Royce Hall

About Royce Hall Royce Hall, an iconic symbol of intellectual and artistic excellence, is renowned for its contribution to the cultural landscape of Los Angeles. The hall is situated on the traditional land of the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples, known as Tovaangar, encompassing the Los Angeles basin and South Channel Islands. Theater Management Services, which oversees Royce Hall, acknowledges and pays respect to the region's indigenous caretakers, their ancestors, elders, and present and future generations. Constructed in 1929, Royce Hall was one of the initial structures on its campus, designed by architect David Allison and modeled after Milan's Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio. Its reputation as a premier venue for the performing arts was established early on, with the campus itself being relatively new and surrounded by pastoral land when it first opened its doors. The hall's extraordinary history began in the late 1930s with performances by some of the most prominent figures in music, including George Gershwin, who performed there in 1936, Duke Ellington, Arnold Schoenberg, and Jimmy Dorsey’s Band. The venue quickly became a beacon for world-class artists, hosting a wide array of performers such as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, Twyla Tharp, Frank Zappa, Mikhail Baryshnikov, The Philip Glass Ensemble, and Meredith Monk, among others. In 1936, the University of California President Robert Gordon Sproul established a committee to oversee programming at Royce Hall, leading to the creation of its first performing arts season in 1937. This inaugural season featured legendary artists such as contralto Marian Anderson, the Budapest String Quartet, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. The hall's programming direction was clear, transitioning from a college auditorium to a world-class performing arts venue. Royce Hall's significance is not limited to its stunning architecture and refined acoustics; it is also celebrated for the historical performances that have taken place within its walls. The venue has been compared to other prestigious concert halls like Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and it is distinguished by the "ghosts of performances" that resonate throughout its history. Over the years, Royce Hall has undergone renovations to preserve its structural and aesthetic integrity, ensuring that it remains a center for the art of performance. It continues to offer a diverse range of programming, and its stage has seen a long list of luminaries since its opening. Royce Hall is not just a venue but a living archive of artistic expression, reflecting the evolution of performing arts through the decades.