JUN 3, 4-8PM
Summer Soiree Program
Boston Court Pasadena, Pasadena’s premier nonprofit performing arts center, is celebrating our 20th Anniversary!
Today’s event promises a dynamic afternoon and evening of free entertainment, including special performances by jazz trumpeter Nolan Shaheed, interactive art and theater activities, and a unique behind-the-scenes tour of Boston Court’s intimate performing arts venue.
Thank you for joining us today!
Boston Court Pasadena is located on the unceded lands of the Tongva, Gabrielino, and Kizh peoples, specifically the lands of the Hahamog’na band of the Tongva tribe. We honor and uplift these still-enduring communities and we are grateful for their stewardship of these lands.
Kuuyam nahwá’a is a Tongva peoples concept that means guest exchange, a belief that when given a chance to affect history in a positive way that a human being would make the just move. One action people and institutions can take is to make a voluntary recurring contribution to support Tongva-led Land Back efforts, acknowledging both relationship and reciprocity to the lands and Native Peoples of Tovaangar, this place many of us now call home.
You can learn more about kuuyam nahwá’a and make your contribution on the Tongva Taraxat Paaxavxa Conservancy website: https://tongva.land/
SUMMER SOIREE DETAILS
FIXED SUMMER SOIREE SCHEDULE
4:30- 5PM – Nolan Shaheed First Concert
5PM – 5:30PM – Guided Tour + Main Stage
5:30PM – 6PM – Nolan Shaheed Second Concert
6PM – 6:30PM – Anniversary Toast
6:30PM- 7PM – Guided Tour + Main Stage
7PM – 7:30PM – Nolan Shaheed Third Concert
7:30PM – 8PM – Guided Tour + Main Stage
ONGOING SUMMER SOIREE ACTIVITIES
4PM – 6PM – Food Station
4PM – 8PM – Art Station
4PM – 8PM – Photo Station
NOLAN SHAHEED, TRUMPETER
Nolan Shaheed has achieved his world class standing in two varied genres. He holds a world record in running and has musical talent that has taken him all over the world playing trumpet to back-up remarkable performers notably Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross and Phil Collins. He has also performed and toured with: Eddie Harris, Teddy Edwards, Duke Ellington Orchestra, Lionel Hampton Orchestra, Jeannie & Jimmy Cheatham and Francisco Aquabea. Notwithstanding, Shaheed is in demand as a studio musician and has recently released the album, Lamentations From The Middle Passage.
Born in 1949, this California native knew he had athletic talent at an early age. Before entering competitive track as a high school sophomore, Shaheed enjoyed beating all-comers in around-the-block races. He was also involved in basketball, baseball and football during his formative years as a member of the Pasadena Boys Club. During the time that Shaheed excelled as a high school track star, he was also making a name for himself as an outstanding trumpeter. He was named to the All-City-Band and All-State-Band. Thankfully, his passion for the trumpet was recognized by his mother, who permitted him to relinquish the violin at age 12 and begin his remarkable dedication to the trumpet. He credits his musical shift to listening to recordings of Louie Armstrong, the great jazz trumpeter.
Shaheed had the speed to qualify for the Olympic trials as a runner but did not pursue this path. He recognized there was not the money in track that his musical talent would garnish. Therefore, running became an avocation and a supplement to his musical career. As he puts it, “Running made my trumpet playing better, which gave me an incentive to run.” While touring with phenomenal musicians, Shaheed honed his running skills and built the conviction to become an Ageless/Timeless Athlete. “When I was on the road, I always jogged ten miles. I did my best work writing music when on a nice long run,” Shaheed stated.
TIME & PLACE:
SEPTEMBER AND NOVEMBER 2001: NEW YORK – VIOLET’S APARTMENT, A TATTOO SHOP, A CAFE
DECEMBER 1937: NANJING – A CLASSROOM
AND TIMES AND PLACES IN BETWEEN
CAST
VIOLET | JENNY SOO
KIRA | ASHLEY DENISE ROBINSON*
LENA | JENAPHER ZHENG*
GLORIA | KAREN HUIE*
MEI ZHU | DESIREE MEE JUNG*
FRAN | VICTORIA HOFFMAN*
SIGH | REINA GUTHRIE*
STAGE DIRECTIONS | DAVID KEPNER
CREATIVE TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT | VASANTI SAXENA
DIRECTOR | KATHERINE CHOU
STAGE MANAGER | ALYSSA ESCALANTE*
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER | JASMINE LEUNG
*Denotes member of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States.
ABOUT BOSTON COURT
Boston Court creates and nurtures innovative, boundary-pushing art that invokes the power of collective imagination to illuminate our common humanity.
Expanding our capacity for empathy and change.
We’re passionate about the heightened, the lyrical, the never-seen-before, the boundary-breaking. We’re drawn to art that excavates the depth of human existence or dances in and out of ineffable wonder. We fall for the imaginative, the impossible, the incandescent. We love the absurd. We swoon for the cerebral. We bow down to heartbreak and humor, especially when we don’t see them coming. Show us the magic of what’s real and the tangibility of what’s ethereal.
STAFF
Will Block, Rentals Coordinator
Adrian Centeno, Literary Manager
Nicki Heskin, General Manager
Tarlisha Johnson-Lee, Development Manager
Jessica Kubzansky, Artistic Director
Stephanie Sherwood, ArtUpfront Coordinator
Jesse Soto, Technical Director & Facilities Manager
EmmaJo Spencer, General Management Fellow
Margaret Shigeko Starbuck, Associate Artistic Director
Hannah Trujillo, Patron Services & Administrative Associate
Paloma Arielle W., Marketing & Communications Manager
Ethan Haslam, Vivian Juarez, Reginald McKamie Jr., Maria Vasileva, Will Block, Adrian Zamora – 2023 Box Office & Front of House Staff
Kyle Clausen, Interim Leadership Consultant
Dana Bean/Amplify for Good, Fundraising Consultant
Fanshen Cox, Social Impact Consultant
Michael Michetti, Artistic Director Emeritus
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Edward Rada, Chair
Robert Leventer, Vice Chair
Kris Fujita, Secretary
Chris Werner, Treasurer
Liza Beres
Z. Clark Branson
Rodney Bolton
Walt Cochran-Bond
Jered Gold
Robin Green
Sandy Greenstein
Robbin Kelley
Damaris Montalvo
Michael Ruff
Tony Segall
Eileen T’Kaye
Nick Vasels
Joy Veluz