Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is a cultural hub located in Beverly Hills. It's named after the generous philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, who made a significant contribution through The Annenberg Foundation to support the center's development. Informally, it's often referred to as simply "The Wallis."

The center's architectural design was crafted by Zoltan Pali from SPF Architects, and encompasses several key elements. These include the preservation of the historic 1933 Beverly Hills post office, the construction of a brand-new 500-seat Goldsmith Theater, the addition of a 150-seat Lovelace Studio Theater, and the inclusion of GRoW at The Wallis, a dedicated space for arts education. Additionally, the center features a sculpture garden and a promenade terrace designed by Ron Lutsko.

The creation of The Wallis was made possible through a $25 million donation from Wallis Annenberg herself. The construction process spanned a decade and is estimated to have cost approximately $70 million. Its annual operational expenses run into several million dollars.

The Wallis officially opened on October 17, 2013, with a black-tie gala co-chaired by Wallis Annenberg and Jamie Tisch. The program included Kevin Spacey, John Lithgow, and Diane Lane reading letters from historical figures like Groucho Marx and Tennessee Williams. Salvatore Ferragamo hosted a fashion show, and there were performances by Vittorio Grigolo and members of the Paris Opera Ballet.