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-artist cabaret collaboration that brings together pop, jazz, Broadway, blues and gospel. The pair share music and stories from their lives over the course of the evening.
Callaway is a champion of the Great American Songbook, blending jazz and traditional pop, and is known for her Tony-nominated role in Swing! and for writing and singing the theme to The Nanny. Haris is a singer, dancer and actress known as “The BIG VOICE” behind Madonna, with work spanning pop, R&B, jazz and dance, including performances with Madonna and guest lead vocals on Snap! tracks.
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.