Beginning in 2024, Lesher Center’s Headliners Series adopted the use of digital programs meant to be viewed on mobile devices. By cutting our paper use and eliminating substantial printing costs we are sustaining our mission to elevate the arts in the greater Contra Costa region.
Please be considerate of other patrons and artists when viewing digital programs on your mobile devices. View digital programs before the performance begins or during intermissions.
Patrons who create distractions may be asked to leave.
Announcing the 2024/25 Headliner Series
At The Lesher Center Support Lesher Center
Program Details
Approx 90 minutes with no intermission
Welcome
Thank you for joining us!
Our Lesher Center Presents series is designed to bring audiences year-round entertainment and inspiring artistic voices through our Headliners Series, Center Repertory Company productions, and Bedford Gallery exhibitions.
At the Lesher Center you’ll find a diverse array of genres, artists, and themes at this beautiful home for incredible, innovative arts experiences. In the following pages of this digital program, we invite you to explore our programming and learn more—you won’t want to miss what you’ll find at the Lesher Center!
Peggy + Carolyn
Peggy White
Executive Director, Diablo Regional Arts Association
Carolyn Jackson
General Manager, Lesher Center for the Arts
Meet the Artist
Judith Hill’s latest recording is titled Letters from a Black Widow, which references the tabloidcoined phrase “Black Widow” that arose after the overdosae deaths of her two starmaking collaborators, Michael Jackson and Prince. It became a term of abuse that internet trolls hurled at the Grammy Awardwinning artist, driving conspiracy theories and shame campaigns –trauma that nearly ended a career
that includes a GRAMMY for her role in the Oscar-winning documentary film “20 Feet from Stardom.”
Written and self-produced by Hill, Letters from a Black Widow received critical acclaim upon release from the likes of NPR, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, BET, V Magazine, Entertainment Tonight, Rolling Stone, and more. BET touted that Judith “is moving from the background to center stage, where she’s always belonged” and The New York Times praised her “achingly personal lyrics paired with muscular funk, soul and blues, and backed by her shredding, soaring guitar.”
Featuring world-renowned artists, the Lesher Center Presents Headliners series showcases a diverse range of artists and genres— from Broadway powerhouses to the newest superstars of Jazz, Dance, World-Music!
The 2024/25 Headliners Season includes:
A FIRESIDE CHAT WITH RITA MORENO
September 18, 2024 Actress, dancer, and entertainment icon—the ‘EGOT’ winner sits down to discuss her eight-decades of life in entertainment and passion for Arts Education.
360 ALLSTARS
October 26, 2024
BMX, beatbox, and breakdance collide in this internationally acclaimed performance troupe!
MS. MONÉT
January 11, 2025
A fan favorite from NBC’s The Voice, the Bay Area native and jazz singer rising star has toured with Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, Johnny Mathis and more!
STELLA COLE
January 18, 2025
Straddling the world of jazz, pop and musical theater, this multifaceted performer’s star is fast on the rise through her fresh interpretations of songs from Barbra Streisand to Billie Eilish.
MANDY PATINKIN IN CONCERT: BEING ALIVE WITH ADAM BEN DAVID
February 20, 2025
From Evita to The Princess Bride to TV’s “Homeland”, the Broadway legend and powerhouse actor / singer is nothing short of electrifying.
COLLEGE NOTES A CAPPELLA
February 21-22, 2025
The sold-out event returns as the nation’s top collegiate A Cappella performance groups gather for this only-at-the Lesher Center event!
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
March 14-15, 2025
The celebrated multi-ethnic dance company celebrate Black culture and empowerment through the arts for all.
TERENCE BLANCHARD
The world-renown Grammy Awardwinning jazz trumpeter—and San Francisco Jazz’s Executive Artistic Director—celebrates the 20th anniversary of his critically acclaimed recording, Flow.
MIGUEL
ZENÓN
April 11, 2025
The internationally acclaimed Grammy Award-winner has been hailed as one of the most influential saxophonists of his generation.
MARIACHI REYNA DE LOS ANGELES
June 13, 2025
America’s first allfemale mariachi ensemble makes their Lesher Center debut Summer 2025.
All shows on sale now! The Headliners Series is brought to you by the Lesher Center and Diablo Regional Arts Association.
Lesher Center Resident Programs
Our nonprofit partner, DRAA, invests in the power of the arts to transform lives and creates avenues for everyone to experience the arts.
Support Lesher Center
Fiesta Cultural 2023 Street Fair, Chavalos Danzas por Nicaragua, photo by Ben Krantz Studio
There are many ways to show your support! Your gifts through the Lesher Center’s nonprofit partner, Diablo Regional Arts Association, drive excellence, innovation, diversity, and access for all through performances, exhibitions, and education programs.
• Make a one-time or monthly donation
• Sponsor an event or program
• Donate stock or IRA
• Make a legacy with planned giving
• Use your corporate match program
• Volunteer Donate Now QUESTIONS? Contact DRAA! (925) 295-1470 or info@draa.org
Thank you to our Sponsors Presenting Sponsor Season Sponsors Print Media Sponsor
Thank you to our Donors
Donors 1-1-23 thru 1-8-24
$100-$249
June Aguilar
Amy Alanes
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Alan Burckin
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Tameca Carr
Javier Carrillo
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$250-$499
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Jean Godwin
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Thank you to our Donors
Donors 1-1-23 thru 1-8-24
Ira Hillyer
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$500-$999
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Barney Fonzi
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Thank you to our Donors
Donors 1-1-23 thru 1-8-24
Carol Holland
Reshea Holman
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Carolyn & Anthony Jackson
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Leslie Lessenger
Tina Locke
Christine Mitroff
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Elizabeth & Mark Orcutt
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$1,000-$2,499
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Rippey
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Tricia & Eric Copeland
Carrie Cox
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Juliet Don
Jennifer Fish
Mary & Jan Francis
Lynn Garrett
Nishta & Vito Giallorenzo
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Anne Grodin
Thank you to our Donors
Donors 1-1-23 thru 1-8-24
Susie & Charles Hanson
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Robin & Chuck Henry
Carle Hirahara
Ellen Hole
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Marion Iles
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Bob Linscheid
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Carol Jane Louisell
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Kevin & Jill Wilk
Stephen Woodhead & Lisa
McConnell
Emily & Danny Wu
Carole Wynstra
Broadway Plaza
Dudum Corp
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Donors 1-1-23 thru 1-8-24
F&M Bank
Macy’s/Bloomingdales
The Safeway Foundation
TWANDA Foundation
$2,500-$4,999
Annette & Tom Alborg
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Catharine & Dan Baker
Sharon & Paul Baker
Alice Beckman
Diane Crowley Young & Lance
Young
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Sondhi
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Kathy & Jerry Hicks
Nevin Kessler
Laura & Eric Lamison
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Jill O’Brien
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Tay
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Jeanne Ryan
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Donors 1-1-23 thru 1-8-24
Marsha & Richard Servetnick
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Winslow
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Republic Services
William A. Kerr Foundation
$10,000-$24,999
Anonymous (2)
Tammy & Ken Anderson
Angie & Peter Coffee
Brian Hirahara
Mort Johnson & Donna Andrews
Karen Kahn & Bill Kaufmann
Sharon & Jim Moore
Bob Power
Dino Riggio
Jane & Chuck Roehrig
Spalding Rooker
Kevin Sánchez
Gary Skrel
Patricia Stull
Jennifer & Peters Suh
Cheryl & Christian Valentine
Mike & Paula Weintraub
John Muir Health
Martinez Refining Company
Miller Starr Regalia
$25,000-$49,999
Hofmann Family Foundation
Holly Ingraham & David Julius
Gay White
$50,000-$99,999
Sharon Simpson $100,000 + Eric Rudney
Chevron
Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation
Kaiser Permanente, Diablo Area
Leadership
City of Walnut Creek
Leadership
Loella Haskew
Mayor
Cindy Darling, Matt Francois, Cindy Silva, Kevin Wilk
City Council Members
Jill Dresser (Vice-Chair), Peter Magnani, Netsanet (Net) Tesfay, Iasmine Klauber, Sarah Baltazar
Arts Commission Members
Dan Buckshi
City Manager
Kevin Safine
Arts + Recreation Department
Director
Diablo Regional Arts Association Board of Directors
David Julius Board President
Catharine Baker
Peter Brightbill
Jamie Broadhurst
Angie Coffee
Nadia Costa
Juliet Don
Julie Ducharme
Barry Gordon
Todd Heintz
Brian Hirahara
Natalie Inouye
Laura Lamison
Sandeep Kaujalgi
Nevin Kessler
Bob Power
Dino Riggio
Spalding Rooker
Eric Rudney
Kevin Sanchez
Marsha Servetnick
Patricia Stull
Peters Suh
Mike Weintraub
Deneen Wohlford
Steve Woodhead
Peggy White Executive Director
Lesher Center Team
General Manager
Carolyn Jackson
Production Services Supervisor
Toni Kilcoyne
Technical Staff
Daniel Aldrich
Alex Bull
Terry D’Emidio
Meghan DeBellis
Claire Denman
Alex Howard
Chris Joe
Steve Pino
Garrick Schuster
Josh Stouffer
Fiona Sundy
Josh Yarnell
Steve Young
Audience Services Supervisor
Jeremiah Vierling
Ticket Office Staff
Cian Chu
Penelope Griffin
Hali Loyd
Robert Nolan
Julia Toon
Zeus Valentine
Aurora Wassmuth
House Managers
Peter Catalano
Reece Jordahl
Karen Kopp
Denise Kruft, Katie Ladowicz
Cameron Lippincott
Krizzia Manlangit
Carole Price
Amelia Record
Lucia Robke
Sam Samuels
Bell Stark
Cheryl Wong-Ng
Usher Coordinator
Pat Rusich
Office Specialists
Linda Nomura
Sarah Wilcox
Marketing Staff
Katrienne Lemye
Shelly Rose
Randy Taradash
Bedford Gallery provides exhibitions and public programs that reflect and engage the diverse audiences of the Contra Costa region.
@BedfordGallery Follow Us!
The resident professional theatre company of Lesher Center. Celebrate the power of the human imagination and enrich the cultural life of our community. Follow Us!
