Outdoor Meet Me At Reed Performances Feature Music, Theater and Family Fun at Reed Park
April 12, 2018 9:58 AM
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – The City of Santa Monica announces the 2nd annual Meet Me at Reed outdoor performance series at Christine Emerson Reed Park just north of the historic Miles Memorial Playhouse (1130 Lincoln Blvd). Eight free Saturday concerts between April 21 and September 15, 2018 along with planned pre-concert family activities encourage patrons to spend a day relaxing and playing in the beautifully re-landscaped park. Patrons are encouraged to bring picnic blankets, lawn chairs, food and (non-alcoholic) beverages and enjoy the free entertainment and activities.
- The series kicks off on Saturday, April 21st with fun activities for children and adults beginning at 3:30 p.m. In addition to play, park-goers will be encouraged to provide input for the update to the citywide Parks and Recreation Master Plan. Giveaways, Parks and Rec BINGO, and a Think Tank Vision Board will be a fun way for residents and patrons to provide their thoughts and dreams about the future of parks in Santa Monica. Following the pre-concert activities, the Santa Monica Jazz All-Stars featuring jazz/world guitarist Greg Porée and his outstanding combo will have concert goers dancing and grooving on the lawn. Special guests include some of the best jazz musicians in Los Angeles such as Nick Mancini on vibraphone and the great Paul Cartwright on violin.
- Saturday, May 19th brings the first-ever Santa Monica International Taiko Festival: Taiko Heroes featuring the outstanding Los Angeles-based On Ensemble as well as visiting artists from San Diego and abroad.
- Saturday June 16th marks the return of last year’s hit Only Voices, An A Cappella Picnic co-produced by Tom Keyes and featuring several of Southern California’s very best all-vocal groups. Come and sing along with contemporary hits and American classics.
In celebration of July’s Parks Month, when the City of Santa Monica encourages all to go outside and play in the city’s beautiful parks and beaches, Meet Me At Reed performances will occur weekly on Saturdays:
- July 7th features the Southern California Shakespeare Festival’s production of “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream”.
- July 14th marks the return of last year’s biggest hit String Theory in Santa Monica featuring again a playable harp strung across the park along with dancers and an exciting fusion of rock and classical music.
- July 21st will bring the Santa Monica Symphony to the park to perform a truly exciting repertoire that includes Vivaldi’s Concerto #2 in G minor “Summer” from the Four Seasons, J.S. Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto #3 in G Major, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 “Pastorale” among others.
- Parks month concerts will close on July 28th with The Paul MacDonald Big Band featuring 17 musicians playing upbeat jazz standards and danceable music for the whole family to enjoy.
The Meet Me At Reed series will take a break in August. All are invited to enjoy the free outdoor concert series Jazz on the Lawn, happening every Sunday in Santa Monica’s Gandara Park.
- The final Meet Me At Reed performance on Saturday, September 15th will feature the return of the Troubadour Theater Company to Santa Monica performing a family-friendly circus arts show that features puppetry, stilt-walkers, jugglers, and dancers.
Admission to each concert is free. A free bike valet service will be available to concert goers. Alternative transportation is encouraged to and from the concert, including use of the Breeze Bikeshare system (a station is located at Reed Park) and Big Blue Bus. For more information, please visit smgov.net/reed.
2018 MEET ME AT REED PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Sat. April 21st Meet Me At Reed: The Santa Monica Jazz All-Stars
- 3:30-5:30PM Pre-concert family fun games, Parks and Rec BINGO, Community Envisioning Think Tank for the City of Santa Monica’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
- 5:30-7:30PM The Santa Monica Jazz All-Stars featuring The Greg Porée Band with special guests Nick Mancini, Paul Cartwright, Frances Livings, and Sidney Jacobs.
Sat. May 19th Meet Me At Reed: Santa Monica International Taiko Festival
- 3:30-5:30PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 5:30-7:30PM Santa Monica International Taiko Festival: Taiko Heroes featuring On Ensemble & Naruwan.
Sat. June 16th Meet Me At Reed: Only Voices, An A Capella Picnic
- 3-5PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 5-8PM Only Voices: An A Cappella Picnic featuring several of Southern California’s best all vocal groups.
Sat. July 7th Meet Me At Reed: Shakespeare in the Park
- 4PM – 6PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 6PM – 8PM Shakespeare in the Park: A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream written by William Shakespeare and performed by the Southern California Shakespeare Festival.
Sat. July 14th Meet Me At Reed: String Theory in Santa Monica
- 3PM-5PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 5– 8PM String Theory in Santa Monica featuring a large scale playable harp strung across the park, contemporary dancers and a rock/world music fusion band.
Sat. July 21st Meet Me At Reed: The Santa Monica Symphony
- 4PM – 6PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 6PM-8PM The Santa Monica Symphony performs famous selections from Vivaldi, J.S. Bach, Beethoven and more.
Sat. July 28th Meet Me At Reed: The Paul McDonald Big Band
- 3:30-5:30PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 5:30-7:30PM The Paul McDonald Big Band. A high energy, danceable 17 piece big band led by local favorite Paul McDonald.
Sat. Sept. 15th Meet Me At Reed: Troubadour Theater Company
- 3:30-5:30PM Pre-concert family fun games
- 5:30-7:30PM Troubadour Theater Company performs one of their hilarious mash-ups of Shakespeare and Popular Music brought to you by Matt Walker and Beth Kennedy.
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Media Contact
Constance Farrell
Communications & Public Information Manager
Constance.Farrell@santamonica.gov
More Information
http://www.smgov.net/reed
https://cityofsantamonica.box.com/s/ozklk5ppc8ao2anniumwt5g7dkk77ljf