DEAR PATRONS,
On behalf of all of us at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts, it is my great pleasure to share our 2023–2024 season of performances and exhibitions with you.
Each year, we bring you an innovative, unique, entertaining, and diverse program of exceptional performances and museum exhibitions. The dancers, actors, musicians, and acrobats that come to Pepperdine have a wide variety of talents and backgrounds; what they all have in common is that they need you. Your presence makes our live performances possible. Join us this season and experience the collective effervescence that can only happen at a live performance at an intimate venue.
Whether this is your first time picking up one of our brochures or you are a familiar face here at Pepperdine, please know you are welcome here and we are grateful for your presence and support.
See you soon at the Center for the Arts!
Sincerely,
Rebecca Carson Managing Director
Rebecca Carson and Lisa Smith Wengler at Smothers Theatre
Photo credit: Keith Berson
Pictured below: Cirque Mechanics in Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus
Photo credit: Kirk Marsh
Pictured on cover: MOMIX: Alice
Photo credit: Sharen Bradford
CONTENTS
FAN FAVORITES
5 Sheena Easton
6 The Righteous Brothers
8 John Tesh
9 Leo Kottke
12 Richie Furay
RECITAL SERIES
2 Andrew von Oeyen, piano
4 Diana Adamyan, violin
7 Young Concert Artists on Tour
10 Eleni Katz, bassoon
12 SooBeen Lee, violin
CLASSICAL CROSSOVER
7 Time for Three
11 Chad Lawson
STARS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
3 On Broadway
5 The Queen’s Cartoonists Holiday Hurrah
6 Forbidden Broadway: Next Generation
8 The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)
8 John Tesh
9 Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the ’70s
12 Animaniacs in Concert
DANCE AND SPECTACLE
3 Cirque Mechanics in Zephyr—A Whirlwind of Circus
7 Versa-Style Dance Company
8 JIG, a Trinity Irish Dance Company Production
9 MOMIX: Alice
FAMILY FUN
3 Cirque Mechanics in Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus
5 The Queen’s Cartoonists Holiday Hurrah
7 Time for Three
11 Dinosaur World Live
11 The Boy Who Cried Wolf
POP/ROCK
4 Veronica Swift
5 Sheena Easton
6 The Righteous Brothers
9 Leo Kottke
12 Richie Furay
FOLK/COUNTRY
6 The Righteous Brothers
9 Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the ’70s
10 Trailblazing Women of Country: A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly
12 Richie Furay
JAZZ/BLUES/STANDARDS
3 When You Wish Upon a Star: A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney
4 Veronica Swift
5 säje
8 John Tesh
5
9
Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art 13 Student Productions
14 Get to Know Us 16 3
3
11 12
@pepperdinecfa Tickets 17
AN EVENING WITH TED GRUSSING: THE WONDERS OF SEDONA AND NORTHERN ARIZONA
Join us for an evening of photography with Ted Grussing (JD ’74). See the wonders of Sedona and Northern Arizona—the volcanoes, mountains, red rock canyons, and rivers to intimate wildlife moments—as captured through Grussing’s lens. tedgrussing.com
Friday, September 22, 2023, 7:30 pm
$5-$10 | Smothers Theatre
ANDREW VON OEYEN, PIANO
Hailed worldwide for his elegant and insightful interpretations, balanced artistry, and brilliant technique, Andrew von Oeyen has established himself as one of the most captivating pianists of his generation. Von Oeyen’s critically acclaimed solo and concerto albums include the 2021 release of his third album for Warner Classics, Bach-Beethoven, which was selected as an Essential New Release by Gramophone magazine, topping streaming charts on various platforms. vonoeyen.com
Sunday, September 24, 2023, 2 pm
$30 | Raitt Recital Hall
Save 30% on the Recital Series: $115 for all five performances
Photography by Ted Grussing. Red Tail Aerial
2 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
Photo credit: Macro Borggreve
CIRQUE MECHANICS IN ZEPHYR: A WHIRLWIND OF CIRCUS
An emotive and exhilarating tale about the choices humans have made regarding our planet and its resources, Zephyr: A Whirlwind of Circus by Cirque Mechanics presents the unrelenting tug of war between man and nature in the name of progress. Cirque Mechanics quickly established itself as a premier American circus, with its unique approach to performance, inspiring storytelling, and innovative mechanical staging. Spectacle Magazine hailed it as “the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil.” cirquemechanics.com/zephyr
Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 7:30 pm
$30–$60 | Smothers Theatre $30 for youth 17 and younger
ON BROADWAY
Featuring the best songs from the current New York City theatre season and sung by Broadway stars with a live band, On Broadway is an unforgettable night of music! The show features hits from long-running favorites like Chicago, The Book of Mormon, and Wicked, as well as more recent sensations Hamilton and SIX: The Musical. Cast to be announced later in the season.
Tuesday, October 10, 2023, 8 pm
$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre
On Broadway in Smothers Theatre, January 29, 2019
WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR: A JAZZ TRIBUTE TO 100 YEARS OF DISNEY
The National Jazz Museum in Harlem house band performs popular songs from your favorite Disney films such as Lady and the Tramp, Toy Story, and Mary Poppins as interpreted by fans such as Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Dianne Reeves, and many more. “Someday My Prince Will Come,” “Everybody Wants to Be a Cat,” and “The Bare Necessities” are just a few of the iconic songs celebrated as we remember the impact of jazz on 100 years of Disney magic. This production is not affiliated with, sponsored, or authorized by The Walt Disney Company.
Thursday, October 12, 2023, 7:30 pm
$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre
$22.50 for youth 17 and younger
Photo credit: Kirk Marsh
3
Nalley photo credit: Scott Cherins Dobson photo credit: Arthi Krishnaswami
DIANA ADAMYAN, VIOLIN
Armenian-born Diana Adamyan is quickly gaining an international reputation as “one of the new generation’s most promising and gifted young concert soloists” (Violin Channel) after winning first prize at the 2018 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition and the 2020 Khachaturian Violin Competition. “With perfect harmonics and burning passion, from the first note of the Sibelius concerto, she played her way deep into the hearts of the audience” (Die Zeit).
Sunday, October 15, 2023, 2 pm
$30 | Raitt Recital Hall
Save 30% on the Recital Series: $115 for all five performances
VERONICA SWIFT
Having made her mark on the international jazz scene as one of the star vocalists of her era, Veronica Swift has expanded her style, establishing herself as a skilled rock and soul singer and a dynamic performer. “She has a miraculous voice, musical ability, and technique, as well as an innate gift for entertaining a crowd” (Wall Street Journal).
veronicaswift.com
Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 8 pm $40–$85 | Smothers Theatre
Photo credit: Z. Khachikyan
4 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
SÄJE
The GRAMMY-nominated vocal supergroup, säje, is the brainchild of vocalists/composers Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage. The international sensation is renowned for its “silk-smooth vocal blend . . . heightened harmonic insight . . . [and] hair-trigger dynamic sensitivity.” (Nate Chinen, WBGO) “säje is blazing a new trail for female composers and performers in the jazz world.” (Micah Hendler, Forbes) sajevoices.com
Sunday, October 22, 2023, 7 pm
$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre
SHEENA EASTON
Sponsored by Anne Marie and Mitch Bredefeld
Two-time GRAMMY-winner Sheena Easton returns to Smothers for an evening of music and memories with her hits like "We've Got Tonight," "For Your Eyes Only," and "Almost Over You." Selling more than 20 million records worldwide, Easton was the first and only artist to have top five records on five major Billboard charts. sheenaeaston.com
Thursday, October 26, 2023, 8 pm $37.50–$75 | Smothers Theatre
THE QUEEN’S CARTOONISTS HOLIDAY HURRAH
Keenly aware of all things holiday oriented and completely ridiculous, musical ensemble The Queen’s Cartoonists have set out to find the best of the best (and best of the worse) holiday-related cartoons, films, and jazz. The show includes traditional holiday vocal numbers such as “White Christmas” and “Jingle Bells” paired with jazz arrangements and festive animated films. Wonder and laugh at the band’s take on the bizarre “Santa Claus Conquers the Martians”! Yule love it! thequeenscartoonists.com
Sunday, December 3, 2023, 5 pm
$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre
$22.50 for youth 17 and younger
Photo credit: Lauren Desberg
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Photo credit: Jamie Jung
THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS BILL MEDLEY AND BUCKY HEARD
Sponsored by Ellen and Doug Weitman
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo the Righteous Brothers topped the charts for four decades. Now, Bill Medley joins forces with one of the most versatile vocalists in America, Bucky Heard, to bring the Righteous Brothers back to the stage. This concert experience features a string of their biggest number one hits, including "You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’," "Soul and Inspiration," "Unchained Melody," the GRAMMY-winning Dirty Dancing theme "The Time of My Life," and much more! righteousbrothers.com
Thursday, January 18, 2024, 8 pm
$47.50–$95 | Smothers Theatre
FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: THE NEXT GENERATION
A New York Times Critics Pick, Forbidden Broadway is a fall-down funny, satirical roast of more than 30 Broadway hits featuring outrageous costumes, silly spoofs of the songs you know by heart, and madcap impressions by a stellar cast! With newer parodies from Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, and Moulin Rouge, it’s never been more fun poking fun at your favorite musicals and stars!
Saturday, January 20, 2024, 8 pm
$25–$55 | Smothers Theatre
6 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
Photo credit: Carol Rosegg
YOUNG CONCERT ARTISTS ON TOUR
Young Concert Artists (YCA) musicians are the leaders of the future—stars who combine world-class talent with creative vision to bring new reach and relevance to the art form. For more than 60 years YCA has discovered extraordinary young musicians, providing them with the support, clarity, and confidence to tell their stories, as well as the tools, opportunities, and infrastructure to take their careers to the highest level. The artists featured in Malibu include Chinese violinist Lun Li, Danish cellist Jonathan Swensen, Spanish/Dutch pianist Albert Cano Smit, American tenor Daniel McGrew, and American bass-baritone Joseph Parrish. yca.org
Sunday, January 21, 2024, 2 pm
$30 | Raitt Recital Hall
Save 30% on the Recital Series: $115 for all five performances
VERSA-STYLE DANCE COMPANY
Versa-Style Dance Company is “Los Angeles’ best dance troupe for hip-hop empowerment” (LA Weekly). The group’s latest production, Freemind Freestyle, consists of high-energy, unadulterated hip-hop movement that explores and pushes the boundaries of the origins and roots of street vernacular dances such as locking, popping, hip-hop, and krump. Audiences will gain a new appreciation for hip-hop dance culture and will be vividly immersed into the depth and beauty that unites us all.
versastyledance.org
Saturday, January 27, 2024, 8 pm
$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre
TIME FOR THREE
Bonded by an uncommon blend of instruments and vocals, violinists Charles Yang and Nick Kendall and double bassist Ranaan Meyer have found a unique voice of expression. To experience Time For Three live is to hear the various eras, styles, and traditions of Western music fold in on themselves and emerge anew. tf3.com
Thursday, January 30, 2024, 7:30 pm
$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre
$22.50 for youth 17 and younger
Photo credit: George Simian Photography
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Photo credit: Lauren Desberg
THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF COMEDY (ABRIDGED)
Sponsored by Mary and Tom Hawkins
They’ve skewered history, the Bible, and the world’s most celebrated playwright. Now, the Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles the subject it was born to reduce. From the highbrow to the low, The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged) covers comedy through the ages. WARNING! Side effects may include uncontrollable milking and painful running gags.
CONTENT ADVISORY: In the spirit of Shakespeare’s comedies, RSC shows contain comic depictions of violence, mild innuendo, bawdy language, and the occasional rude word. All children (and parents) are different, so we’ve chosen to rate our shows PG-13: Pretty Good If You’re Thirteen.
reducedshakespeare.com
Friday, February 2, 2024, 8 pm
$25-$55 | Smothers Theatre
JOHN TESH
BIG BAND LIVE
Sponsored by the Flamminio family
Internationally renowned pianist John Tesh has enjoyed six music Emmys, two GRAMMY nominations, and four gold records in his three-decade-long career. Join us for an evening of songs and stories as Tesh reflects on his recent battle with cancer and gives an inspiring meditation on persistence, grit, purpose, and the importance of faith and family.
tesh.com
Saturday, February 3, 2024, 8 pm
$30–$65 | Smothers Theatre
JIG, A TRINITY IRISH DANCE COMPANY PRODUCTION
Founded in 1990 by creative force and choreographer Mark Howard, Trinity Irish Dance Company (TIDC) is a uniquely Irish American company that was the birthplace of progressive Irish dance, an innovative movement genre that “ushered in a new era for Irish step dance” (Chicago Tribune). With a unique blend of uncompromising power and grace, TIDC continues to carve new traditions for an ancient and beloved art form.
trinityirishdancecompany.com
Tuesday, February 6, 2024, 8 pm
$25–$55 | Smothers Theatre
Photo credit: Connie Selleca
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Photo credit: Lois Greenfield
LEO KOTTKE
Described by the Los Angeles Times as "an American legend in the guitar world," two-time GRAMMY-nominee Leo Kottke has set the highest standards for acoustic finger-picked guitar. Kottke's music draws on blues, jazz, and folk influences, and he's known for his innovative playing style on 6- and 12-string guitars, as well as his original interpretations of genre classics such as "June Bug," "Pamela Brown," "Julie's House," and "Jack Gets Up." leokottke.com
Thursday, February 8, 2024, 8 pm
$20–$40 | Smothers Theatre
MOMIX: ALICE
Travel down the rabbit hole MOMIX-style with Moses Pendleton's newest creation, Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland. As Alice’s body grows and shrinks and grows again, Pendleton’s dancers extend themselves by means of props, ropes, and other dancers. In an endless search for another gravity, Pendleton combines athletic dance, riveting music, outrageous costumes, inventive props, and pure talent to create an entertaining multimedia experience that will surprise, enchant, and astonish. As Alice falls down the rabbit hole and experiences every kind of transformation, so will you. momix.com
Wednesday, February 28, 2024, 8 pm
$32.50–$65 | Smothers Theatre
ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY SINGS THE ’70S
Don’t miss the Tony-nominated Broadway star and platinum-selling singer/songwriter for a night of rousing and beautiful classics with her all-star trio. Callaway covers hits from the great songwriters of the time—Carole King, James Taylor, and Joni Mitchell—and puts her own stamp on the unforgettable songs from the Carpenters, Linda Ronstadt, Barbra Streisand, and other beloved singers of the decade. “For sheer vocal beauty, no contemporary singer matches Ms. Callaway” (Stephen Holden, New York Times).
Saturday, March 2, 2024, 8 pm
$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre
Photo credit: Jake Cudek
Photo credit: Sharen Bradford
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Photo credit: Bill Westmoreland
ELENI KATZ, BASSOON
Hailed for her virtuosity and vibrant musical spirit, bassoonist Eleni Katz has established herself as a prominent soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral player. Katz is a winner of the 2022 Concert Artist Guild Competition and has performed with several of the nation’s top ensembles, including the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Sarasota Orchestra, and as a member of the New World Symphony. Llewellyn Sanchez-Werner will accompany Katz on the piano. elenikatzbassoon.com
Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2 pm
$30 | Raitt Recital Hall
Save 30% on the Recital Series: $115 for all five performances
TRAILBLAZING WOMEN OF COUNTRY: A TRIBUTE TO PATSY, LORETTA, AND DOLLY
Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton revolutionized country music's rich storytelling tradition to offer their uniquely empowered—and unmistakably female—perspective on issues faced by women of their day. Their chart-topping hits and record-breaking sales wove threads of contemporary womanhood throughout the tapestry of country music, resulting in unprecedented success and earning each a place in the Country Music Hall of Fame.
Trailblazing Women of Country will entertain and inspire audiences during this pivotal moment in our nation's history, featuring soloists Miko Marks, Country Music Television's 2022 Next Woman of Country, and Nashville-based singer Kristina Train, supported by a five-member all-female band.
Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 8 pm
$25–$55 | Smothers Theatre
Photo credit: Christina Cutts
10 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
Marks photo credit: Amanda Lopez Train photo credit: Fairlight Hubbard
DINOSAUR WORLD LIVE
Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live with roarsome fun for the whole family! Discover a prehistoric time of astonishing dinosaurs and meet a host of impressive and remarkably lifelike creatures, including a Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Segnosaurus. A special meet and greet after the show offers our brave explorers the chance to make a new dinosaur friend. dinosaurworldlive.com
Friday, March 8, 2024, 7:30 pm
$20–$40 | Smothers Theatre
$20 for youth 17 and younger
CHAD LAWSON
As a world-renowned pianist with multiple number one releases, Chad Lawson modernizes piano for the next generation through his bold interpretation of the classics—electronic loops and atmospherics resonate with electronic dance music fans and neoclassical traditionalists alike. With his latest album, Lawson took an honest look at his career and found that being true to himself was more important than any accolade. His reflections are inspirational, brave, and most of all—freeing. chadlawson.com
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 8 pm
$25–$50 | Smothers Theatre
THE BOY WHO CRIED WOLF FROM TUTTI FRUTTI AND YORK THEATRE ROYAL
Introducing the magic of theatre to young audiences, The Boy Who Cried Wolf is an inspired take on the familiar Aesop fable that spins the tale of Silas the shepherd boy. While missing the fun of the annual knitting competition in town when he reluctantly watches the family sheep herd on the mountain, his lonesome boredom leads to trouble as he discovers a valuable lesson that “nobody believes a liar, even when they’re telling the truth.” holdenarts.org/boywhocriedwolf
Saturday, April 13, 2024, 11 am and 1 pm
$15–$30 | Smothers Theatre
$15 for youth 17 and younger
Photo credit: Robert Day
Photo credit: Michael Yu
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SOOBEEN LEE, VIOLIN
Praised by the Washington Post for her “poised presence, a luxurious sound, spot-on intonation, and a bow arm that surely will be the envy of her peers,” violinist SooBeen Lee has already appeared as a soloist with every major Korean orchestra, including the Seoul and Busan Philharmonics and Korean Broadcasting System Symphony Orchestra. “Her superb technique and musical sensitivities would credit a musician twice her age” (Washington Post).
Sunday, April 14, 2024, 2 pm
$30 | Raitt Recital Hall
Save 30% on the Recital Series: $115 for all five performances
ANIMANIACS IN CONCERT
Join the leading voice cast of Animaniacs—the iconic animated Warner Bros. series created and produced by Steven Spielberg—for a “zany, animany and totally insaney” evening as they perform the world-famous songs backed by projections from the beloved cartoon TV series. The live show celebrates the creative inspiration behind the songs with lots of audience interaction and never-before-told behind-the-scenes insider stories shared by iconic voice actors like Randy Rogel, Rob Paulsen (Yakko), and Maurice LaMarche (The Brain) to some of the most unforgettable characters in the history of animation. animaniacslive.com
Friday, April 19, 2024, 8 pm
$25–$55 | Smothers Theatre
RICHIE FURAY
Richie Furay is an American luminary and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. He is celebrated for pioneering country-rock as a founding member of the legendary and quintessential groups Buffalo Springfield, Poco, and the Souther-Hillman-Furay band. Fans will enjoy singing along with his hits, “For What It’s Worth,” “Heart of the Night,” and “Pickin’ Up the Pieces.” richiefuray.com
Saturday, April 20, 2024, 8 pm
$25–$50 | Smothers Theatre
Photo credit: Matt Dine
12 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
FREDERICK R. WEISMAN MUSEUM OF ART
Open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 am–5 pm, and one hour prior to most performances through intermission.
HILDUR ÁSGEIRSDÓTTIR JÓNSSON: INFINITE SPACE, SUBLIME HORIZONS
August 26–December 10, 2023
Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson creates exquisite large-scale paintings on a loom, in a practice that blurs the boundaries between painting and weaving, fine art and craft. Born and raised in Iceland, Jónsson has spent the last 30 years in Cleveland, Ohio, where she has made increasingly ambitious work that toes the line between abstraction and representation, with deep connections to Iceland’s otherworldly landscapes. Bringing together Jónsson’s largest and most labor-intensive paintings yet, alongside smaller paintings, drawings, and watercolors, this will be the artist’s first West Coast exhibition and her first solo museum exhibition in nearly a decade.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS: MAKOTO FUJIMURA AND JENI SPOTA C.
Opens January 2024
For the first time in more than 20 years, the Weisman Museum presents simultaneous solo exhibitions by two artists working in distinct but related modes. A renowned artist, writer, and public speaker, Makoto Fujimura paints in a traditional Japanese nihonga style, using precious minerals and pigments to create intensely layered, luminous canvases that invite slow, meditative looking. That slowness is crucial to Fujimura’s notion of “culture care,” which emphasizes art’s role in our collective journey toward hope, healing, and redemption.
Also interested in art’s ability to connect us with the divine, Jeni Spota C. has produced a body of work that obsessively reworks Giotto’s 14th-century painting The Last Judgment, with thick layers of paint that abstract the many figures crammed into each work. This exhibition brings together a selection of Spota C.’s paintings since 2009, which explore the continued power of Renaissance imagery and Biblical themes in the present day.
Major exhibitions are held in the Gregg G. Juarez Gallery and Ron Wilson-Designer Gallery in the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art. Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson: Infinite Space, Sublime Horizons is supported by a grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance.
STUDIO ART THESIS EXHIBITION
Opens April 2024
Organized in close collaboration with faculty and students, this exhibition features art by graduating seniors from the Seaver College Studio Art program.
ON LOCATION IN MALIBU: PAINTINGS BY THE CALIFORNIA ART CLUB
Opens May 2024
On Location in Malibu celebrates the continued vitality of California Impressionism and plein air painting by showcasing new paintings of Malibu created by contemporary members of the historic California Art Club. Inspired by the beauty and scenic diversity of Malibu’s canyons and beaches, this exhibition is the ninth in a triennial series organized since 1999. Works of art on view will be available for acquisition, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art and the California Art Club, the oldest art association in the state.
The museum is always free and open to the public. For current hours or more information about exhibitions, programs, and accessibility, call 310.506.4851 or visit arts.pepperdine.edu/museum.
@weismanmuseumofart
ON VIEW AT THE
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Hildur Ásgeirsdóttir Jónsson, Double Rainbow #1, 2022, silk thread and dyes. Courtesy of the artist and Abattoir Gallery, Cleveland.
STUDENT PRODUCTIONS
The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division presents The Mary Pickford-Stotsenberg performances
OPERA
The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program presents
The Merry Widow
Music by Franz Lehár
Libretto by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein
Keith Colclough, Director
With the Pepperdine University Orchestra
This light-hearted romantic comedy promises a fun night for all.
Lehár’s charming melodies have kept this operetta in the repertoire since its premiere in 1905, and it continues to be presented in German and in French and English translations. As the wealthy young widow Hannah Glawari ends her mourning and begins to look for a new husband, she rekindles an old flame with the Count Danilo Danilovitsch. However, her childhood sweetheart swears he will never tell Hannah he loves her, because he fears it would appear he is only interested in her fortune. Will these two lovers overcome their pride and find happiness together? Come join us to find out.
In English
Thursday, February 22, 2024, 7:30 pm
Saturday, February 24, 2024, 7:30 pm
$20
$10 for Pepperdine students
$16 for Pepperdine faculty and staff
Smothers Theatre
DANCE
Pepperdine Student Activities presents
Dance in Flight
Dance in Flight embodies the diversity and essence of Seaver College and the liberal arts tradition. For more than 30 years, Dance in Flight has provided a safe environment for emerging student dancers and choreographers to cultivate creativity, physical expression, and teamwork in a professional performing atmosphere. The company members come from a variety of dance backgrounds, interests, and fields of study. United by their passion for the art of movement, they are dedicated to presenting an impressive showcase of student artistry.
Thursday, March 14, 2024, 8 pm
Friday, March 15, 2024, 8 pm
Saturday, March 16, 2024, 2 pm and 8 pm
$20
$10 for Pepperdine students
$16 for Pepperdine faculty and staff
Smothers Theatre
MUSIC Free tickets to choir and orchestra concerts are available for Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff with ID.
Parkening Master Class
Christopher Parkening, Director
Saturday, September 23, 2023, 2 pm
Free | Raitt Recital Hall
Pepperdine Orchestra
Long-Tao Tang, Director featuring Andrew von Oeyen, piano
Thursday, September 28, 2023, 7:30 pm
$10 |Smothers Theatre
Pepperdine Chamber Choir
Ryan Board, Director
Friday, October 27, 2023, 7:30 pm
Free | Weisman Museum of Art
Pepperdine Jazz and Wind Ensembles
Long-Tao Tang and Vincent Trombetta, Directors
Monday, November 27, 2023, 7:30 pm
Free | Smothers Theatre
Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert
Ryan Board and Long-Tao Tang, Directors
Thursday, December 7, 2023, 7:30 pm
$10 | Smothers Theatre
Parkening Master Class
Christopher Parkening, Director
Saturday, February 17, 2024, 2 pm
Free | Raitt Recital Hall
Pepperdine Wind Ensemble
Long-Tao Tang, Director
Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 7:30 pm
Free | Smothers Theatre
Pickford Ensemble
N. Lincoln Hanks, Director
Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 7:30 pm
Free | Lindhurst Theatre
Pepperdine Chamber Choir, Jazz Ensemble, and Wind Ensemble Concert
Ryan Board, Long-Tao Tang, and Vincent Trombetta, Directors
Sunday, April 14, 2024, 7 pm
Free | Smothers Theatre
Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra Masterworks Concert
Ryan Board and Long-Tao Tang, Directors
Thursday, April 18, 2024, 7:30 pm
$10 | Smothers Theatre
Please visit us online for more great student productions.
@pepperdinemusic
14 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
THEATRE DEPARTMENT SERIES
$48 for four events
This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing
By Finegan Kruckemeyer
Hollace
Starr, Director
Triplet sisters are left in the forest by their woodcutter father. From this fairytale beginning, three resolutions are made—one sister will walk one way, one the other, and the third will stay right where she is. Twenty years later, having circumnavigated the globe, fought vikings, crossed oceans, tamed wilds, and achieved greatness, the three meet again, as women.
Wednesday, September 27–Friday, September 29, 2023 7:30 pm
Saturday, September 30, 2023 11 am and 3 pm
$15
$10 for Pepperdine students
$12 for Pepperdine faculty and staff
Lindhurst Theatre
No late seating allowed. Join a talk back with the actors and director after the Wednesday, September 27 performance.
The Luciana and Daniel Forge Fall Musical The Music Man
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Meredith Wilson
Kelly Todd, Director
Ida Nicolosi, Music Director
Heralded as funny, warm, romantic and touching, The Music Man is classic musical theatre at its best. Meredith Wilson's six-time Tony Award–winning show has been entertaining audiences since 1957 and is a family-friendly story to be shared with every generation.
The Music Man follows fast-talking traveling salesman Harold Hill as he pulls into town to try and con the people of River City, Iowa, a traditional Midwestern town of the 1910s, full of a cast of wacky and wonderful citizens. Join us for a wonderful tale full of “76 trombones.”
Friday, November 10–Saturday, November 11, 2023, 7:30 pm
Sunday, November 12, 2023, 2 pm
Thursday, November 16–Friday, November 17, 2023, 7:30 pm
Saturday, November 18, 2023, 2 pm
$20
$10 for Pepperdine students
$16 for Pepperdine faculty and staff
Smothers Theatre
Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members of the Center for the Arts Guild are invited to a special backstage tour before the Thursday, November 16 performance.
Spring Lindhurst Production
To Be Announced
Nanci Carol Ruby, Director
At Pepperdine, the theatre is a public incubator for stories that ask fundamental questions about what it truly means to be human, created in the image of God, and living in the midst of an ever-changing and challenging world. Introspection and community connection are our most precious assets right now— and you can find a play that speaks to your spirit this spring in the Lindhurst Theatre. The third show in our 2023–2024 season will be announced this fall.
Tuesday, January 23–Friday, January 26, 2024, 7:30 pm Saturday, January 27, 2024, 2 pm and 7:30 pm
$15
$10 for Pepperdine students
$12 for Pepperdine faculty and staff
Lindhurst Theatre
No late seating allowed. Join a talk back with the actors and director after the Wednesday, January 24 performance.
The Tempest
By William Shakespeare
Cathy
Thomas-Grant, Director
Known as Shakespeare’s masterpiece and the last play that he ever wrote, The Tempest tells the story of loss, restoration, injury and healing, fault and forgiveness. Set on an enchanted island, a magician and his lovely daughter live with a motherless cub of a wicked witch along with spirits of the air, water, earth, and wind. A shipwreck and mighty winds carry a king, his son, a duke, and all of their entourage onto shore. Separated by the storm, these wandering souls bring laughter, love, and ultimately the reconciliation of a family torn apart by a political rebellion.
Wednesday, April 3–Friday, April 5, 2024, 7:30 pm
Saturday, April 6, 2024, 2 pm
$15
$10 for Pepperdine students
$12 for Pepperdine faculty and staff
Smothers Theatre
@pepperdinetheatre
The cast of Pepperdine’s production of H.M.S. Pinafore.
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WITH GRATITUDE TO THE CENTER FOR
Chancellor’s Circle members help us achieve our mission of presenting an innovative, unique, entertaining, and diverse program of exceptional performances and museum exhibitions.
SUPPORT AND
Become a GUILD MEMBER with an ANNUAL GIFT OF $100 or more to provide critical program support.
You'll also receive:
Advance notification of new performances and exclusive presales
No ticket order or exchange fees
Invitations to special events and receptions
Recognition on theatre programs
Season parking pass ($150 membership level and above), plus additional benefits depending on membership level
At the Pepperdine Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts, members make the difference. The Center for the Arts Guild and Chancellor’s Circle supply critical funding for all of our programming, including the popular ARTSReach program for schools, which provides free performances to schoolchildren, as well as master classes and workshops for Pepperdine students.
Ticket prices cover only a fraction of the costs of operating the Center for the Arts—your membership helps us to continue to bring you performances and exhibitions from around the country and around the world. Members enjoy a variety of unique benefits, including parking passes, behind-the-scenes tours, and meet and greets with guest artists.
C all 310.506.4594 or visit our website at arts.pepperdine.edu/support for more information.
Performance Sponsors
The Office of the Chancellor of Pepperdine University
Anne Marie and Mitch Bredefeld
Melanie and Richard Flamminio
Mary and Tom Hawkins
David Huenergardt*
Billie Milam Weisman
Lisa Smith Wengler
Behind the scenes with the Into the Woods Pepperdine student crew
ARTSReach coordinator, Carson Vandermade, reading to children at Family Art Day
Center for the Arts Guild members at the annual Holiday Boutique and Luncheon
Guitarist Pablo Sáinz-Villegas with Chancellor’s Circle members Richard and Melanie Flamminio
THE ARTS CHANCELLOR’S CIRCLE
16 arts.pepperdine.edu | Order now! 310.506.4522
SUBSCRIBE
Buy tickets to FOUR SHOWS or more and SAVE 10% on the best seats in the theatre. You'll also receive:
First access to tickets with exclusive presales
Ticket exchanges with no fees throughout the season
The best seats at the best price and first priority if new seats are added
Smothers Theatre
We are committed to the health and safety of our patrons and community members. Learn more about our health guidelines at arts.pepperdine.edu/visit.
TICKET INFORMATION
Box Office Hours
Tuesday–Friday, Noon–5 pm and two hours prior to most performances. Order now by visiting arts.pepperdine.edu or by calling 310.506.4522.
Times, dates, performers, venues, and prices are subject to change. For select shows, discounts are available for groups, Military, and Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Call for more information.
Supporting Sponsors
Debby and Andy Benton
Crest Associates
Lisa Freer
Alison and Dan Hodgkiss
Diane Reilly
Ellen and Doug Weitman
Gail and Jim Wilburn
Please Note: The use of stairs is required to access most seats. Accessible seats may be purchased through all sales channels. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of theatre staff. Every patron requires a ticket, regardless of age.
Raitt Recital Hall
Contributing Sponsors
Shelley and Rick Bayer
G. Beverly Bergmann
Hannah and Tom Boundy
Sara and Sam Jackson
Barbara Vallone
CA2302825
Kathy and Lou Colombano
*in memoriam
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@pepperdinecfa
SEPTEMBER 2023
22 An Evening with Ted Grussing: The Wonders of Sedona and Northern Arizona 23 Parkening Master Class 24 Andrew von Oeyen, piano
OCTOBER 2023
NOVEMBER 2023
10-18 Pepperdine Musical Theatre: The Music Man
27 Pepperdine Jazz and Wind Ensembles
DECEMBER 2023
3 The Queen's Cartoonists Holiday Hurrah
7 Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert
JANUARY 2024 18
FEBRUARY 2024
2 The Complete History of Comedy (Abridged)
3 John Tesh: Big Band Live
6 JIG, a Trinity Irish Dance Company Production
8 Leo Kottke
17 Parkening Master Class
22, 24 Pepperdine Opera: The Merry Widow
28 MOMIX: Alice
MARCH 2024
2 Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the ’70s
3 Eleni Katz, bassoon
5 Trailblazing Women of Country: A Tribute to Patsy, Loretta, and Dolly
8 Dinosaur World Live
20 Chad Lawson
APRIL 2024
3-6 Pepperdine Theatre: The Tempest
9 Pickford Ensemble
13 The Boy Who Cried Wolf from tutti frutti and York Theatre Royal
14 SooBeen Lee, violin
14 Pepperdine Chamber Choir, Jazz and Wind Ensembles Concert
18 Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra Masterworks Concert
19 Animaniacs in Concert
20 Richie Furay
WE’RE HERE TO HELP!
Do you have special needs? Please let us know in advance how we might help, and we’ll provide reasonable accommodations to those needing special assistance. For accessible seating, please advise the Box Office when purchasing tickets. Assisted listening devices are available at the Box Office.
SMOTHERS THEATRE LINDHURST THEATRE RAITT
24255 Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, California 90263
can be a subscriber by purchasing just four shows! CALL NOW! 310.506.4522 | ARTS.PEPPERDINE.EDU
RECITAL HALL FREDERICK R. WEISMAN MUSEUM OF ART
2023–2024 SEASON Anyone
Girl Does Nothing
Pepperdine Orchestra
27–30 Pepperdine Theatre: This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This
28
in
A
of Circus
On Broadway
When You Wish Upon a Star: A Jazz Tribute to 100 Years of Disney
violin
Veronica Swift
säje
Sheena Easton
Pepperdine Chamber Choir
3 Cirque Mechanics
Zephyr:
Whirlwind
10
12
15 Diana Adamyan,
17
22
26
27
The
Heard
Forbidden
The Next Generation
Young Concert Artists on Tour 27 Versa-Style Dance Company
Time for Three
Righteous Brothers: Bill Medley and Bucky
20
Broadway:
21
30
14-16 Dance in Flight
19 Pepperdine Wind Ensemble
Times, dates, performers, venues, and prices are subject to change.