Ann Hampton Calloway and Niki Haris
Ann Hampton Calloway, Niki Haris
Carpenter Performing Arts Center6200 Atherton St., Los Angeles 90815
Ann Hampton Callaway and Niki Haris premiere Broad Appeal, a two-vocalist show that moves through pop, jazz, Broadway, blues and gospel. The evening pairs music with stories from the singers’ lives.
Callaway is a Tony-nominated, multiplatinum-selling pop and jazz singer-songwriter. Haris, a singer, dancer and actor from Augusta, has worked with Madonna and contributed backing vocals to Callaway’s Finding Beauty, Originals Volume 1.
Named for pop duo and alumni Karen and Richard Carpenter, this 1,054-seat concert hall pairs the acoustics and sightlines of a premier civic theater with the welcoming ease of a campus arts hub. Visitors arrive early through a curved glass facade to browse a permanent lobby showcase of original instruments, gold records, and memorabilia before taking reserved tiered seats. The stage accommodates everything from touring jazz ensembles and symphonies to Broadway musicals by resident company Musical Theatre West, along with an occasional cabaret setup where small tables and chairs move directly onto the stage floor behind the main curtain. Light refreshments and beverages are available in the lobby to enjoy before showtime, and while the focused, listening-room atmosphere commands rapt attention throughout performances, the surrounding East Long Beach neighborhood offers plenty of casual dining just off the freeway.