The Broad Stage Begins Fundraising Campaign

The Santa Monica-based The Broad Stage Monday unveiled a fundraising campaign to support "artistic incubation'' and the creation of new productions.

The campaign will also focus on obtaining support for education and community involvement and bringing groundbreaking performances, programs and events to new and current audiences, The Broad Stage director Dale Franzen said at a luncheon to announce the programming for its sixth season.

"With The Broad Stage's fifth anniversary season coming to a close, we are looking forward to celebrating ACT II -- the next five years of groundbreaking programming, original productions and an expanded capacity to create, produce and actualize pioneering and compelling works,'' Franzen said.

The campaign has received $2.5 million in donations from the Lloyd E. Rigler-Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation, Barbara Herman and Richard and Lisa Kendall, Franzen said. Franzen also announced the formation of its Jazz Council, including Quincy Jones and Herb Alpert, part of its efforts to make Los Angeles a leader on the global jazz stage.

The council will "further our commitment to jazz and will create and steward a welcoming home for jazz artists, as well as establish an uninhibited place where jazz mentorship and invention are alive and well,'' Franzen said.

Jazz & Blues at The Broad will return for its sixth year. Highlights include performances by singer Bettye LaVette, trumpeter-composer Arturo Sandoval and pianist Hiromi.