Mraz booking gets rock rolling at Disney Hall

Rock comes to the House of Mouse -- sort of.

Rock-pop-folk singer-songwriter Jason Mraz will become the first performer even loosely considered a rock musician to play at Walt Disney Concert Hall when he brings his theatrically oriented show to the venue June 16. Tickets go on sale Friday

The facility’s musical menu will be further expanded with two other pop acts, the Indigo Girls, who will play on July 14, and folk-pop singer-songwriter Jewel, appearing July 23 as part of the 2004 Verizon Music Festival.

When the new home of the L.A. Philharmonic opened last October, pop and rock were noticeably absent from a schedule of performances dominated by symphonic music and augmented by a sprinkling of jazz and world music performers.

Bluegrass star Alison Krauss and her band Union Station were part of the initial bookings, but were presented under the hall’s “world music” concert series.

Officials said they planned to offer more pop in the future, either under the Philharmonic Assn.’s own auspices or via outside promoters, and these are the first events primarily targeting rock and pop fans.

Mraz will present his new “Tour of the Curbside Prophets” show, which is part concert performance, part play. In it, the Virginia-born musician revisits his early career, in which he performed for change on street corners in New York. He’s joined by singer-guitarist Raul Midon, Hawaiian slack-key guitarist and singer Makana, and DJ Bob Neck Snapp, who play their own material and collaborate with Mraz during the show.

“This is the first step in taking this show to the next level and making it a Broadway show eventually,” said Amanda Harrison, marketing director for Bill Silva Presents, the promoter of the Mraz and Indigo Girls shows at Disney Hall.

Harrison says the show will be presented in the round and is primarily acoustic oriented, meaning Mraz’s regular touring band won’t take part. That should also ameliorate potential sonic issues that have been the biggest hurdle in presenting amplified music in Disney Hall, which was designed chiefly to present the Philharmonic in the best acoustic light.

“We’ve been working closely with [Philharmonic staff] down there, so we don’t foresee any problems,” Harrison said.

“I see this as a perfect fit, acoustically.” Jewel, whose show is booked by the Music Center, has often performed in concert halls.