REALLY BIG SHOW
About the Program | Program Repertoire |Digital Program| About the Artists | Community Project | Our Sponsors
Photos by Haoyuan Ren
“We have a really big show for you tonight…”
That’s how Ed Sullivan famously introduced his show to a live studio audience and to millions more watching at home on televisions in their living rooms.
In fact, those words were sometimes the only common thread linking one show to the next. On any given Sunday, viewers tuning in to The Ed Sullivan Show were primed to expect a variety of entertainment from a variety of acts: anything from Broadway, dancers, opera singers, British Invasion bands, heartthrobs filmed “from the waist up,” Motown mega-stars, comedians, 13-year-old violinists, and puppets, to name just a few!
Ed Sullivan (right) invited Itzhak Perlman (left) to play violin on the show when he was just 13.
But, the true magic of The Ed Sullivan Show was how it simultaneously reflected cultural tastes of the time, while anticipating trends and influencing audiences to imagine a more egalitarian future.
How Ed opened hearts, minds, and imaginations
The Ed Sullivan Show broke barriers by providing a prestigious platform for Black artists like The Inkspots, Sammy Davis Jr., Ella Fitzgerald, and countless others to reach new heights, when few other platforms existed. At a time when such choices were exceedingly unpopular and difficult, Ed’s integrated stage boldly broadcasted a future where artists of all backgrounds could coexist and be embraced equally.
Join MUSE/IQUE for a wildly inspiring performance that showcases a variety of musical genres and celebrates the groundbreaking moments that changed television and America forever.
The Supremes first performed on the show in 1964, and would return 6 more times.
REALLY BIG SHOW
Program Repertoire
I Wanna Hold Your Hand - Paul McCartney and John Lennon, arr. Jamey Tate
Chris Pierce, Ayo Awosika, DC6 Singers Collective, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Some Enchanted Evening from South Pacific - Rodgers and Hammerstein, from The Rodgers and Hammerstein Library
Craig Colclough, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
The Best Things in Life are Free - Ray Henderson, arr. Jamey Tate
Chris Pierce, DC6 Singers Collective, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
S'Wonderful - George Gershwin, arr. Alan Steinberger
Ayo Awosika, Chris Pierce, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Before The Parade Passes By - Jerry Herman, arr. Rob Schaer
Ayo Awosika, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
"Prelude to a Kiss" - Duke Ellington, arr. Michael Valerio
Los Angeles Ballet, Pat Posey, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Toreador Song from Carmen - Georges Bizet
Craig Colclough, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64, Third Movement - Felix Mendelssohn
Dominic An, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Yesterday - Paul McCartney and John Lennon, arr. Chris Pierce
Chris Pierce
It Ain't Easy Bein' Green - Joe Raposo, arr. Alan Steinberger
Ayo Awosika, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
Peter Gunn Theme - Henry Mancini
MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
"Get Ready to Stop (in the Name Love)"
Smokey Robinson, arr. Jamey Tate, Lamont Dozier and Brian and Eddie Holland, arr. Jamey Tate
Chris Pierce, Ayo Awosika, DC6 Singers Collective, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
You'll Never Walk Alone from Carousel - Rodgers and Hammerstein, arr. Rob Schaer
Ayo Awosika, Chris Pierce, Craig Colclough, DC6 Singers Collective, MUSE/IQUE Orchestra
REALLY BIG SHOW
Digital Program
chris pierce, vocals
Chris Pierce is a singer-songwriter who blends Americana, folk, blues, and soul. His hit song “We Can Always Come Back to This” reached #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart. Pierce has also done worldwide headlining tours and has performed with: Neil Young, B.B. King, Seal, Al Green, Steve Earle, Allison Russell, Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Jill Scott, Blind Boys of Alabama, Aaron Neville & others. Other recent highlights include: a solo concert at The Kennedy Center, a duet with Sara Bareilles, a sold-out concert with Allison Russell, and performance/interviews on NPR’s WORLD CAFÉ, MOUNTAIN STAGE, AMERICAN FOLK SHOW, SoCAL SOUND, and more. Stellar performances at Newport Folk, AmericanaFest, Folk Alliance, Rancho La Puerta Folk Fest, Four Corners Folk, MerleFest & NC Folk Festival led to further acclaim.
ayo awosika, VOCALS
Ayo Awosika is an LA based vocalist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. She has toured and sung background vocals for artists including Miley Cyrus, Sam Smith, Rob Thomas, The Chainsmokers, Danny Elfman, Dua Lipa, Carlos Santana, Pentatonix, and Tune-Yards, among others. She has performed on The Today's Show, Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show, Good Morning America, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge, and The Voice. Ayo has sung in feature film scores for The Lion King, Minions 2, Nope, and Wakanda Forever. She was recently commissioned to compose and conduct a new choral piece for a 250 person choir that debuted at the 2023 Sister Singers Network Festival in Cleveland, Ohio.
craig colclough, VOCALS
Bass-baritone Craig Colclough began his career appearing in several roles with the Los Angeles Opera. The company awarded him the Eva and Marc Stern Artist Award during the 2020-2021 season, celebrating artists with deep connections to LA Opera. The 2022-2023 season featured a prominent return to LA Opera, bowing in the title role in Le nozze di Figaro, his return to the Atlanta Opera to make his role debut as Sharpless in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and his acclaimed Monterone for further performances at The Metropolitan Opera. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the fall of 2019, as the title role in Verdi’s Macbeth.
dc6 singerS collective, vocals
The DC6 Singers Collective are a Los Angeles-based ensemble of dynamic and energetic a cappella, gospel, and Motown singers. Together, the DC6 Singers Collective have brought their shared passion for music as well as their uplifting and charismatic performances to audiences across the country. In harmony, the DC6 Singers Collective delivers a unique approach to gospel and Motown standards and breathes new life into classic and current pop standards.
DOMINIC AN, VIOLIN
Dominic Hyunjin An began his violin journey at the age of 8 under the guidance of Ms. Rebekah Yoon. His passion for the instrument quickly blossomed, leading him to become a prize winner in the MTAC State Final Competition just two years after he started playing the violin. Dominic's talent was recently showcased in the Oscar-winning documentary "The Last Repair Shop." He is deeply committed to giving back to the community, teaching violin to children from low-income families, and regularly performing at senior homes and fundraising concerts. Dominic is a proud recipient of the Herbert Zipper Scholarship at the Colburn School and the 2022 LAKMA Special Young Artist Scholarship. Presently, Dominic is in the 8th grade at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences EMMI program, where he adeptly balances his academic studies with his dedication to the violin.
PAT POSEY, TENOR SAXOPHONE
Hailed by The New York Times as ‘brilliantly stylish,’ Pat Posey is a versatile saxophonist, tubaxist, and multi-instrumentalist. They perform a wide variety of music, appearing regularly with the San Francisco Symphony and the music ensemble Wild Up, and produce and perform tracks with DJs in LA’s nightlife scene. In addition, they are a founding member of the Los Angeles Reed Quintet, and have appeared at Carnegie Hall with composers John Adams, Thomas Adés, Peter Eötvos, and Michael Tilson Thomas conducting their own works.
MUSE/IQUE orchestra
Conducted by Artistic & Music Director Rachael Worby
Orchestra Manager Brady Steel
Librarian Caroline Boyce
MUSICAL COLLABORATORS
This special group works closely with MUSE/IQUE to develop and produce arrangements, advise on repertoire, and help bring the music to life.
Principal Arranger and Special Advisor to the Music Director Michael Valerio, and resident arrangers Jamey Tate, Rob Schaer, and Alan Steinberger
Violin I
Alyssa Park, Ashoka Thiagarajan, Lisa Dondlinger, Mina Hong, Marisa Kuney
Violin II
Ina Veli, Neel Hammond, Mona Tian, Paul Cartwright
Viola
Shawn Mann, Rodney Wirtz, Jonah Sirota
Cello
Charlie Tyler, Ginger Murphy
Bass
David Hughes
Woodwinds
Amy Tatum (flute)
Damon Zick (flute/alto sax)
Michele Forest (oboe)
Sierra Allen (clarinet)
Pat Posey (clarinet/tenor sax)
Amber Wyman (bassoon)
Alex Rosales Garcia (bassoon)
Brass
Dylan Hart (horn)
Laura Brenes (horn)
Rob Schaer (trumpet)
Chris Gray (trumpet)
Nick Daley (trombone)
Blake Cooper (tuba/bass trombone).
Rhythm
Alan Steinberger (keyboard)
Michael Abraham (guitar)
Jamey Tate (drums)
Pete Korpela (percussion/timpani)
REALLY BIG SHOW
In the Community
Students in graphic design classes from our community partner Marshall Fundamental School (ACI) worked with Heather Lipson Bell, Leslie Lopez, and Emily Daura from the MUSE/IQUE Artistic Team to develop artwork inspired by The Ed Sullivan Show. Thank you to Mr. Rendon - ACI Department Chair, and Ms. Johnson - Graphic Design Teacher!
We asked students to create a contemporary logo for The Ed Sullivan Show and an advertisement for their own variety show today with featured guests of their choosing. Subjects include social movements they are passionate about, artists they would like to celebrate, and civic workers or community members who inspire them. Instructions for the project included abiding by color palettes and dimension requirements (all real-world expectations for the media that appears on our own MUSE/IQUE stage!). The students were excited to be treated like professionals and ecstatic about their work being displayed during our pre-show mingle on our mainstage screens.
This season is presented by LeeAnn and Ron Havner / JCS Family Foundation.
Additional Sponsors:
Anonymous, Avery and Andrew Barth, Michael Casey, Nancy and Michael Harahan, Ellen and Harvey Knell, The Jerry and Terri Kohl Family Foundation, Debbie and Rick Powell, and Alyce de Roulet Williamson.