Lempicka

About

Directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly, this West Coast Premiere explores the life and art of Tamara de Lempicka, the groundbreaking Art Deco painter. The production channels Lempicka’s bold, modernist perspective through Riccardo Hernandez’s art deco scenic design, Bradley King’s lighting, Anita Yavich’s costumes, and Peter Nigrini’s kinetic projections. Its pop- and rock-infused score by Matt Gould, played by a 10-piece orchestra, juxtaposes the glamour and turmoil of the 1920s–30s with a sleek, contemporary sound world. The staging spans decades and geographies, opening in 1975 Los Angeles before flashing back to the Russian Revolution and Paris between the wars. Versatile, stylized sets morph from art school to nightclub to studio, propelling the story with cinematic momentum. At nearly three hours including intermission, the piece aims for a sweeping portrait of an artist forging identity, fame, and legacy against history’s upheavals.