#capucla

Does that sort of social consciousness subsist through the rest of the series?

The thing that we try to focus on are extraordinary artists who yield the power of their observation in the world they’re living in...to then find a form that lets the public experience things in completely unique ways. 

Vijay and Teju’s Blind Spot hasn't been to Los Angeles. It's the work of a tremendous jazz pianist and composer who has a lot of dynamic involvement around social justice causes, and who, along with an incredible photographer, creates this amazing piece looking at the way in which historically in the U.S. we have been blind to different kinds of tragedy or injustice. It asks an audience to look at where our blind spots are right now and it invokes that way of knowing and belonging and checking ourselves while being involved in a tremendous performance experience.

And the second show? Can you tell us more about DakhaBrakha?

They perform traditional Ukrainian music, but also put their own spin on it. They're like an indie band out of the Ukraine, which is really under pressure from Russia and various other kinds of machinations. They’re amazing musicians who came out of a theater history, so they tend to be very visually compelling when they're on the stage. They travel the world sharing their music but also raising awareness as to what's going on in the Ukraine. They are so exquisite, I can't even, I have no words. They are just truly exquisite.

DakhaBrakha’s been around for a long time within the World Music spectrum, but they're really starting to crest into the imagination of the art world. They're reaching different kinds of diverse audiences now and we've been a part of that for multiple years. So while they're not a household name in the U.S., they are incredible artists. They are so beloved, and we look at their work as something we can help foster in Los Angeles and beyond.

Is there something that differentiates what kind of show you book at The Theatre at Ace Hotel versus one happening at Royce Hall?

Well, both of them are historic and extraordinary, quite iconic venues in Los Angeles. Royce Hall is larger. I mean, in a way, I guess the shortest way of describing it is that they're two different architectures, you know? The stage at Royce Hall has a large fly system, and can carry dance companies and large theater ensembles very well. It can also deal with music. So part of it is looking at what are the technical and architectural design needs of a theater space and matching the work to that. That is one piece.

Another piece of it — and it is part of what got me started in the collaboration with The Theatre at Ace Hotel — was that I have a long history with everybody there. There is an aesthetic that lives in the DNA of that Ace culture, in the employees and the staff. A lot of artists work there. So I like to embrace that aesthetic and that ethos — it’s important to embrace Ace and their history of artistic involvement.