From SNL & Beyond: Laraine Newman & Alan Zweibel

Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 8pm

A hilarious evening with an original star & writer of Saturday Night Live!

Join original SNL cast member Laraine Newman and original SNL writer Alan Zweibel for an entertaining conversation that takes us behind-the-scenes of the early days of the iconic Saturday Night Live.

Laraine Newman, a founding member of The Groundlings, joined the original cast of Saturday Night Live in 1975. Her remarkable impersonations included Barbra Streisand and Rosalynn Carter, and she played signature characters such as Connie Conehead and Valley Girl Sherrie. Today, Laraine thrives as a voice actor and writer for various publications.

Alan Zweibel has won multiple Emmy and Writers Guild Awards for his work in television, which also includes It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Alan has written eleven books, including the 2006 Thurber Prize-winning novel The Other Shulman and his cultural memoir Laugh Lines: My Life Helping Funny People be Funnier.

A Conversation with Anne Lamott

Thursday, January 11, 2024 at 8pm

“Anne Lamott has married a razor-sharp wit to a disarming spiritual sincerity.”

— Entertainment Weekly

Join Anne Lamott, California Hall of Fame inductee and bestselling author, for a moderated conversation on life, writing, and her latest book, Dusk, Night, Dawn. With humor and compassion, Lamott tackles subjects that begin with capital letters: Alcoholism, Motherhood, Jesus, Loss, Power, Truth, and Enjoyment. She has been honored with a Guggenheim Fellowship and her writing has been praised by TIME magazine. Lamott is the author of seven novels, autobiographical essays, and the classic book on writing, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life. Don’t miss the chance to hear from this celebrated writer and speaker.

Series sponsored by the Worah Family Foundation

Shakti: 50th Anniversary Tour featuring John McLaughlin

& Zakir Hussain

Monday, September 11, 2023 at 7:30pm First U.S. Tour In 18 Years –Exclusive Southern California Appearance!

Shakti, a groundbreaking ensemble formed in 1973, blended Eastern and Western music and set the standard for “world music.” Led by British jazz fusion guitarist John McLaughlin and Indian tabla player Zakir Hussain, Shakti dissolved cultural boundaries with passion, grace, and skill, inspiring generations of musicians. Today, the band commemorates their 50th anniversary by continuing to explore new musical ground that bridges East and West. The current lineup features Shankar Mahadevan on vocals, Ganesh Rajagopalan on violin, and Selvaganesh Vinayakram on percussion, son of original Shakti ghatam player T.H. “Vikku” Vinayakram. The tour honors the original ensemble’s legacy while pushing into new musical landscapes, captivating audiences around the world.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 8pm

“It isn’t merely the grace and power of their dancing or the beauty of their singing that rivets the attention, but the sheer joy and love that emanates from their being.”

— Paul Simon

For 60 years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with soaring vocal harmonies, signature dance moves, and charming onstage banter.

The ensemble first came to international prominence on Paul Simon’s 1987 Graceland album and has since won five Grammy Awards, the most for any World Music group. Nelson Mandela called the group “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors to the world.”

The voices of Ladysmith Black Mambazo have married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched the hearts of millions of people.