Levitt PaviLions Media Kit At-a-Glance............................................................................................................................. 1 The.Levitt.Network............................................................................................................ 3 Individual.Levitt.Profiles.................................................................................................. 4 Award-Winning.Artists....................................................................................................11 Bio.of.Liz.Levitt.Hirsch,.Board.Chair.......................................................................13 Bio.of.Sharon.Yazowski,.Executive.Director......................................................14 Mortimer.&.Mimi.Levitt.Foundation........................................................................15 Press.Clippings..................................................................................................................... 17 Media Contact Vanessa Silberman, Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives [email protected] 310.275.5628 | levittpavilions.org LEvITT.PAvILIoNS.MEDIA.KIT.|.at-a-glance. Levitt PaviLions at-A-GLANCE Levitt Pavilions is the only national network of outdoor music venues offering free concert series. Collage (clockwise, from top left): Levitt Arlington, Levitt SteelStacks, Levitt Memphis, Levitt Westport, Levitt Pasade- na, Levitt L.A. Founded our goals 2009 inspire the best of american city life our Mission • .Create.community.and.social.inter- Levitt.Pavilions.is.a.national.nonprofit. action.among.people.of.all.ages.and. organization.that.exists.to.strengthen. backgrounds the.social.fabric.of.America..We.part- •.Empower.cities.across.America.to. ner.with.cities.to.transform.neglected. reclaim.green.spaces.and.reinvigorate. outdoor.spaces.into.welcoming.destina- public.spaces tions.where.the.power.of.free,.live.music. brings.people.together.and.invigorates. •.Ensure.the.performing.arts.are.acces- community.life. sible.to.all.through.high.quality,.free. concerts our Vision An.America.filled.with.thriving.public. spaces,.creating.community.and. human.connections.that.extend.into. daily.life. 1 LEvITT.PAvILIoNS.MEDIA.KIT.|.at-a-glance signature award-winning venues.have.become.known.as.places. characteristics oF PrograM to.discover.new.artists.and.genres.. the leVitt PrograM: Levitt.venues.are.continually.recog- •.All.Levitt.performers.enjoy.state-of- •.50.concerts.annually.at.each.. nized.for.their.impact.on.commu- the-art.sound.and.lighting.on.stage. Levitt.venue nities,.receiving.numerous.awards. and.private.dressing.rooms,.green. and.honors..Team.members.are. rooms.and.catered.meals.backstage. •.Relaxed,.open.lawn.settings recognized.for.their.leadership,.Levitt. •.Free.admission venues.win.design.awards.and.Levitt. concert.series.are.regularly.recognized. the leVitt PrograM by.city.publications.in.their.“Best.of…”. ProVes that Free, liVe Key Features listings..Recent.examples.include: Music is a PowerFul •.Acclaimed,.emerging.talent.to. social connector •.Levitt.Pavilion.Arlington.voted.one.of. seasoned,.award-winning.artists the.top.five.outdoor.venues.in.North. You.can.see.its.effect.on.people.at. a.Levitt.concert—they’re.relaxed,. •.Rich.spectrum.of.music.genres Texas.by.the.Dallas Observer.(2013).. smiling,.dancing,.or.simply.interacting. •.State-of-the-art.sound.and.lighting •.Levitt.Pavilion.Los.Angeles.was. with.one.another..The.Levitt.program. featured.in.an.L.A. Times.cover.story. attracts.people.of.all.ages.and.walks. •.Easily.accessible.locations when.legendary.songwriter.Jimmy. of.life.whose.paths.might.not.cross. Webb.performed.his.hit.“MacArthur. •.Family-friendly.environments otherwise. Park”.in.MacArthur.Park.for.the.first. time.(June.2013). the leVitt PrograM the leVitt PrograM transForMs •.Levitt.Shell.Memphis.named.“Best. contributes to Place.to.See.Live.Music.in.Memphis”. healthy liVing once.challenged.sites,.includ- by.the.Memphis Flyer.(2012,.2013). ing.neglected.and.gang-infested. People.are.outdoors,.enjoying.the. parks.(Los.Angeles,.Pasadena.and. •.Levitt.Pavilion.Pasadena.voted. fresh.air,.dancing,.laughing,.energized. Memphis),.the.nation’s.largest.brown- “Best.Live.Music.venue”.by.readers. by.their.surroundings. of.Pasadena Weekly.for.the.fifth. field.(Bethlehem),.a.problematic. The.Levitt.program.promotes.social. straight.year.(2009–2013). landfill.(Westport),.and.a.dormant. interaction,.which.has.numerous.health. downtown.(Arlington).are.now.vibrant. •.Levitt.Pavilion.SteelStacks.received. benefits—reducing.stress.and.contribut- and.family-friendly.destinations. multiple.awards.for.its.innovative. ing.to.our.general.sense.of.well-being.. design.of.the.pavilion,.including.four. leVitt PaVilions: a awards.from.the.Tri.State,.Pennsylva- nia.and.Philadelphia.chapters.of.The. the leVitt PrograM Pioneer in the creatiVe enhances city liVability PlaceMaKing MoVeMent American.Institute.of.Architects.(2012). •.Green.spaces.are.reclaimed Creative.placemaking.integrates.arts.and. •.Levitt.Pavilion.Westport.voted. culture.into.communities.to.spark.eco- one.of.the.“Top.10.Destinations.in. •.Public.spaces.are.activated nomic.growth,.drive.community.engage- Connecticut”.through.the.Connecti- •.Local.economies.are.given.a.boost ment,.and.enhance.overall.quality.of.life. cut.office.of.Tourism.(2012). •.Communities.are.safer leVitt PaVilions: a leVitt is Musician •.Social.and.economic.barriers.are.broken generator oF third Friendly •.Access.to.arts.and.culture.is.ensured Places •.While.Levitt.concerts.are.free.to.the. Third.places.=.Those.informal.gather- public,.musicians.are.paid.a.compet- ing.spots.outside.the.realms.of.home. itive.fee.to.perform,.ensuring.a.high. and.the.workplace.where.all.feel.wel- level.of.excellence. come..Places.where.we.meet.friends,. •.With.our.support.of.emerging.talent. say.hello.to.neighbors.and.interact. as.well.as.award-winning.artists,.Levitt. easily.with.strangers. 2 LEvITT.PAvILIoNS.MEDIA.KIT.|.the leVitt networK THE.LEvitt . NETWoRK CuRRENT.Stats cities Over six strong* 300+ ▪.Arlington,.TX free concerts haLf a ▪.Bethlehem,.PA each year ▪.Los.Angeles,.CA nationwide ▪.Memphis,.TN MiLLion ▪.Pasadena,.CA people served ▪.Westport,.CT annually *The.Levitt.network.is.expanding..A.new. Levitt.Pavilion.will.open.in.Denver.in.2016,. and.more.are.on.the.way.across.the.country. 3 LEvITT.PAvILIoNS.MEDIA.KIT.|.indiVidual leVitt ProFiles: westPort LEvITT.PAvILIoN. WestPort LocatioN Saugatuck River Banks Westport, CT Concert seasoN June–August YEAR.oPENED 1974 WEBSITE levittwestport.org the original leVitt PaVilion oPened Four decades ago,.when.resi- dents.of.Westport,.Conn.,.wanted.to.build.an.outdoor.stage.that.would.serve.as. a.gathering.space.for.the.community..The.town.donated.its.problematic.landfill. site.located.in.the.middle.of.Westport.along.the.Saugatuck.River,.and.a.fund.drive. was.launched..As.summer.residents.of.Westport,.Mortimer.and.Mimi.Levitt.were. approached.to.support.the.project,.and.they.ultimately.became.the.campaign’s. largest.private.contributors..As.a.result,.Westport.named.the.new.stage.the.Levitt. Pavilion.for.the.Performing.Arts..Carrying.memories.of.his.impoverished.child- hood,.Mortimer.was.passionately.committed.that.performances.at.the.pavilion.be. presented.at.no.charge.. Since.opening.in.1974,.Levitt.Westport.has.served.more.than.1.5.million.people.. Levitt.Westport’s.long-term.success.as.a.community.destination.presenting.free. concerts.under.the.stars.has.served.as.a.model.for.the.national.Levitt.network.. Artists.who.have.graced.the.stage.over.the.years.include.Delta.Rae,.Roomful. of.Blues,.Frank.vignola.Gypsy.Jazz,.Hank.&.Cupcakes,.Sultans.of.String.and.the. Connecticut.Ballet,.and.GRAMMY-winning.artists.like.Kirk.Whalum.and.Terrance. Simien.&.The.Zydeco.Experience..Currently.undergoing.improvements.that.will. allow.for.a.significant.expansion.of.activities,.Levitt.Westport.will.soon.feature.a. brand-new,.$8.5.million.LEED.Certified.pavilion,.covered.stage.with.new.techno- logical.capabilities,.and.an.updated.Riverwalk. 4 LEvITT.PAvILIoNS.MEDIA.KIT.|.indiVidual leVitt ProFiles: Pasadena LEvITT.PAvILIoN. PasADENA LocatioN Memorial Park Pasadena, CA Concert seasoN June–August YEAR.oPENED 2003 WEBSITE levittpasadena.org leVitt Pasadena oPened More than a decade ago.in.Memorial.Park,. the.first.project.under.the.Levitt.Foundation’s.venture.philanthropy.program.to. revitalize.urban.public.spaces.through.the.power.of.free,.live.music.. For.many.years,.Memorial.Park.had.been.all.but.abandoned,.a.far.cry.from.its. former.glory.as.a.popular.community.destination.during.the.first.half.of.the.20th. century.when.outdoor.concerts.at.its.WPA-era.gold.band.shell.were.a.regular. Sunday.activity..But.by.the.1950s,.old.Town—the.commercial.area.surrounding. Memorial.Park—began.to.decline,.nearby.public.transit.was.discontinued,.and. many.residents’.homes.were.demolished.to.make.way.for.a.new.highway..For. nearly.50.years,.visitors.to.the.park.remained.sparse,.crime.ran.rampant,.and.the. historic.shell.went.largely.unused..It.wasn’t.until.the.early.2000s.that.local.revital- ization.efforts—including.seed.funding.from.the.Levitt.Foundation.to.refurbish.the. shell.and.program.50.free.concerts.annually—served.as.a.catalyst.for.change.in. Memorial.Park.. Today,.Levitt.Pasadena.draws.more.than.70,000.people.every.year.from.both.. the.local.community.and.greater.Los.Angeles.area.with.a.diverse.range.of.cele- brated.musicians..These.include.The.Belle.Brigade,.Billy.Childs,.Sarah.Lee.