The Wallis Introduces New Intimate Club, the Sorting Room

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — The Sorting Room — an exciting new intimate space for live performance — is launching in December at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts through Jan. 14, 2017.

Transforming the Lovelace Studio Theater into a 150-seat custom-built space, The Sorting Room will offer Los Angeles audiences the opportunity to see some of the best and upcoming talent in cabaret, comedy, live contemporary music, dance performance and more, delivering a unique, personal experience.

Acclaimed Grammy Award-winner singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III opens The Sorting Room on Dec. 3 with his one-man show "Surviving Twin," a posthumous collaboration combining and connecting some of his best songs with the writing of his late father Loudon Wainwright Jr., the esteemed Life Magazine columnist.

Established comic Sandra Bernhard hilariously mixes political satire, pop culture commentary and cabaret in the world premiere of her highly-anticipated new show Sandra Monica Blvd: Coast to Coast on Dec. 8 – 10. Broadway star and recent Tony Award nominee for Noises Off, Megan Hilty performs songs from her new holiday album entertaining audiences with her powerful vocals in an intimate two-night concert on Dec. 20 – 21.

Other featured artists include: comic Cameron Esposito; cabaret singers Rita Wilson, Rumer Willis and Rebecca Spencer; celebrated vocalist Ty Taylor; acclaimed musical duo Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk; tap dancer Melinda Sullivan; actress and master storyteller Christine Lahti and Los Angeles-based music group Ethio Cali. Special performances include Get Lit’s Dante; Salastina Music Society’s Chamber Messiah; a joyous multimedia concert of Langston Hughes’ kaleidoscopic jazz poem “Ask Your Mama: 12 Moods to Jazz” by Dr. Ron McCurdy; a night dedicated to the songbook of Jerry Herman, featuring Broadway star Jason Graae with special guest Karen Morrow; and an improv show by the master comics of Immediate Theater, led by Dan Castellaneta (the voice of Homer Simpson). More artists to be announced.

“The Sorting Room creates a new cool late night experience, bringing audiences together with an extraordinary mix of artists — most hailing from right here in Los Angeles — in an extremely intimate setting,” said Paul Crewes, The Wallis’ artistic director. “The success of our previous cabaret series gave us an opportunity to develop and expand. Audiences can grab a drink at The Bar @ The Wallis and settle into an inviting environment that delivers the best talent from a wide range of genres including comedy, cabaret, dance, live music, and more.”

Drawing its name from the original function within the Beverly Hills Post Office, The Sorting Room gives emerging artists the opportunity to establish relationships with new audiences, while giving veteran entertainers an intimate setting to perform, as well as develop new work.

Single tickets for The Sorting Room are now on available for $15 – $70. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit TheWallis.org, call (310) 746-4000, or stop by in person at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Ticket Services located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd. Ticket prices are subject to change.

-- News release from The Wallis. Courtesy photo