2021 Imagen Awards Honor KCET Original Program 'SOUTHLAND SESSIONS: A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt at The Soraya' As Best Variety or Reality Program
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Los Angeles, Calif. – October 11, 2021 – KCET, showcasing the best of PBS while being the leading source for arts, culture and news in Southern California, announced today that the locally produced Original Production SOUTHLAND SESSIONS: A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt at The Soraya was honored by the 36th Annual Imagen Awards in the category of Best Variety or Reality Show. The program tied with Fuse’s Shine True during a live-streamed ceremony filmed at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes and seen exclusively on PBSSoCal.org and KCET.org on Sun., October 10 at 5 p.m. PT.
Recorded onstage at The Soraya at CSUN, “A Tribute to Linda Ronstadt at The Soraya” originally premiered on KCET in November of 2020, and featured Aida Cuevas, La Marisoul, Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and special guests David Hidalgo from Los Lobos and Sarah Watkins paying tribute to the legend Linda Ronstadt with performances of “Desperado,” “Por Un Amor,” “When Will I Be Loved,” “Los Laureles” and many more filmed at San Fernando Valley’s performing arts center The Soraya on the California State University, Northridge campus. The program also included an exclusive interview with Linda Ronstadt who shared thoughts about her family, culture and the diversity of her career. An expanded live performance of this tribute will be presented at The Soraya on Saturday, October 23 at 8pm.
SOUTHLAND SESSIONS was created by KCET in June of 2020 to allow the Los Angeles community to experience their regional arts and cultural institutions in that unique moment, when attending in-person, cultural events was not an option. As regional artists adapted to an uncertain future due to the pandemic and the influence of social uprisings across the country, the new broadcast and digital initiative drew together prominent voices from around Southern California for up-close, virtual “sessions.”
The 36th Annual Imagen Awards were hosted by Aida Rodriguez (Last Comic Standing), Chuey Martinez (Dish Nation), Isabella Gomez (One Day at a Time), and Karrie Martin Lachney (Gentefied) and recognized Latinas and Latinos in the entertainment industry who work both in front of and behind the camera. The theme of this year’s Imagen Awards was “A Celebration of Our Community: Diverse, Talented, and United.” Each year the Imagen Awards recognizes an array of Latino talent by honoring and celebrating ground-breaking performances, storytelling and powerful diverse programs.
The 36th Annual Imagen Awards winners were determined by an independent panel of entertainment industry executives and Latina and Latino community leaders.
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About KCET
KCET is part of the donor-supported community institution, the Public Media Group of Southern California, which was formed by the merger of PBS SoCal and KCETLink Media Group. As one of Southern California’s two flagship PBS stations, KCET is on-air, online as well as in the community, and plays a vital role in the cultural enrichment of Southern California. KCET offers a wide range of award-winning local programming as well as the finest public television programs from around the world. Throughout its 55-year history, KCET has won hundreds of major awards for its local and regional news and public affairs programming, its national drama and documentary productions and its website, kcet.org. For additional information about KCET’s original productions, web-exclusive content, programming schedules and community events, please visit kcet.org. KCET Originals and PBS programming are available to stream on the FREE PBS App on iOS and Android devices, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, and Chromecast. KCET is also available to watch live on YouTube TV.
About Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya)
The 2021-22 Season marks the 10th Anniversary for the celebrated Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) located on the vibrant and diverse campus of California State University in the heart of Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley.
Under the leadership of Executive and Artistic Director Thor Steingraber, The Soraya continues its vigorous commitment to innovating, exceling, and amplifying access by offering a wide variety of performances that reflect LA’s many distinctive communities and featuring new and original work from the Los Angeles region as well as artists from around the world. In 2020, The Soraya’s online programs garnered attention from around the globe and from media such as The New York Times.
In addition to its LEED Gold certified venue—a rarity among performing arts centers—the 1700-seat Soraya has been nationally recognized for its environmentally sustainable practices and programs.
After enduring a year without live performances, the 2021-22 season will offer a joy-filled reunion featuring a vibrant program of nearly 50 classical and popular music, dance, theater, family, and international events that will further establish The Soraya as one of the top arts companies in Southern California that uplifts and inspires its audiences.
About the Imagen Awards
The Imagen (pronounced ee-mah-hen) Awards program was established in 1985 from a suggestion by veteran television producer Norman Lear to encourage and recognize the positive portrayals of Latinos in the media. Later, as The Imagen Foundation, it expanded its programs and initiatives to further its mission to serve as a bridge between the Latino community and the entertainment industry in providing access, education, and resources for Latinos in the industry, as well as those seeking careers in entertainment. More information on the organization as well as details of the event can be found online at www.imagen.org and its social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
