Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts

Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (The Wallis) has transformed a Beverly Hills city block into a vibrant new cultural destination. The center consists of two distinct, elegant buildings: the historic 1933 Italianate-style Beverly Hills Post Office and the contemporary 500-seat Goldsmith Theater. Together these two structures embrace the city’s history and future, creating a new cultural landmark. The Wallis produces and presents outstanding theater, music and dance, as well as exciting programming for the family audience.

History of The Wallis Center:

The Beverly Hills Post Office
The Post Office was constructed in 1933 by architect Ralph C. Flewelling and decorated by artist Charles Kassler. It was officially opened in 1934 and dedicated in 1936 under the Franklin D. Roosevelt Administration. Over the decades, the Beverly Hills Post Office took on great significance as the cornerstone of the city and an architectural landmark. The famous citizens of Beverly Hills were spotted daily at the Post Office, symbolizing the fact that this was an extraordinary building in an extraordinary town. Post Office services outgrew the building and were moved to a new facility, while the building itself was preserved and declared a “surplus property” in 1993.

The Beverly Hills Post Office became a new national landmark as it transformed into the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Architect Ralph C. Flewelling and artist Charles Kassler would be honored that the building they so lovingly constructed long ago has been fittingly preserved and modernized as a cultural destination for audiences of all ages.

Bram Goldsmith Theater
The modern Bram Goldsmith Theater is located at the end of a grand staircase that descends from the Post Office building. The 500-seat venue beautifully complements the architecture of the historic building with its copper-tone materials. With a state-of-the-art stage and sculptural wood interior, the theater’s intimate setting ensures that every patron is not far from the performers with spacious seating, adaptable acoustics, cutting-edge lighting and excellent sightlines.

The Goldsmith is well suited for musicals, dramatic theater, dance, music – classical and popular, chamber opera, professional children’s theater, lectures, meetings and more. A special acoustically isolated “quiet room” has been designed at the rear of the theater to accommodate people with special needs.

Lovelace Studio Theater
The 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater provides a flexible performance stage for public performances, children’s programming and is the heart of the theater school for young people. The space is designed with stadium seating that can retract to bring the size of the room to 4,000 square feet of performance space. It perfectly suits new work, small productions, black box, cabaret, workshops, student performances, rehearsals and special events. Adjoining the Studio Theater are classrooms, allowing local youth to express themselves creatively through the arts.

Behind the Scenes
The central Wardrobe Shop is an essential behind-the-scenes component to all productions at The Wallis. Adjoining the shop is a Props Room, where skilled craftsmen work to create, build and repair props. This means that wardrobe makes on-site original costumes and props, while other specialists tailor, repair and provide production assistance. The Wardrobe Shop and Props Room also assists students and faculty with learning theatre crafts.