2024-2025 Season
Dear A&L Friends and Family,
This season marks a milestone for Arts & Lectures – 65 years! – and I can’t help but to look back over an incredible history, to see how far we’ve come, and to dream of how far we can go!
You’ll find familiar faces that have been with us for decades, from the definitive artists of our time – like our dear friends Yo-Yo Ma, Wynton Marsalis, and Itzhak Perlman – to those who appeared on our stages as emerging artists – like Yuja Wang and Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason.
Others carry on A&L’s rich tradition of presenting new voices –Fight Night is not to be missed, and I can’t wait for you to discover Owls!
Some talents are must-catch whenever they come to town –Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater returns, as does Snarky Puppy, and the London Philharmonic Orchestra, here with violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. Anne Lamott and Father Gregory Boyle each bring a new book and hard-earned wisdom to bring us together during divided times.
You’ll see new names, like roots rockers Larkin Poe, The War and Treaty, Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (categorized as jazz but who refuses to be defined), and someone whose life and art cannot be separated, Marina Abramović.
For 65 years, Santa Barbara has joined us as we’ve grown, trusted us as we’ve taken chances, and come along with us from campus to downtown and beyond. You have been there for us.
We are here for you too, now and always, whether you are ready to engage with the complexities of our times or you need an escape; when you want to be surprised by the unexpected, comforted by old friends, or delighted by new discoveries; whether you want to cherish the most intimate experiences or to be part of Santa Barbara’s biggest cultural events. Come celebrate with us!
With deepest gratitude,
Season Sponsor Sara Miller McCune
Community Partners
3. Pop culture icon RuPaul reflects on his extraordinary life story at the Arlington Theatre 4. Turn It Out with Tiler Peck and Friends has its west coast premiere at The Granada Theatre 5. Jacob Collier dazzles the crowd at the Arlington Theatre 6. Pulitzer Prize-winner Rhiannon Giddens in concert with her band at the Arlington Theatre
Above: Singer/songwriter Sierra Ferrell performs for a packed house at Campbell Hall, photo: David
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Apr 15 & 16 / Granada Theatre
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2024
October
Tue, Oct 1
Fri, Oct 4
Snarky Puppy (p. 30)
HARAWI, An AMOC Production
Julia Bullock, soprano (p. 18)
Sat, Oct 5 Salman Khan, Brave New Words (p. 23)
Tue, Oct 8 Mavis Staples and The War and Treaty (p. 34)
Sat, Oct 12 London Philharmonic Orchestra
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin (p. 19)
Mon, Oct 14 Yotam Ottolenghi (p. 47)
Tue, Oct 15 Fight Night, by Ontroerend Goed (p. 44)
Sun, Oct 20 Aida Cuevas
Canta a Juan Gabriel 40 años después (p. 27)
Tue, Oct 22 Dr. Jennifer Doudna
CRISPR Gene Editing and the Future of Human Health (p. 24)
Thu, Oct 24 An Evening with Lil Buck and Jon Boogz (p. 45)
Tue, Oct 29 Yung Pueblo in Conversation with Pico Iyer (p. 41)
Wed, Oct 30 Habib Koité and Bamada (p. 28)
November
Sat, Nov 2
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
13 Tongues (p. 8)
Thu, Nov 7 Itzhak Perlman and Friends (p. 14)
Wed, Nov 13 Anne Lamott
Somehow: Thoughts on Love (p. 25)
Thu, Nov 14 Disney’s ENCANTO
The Sing-Along Film Concert (p. 48)
December
Tue, Dec 3
Father Gregory Boyle, Cherished Belonging:
The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times (p. 26)
Thu, Dec 5 Dorrance Dance, The Nutcracker Suite (p. 9)
Fri, Dec 6 Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway (p. 35)
Tue, Dec 17 Pink Martini featuring China Forbes Holiday Show (p. 49)
2025
January
Tue, Jan 21 Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Julia Bullock, soprano (p. 15)
Fri, Jan 24 Alexander Malofeev, piano (p. 37)
Sat, Jan 25 Fran Lebowitz (p. 50)
Fri, Jan 31 Danish String Quartet (p. 16)
February
Sun, Feb 2 Imani Winds and Boston Brass (p. 38)
Thu, Feb 6 Cirque Kalabanté (p. 51)
Fri, Feb 7 Lakecia Benjamin and Phoenix (p. 31)
Sat, Feb 8 Niall Ferguson, Why We Study History (p. 52)
Tue, Feb 11 Twyla Tharp Dance, Diamond Jubilee (p. 10)
Wed, Feb 19 DoosTrio: Kayhan Kalhor, Wu Man, Sandeep Das (p. 29)
Sun, Feb 23 Richard Powers in Conversation with Pico Iyer (p. 42)
Tue, Feb 25 Batsheva Dance Company, MOMO (p. 11)
Fri, Feb 28 Yuja Wang, piano Víkingur Ólafsson, piano (p. 17)
March
Sat, Mar 1 Andrew Ross Sorkin Inside the Minds of Today’s Changemakers (p. 53)
April
Tue, Apr 1 Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain (p. 54)
Sat, Apr 5
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma Reflections in Words and Music (p. 20)
Tue, Apr 8 Circa, Humans 2.0 (p. 46)
Thu, Apr 10 Akram Khan Company GIGENIS, the generation of the Earth (p. 12)
Fri, Apr 11 Owls (p. 39)
Tue, Apr 15 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (p. 13)
Wed, Apr 16 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (p. 13)
Fri, Apr 25 Hiromi’s Sonicwonder (p. 32)
Sun, Apr 27 Larkin Poe (p. 36)
May
Tue, May 6 Marina Abramović in Conversation with Pico Iyer (p. 43)
Sat, May 17 Wynton Marsalis Ensemble
LOUIS: A Silent Film with Live Musical Performance (p. 33)
Tue, May 20 Tessa Lark, violin (p. 40)
Thu, May 29 Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello (p. 21)
Immersive Dance Theater
“13 Tongues is a sensationally big, indulgent, and visually arresting expression of cultural memory.”
The Times (U.K.)
“When you’re talking about Cloud Gate, magic is not too strong a word.”
Time Out
Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan
13 Tongues
Cheng Tsung-lung, Artistic Director
Sat, Nov 2 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
In 13 Tongues, Cloud Gate Dance Theatre brings the sights and sounds of Taiwan’s legendary night markets to life in all their human and spiritual dimensions. Mixing traditional storytelling with futuristic imagery and shifting between folk, classical and electronic music sources, 13 Tongues delivers an unforgettable experience of contemporary dance at its most innovative and spectacular. Drawing on childhood memories of a famous street performer from 1980s Taipei, Artistic Director Cheng Tsung-lung and the Cloud Gate dancers weave a brilliant tapestry of ancient and modern images set to a dazzling range of musical idioms.
photo: Liu“More than any group I can think of, these artists revel deeply in the underestimated art of play.”
The Washington Post
photos: Christopher Duggan
West Coast Premiere
Dorrance Dance
The Nutcracker Suite
Michelle Dorrance, Artistic Director
Music Arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn
Thu, Dec 5 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
“The orchestrations are playful, surprising, imaginative. Ms. Dorrance and her collaborators… have responded in kind.”
The New York Times
Tap and jazz take on Tchaikovsky in Dorrance Dance’s vibrant version of this beloved holiday classic. The renowned tap company boogies, slides, struts and dives through the magical story of a young girl and her fantastical Christmas adventure. Taking their cue from Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn’s extraordinary reinterpretation of The Nutcracker Suite, Michelle Dorrance and co-choreographers Hannah Heller and Josette Wiggan transform the Sugar Plum Fairy into a slinky Sugar Rum Cherry, while the “March of the Toy Soldiers” becomes a swinging “Peanut Brittle Brigade.” Featuring live music.
Dance series
“Tharp is America’s crossover dance queen… She melds classical ballet with modern dance, avantgarde experiment with Broadway pizzazz, technical rigor with off-the-cuff attitude, uptown glamor with downtown grit.”
The Guardian (U.K.)
Celebrating 60 Years
Twyla Tharp Dance
Diamond Jubilee
Featuring Third Coast
Percussion
Tue, Feb 11 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
“What invigorates about Tharp is her restless and unceasing quest to reveal truth in human movement.”
The Washington Post
Twyla Tharp is an American dance legend renowned for crafting accessible, impeccable, startlingly original works that expand the boundaries of ballet and modern dance.
Celebrating her 60th anniversary as a choreographer, this Diamond Jubilee program features Tharp’s Olivier-nominated triumph, Diabelli, set to Beethoven’s masterpiece of the same name. Rounding out the evening is Tharp’s first partnership with Philip Glass in nearly 40 years, a new collaboration inspired by the composer’s Aguas da Amazonia and performed to live music by Grammy-winning Third Coast Percussion. An Arts & Lectures co-commission.
“MOMO… is breathtaking. It has clarity, precision and economy, simplicity and depth, a secret.”
Globes (Israel)
Acclaimed Contemporary Dance From Israel
Batsheva Dance Company
MOMO
Choreography by Ohad Naharin
Tue, Feb 25 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
“The company has ascended to the upper echelons of contemporary dance.” The New York Times
A titan of contemporary dance and creator of the Gaga movement language, Ohad Naharin brings his powerhouse Tel Aviv-based company back to Santa Barbara with MOMO. Laurie Anderson and Kronos Quartet’s Landfall and Philip Glass’ Metamorphosis provide the slow-simmering musical backdrop to this daring new work. MOMO has two souls, with separate yet conjoined narratives running alongside one another, hypnotic and intense. Through it all, a shared passion of deep sorrow and beauty unfolds on stage.
Dance series
6 events
Classical Indian Dance Reimagined
Akram Khan Company
GIGENIS, the generation of the Earth
Akram Khan, Artistic Director
Thu, Apr 10 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
Explore the Threads of Ancient Myths with Legendary Choreographer Akram Khan
“I am excited and humbled to be back on stage and direct six extraordinary soloist artists from all generations. GIGENIS is a profound tribute to that reflection, a reconciliation between the past and the present times, a genuine celebration of our collective love for dance – boundless, timeless, as well as deeply rooted.”
– Akram Khan
“One of Europe’s most charismatic dance talents.” The Guardian (U.K.)
Returning to his roots to curate his first ensemble piece showcasing Indian classical dance, choreographer Akram Khan shares the stage with six renowned dancers and seven live musicians. Evoking our civilization’s collective memories, GIGENIS represents not just a performance but a profound statement – a testament to the enduring resonance of tradition in a rapidly changing world. Arts & Lectures joins The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., The Joyce Theater in New York and Sadler’s Wells in London in presenting this exclusive engagement.
12 Subscribe to a series and save up to 25%
photo: Julien Benhamou“There’s
something generous
about
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. It’s there in the dancing –full of skill, passion and a charismatic warmth.”
The Guardian (U.K.)
Two Nights! Two Programs!
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Matthew Rushing, Interim Artistic Director
Tue, Apr 15 & Wed, Apr 16 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
“The influence and importance of the company, to both the dance world and the culture at large, are wide and multifaceted.” San Francisco Chronicle
Experience “an American cultural treasure” (Chicago SunTimes) as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater brings its unique blend of contemporary and classic movement to the stage. Showcasing a dazzling range of cultural influences and choreographic styles, the Ailey dancers merge virtuosic technique, palpable passion and “exquisite athleticism” (The Washington Post) into an irresistible stream of creative movement. The groundbreaking company returns with two vibrant programs, including one night (Apr 16) featuring founder Alvin Ailey’s beloved masterpiece Revelations
Great Performances A series
Chamber Music’s Magnificent Seven
Itzhak Perlman and Friends
Thu, Nov 7 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre
Itzhak Perlman, violin
Emanuel Ax, piano
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Juilliard String Quartet
Program
Leclair: Sonata for Two Violins in E minor, op. 3, no. 5
Mozart: Piano Quartet No. 2 in E-flat Major, K. 493
Chausson: Concert for Violin, Piano and String Quartet, op. 21
“Itzhak Perlman is a superstar of classical music… No other violinist enjoys his level of recognition.” The New York Times
“Perlman’s great (and undiminished) gift is to deliver timeless, mainstream music to his audiences with uncomplicated affection, directness and humanity.” The Washington Post
Two of the world’s most distinguished pianists –Emanuel Ax and Jean-Yves Thibaudet – join the reigning virtuoso of the violin Itzhak Perlman and the “endlessly agile” (The New York Times) Juilliard String Quartet for an evening of exceptional chamber music. Each member of this remarkable all-star lineup is fully capable of commanding a rapt audience on their own. In this lush and thrilling program of works spanning three centuries, they explore textures and nuances of expression only available to an extended ensemble.
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Julia Bullock,
sopranoTue, Jan 21 / 7 PM / Lobero Theatre
“Britain’s indisputably best period instrument ensemble.”
The Independent
(U.K.)
“Smart, savvy, and with her velvety soprano shot through with steel, Julia Bullock is one of the most dramatically electrifying and vocally arresting singers on today’s operatic stages.”
Musical America
Brilliant star soprano Julia Bullock is joined by the famed Baroque ensemble Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE). Founded in 1986, the OAE employs period instruments to realize historicallyinformed performances of rare beauty. The evening’s program features showpieces by Vivaldi, Bach and Pachelbel alongside arias by Handel, Lully, Rameau and Purcell that highlight Bullock’s “deeply rich and richly deep” soprano (Los Angeles Times). Although Bullock is renowned for her performances of Baroque opera roles at such international venues as the Royal Opera House in London and the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, this special program represents the first opportunity for U.S. audiences to experience this aspect of her artistry.
Great Performances A series
Compositions Spanning Three Centuries
Danish String Quartet
Fri, Jan 31 / 7 PM / Campbell Hall
“The power to make you grateful for the very existence of music.” The New York Times
Program
Shostakovich: String Quartet No. 3 in F Major, op. 73
Mozart: Divertimento in F Major, K. 138
Stravinsky: Three Pieces for String Quartet
O’Carolan: Three Melodies
(Mabel Kelly, Planxty Kelly, Carolan’s Quarrel with the Landlady) Folk Music
“They could be grounded in their tone or mystical. They allowed time to stand still, and they could assume the pose of excitingly aggressive rockers. They did it all.” – Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times
Longtime friends and virtuosic musicians, these self-described “relatively bearded Scandinavians, sometimes mistaken for Vikings” have been playing as a quartet for more than 20 years. One of today’s most highly-acclaimed and in-demand classical quartets, the Danish is renowned for impeccable musicianship, sophisticated artistry, exquisite clarity of ensemble and, above all, an unmatched ability to play as one. This wide-ranging program combines works from the classical quartet repertoire with medieval Irish melodies and Nordic folk.
An Unprecedented Two-piano Collaboration
Yuja Wang, piano
Víkingur Ólafsson, piano
Fri, Feb 28 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre
“[Yuja Wang’s] combination of technical ease, colouristic range and sheer power has always been remarkable.” Financial Times
“A breathtakingly brilliant pianist.”
Gramophone on Víkingur Ólafsson
Program
Berio: Wasserklavier
Schubert: Fantasia in F minor for Four Hands
Ligeti: “Bewegung” from Three Pieces for Two Pianos
Brubeck: Fugue from Points on Jazz
Nancarrow (arr. Thomas Adès): Study No. 6
John Adams: Hallelujah Junction
Arvo Pärt: Hymn to a Great City
Rachmaninoff : Symphonic Dances
Yuja Wang and Víkingur Ólafsson join forces for an unforgettable night of four-handed keyboard mastery. Lauded for her charismatic artistry, emotional honesty and captivating stage presence, Wang is a regular with the world’s top symphony orchestras and was named Musical America’s Artist of the Year in 2017. An acclaimed visionary interpreter of such monuments of the piano repertoire as J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Ólafsson has received Opus Klassik’s Solo Recording Instrumental of the Year twice since his debut with Deutsche Grammophon in 2017.
Great Performances B series
4 events
“Many in the arts these days talk a big game about interdisciplinary collaboration, but few walk the walk like AMOC.” The New York Times
“Julia Bullock [is] an essential soprano for our times.”
– Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times
Santa Barbara Debut
HARAWI
An American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) Production Fri, Oct 4 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
Julia Bullock, soprano
Conor Hanick, piano
Bobbi Jene Smith, dancer/choreographer
Or Schraiber, dancer/choreographer
HARAWI, an American Modern Opera Company (AMOC) production, realizes Olivier Messiaen’s deeply-affecting song cycle for voice and piano in a newly physicalized and dramatized version. Over the course of a dozen interconnected love songs – the first installment in a series of song cycles known as the composer’s Tristan trilogy – dancers Bobbi Jene Smith and Or Schraiber bring Messiaen’s romantic surrealism to life through their original choreography. All four artists – Smith and Schraiber, plus pianist Conor Hanick and soprano Julia Bullock – are contributing members of AMOC, an adventurous, enterprising collective of artists that has been called “blindingly impressive” and “preternaturally talented” by The New York Times. By incorporating dance, this unique production of HARAWI opens up Messiaen’s song cycle, adding a new dimension and greater intensity to its portrayal of love and loss.
HARAWI, an AMOC production, at Arts & Lectures is produced in collaboration with the Ojai Music Festival
25%
photos: Hanne Engwald; Allison Michael“London’s most adventurous and dynamic mainstream orchestra.” The Times (U.K.)
Orchestral Extravagance
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, Principal Conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja , violin
Sat, Oct 12 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre
“It is the character of a great virtuoso to make the instrument become an extension of the player. Kopatchinskaja, though, is the violin. She plays in a state of astonishment and the violin becomes her.”
– Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times
Program
Tania León: Raices (Origins)
Shostakovich: Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, op. 77
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4 in F minor, op. 36
Uniquely groundbreaking and exhilarating to watch, the London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) has been recognized as one of the world’s great orchestras since its founding in 1932. Heard by millions on the soundtracks for The Lord of the Rings and other films, the ensemble performs a rare Santa Barbara concert with violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja. Known for her fearless interpretations of both the established classical repertoire and avant-garde compositions, she has been a trusted partner of the LPO for two decades. In this concert featuring acclaimed conductor Edward Gardner, the orchestra will reveal the depths of feeling contained in one of the 20th century’s most ambitious concertos.
Presented in association with Community Arts Music Association of Santa Barbara (CAMA)
Great Performances B series
4 events
“That Ma has used his gifts in the service of spreading humanistic values – via crosscultural musical collaboration, civic engagement and huge amounts of heart – means that his connection with the public goes far deeper than mere admiration.”
The New York Times
Special Event!
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma
Refl ections in Words and Music
Sat, Apr 5 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre
Join cellist Yo-Yo Ma for an evening of music and words. In this one-night-only performance, Yo-Yo performs a special selection of his favorite pieces and shares stories about a life dedicated to music.
Yo-Yo Ma’s multi-faceted career is testament to his belief in culture’s power to generate trust and understanding. He strives to foster connections that stimulate the imagination and reinforce our humanity. This exceptional program will pair repertoire from the center of Yo-Yo’s musical firmament with reflections on how it has shaped his thinking about art, human nature and our search for meaning. Together, the cellist’s music and words ask us to consider what music is for, and how it can guide us on a path towards hope.
photo: Jason Bell photo: Austin Mann“Immensely
engaging players: a star duo is born.”
The Independent (U.K.)
Back by Popular Demand
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Thu, May 29 / 7 PM / Campbell Hall
Program
Fauré: Cello Sonata No. 1
Poulenc: Cello Sonata
Natalie Klouda: Tor Mordôn
Mendelssohn: Cello Sonata No. 1
Since their April 2022 Santa Barbara debut, siblings Isata and Sheku Kanneh-Mason have shot to fame, joining the ranks of the classical world’s most sought-after musicians. Hailing from one of Britain’s most talented musical families, Isata is a recipient of the coveted Leonard Bernstein Award and an Opus Klassik award, and Sheku won the BBC Young Musician competition in 2016. The duo’s intuitive understanding and remarkable rapport will be on full display in this richly evocative recital exploring the legacy of late Romantic and modern chamber music.
Great Performances Suite
8 events (series A + B)
Great things come in pairs! Get two exceptional orchestras, two dynamic duos, two quality quartets and a couple of complete legends – all for one suite price.
HARAWI, An AMOC Production
Julia Bullock, soprano
Fri, Oct 4 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Edward Gardner, Principal Conductor
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin
Sat, Oct 12 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre
Itzhak Perlman and Friends
Thu, Nov 7 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Julia Bullock, soprano
Tue, Jan 21 / 7 PM / Lobero Theatre
Danish String Quartet
Fri, Jan 31 / 7 PM / Campbell Hall
Yuja Wang, piano
Víkingur Ólafsson, piano
Fri, Feb 28 / 7 PM / Granada Theatre
An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma Reflections in Words and Music
Sat, Apr 5 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre
Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano
Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Thu, May 29 / 7 PM / Campbell Hall
Word of Mouth series
Education Technology Pioneer
Salman Khan
Brave New Words: How AI Will Revolutionize Education (and Why That’s a Good Thing)
Sat, Oct 5 / 4 PM (note special time) / Arlington Theatre
“Sal Khan’s vision and energy for how technology could fundamentally transform education is contagious. He’s a true pioneer in integrating technology and learning.” – Bill Gates
“Salman Khan challenges us to reimagine the future of education in an AI-driven era... Not only insightful but also inspiring, demonstrating the enormous potential of technology to empower both learners and educators.” – Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education
The visionary behind educational nonprofit Khan Academy, Salman Khan seeks to remove the barriers to education that leave over 600 million children lacking basic math and reading skills. His free, world-class curriculum – available to anyone, anywhere – has made a massive impact, with its videos reaching over a billion views. Now, Khan is using the power of AI to make education even more accessible. With the introduction of the revolutionary Khanmigo, he’s giving every student around the world an AI-powered personal tutor that The Washington Post calls “the best model we have for how to develop and implement AI for the public good.” Author of the new book Brave New Words, Khan offers a uniquely prescient and practical look into how we can use AI to enhance HI: “human intelligence, human potential and human purpose.”
photo: Khan AcademyWord of Mouth series
4 events
“I had been told that girls don’t do science. And fortunately, I ignored that.”
– Dr. Jennifer Doudna, Innovative Genomics Institute founder, 2020 Nobel Laureate and co-inventor of CRISPR technology
“The technology of gene editing will be the most important advance of our era, one that will create astonishing opportunities combined with frightening moral challenges… and what it portends for our future.”
– WalterIsaacson
Co-presented with
Nobel Prize-winning Biochemist Dr. Jennifer Doudna
CRISPR Gene Editing and the Future of Human Health
Tue, Oct 22 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
The world stands on the edge of an era when gene editing can address many serious ills plaguing humankind, says biochemist Jennifer Doudna, who earned the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for co-developing CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering technology. New discoveries in this field continue at a rapid pace. The FDA approved the first CRISPR-based gene therapy for the treatment of sickle cell disease. At Doudna’s Innovative Genomics Institute, CRISPR is being harnessed to reduce climate change-causing emissions from cattle and edit the microbiome to solve intractable health issues such as asthma. In cancer, a novel technique dubbed “cancer shredding” uses CRISPR to destroy tumor cells. Co-author of A Crack in Creation and the subject of Walter Isaacson’s bestseller The Code Breaker, Doudna will explore this profoundly powerful technology, its ethical implications and its breakthrough applications in agriculture, environment and medical science.
photo: Christopher Michel“Every writer, truth seeker, parent and activist I know is in love with one or more books by Anne Lamott.” – Gloria Steinem
Bestselling Novelist and Essayist
Anne Lamott
Somehow: Thoughts on Love
Wed, Nov 13 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
“Anne Lamott is walking proof that a person can be both reverent and irreverent in the same lifetime. Sometimes even in the same breath.” San Francisco Chronicle
An enchanting, lyrical writer, Anne Lamott takes on the most complex, intimate parts of life with grace and precision. Her novels and memoirs have won the most sought-after literary prizes and her latest book, Somehow: Thoughts on Love, explores the struggles of love and the transformative power of intimacy. Lamott’s trademark honesty and humor will be on full display as she discusses finding love late in life, the changing ways we love our children and the ways love can keep us going in a painful world.
Word of Mouth series
4 events
“The answer to every question is, indeed, compassion.”
– Gregory Boyle
2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom Recipient
Father Gregory Boyle
Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times
Tue, Dec 3 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
“Father Greg Boyle makes amazingly winsome connections between things like service and delight, and compassion and awe – amazing, because he works in an urban setting others describe in terms of crime and despair.” – Krista Tippet, host of On Being
Over the past 30 years, Father Gregory Boyle has transformed thousands of lives through his work as the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang intervention program in the world. The program runs on two unwavering principles: 1) Everyone is unshakably good (no exceptions) and 2) we belong to each other (no exceptions). Every community wants to be a safe place, where people are seen, and are cherished. At a time when society is more fractured than ever, Boyle’s forthcoming book Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times invites us to see the world through a new lens of connection and build the loving community that we long to live in. Boyle was named a Champion of Change by President Obama in 2014, and was a recipient of the 2024 Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
up to 25%
“Cuevas is to Mexico what Aretha Franklin is to the United States: a powerful voice that encapsulates the essence of her nation’s spirit.”
The Kansas City Star
The Queen of Mariachi
Aida Cuevas
Canta a Juan Gabriel 40 años después Sun, Oct 20 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre
A Grammy and Latin Grammy-winning icon of Mexican music, Aida Cuevas is beloved for her devotion to traditional mariachi and for her mastery of its demanding vocal forms. An impassioned performer with a striking voice that evokes life’s greatest joys and most profound longings, Cuevas was the first female singer of the genre to win both Grammy and Latin Grammy awards. In her return to Santa Barbara, the “Queen of Ranchera Music” will lead a mariachi spectacular celebrating her late mentor and friend, pop legend Juan Gabriel.
3 events
Essential African Pop from Mali
Habib Koité and Bamada
Wed, Oct 30 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“First there was Hendrix, then Stevie Ray, and now Habib.” – Bonnie Raitt
“His reputation as a guitar player has become almost mythical, combining rock and classical techniques with Malian tunings that make the guitar sound like a kora or ngoni.” The New York Times
Named the biggest pop star of the West African nation of Mali by Rolling Stone, Habib Koité’s sophisticated acoustic guitar technique brings the pentatonic tuning of the griot’s traditional kora to the slashing solos of classic rock. Koité’s soulful voice and magnetic personality have made him an international star of contemporary world music and inspired collaborations with the likes of Bonnie Raitt, Jackson Browne and Eric Bibb. With his band Bamada, the singer/songwriter fuses African polyrhythms with the propulsive beats of rock, blues, pop and Latin jazz. 28 Subscribe to a series and save up to 25%
“Nobody wields a pipa like Wu Man, the reigning virtuoso on the ancient four-stringed instrument.” NPR
“One of the greatest musicians I’ve ever had the privilege to know and to work with.”
– Yo-Yo Ma on Kayhan Kalhor
“Sandeep Das’ virtuosic playing injected discreet surges of rhythmic adrenaline.” The Boston Globe
Friends in a New Collaboration
DoosTrio
Kayhan Kalhor, Wu Man, Sandeep Das
Wed, Feb 19 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
With a name inspired by the transliteration of the Farsi word for friend, DoosTrio’s Kayhan Kalhor, Wu Man and Sandeep Das join together in a new collaboration that highlights the ancient traditions of Iran, China and India in a distinctly 21st century program. A virtuoso on the kamancheh, Kalhor has been uniquely influential in popularizing Persian music in the West. Wu Man is the world’s premier pipa virtuoso and a leading ambassador of Chinese music. A Guggenheim Fellow and a Grammy winner, tabla master Das debuted at age 17 with legendary sitar player Ravi Shankar and has since built a prolific international reputation spanning three decades.
events
Jazz, Funk and More from North Texas
Snarky Puppy
Tue, Oct 1 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
The New York Times A&L’s 65th Season Opening Night
“A quintessential live band.”
“A barnstorming, groove-centric instrumental act with a rabid fan base and a blithely unplaceable style.” The New York Times
Are they a jazz orchestra, a funk band or a jam-based collective? With Snarky Puppy, the answer is all of the above. Rousing solos set amidst a deep rolling groove will give the audience plenty to shout about as this powerhouse ensemble shows what has made them a festival favorite worldwide. Known for forging a new path through the thickets of the music industry, Snarky Puppy has earned a reputation as one of the hardest working and most sophisticated proponents of jazz funk. Dueling drummers and a rotating roster of elite soloists keep the funk fires burning whenever these imaginative musicians come to town.
photo: Ignacio OrregoLakecia Benjamin and Phoenix
Fri, Feb 7 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“Lakecia Benjamin plays jazz that is sprinkled with the rich flavors of funk and soul – she’s a crafty traditionalist who remains in step with the rhythms of the young generation.” The New Yorker Saxophonist, composer and arranger Lakecia Benjamin fuses soul and hip-hop with a strong foundation in the canon of modern jazz. The Manhattan native has worked with an impressive roster of jazz greats, including Clark Terry, Reggie Workman, Gregory Porter and Christian McBride. Her 2023 release, Phoenix, earned Grammy nominations in two categories – Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Jazz Performance for her original composition “Basquiat.” Fans of John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter and Ornette Coleman, listen up – there’s a new horn in town, and she’s ready to roar.
Santa Barbara Debut“The piano is a plane that can take me anywhere.” – Hiromi
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
Fri, Apr 25 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“One of jazz piano’s most brazenly virtuosic players.” The New York Times
“Breathtaking displays of flat-out swing, funky grooving and classical references, often all in the same piece.” The Guardian (U.K.)
Check your expectations at the door for this night of wildly adventurous music from Hiromi and Sonicwonder. Steeped in both the classical and jazz traditions, Hiromi goes her own way, attracting fans of all ages with compositions that run the gamut from Mozart to metal and beyond. Sonicwonder audiences have been known to stand and whoop in wonder at the intricate, catchy and powerful sound that pours out of this eclectic electric quartet. Mixing influences that range from Chick Corea to Frank Zappa and funk fusion, Hiromi insists on following her own musical path. “I just want to keep exploring and trying new things,” she says, vowing that her best performance will be her next one.
Santa Barbara Debut“Jazz aficionados certainly will appreciate its evocation of early 20th century New Orleans, and those lucky enough to live in certain cities will have the opportunity to hear its rollicking score performed live by its composer Wynton Marsalis, pianist Cecile Licad and a stellar ensemble.”
The Hollywood Reporter
West Coast Premiere | 13-piece Jazz Ensemble
Wynton Marsalis Ensemble
LOUIS: A Silent Film with Live Musical Performance
Sat, May 17 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
“Of course, calling it a silent film is a misnomer – there will be plenty of music, and jazz is like a conversation between the players so there’ll be no shortage of dialogue.” – Wynton Marsalis
As part of a multi-city west coast tour, Wynton Marsalis leads a 13-member all-star ensemble featuring pianist Cecile Licad in a live performance accompanying the silent film LOUIS. In a modern reimagining of early silent film, the grand Storyville bordellos, alleys and cemeteries of 1907 New Orleans provide the backdrop to the fictionalized story of 6-year-old Louis as he dreams of playing the trumpet and navigates the colorful intricacies of life in the city. Featuring classic tunes by Armstrong, Morton, Ellington and more alongside original Marsalis compositions and the music of Creole composer L.M. Gottschalk, LOUIS is an homage to Louis Armstrong, Charlie Chaplin and the birth of American music. (LOUIS: Dan Pritzker, 2010, R, 90 min.)
photo: Rob Waymen Photography“The colossally talented pair continue their commando, no-limits journey to the top of the music world.”
Associated Press on The War and Treaty
“If we had the ability to assess who is the most beloved figure in music – not in overall numbers, but sheer adoration, per capita and per peer – it likely wouldn’t be Taylor or Beyoncé but Mavis Staples, who has been taking us there since the late ’60s.” Variety
Special Double Bill
Mavis Staples
The War and Treaty
Tue, Oct 8 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
A chart-topping soul/gospel/R&B pioneer, civil rights icon, National Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement recipient and Kennedy Center honoree, Mavis Staples delivers roof-raising performances with youthful vigor and commanding maturity. Called “one of America’s defining voices of freedom and peace” by NPR, she marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., performed at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration and sang in Barack Obama’s White House. Combining traditional folk, country, R&B and spirituals into a dynamic blend that’s all their own, The War and Treaty (Michael Trotter Jr. and Tanya Trotter) were the first Black artists ever nominated for Duo of the Year by the Country Music Association. This marks The War and Treaty’s Santa Barbara debut. Taking the stage separately, Staples and The War and Treaty promise an unforgettable evening of deep soul and heart-wrenching gospel passion.
Grammy Winners, Best Bluegrass Album 2022 and 2023
Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
Fri, Dec 6 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“A vibrant blend of bluegrass with flashes of Old West, anchored by Tuttle’s earthy-yet-angelic vocal and the entire group’s ace musicianship.” Billboard
“Tuttle and her band Golden Highway represent a new class of bluegrass.” Rolling Stone
A gifted songwriter and vocalist, Molly Tuttle’s spellbinding lyrics and exquisitely-crafted sound have garnered her a Best New Artist Grammy nomination and unprecedented back-to-back wins for Best Bluegrass Album of 2022 and 2023. She is lauded as “one of the world’s best guitar players” by American Songwriter and is the first woman ever named Guitar Player of the Year by the International Bluegrass Music Association. Together with her band, Golden Highway, Tuttle weaves modern folk, bluegrass and Americana into an eclectic yet seamless musical fabric that stretches from Del McCoury to Jefferson Airplane and beyond.
Roots series
3 events
“Larkin Poe are your next favorite performers.”
Forbes
“The new face of gutsy blues rock.”
American Songwriter
Roots Rockin’ Southern Sisters
Larkin Poe
Sun, Apr 27 / 7 PM / Arlington Theatre
With serious slide guitar chops and Southern rock swagger, Georgia-bred multiinstrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell hit audiences right in the heart. The blazingly self-assured music on their 2023 album Blood Harmony got them the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album; tracing their family lineage back to distant relative Edgar Allan Poe gave Larkin Poe its name. Imbuing their songs with equal parts soulful sensitivity and thrilling ferocity, Larkin Poe is an essential force shaping the identity of Southern rock for a new century.
Subscribe to a series and save up to 25%
photo: Jason StoltzfusHear & Now series
4 events
High-octane Keyboard Virtuosity
Alexander Malofeev, piano
Fri, Jan 24 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
“Malofeev’s artistry is truly remarkable for a young pianist who is at the beginning of what hopefully will be a long and fruitful career.”
Boston Classical Review
“Malofeev is a marvel to witness, showcasing impeccable technique that seems to transcend the limitations of the instrument itself.” Bachtrack
Program
Schubert: Drei Klavierstücke, D. 946
Kapustin: Piano Sonata No. 6, op. 62
Sibelius: 5 Pieces for Piano, op. 75 (“The Trees”)
Liszt: Funérailles, S. 173
Scriabin: 4 Preludes, op. 22
Scriabin: Fantasie, op. 28
Russian pianist Alexander Malofeev came to international prominence a decade ago when he won the International Tchaikovsky Competition for Young Musicians at age 13. He has since established himself as one of the most prominent pianists of his generation, with a reputation for meticulous technique and a searching, fiery intensity of interpretation. He received repeated standing ovations at Tanglewood for a performance
The Boston Globe called “lyrical, sensitive and haunted,” adding that “he brought down the house.”
photo: LiudmilaHear &
4 events
“There is certainly no group out there quite like Imani Winds. The virtuosic quintet finds ways to combine the sounds of the past with futuristic innovations in a manner that makes it impossible to put them in a box.”
The Oberlin Review
An Epic Quintet Collaboration
Imani Winds and Boston Brass
Sun, Feb 2 / 4 PM / Hahn Hall
“To say the performers are spectacular and technical musical wizards is an understatement.”
Charleston Today on Boston Brass
Two powerhouse ensembles join forces to create an all-star collaboration featuring a new piece by the iconic, multi-Grammy-winning musician and composer, Arturo Sandoval. In this night of rollicking musical entertainment, woodwind quintet Imani Winds, winner of the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium, meets Boston Brass, the one-of-a-kind quintet expert at blowing away genre boundaries. The program will also include popular favorites like Aram Khachaturian’s Sabre Dance, along with music by J.S. Bach, Manuel de Falla, Astor Piazzolla and modern masters Paquito D’Rivera and Lalo Shifrin.
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photo: Shervin Lainez photo: Donna Conversano“With Owls, classical is alive and well.”
The New York Times
Owls
Fri, Apr 11 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
Alexi Kenney, violin
Ayane Kozasa, viola
Gabriel Cabezas, cello
Paul Wiancko, cello
A quartet collective where each member is an artistic force in their own right, Owls has been dubbed “a dream group” by The New York Times for their original, visceral performances that defy expectations. Lovingly translating folk, jazz, minimalism, Baroque and new music into their distinctive instrumentation, the ensemble will perform a wide-ranging program of works that foregrounds their innovative approach to the quartet repertoire.
Program
Chick Corea: Children’s Song No. 12
Paul Wiancko: Vox Petra
Franghiz Ali-Zadeh: R qs
Couperin: Les Barricades Mystérieuses
Trollstilt (Monica Mugan and Dan Trueman): Ricercar
Paul Wiancko: When the Night
Terry Riley: Good Medicine
photo: Ashley Gellman West Coast DebutHear & Now series
4 events
“Tessa Lark embodies joy in music making.”
– John Corigliano, composer
Tessa Lark, violin
Amy Yang, piano
Tue, May 20 / 7 PM / Hahn Hall
“She’s one hell of a fiddler.”
Gramophone (U.K.)
“A violinist to watch… Lark is most definitely on the ascent.”
The Strad
Born and raised in Kentucky, versatile violinist Tessa Lark’s earliest musical influences were bluegrass and Appalachian folk. Her passion for fiddling led her well beyond these original interests, until in 2012 she won the Naumburg International Violin Competition, one of classical music’s highest honors. Since then she has pursued all facets of her wide-ranging musical talent, leading her to a Grammy nomination in 2020 for Best Classical Instrumental Solo and to her innovative 2023 release, The Stradgrass Sessions, featuring Jon Batiste, Edgar Meyer and Sierra Hull. Lark will perform a program exploring all sides of her prolific career, from Bartók to bluegrass and beyond.
photo: Lauren Desberg Santa Barbara DebutSpeaking with Pico series
3 events
Combining a writer’s insight with a scholar’s mastery of the material, series host Pico Iyer returns with another inspiring roster of conversational partners. A perennial A&L audience favorite!
No. 1 New York Times Bestselling Author and Poet
Yung Pueblo
in Conversation with Pico Iyer
Tue, Oct 29 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
“A hero is one who heals their own wounds and then shows others how to do the same.”
– Yung Pueblo, Inward
“In a medium driven by knee-jerk reactions (comments), superficial judgments (likes), and the constant need for public approval, Yung Pueblo’s voice reminds us of the better angels of our nature.” Forbes
Yung Pueblo – pen name of Diego Perez – is an author and poet whose focus on self-knowledge and radical self-acceptance has made him a source of inspiration and wisdom to millions. He is the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Lighter as well as the The Inward Trilogy, a collection of three bestselling books of poetry including Inward, Clarity & Connection and the final installment, 2023’s The Way Forward
Speaking with Pico series
Pulitzer Prize-winning Environmental Novelist Richard Powers in Conversation with Pico Iyer Sun, Feb 23 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
“A soft-spoken eco-warrior and environmental prophet.” The New York Times
“One of our country’s greatest living writers. He composes some of the most beautiful sentences I’ve ever read. I’m in awe of his talent.”
– Oprah Winfrey
Includes a copy of Powers’ new book Playground (pick up at event)
Operating at the intersection of culture, the environment and technology, novelist Richard Powers has constructed an oeuvre rivaling that of any American writer. The Overstory, his visionary narrative account of the deep time embedded within the Earth’s forests, earned the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. In his new novel, Playground, Powers does for the ocean what The Overstory did for forests, portraying the Pacific’s last wild regions in give and take with humanity’s ongoing project to subdue them. Throughout his prolific writing life, Powers has expressed unbridled curiosity, which has propelled him from his early days as a computer programmer to his current place atop the pantheon of speculative fiction creators.
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“The impact that Abramović has had on the contemporary-art scene cannot be underestimated.”
Harper’s Bazaar
Pioneering Performance Artist
Marina Abramović
in Conversation with Pico Iyer
Tue, May 6 / 7:30 PM / Lobero Theatre
“By using the body as her medium, Abramović shows just how close art can get to life.” The Guardian (U.K.)
Renowned conceptual artist Marina Abramović has pushed the boundaries of contemporary art, not just within performance art but across the entire spectrum of the art world. Since the 1970s, her cutting-edge work has explored the body, endurance, the relationship between the performer and audience, and the possibilities of the mind. Her iconic performances include The Artist Is Present, the MOMA retrospective which sparked an HBO documentary as well as collaborations with such pop icons as Jay-Z and Lady Gaga.
“Her life, performances, body art, controversial experiments and celebrity status all contribute to a larger narrative that could be considered one grand piece of art, curated by Abramović herself” (Widewalls).
Five contenders. Five rounds. Your vote. Only one will survive.
“Without even a single political reference… Fight Night makes a precarious analysis of the consensus politics our democratic system has fallen into.”
De Morgen (Belgium)
Theater Hit of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival Fight Night by Ontroerend Goed
Tue, Oct 15 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“Funny, revealing, and very invigorating… You will encounter things that no U.S. company would dare do.” Chicago Tribune
In the leadup to the 2024 presidential election, innovative Belgian theater company Ontroerend Goed offers a fun and thought-provoking night of interactive theater. A critically-acclaimed hit of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Fight Night puts digital voting devices – and the fate of its candidates – into the hands of the audience. With no political ideology or mention of politics, this production is a sharp, impartial and completely entertaining analysis of how democracy works. Make your vote count!
Special Event
An Evening with Lil Buck and Jon Boogz
Thu, Oct 24 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“Fueling it all is the emotion that drives his magnetic dancing. There is struggle and pain, joy and healing, and ultimately, a transformation.” The New York Times on Lil Buck
An award-winning performing artist and advocate for the arts, Charles “Lil Buck” Riley defies gravity with a repertoire that spans Memphis Jookin’, hip hop, ballet and contemporary dance, to name just a few. A world-renowned artist, Lil Buck has performed original works created in collaboration with such luminaries as Yo-Yo Ma and Mikhail Baryshnikov. He’s undulated, twisted and turned past Picasso and Matisse masterworks for Louis Vuitton and has performed for international brands including Nike, Apple and Vogue. In 2023, choreographer and movement artist Jon Boogz became the first Black street dancer honored by the Emmys when he won Outstanding Choreography for Scripted Programming for his work on the Starz show Blindspotting. He has received numerous accolades for constantly pushing the boundaries of movement, storytelling and dance. Together, Boogz and Buck will develop and perform an original dance piece especially for UCSB Arts & Lectures.
photo: careamuraoCirca Humans 2.0
“Impressive and sophisticated contemporary New Circus at its best.”
Berlin Morning Post (Germany)
“A seriously sensational spectacle: as aesthetic as it is athletic, as comedic as it is grave, and all in all, a visceral delight.”
The Conversation (Australia)
Created by Yaron Lifschitz and the Circa Ensemble
Tue, Apr 8 / 7:30 PM / Lobero Theatre
A symphony of acrobatics, sound and light, Humans 2.0 is next-level circus by the Australian contemporary troupe Circa. Created by the visionary Yaron Lifschitz, this innovative new work delivers tightly-woven choreography that is intimate, primal and deeply engaged with the challenge of being human. Bathed in an ever-changing palette of dramatic, expressive lighting, 10 phenomenally athletic performers build and dismantle intricate human towers, leap into one another’s arms and push their physical limits to previously unimagined extremes. Their explosively kinetic interaction is “so remarkable as to almost defy description” (The Guardian, U.K.).
Additional Events
Chef and Bestselling Cookbook Author
An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi
Mon, Oct 14 / 7:30 PM / Granada Theatre
“The most creative but also practical cook of this new culinary era – a 21st-century Escoffier.” The Wall Street Journal
Includes Live Cooking Demo
“No
chef captures the flavors of the moment better than Yotam Ottolenghi.” Bon Appétit
Spend a delicious evening with world-renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi as he discusses his new book, Comfort, and prepares one of his dishes live on stage. The author of 10 multi-award-winning cookbooks and a regular contributor to The Guardian (U.K.) and The New York Times, Ottolenghi will share childhood stories, his passion for bold flavors and colorful ingredients, and his influences from across the world. Then, highlighting the way that food brings people together, he’ll combine culinary innovation with suggestions and questions from the audience to create a mouthwatering live experience.
photo: Elena HeatherwickAdditional Events
Fun for the Whole Family
The Sing-Along Film Concert
Thu, Nov 14 / 6:30 PM (note special time) / Arlington Theatre
Come as Your Favorite Character!
“Lin-Manuel Miranda provides a spellbinding soundtrack of songs combining salsa, bachata and hip-hop played with traditional folk instruments from Colombia.”
The New York Times
Sing along with Disney’s Academy Award-winning film Encanto as the magical tale of the extraordinary Madrigal family unfolds on the big screen. Groove to the Grammy-winning soundtrack, featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda’s chart-topping hits “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and “Surface Pressure,” with music performed live by a Latin rhythm band. Fans of all ages are encouraged to dress up as their favorite character from the groundbreaking film and to use their voices to transform the Arlington Theatre into one big celebration of the Madrigal family.
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“Multilingual and defiantly cosmopolitan… using lush string and horn arrangements that hark back to the days before rock’n’roll.”
The Sunday Times (U.K.)
30th Anniversary Tour
Pink Martini
Featuring China Forbes Holiday Show
Tue, Dec 17 / 7:30 PM / Arlington Theatre
“Lauderdale pulls out numbers from around the world like trinkets from his jacket lining.” JazzTimes
Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Pink Martini brings its signature blend of jazz, classical and pop music to a festive holiday show. With a dozen musicians and songs in more than a dozen languages, “this multi-denominational, multicultural jubilee overflows with enough holiday spirit to warm your entire family” (NPR). Performing classics like “White Christmas” alongside Chinese New Year tunes and a samba-inspired version of “Auld Lang Syne,” as well as fan favorites from the band’s 11 studio albums, this joyous, globetrotting concert is sure to make you merry.
photo: HornbeckerAdditional Events
Humorist and New York Icon
Fran Lebowitz
Sat, Jan 25 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
“Success didn’t spoil me. I’ve always been insufferable.”
– Fran Lebowitz
“On every level, she breaks the rules, and her late-life mainstream celebrity, attained simply by being – to be frank – a grumpy old lady, is the most glorious example of that. She deserves all the accolades.” The Guardian (U.K.)
Sharp-tongued, quick-witted and with a disarmingly world-weary persona, Fran Lebowitz enjoys a reputation as one of today’s great raconteurs. A cultural critic and talk show regular, she was featured in Martin Scorsese’s HBO documentary Public Speaking and his recent Emmy-nominated Netflix series Pretend It’s a City. An American original and purveyor of urban cool, the cultural satirist and author is pointed, forthright, unapologetically opinionated, and known for her dry social commentary on American life. With her irreverent spirit, Lebowitz taps an endless supply of hilarious one-liners to skewer the vanities of contemporary life.
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photo: Brigitte Lacombe“Between explosive drumming and dance routines, the group delivered mind-blowing acrobatic sequences with extraordinary precision.”
VICE magazine
“High-flying, jaw-dropping performances that will amaze the whole family.”
The Georgia Straight
Featuring Live Music
Cirque Kalabanté
Afrique en Cirque
Thu, Feb 6 / 7:30 PM / Lobero Theatre
Get ready for an unforgettable journey with Afrique en Cirque, created by Guinean artist and former Cirque du Soleil and Cirque Éloize performer Yamoussa Bangoura. With spectacular strength and agility, the acrobats of Cirque Kalabanté execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids accompanied by the sounds of live kora, percussion and Afro-jazz music. Filled with colorful costumes and impressive scenery, this joyful evening of dazzling circus arts is fun for the whole family.
Additional Events
Historian Niall FergusonWhy We Study History: Standing at the Crossroads of Past, Present and Future
Sat, Feb 8 / 4 PM (note special time) / Granada Theatre
“[Ferguson has a] knack for making long-ago events as vivid and visceral as the evening news, for weaving anecdotes and small, telling details together with a wide-angled retrospective vision.” The New York Times
“Ferguson’s grasp of economic history is admired even by his critics.” The Guardian (U.K.)
One of the world’s foremost historians and provocative commentators on global politics and economics, Niall Ferguson is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and a senior faculty fellow of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard. He is the author of 16 books chronicling a wide range of political and socio-economic topics, from how the West handles disasters to the life of Henry Kissinger. With erudition, eloquence and humor, Ferguson puts today’s economic shifts, social changes and political disruptions into historical perspective, using the past as a roadmap to the future.
Award-winning“Sorkin is part of a new breed of entrepreneurial journalists, blazing an unmatchable trail in their respective areas of expertise and using the power of technology to do so.”
The Telegraph (U.K.)
Award-winning Business and Finance Journalist
Andrew Ross Sorkin
Bestselling Author of Too Big to Fail | Founder and Editor-at-Large of The New York Times’
“DealBook” | Co-creator of Showtime’s Billions
Sat, Mar 1 / 7:30 PM / Campbell Hall
“Great stories are still just great yarns. News remains the best human drama ever.” – Andrew Ross Sorkin
Dubbed “The Oracle” for his insights into business and policy, Too Big to Fail author and Billions co-creator Andrew Ross Sorkin has long been a leading voice about Wall Street and corporate America. Sorkin lends his journalistic excellence to nuanced long-form conversations with the world’s biggest newsmakers at his annual DealBook Summit, where his recent guests included Elon Musk, Vice President Kamala Harris, Bob Iger, Sam Bankman-Fried and Volodymyr Zelensky. On the heels of this year’s highly-anticipated summit, and fresh from the Annual Meeting of The World Economic Forum in Davos, Sorkin shares incisive observations from unprecedented access to the most influential figures shaping the world today.
Additional Events
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
40th Anniversary Tour
Tue, Apr 1 / 8 PM / Campbell Hall
“The best musical entertainment in the country.” The Independent (U.K.)
“Instrumental panache and affable singing with no small amount of inimitably British drollery.” The New York Times
Four decades (and 400,000,000 plucks) since its founding, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain continues to thrill audiences with off-beat humor and four-stringed virtuosity. With no drums, pianos, backing tracks, guitars, pitch shifters or electronic trickery, each performance is an astonishing revelation of the rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles, fulsome vocals and a bit of whistling. Celebrate the 40th anniversary of this much-loved institution with a quirky, irreverent, white-knuckle shopping-trolley dash through every kind of musical genre.
Santa Barbara Favorite10 AM-5 PM
12 PM-4 PM (Oct-May)
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¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! brings people together to share the rich cultural heritage of Latin America, serving more than 15,000 students and community members each year throughout Santa Barbara County.
Created in 2006 out of a commitment to arts access for all, Viva works with dozens of local partners to present high-quality artists who share their knowledge and passion. Schools, neighborhood spaces and community centers come alive in these free programs for youth and families.
¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! is a collaboration between UCSB Arts & Lectures, The Marjorie Luke Theatre, the GuadalupeNipomo Dunes Center and the Isla Vista School Parent Teacher Association serving Carpinteria, Santa Barbara, Goleta, Lompoc, Santa Maria, Guadalupe and New Cuyama.
Performances
are
FREE (no registration required)
Learn more about the award-winning ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! program. Call Jenna Hamilton-Rolle, Director of Education & Community Engagement, at (805) 893-5829 for information.
1. Dancers from Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles perform at Franklin Elementary School 2. Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles performs a free concert at The Marjorie Luke Theatre 3. Members of Ballet Folklórico de Los Ángeles with Viva Coordinator Alíz Ruvalcaba and her family 4. Young audience members enjoy a free family performance 5. Charro Esteban Escobedo delights audiences at The Marjorie Luke Theatre 6. Mariachi Reyna de Los Angeles performs a free concert at The Marjorie Luke Theatre
“Everyone should have access to art and music. Viva is awesome. It provides world-class musicians and artists to the community at no charge.”
–Salud Carbajal, U.S. Congressman, Representing California’s 24th District
Access for ALL | Arts & Lectures Learning
Through Access for ALL, inspirational, dynamic learning experiences are possible for students and lifelong learners across classrooms, our community and the UCSB campus.
“Exposure to the arts at a young age is so important. It enriches the lives of the next generation. They are the future audience and supporters of the arts. We are pleased to support the expansive educational programs A&L provides to our local students.”
– Maxine Prisyon, William H. Kearns Foundation
UCSB Students
• Classroom visits
• Master classes
• Panel discussions
• Lecture-demonstrations
• Discounted and free admission to A&L mainstage events
K-12
• Matinee field trips for students from across the county
• Assemblies
• Workshops
• Q&As
Lifelong Learners
• Thematic Learning Initiative (TLI): Extending the conversation through film screenings, special events and book giveaways
• Author signings
• Pre-show talks and post-show Q&As
• Community workshops
Access for ALL serves more than 30,000 students and community members annually.
Please consider a contribution to A&L’s award-winning educational outreach programs. Call Stacy Cullison, Senior Director of Development & Special Initiatives, at (805) 893-3755 to learn more.
1. Randall Goosby leads a workshop at Goleta Valley Junior High School 2. Story Pirates visits Guadalupe Elementary School 3. Robert B. Reich in conversation with UCSB history students 4. Community members in a free surf lesson with The Sea League, part of A&L’s Thematic Learning Initiative photos“Every child moved by art is a victory / inspired to learn history but also to make it / To shape it, to speak it / Until the world glows with sound.”
– Amanda Gorman, “House of Light”
Thank you to our Education and ¡Viva el Arte de Santa Bárbara! Sponsors
Arnhold A&L Education Initiative
Connie Frank & Evan Thompson
WILLIAM H. KEARNS FOUNDATION
Sara Miller McCune
Audrey & Timothy O. Fisher
Kath Lavidge & Ed McKinley
Dorothy Largay & Wayne Rosing
University Support:
Office of the Chancellor
Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor
Office of Education Partnerships
Arnhold A&L Education Initiative
A&L’s mission to educate, entertain and inspire received a big boost from Jody & John Arnhold with a leadership gift to create the Arnhold A&L Education Initiative.
Through this initiative, A&L is deepening its signature cross-campus collaborations, connecting featured guests with students in the classroom.
“The Arnhold Education Initiative enables thousands of UCSB students access to many extraordinary arts events. Without the Arnholds, many first- and secondgeneration college students, or non-arts majors would have had no access to some of today’s most important artists. Some students had never been to the theater in their lives. They told their whole families what they saw, what it meant to them.
For faculty, the Arnhold Initiative is fundamental to our ability to teach and to our students’ hope to become like the artists they see on the stage.”
– Professor Ninotchka Bennahum, Director of Dance Studies, UCSB Department of Theater and Dance
(April 2024)
Our
deepest thanks, and a standing ovation, to Jody & John Arnhold.
Thank You to Our UC Santa Barbara Campus Partners
Office of the Chancellor
Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor
American Indian Cultural Resource Center
American Indian and Indigenous Collective
American Indian and Indigenous Student Association
Area Global Initiative
Art, Design & Architecture Museum
Basic Needs Resources
Black Graduate Student Association
The Blum Center on Poverty, Inequality and Democracy
Bren School of Environmental Science & Management
Center for Aging and Longevity Studies
Center for Black Studies Research
Center for Information, Technology and Society
Center for Middle East Studies
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The Healing Space
Thank you to UCSB students for their continuing support through activity fees. These funds directly support reduced UCSB student ticket prices and educational sessions with A&L artists and thought-leaders.
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Join Arts & Lectures Today
Sponsors, Subscribers and Advocates
Your Gifts Make a Difference
Find your place at Arts & Lectures and play a critical role in the vibrant cultural life of our community. Help us educate, entertain and inspire.
“We are humbled and delighted to be sponsors of UCSB’s extraordinary Arts & Lectures programs and remain grateful audience members, who come away from every inspiring A&L event celebrating excellence in the Arts illuminated and enriched!”
– Jazz Series Lead Sponsors Michael Hurley & Nora McNeely Hurley of Manitou Fund with jazz legend Herbie Hancock
“Since arriving in our wonderful Santa Barbara community, we have been so impressed by the extent, variety and depth of cultural offerings here especially through the amazing Arts & Lectures program of UCSB.”
– Justice for All Lead Sponsors Merryl (A&L Council member) & Chuck Zegar of Zegar Family Foundation with respected commentator Robert B. Reich
“Thank you A&L for enlightening our community with thought-provoking, entertaining, and educational programs for all ages. We feel incredibly fortunate to have such a jewel in a city the size of Santa Barbara, allowing easy access to some of the world’s greatest contemporary movers and shakers.”
– Event Sponsors Crystal (A&L Ambassador) & Cliff Wyatt with bestselling author Walter Isaacson
photos: Isaac Hernández de LipaThe Benefits of Giving
Your seat is waiting! Become a member and join a network of arts advocates that enable us to deliver remarkable programming on and off stage.
The Benefits of Giving
Invitation to a reception or meet-and-greet opportunity with a featured artist or speaker
Complimentary parking at all ticketed A&L events at UCSB Campbell Hall
Opportunity to introduce guests to Arts & Lectures with a pair of complimentary tickets to an A&L public event, as available
VIP Ticketing Concierge Service and Priority Seating
Complimentary ticket exchange when your plans change
Invitations to Producers Circle Receptions with featured artists and speakers
Access to Intermission Lounge in the McCune Founders Room during A&L performances and lectures at The Granada Theatre
Invitation to A&L’s exclusive Season Announcement Party
Opportunity to attend master classes and other educational activities
Invitation to a member appreciation event
Recognition in A&L event programs or digital media
To inquire about membership, please call Rachel Leslie, Membership Director, at (805) 893-3382.
CircleofFriendsProducersCircleExecutiveProducersCircleLeadershipCircle Leadership Circle includes all the bene ts of Executive Producers Circle plus your own personalized membership experience.
To inquire about a customized Leadership Circle experience, please call Elise Erb, Director of Development, at (805) 893-5679.
Lakecia Benjamin and Phoenix
Feb 7 / Campbell Hall
Patron Information
Due to the nature of live events, artists, programs and prices are subject to change.
A&L Ticket Office
(805) 893-3535
info@ArtsAndLectures.ucsb.edu
Ticket Donations and Exchanges
Ticket donations or exchange requests must be received at least two full business days prior to the event. Ticket exchanges are available to all patrons for a $5 fee per ticket (no exchange fee for subscribers and Producers Circle members). Tickets are exchanged at face value and are subject to availability. Tickets of a higher value exchanged for a lower value are considered an even exchange; tickets exchanged for a higher value need the difference paid. It is the policy of UCSB and the UC Regents that a modest portion of gifts and/or the income from gifts may be used to defray the costs of raising and administering funds.
Changed, Canceled and Postponed Events
All sales are final. No refunds or returns are permitted, except in the case of an event cancellation. Service charges may not be refundable. In the event of a cancellation, postponement, venue change or schedule change, the A&L Ticket Office will make every effort to notify the purchaser in advance. A&L will not be responsible for losses (monetary or otherwise) if we are unable to contact you in the event of such a change.
Please make sure your current email address and phone number are on file with the A&L Ticket Office; they will be used to communicate event guidelines, ticketing info and other important updates.
Purchase of Tickets
From Unauthorized Sources
UCSB Arts & Lectures assumes no liability for tickets purchased through unauthorized channels including Ticket Center, StubHub, Craigslist, santabarbaratheater.com and other secondary market or ticket broker services. We strongly advise against purchasing tickets from any source other than the Arts & Lectures Ticket Office, www.ArtsAndLectures.UCSB.edu, or the venue ticket office and official website. Tickets purchased from unauthorized sources may be stolen, counterfeit or otherwise compromised and, if so, are not valid for admission. If you are unsure if a ticket seller has been authorized to sell A&L tickets, please contact the Ticket Office prior to purchasing from that source.
Student and Youth Discounts
UCSB student-rate tickets are available to full-time UCSB students who have completed enrollment (one ticket per ID). A valid UCSB student ID is required at the time of purchase and at the event. “All Student” ticket holders must show current student ID at the event. “Youth” ticket holders of high school age may be asked to show ID at the event.
UCSB Arts & Lectures Season Brochure, Issue# 2024-2025.1. This free publication is printed annually.
photo: Elizabeth Leitzell
Arts & Lectures, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5030
Visit the A&L website for more patron information and policies.
Fees
All tickets and orders are subject to service charges and/or facility fees. Ticket prices, service charges and facility fees are subject to change without notice.
Group Sales
Groups of 20 or more may take advantage of special rates for select events. Contact the A&L Ticket Office with inquiries.
Accessibility
A&L is committed to making events accessible to all who wish to enjoy them. Please contact the A&L Ticket Office in advance to ensure the best possible experience and receive information about accessible seating, assistive listening devices, large-print programs and other accommodations.
Suitability for Children
A&L’s performing arts season is designed primarily for adult audiences. Contact the ticket office if you have questions about the appropriateness of an event. All patrons, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter the theater.
Late Seating
A&L makes every effort to begin events at the published start time. Late seating and re-entry will take place during appropriate points in the program determined by the artist. Reserved seats are not guaranteed after the event begins.
UC Santa Barbara Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Policy
Under the authority of California Government Code 7597.1, smoking and the use of all tobacco products, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e.g., “e-cigarettes”) are prohibited anywhere at all indoor and outdoor spaces managed by UC Santa Barbara.
Venues
A&L presents events at a variety of locations on the UCSB campus and around Santa Barbara. Visit the A&L website for specific venue details.
Parking at the UCSB Campus
A fee is required to park on campus. Purchase short-term parking on arrival at a permit dispenser (available in all campus parking lots) or using the ParkMobile app. License plate number required; select lots are closed to visitor parking. Parking for A&L’s Campbell Hall events can also be purchased online. Visit the UCSB Transportation & Parking Services website (www.tps.ucsb.edu) for more information.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors
2024-2025 Season
October 1 Snarky Puppy
4 HARAWI, An AMOC Production
Julia Bullock, soprano
5 Salman Khan
8 Mavis Staples and The War and Treaty
12 London Philharmonic Orchestra
Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin
14 Yotam Ottolenghi
15 Fight Night, by Ontroerend Goed
20 Aida Cuevas, Canta a Juan Gabriel 40 años después
22 Dr. Jennifer Doudna
24 An Evening with Lil Buck and Jon Boogz
29 Yung Pueblo in Conversation with Pico Iyer
30 Habib Koité and Bamada
November 2 Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, 13 Tongues
7 Itzhak Perlman and Friends
13 Anne Lamott
14 Disney’s ENCANTO, The Sing-Along Film Concert
December 3 Father Gregory Boyle
5 Dorrance Dance, The Nutcracker Suite
6 Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway
17 Pink Martini with China Forbes, Holiday Show
January 21 Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Julia Bullock, soprano
24 Alexander Malofeev, piano
25 Fran Lebowitz
31 Danish String Quartet
February 2 Imani Winds and Boston Brass
6 Cirque Kalabanté
7 Lakecia Benjamin and Phoenix
8 Niall Ferguson
11 Twyla Tharp Dance, Diamond Jubilee
19 DoosTrio: Kayhan Kalhor, Wu Man, Sandeep Das
23 Richard Powers in Conversation with Pico Iyer
25 Batsheva Dance Company, MOMO
28 Yuja Wang, piano
Víkingur Ólafsson, piano
March 1 Andrew Ross Sorkin
April 1 Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
5 An Evening with Yo-Yo Ma Reflections in Words and Music
8 Circa, Humans 2.0
10 Akram Khan Company, GIGENIS
11 Owls
15 & 16 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
25 Hiromi’s Sonicwonder
27 Larkin Poe
May 6 Marina Abramović in Conversation with Pico Iyer
17 Wynton Marsalis Ensemble
LOUIS: A Silent Film with Live Musical Performance
20 Tessa Lark, violin
29 Isata Kanneh-Mason, piano Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello
Santa Barbara, California 93106-5030
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