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From his distinctive scene compositions to his sumptuous color palettes, Wes Anderson’s signature style has made him one of the most revered auteurs in the movie business. He’s also known for his multi-layered storytelling, captivating characters and attention to detail in films like Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel.
One of the most important and memorable elements of Anderson’s work, which informs and enriches everything on screen, is the music he chooses, a facet of his filmmaking that’s been celebrated by critics and fans but never in a live concert format—until now.
Known for its epic celebrations of composers like John Williams and Henry Mancini, nights devoted to Pixar and Disney, and jubilant sing-alongs to The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Sound of Music, the Hollywood Bowl is now paying tribute to Anderson for the first time ever with a three-day immersion into his cinematic song-driven universe, featuring a stellar lineup of artists and musicians, plus huge guests playing music from his 30 year filmography.
To get the inside scoop on “Music from the Films of Wes Anderson,” which takes the stage on July 10, 11 and 12, Time Out spoke exclusively with the Bowl’s visionary booker and longtime vice president of programming and creative partnerships, Johanna Rees, along with the Criterion Channel’s head of marketing, Anne Kawalerski. Here are five reasons why you can’t miss these shows if you’re a fan of Anderson’s inimitable output.
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1. The fantastic lineup
Anchored by his collaboration with music supervisor Randall Poster on both soundtracks and scores (created almost exclusively by Alexandre Desplat or Mark Motherbaugh), Anderson’s movies boast dynamic needle drops and evocative sonic moods from huge pop and classic rock artists.
Throughout the weekend, Mothersbaugh and his iconic band Devo will be on hand as well as Beck, Jackson Browne, Jenny Lewis, Karen O, Rufus Wainwright, Britt Daniel, Kaoru Watanabe, Sam George and Rogê, all backed by an all-star band (musical director Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Jason Falkner, Joey Waronker and Gus Seyffert) with the L.A. Phil and the Ukrainian Balalaika Orchestra.
Bill Murray will host, and a scheduled appearance by Jeff Goldblum will only add to the powerhouse movie magic on stage. Rees also reveals that actor Jason Schwartzman will be on hand representing a “kind of alter ego Wes-type character,” though she wouldn’t say more. “It’ll be a surprise,” she teased.
2. Anderson himself is curating the experience
If you ever wanted to step into the writer-director’s unique world, this is your chance. “Wes has been super invested,” shares Rees. “I booked the show, but everything that happens either comes from him or he’s blessed the idea. He put the whole setlist together, and along with Beck, he’s very involved with the selections.”
3. The Criterion Closet and Cinema experiences
A longtime home for Anderson’s work (as seen in The Wes Anderson Archive Criterion Collection box set), Criterion will have a big presence at the event. The channel’s beloved Mobile Closet will be in the Kagan Patio, just outside the Bowl’s entrance, wherein the public can check out over 1,700 essential films from around the world, just like the celebrities on the popular series. Timed and ticketed entry lasts three minutes, based on a lottery with the following timed-entry hours: July 10, 11 11am–4pm; July 12 10am–3pm. They’re also launching the first-ever Criterion Cinema, with screenings curated by Anderson (including his own works and those that have inspired him, inside an indoor pop-up theater) plus a lounge, merch and other goodies.
“Wes Anderson’s films are exactly the kind of filmmaking Criterion was built to champion—deliberate and obsessed with craft down to the smallest detail,” says Kawalerski, chief marketing officer at Criterion. “The Criterion Cinema was conceived as our way of honoring that for this weekend—bringing his film aesthetic into a physical space guests can actually walk into. Pairing it with the Mobile Closet felt like the perfect fit for celebrating a filmmaker whose visual world is just as iconic as his storytelling.”
4. Silver screen–worthy immersive elements
In addition to scenes from all his films projected behind the performers, the Bowl promises themed displays, activations from luxury goods brand Montblanc, character-inspired treats (from New York’s Swedish-style candy company BonBon as well as picnic boxes put together by online magazine Air Mail) and limited-edition merch, including a commemorative program.
DJ collective Les Filles spins Wes Anderson–inspired records (from his films and his personal favorites) on the box office rooftop and ABKCO Music & Records will be part of artist merch tables selling a “Films of Wes Anderson” souvenir booklet and flexi disc insert featuring the Rolling Stones’ “2000 Man,” with an introduction by Anderson. “Immersion is definitely the name of the game for this,” Rees promises.
5. The grand Hollywood Bowl
Enjoying music and entertainment under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl is already one of the most exhilarating things Angelenos can do in the summertime, and this event has everything you love about the venue and more.
“We’re bringing something to life that has never been seen before,” touts Rees. “These events are truly built for this environment, and what’s on stage is not going to come together like this anywhere else. We’re in L.A.—the entertainment capital of the world—so people have high expectations musically, creatively and visually, so we’re bringing all of these different elements to life.”
Music from the Films of Wes Anderson runs July 10 to 12 at the Hollywood Bowl. Tickets range from $10 to $331.