Lovers of artistic expression who live on L.A.’s Eastside received a gift last fall, when UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance (CAP) began programming almost one-third of its offerings in downtown Los Angeles at the Theatre at Ace Hotel. No longer is a trek to Westwood required in order to experience CAP UCLA’s unique mix of dance, contemporary music, indie folk, world music, spoken word, theater, jazz and more.
But this is much more than a change of venue. It’s a crosstown collaboration, says CAP UCLA’s artistic and executive director, Kristy Edmunds, with “shared aims around community cause and unfettered creativity.”
Indeed, the maverick nature of CAP UCLA’s programming under Edmunds’ direction, showcasing what she calls “the ever-adventurous artists of our time,” suits the increasingly edgy vibe of downtown L.A. The central city, in the midst of a creative renaissance, serves as a vibrant hub attracting throngs of artists, art lovers and young creatives, many of whom live on the city’s Eastside. According to Edmunds, the number of artists now based in L.A. has reached critical mass, and CAP UCLA provides supportive space for experimentation and free expression.
The Spanish-Gothic Theatre at Ace Hotel, a downtown icon, seats 1,600 and features a three-story grand lobby, ornate balcony and a vaulted ceiling adorned with thousands of mirrors that illuminate the cathedral-like space. Occupying the historic United Artists building, constructed in 1927, the Ace sits in the heart of an area filled with historic theaters and contemporary museums and is the official home of L.A. Dance Project.
The 1,800-seat Royce Hall on the UCLA campus remains a key venue and home base for CAP UCLA, especially for events that require a larger stage and more traditional theater set-up. For tickets to CAP UCLA events, visit cap.ucla.edu or theatre.acehotel.com.