MUSE/IQUE 2025

MUSE/IQUE is kicking off its 2025 season in late March at the Mark Taper Forum in DTLA.

This year’s theme is Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope.

Led by Artistic and Music Director Rachael Worby, MUSE/IQUE will begin with four performances of ACCORDING TO RAY: Ray Charles’s Message to America, at the Music Center, a part of an ongoing association with Center Theatre Group.

March 21 at Mark Taper Forum @ 7:30 pm
March 22 at Mark Taper Forum @ 2:30 pm
March 23 at Mark Taper Forum @ 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm
135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
 
Reserve your seats now at muse-ique.com

From the press release:

In their roaring season opener, MUSE/IQUE explores how Ray Charles’ diverse musical genres, influences, and collaborations all culminated in his landmark recording of “America the Beautiful.” This concert features the inimitable Brandon Victor Dixon and DC6 Singers Collective.

For the first part of his incredible career, Ray Charles captivated audiences with his unmatched talent for blending gospel, blues, jazz, rock, and soul. But in 1972, he did something that truly set him apart: he shared a heartfelt message of empathy through his music at a time when the world needed it most. With his album A Message from the People and a powerful new version of “America The Beautiful,” Charles offered his own vision of America—one that acknowledged our challenges and helped us reconnect with our ideals.

The New York Times captured Ray’s impact perfectly in his obituary, saying, “Ray Charles, the piano man with the bluesy voice who reshaped American music for a half-century, brought the essence of soul to country, jazz, rock, standards and every other style of music he touched.”

Charles wasn’t just a performer—he was a true musical visionary, whether he was singing, writing, leading his band, or producing. Despite losing his sight at a young age, he became an extraordinary pianist, equally at home with upbeat barrelhouse playing or smooth, understated swing. But it was his voice—rich, raw, and full of character—that really made him unforgettable. Every note told a story, full of emotion and depth. Even in his early years, he sounded like someone who had lived through the ups and downs of life and had learned to sing about them all.

In 1986, Charles became one of the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and in 1987, he received the GRAMMY® Lifetime Achievement Award. Over the years, he also won a dozen GRAMMY® Awards and was honored with the Presidential Medal for the Arts in 1993 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986.

Now, in an electrifying performance, MUSE/IQUE brings Ray’s music to life—celebrating his iconic hits like “Hit the Road Jack” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You” while also reflecting on how his work shaped our shared vision of America.

Don’t miss this special opportunity to experience ACCORDING TO RAY at the Mark Taper Forum from March 21-23, 2025. Reservations are open now for members! If you’re new to MUSE/IQUE, check out muse-ique.com for info on how to join and become a part of this vibrant community.

MUSE/IQUE 2025 Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope

ACCORDING TO RAY: Ray Charles’s Message to America
Led by Artistic and Music Director Rachael Worby
In association with Center Theatre Group

March 21, 2025 at Mark Taper Forum @ 7:30 pm
March 22, 2025 at Mark Taper Forum @ 2:30 pm
March 23, 2025 at Mark Taper Forum @ 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm

The Music Center

135 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Reserve your seats now at muse-ique.com
To learn more about membership and attendance, please visit muse-ique.com/membership

• MUSE/IQUE membership begins at $225 and MUSE/IQUE members receive complimentary admission to all MUSE/IQUE events. 
• Admission for non-members starts with a trial membership of $100, which includes three consecutive performances.

More About the 2025 MUSE/IQUE Season – Make Some Noise: Music and Stories of American Defiance and Hope:

Artistic and Music Director Rachael Worby shared her excitement about the upcoming Make Some Noise concert series: “When artists take bold risks and make brave choices, they show us that anything is possible.”

Their season will continue with some exciting performances:

• WELCOME TO THE DREAM FACTORY (April 30, May 3-4) celebrates Hollywood and the immigrant composers behind its unforgettable film scores.
• THE UNAMERICANS (June 10-11, 15) revisits the 2024 concert about the Hollywood Blacklist.
• LIKE IT LIKE HARLEM (August 8-10) dives into salsa, boogaloo, and the vibrant cultural scene of New York City.
• MADE IN MEMPHIS (September 12-14) explores the revolution sparked by Stax, Soul, and black artists.
• HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF ETTA JAMES? (October 14-15, 19) honors the life and triumph of this American icon.
• The season wraps up with STAND BY ME: Season After Party in November 2025.

Concerts take place at various iconic Los Angeles venues, including The Mark Taper Forum, The Huntington, Skirball Cultural Center, The Wallis, and Pasadena Memorial Park.

MUSE/IQUE is celebrating an extraordinary two-year exploration of pivotal musical moments in America—an exciting journey that continues in 2025, building on the themes introduced in 2024. This initiative is presented by LeeAnn and Ron Havner / JCS Family Foundation.

These concerts are made possible through a special partnership with Center Theatre Group, with generous support from the S. Mark Taper Foundation and contributions to the Artistic Director Discretionary Fund.

Artist Biographies:

Brandon Victor Dixon, following his Emmy Award nominated turn opposite John Legend as Judas in NBC’s “Jesus Christ Superstar,” has since starred in “RENT” on FOX, Amazon’s “Modern Love,” the STARZ hit “POWER,” and PEACOCK’s “The Best Man.” Prior to that, he completed a star turn as Aaron Burr in the cast of Hamilton on Broadway.  A Presidential Scholar semi-finalist and scholarship winner at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford, Brandon is a graduate of Columbia University and a recipient of the University’s I.A.L Diamond Award for Achievement in the Arts, an honor he shares with Tony Kushner (Angels in America), Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, or Change) and Katori Hall (Mountaintop, TINA on Broadway).

Since his professional debut, originating the role of Adult Simba in The Lion King national tour (Cheetah), Brandon has displayed his diverse abilities in a number of roles. Notably, he was nominated for a Tony Award® for his role as Harpo in Broadway’s The Color Purple, a Grammy for his portrayal of Berry Gordy Jr. in Motown The Musical, and he was nominated for Olivier, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, and AUDELCO awards for his outstanding portrayal of Haywood Patterson in Kander and Ebb’s The Scottsboro Boys.

Brandon has appeared in concert with various artists such as Burnt Sugar: The Arkestra Chamber, Jennifer Hudson, Nathan Lane, Wynton Marsalis, Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, David Hyde Pierce,  and Tony Award winners Levi Kreis, Kelli O’Hara, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Other Credits include ABC’s “One Life To Live,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” CBS’ “The Good Wife”, and NETFLIX’s “She’s Gotta Have It”. He has produced multiple works including the Tony Award®winning Hedwig and the Angry Inch starring Neil Patrick Harris, and the political thriller “88” (available on all platforms). Originally from Gaithersburg, Maryland, Brandon currently resides in New York City.

The DC6 Singers Collective are a Los Angeles-based ensemble of dynamic and energetic a cappella, gospel, and Motown singers. Together, the DC6 Singers Collective have brought their shared passion for music as well as their uplifting and charismatic performances to audiences across the country via film (Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”), national television (“The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “Hallmark’s Home & Family,” “Hollywood Game Night,” etc.) and live events across the country. In harmony, the DC6 Singers Collective deliver a unique approach to gospel and Motown standards and breathe new life into classic and current pop standards ranging from Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder to Adele.

About MUSE/IQUE:

MUSE/IQUE is a member-supported, nonprofit performing arts organization making radically engaging live music experiences accessible for all. Built on a tradition of community and collaboration, we create events that feature an eclectic mix of artists and artistic disciplines that take place at a variety of our city’s historic locales and cultural institutions. MUSE/IQUE creates immersive musical adventures with an artistic collective that consists of top musicians from the worlds of jazz, rock, blues, gospel, and more, along with today’s best singers, dancers, and thinkers. Together with an enthusiastic and growing audience base, these artists reimagine the possibilities for the live music experience. MUSE/IQUE presents six major public events each year as well as a wide range of education and community engagement programs. 

Founder and Artistic & Music Director Rachael Worby seamlessly blends musical performances with researched curation, combining music, movement, and ideas from a diverse range of genres. Each performance awakens our collective curiosity and inspires new thinking and ideas by provoking reflection and dialogue, challenging convention, and encouraging our audiences to see and think differently. Our mission is to build empathy and expand imaginations, creating context and explaining connections between our music and the world. 

 In addition to its live public performances, MUSE/IQUE brings intimate, interactive events to a growing list of community partner organizations. Each on-site event gives participants a curated experience based on programmatic themes of our upcoming performances and features guest artists direct from the MUSE/IQUE stage. Led by MUSE/IQUE staff, these events explore self-expression, encourage self-confidence and engage imaginations through music.

Partners include Ability First, Academy for Creative Industries – Marshall Fundamental High School, Academy of Music for the Blind, Braille Institute, California School of the Arts – San Gabriel Valley, Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge, Five Acres, Hollywood Food Coalition, Jazz Hands for Autism, Learning Works Charter School, Light Bringer Project, Mindful Veteran Project, Music Heals Mind, Pasadena Senior Center, Performing Arts For All, Professional Child Development Associates, San Fernando Valley Youth Chorus, Sycamores, Thomas Jefferson High School, TJHS Alumni Association, UCLA Community Youth Programs, Union Station Homeless Services – Centennial Place, Union Station Homeless Services – Heritage Square South, Urban Voices Project, Villa Esperanza School and Services, WriteGirl, Young Musicians Foundation, Youth Moving On (A Hillsides Program).