finger-picker guitar style, and wealth of legacy stories.
Matt tours nationally playing large festivals and iconic institutions as well as opening up for acts like Midland, Paul Cauthen, Jim Lauderdale, and Nikki Lane. He has recorded with music legends Steve Feroni (Tom Petty), Hal Cragin (Iggy Pop), Durga McBroom (Pink Floyd) and collaborated on projects such as “Abbey Road Reimaged – A Tribute to the Beatles” where Aaron Badgley of Spill Magazine called Axton’s cover of ‘Octopus’ Garden’ “pure genius.”
“Joy to You,” Matt’s signature sign-off, is not just a reference to his father’s famous song, but a way of life. Matt strives to create community through music curating Americana Joy, a monthly live music series of local and touring bands in Los Angeles, spearheading the Tahoe Joy Music Festival benefitting local nonprofits, and piloting a showcase of up-and-coming acoustic artists with Americana Land, a music video channel.
Boasting over 300 original songs with some of L.A.’s best players behind him (Badmoon), Matt Axton continues to carve his path in the independent Americana scene and proudly celebrates the family tradition of bringing just a little more Joy To The World!
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UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery at the Bankhead Theater
KNOCK KNOCK: The Art of Wit and Whimsy
Now thru January 4, 2026
New Hours Thursdays & Fridays, 12 pm — 5 pm | Saturdays, 9 am — 1 pm*
FREE & OPEN to the Public
*PLEASE NOTE: The Art Gallery is CLOSED Sundays through Wednesdays, as well as on Saturdays when matinee performances take place at The Bankhead.
“Knock, Knock: The Art of Wit and Whimsy” invites viewers to step into a world where humor & imagination take center stage. This lighthearted & joyful exhibition celebrates the playful side of creativity, showcasing artwork that elicits laughter, sparks delight, & nudges the imagination in unexpected directions. From visual puns & satirical commentary to reimagined board games & comic-inspired illustrations, each piece reveals how art can be both clever & carefree. The Reception for “Knock, Knock,” also free and open to the public at the UNCLE Credit Union Art Gallery, was on Saturday, October 25, from 1 pm to 3 pm. Learn More …
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