2024 / 25 SEASON
A New Season is Here!
It is with much enthusiasm that I welcome you to the 2024-2025 season of Cal Poly Arts! We are thrilled to present a diverse and captivating lineup of artists that promise to delight, inspire, and move us through the transformative power of live performing arts.
At Cal Poly Arts, we believe in the unique and profound impact that live performances have on our community. Whether it’s the soul-stirring melodies of a world-class musician, the electrifying energy of a contemporary dance company, or the compelling narrative of a theatrical production, live art has the distinct ability to unite us through collective experiences that not only entertain, but also expand our perspectives.
We invite you to join us for another unforgettable season that celebrates the beauty, creativity, and connection that only the performing arts can provide!
Warmest regards,
Molly Clark Director, Cal Poly Arts
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024/25 SEASON SPONSOR
AUGUST
AUG 7-8
Bluey’s Big Play
SEPTEMBER
SEP 27
Lila Downs: La Sánchez
OCTOBER
OCT 9
MOMIX: Alice
OCT 12
An Evening with Yotam Ottolenghi
OCT 22
Tessa Lark, Joshua Roman, and Edgar Meyer
OCT 24
Cameron Carpenter plays Nosferatu
OCT 30
Eternamente: A
Día de los Muertos Spectacular!
NOVEMBER
NOV 6-7
HADESTOWN
NOV 12
An Evening with Amy Sedaris
NOV 15
Pablo Sáinz-Villegas: Guitar Masterworks
DECEMBER
DEC 5
Mark O’Connor’s
An Appalachian Christmas featuring Maggie O’Connor
DEC18
PinkMartinifeaturing ChinaForbes: 30th Anniversary Tour
JANUARY
JAN17
MarynaKrut
JAN26
ThePackDrumline
FEBRUARY
FEB7
AlfredoRodriguez Trio
FEB12-13
DEAREVANHANSEN
FEB25
Complexions ContemporaryBallet – Star Dust: From Bach to Bowie
MAR 29
Margaret Cho: Live & LIVID
APRIL
APR 1
The Brandee Younger Trio
APR 2
Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
APR 5
Ira Glass: Seven Things I’ve Learned
APR 8
Conrad Tao & Caleb Teicher: Counterpoint
APR 18
Vieux Farka Touré
MAY
MAY 7-8
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical
MAY 22
MARCH
MAR 6
Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra
MAR 14
Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East
MAR 15
ARC Circus: A Bee Story
MAR 23
Vincent Dubois
Amanda Mole: Broadway & Beyond
MAY 23
Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite
MAY 30 Choir! Choir! Choir!
*All dates, times, artists, programs, venues, and ticket prices are subject to change.
2024/2025 season calendar
Pick Four, Save More!
Subscribe now with your choice of 4 or more shows for a 10% discount on your tickets!*
Why Subscribe?
Best Prices
By choosing just four or more shows in the Cal Poly Arts season, you can save 10% on your tickets, PLUS the $2 processing fee will be waived on all of your subscription tickets for an added discount! When you support Cal Poly Arts by becoming a VIP Member, you can add additional exclusive benefits and discounts to your subscription order.
Priority Access & Seating
Starting Monday, July 8, season subscribers get access to the best seats in the house before individual event tickets go on sale on Monday, August 5! In order to assure your seating priority, renewing subscribers must confirm orders by Sunday, July 28.
Flexibility
Change in plans? Not to worry! Season subscribers can easily exchange tickets from one Cal Poly Arts performance to another in the 2024/25 season by just covering the difference in ticket price (pending ticket availability).
Reminder: Seating requests made during the subscription period cannot be guaranteed. Seating priority is based first on seniority of continuous renewal and then on the date the order is received.
Renewing subscribers must place orders by Sunday, July 28 to guarantee their seating priority.
*Some exceptions apply. “Center Stage” events do not qualify for the 10% discount but do count as one of the 4+ shows needed to build a subscription.
How to Buy Tickets
Cal Poly Ticket Office Hours
Summer Hours (July 1-Sept 1): Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm
Regular Hours: Monday-Saturday, 12pm-6pm
Show Days: Open noon until 30 mins past curtain time
Cal Poly
Discounts
Buy direct! The Cal Poly Ticket Office, calpolyarts.org, and pacslo.org are the only official ticketing sources for our events. Watch out for third-party ticket websites that sell at inflated prices and potentially sell invalid tickets. The Ticket Office will not be able to assist with those tickets should problems arise. Online at calpolyarts.org Call (805) 756-4849
Individual show tickets go on sale on Monday, August 5 at 10am! Please
Staff & faculty can enjoy a 20% discount* for most Cal Poly Arts events! Cal Poly student ticket prices for as low as $17 are available for most performances and can be purchased throughout the season with a valid student ID. Check out the specific event page on calpolyarts.org to find out if student pricing is available.
Venue Information
Cal Poly Arts performances are held at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo (PAC), a state-of-the-art venue on the Cal Poly Campus. Venues include the 1,286-seat Harold Miossi Hall and the 200-seat Pavilion, both located inside the Christopher Cohan Center, as well as the intimate 498-seat Spanos Theatre.
PARKING
Parking in the Grand Avenue structure is free with your ticket purchase. Five-minute parking is available outside the Ticket Office window on Grand Ave. for ordering or picking up tickets.
ACCESSIBILITY
The PAC offers many services to ensure everyone can enjoy the theater including accessible seating, assistive listening, and more. Now a Sensory Inclusive™ certified venue, accommodations are available to guests with sensory processing needs.
PRELUDE DINNERS
The Performing Arts Center is offering pre-show dinners again for select 2024/25 season shows! With purchase of a dinner ticket, you can enjoy food and drinks on the Balcony level of the PAC before the show. Please see event listings to see if a dinner option is available. Dinners will go on sale on August 5. Additional dinners may be added throughout the year.
SEATING CHARTS
Seating charts can be found by scanning the QR code below. Price zones and configurations vary per show.
VIP Membership
Become a Cal Poly Arts supporter and get exclusive benefits! Your support helps Cal Poly Arts to continue to provide diverse programming and arts access initiatives.
FRIEND $100+
• Donor Honor Roll recognition in the Performing Arts Center lobby during Cal Poly Arts events
• Exclusive pre-sale access for single ticket sales
• Exclusive email updates with Cal Poly Arts news & special offers
• Complimentary season magnet
ADVOCATE $300+
• All of the previously listed benefits
• Free ticket exchange
(Premium Value: $12)
• VIP one-time use parking pass for the top level of the Grand Avenue parking structure. (Valid at Cal Poly Arts events only.)
CHAMPION $600+
• All of the previously listed benefits
(Premium Value: $24)
• Add an additional 5% off your subscription tickets to get up to 15% off. (Excludes Broadway shows and select events.)
• Invitation to a VIP Appreciation Party
• One additional (2 total) VIP one-time use parking pass for the top level of the Grand Avenue parking structure. (Valid at Cal Poly Arts events only.)
BENEFACTOR $1,500+
• All of the previously listed benefits
(Premium Value: $30)
• Invitation to 2025/26 Spotlight Season Preview Party
• VIP parking pass for the whole season on the top level of the Grand Avenue parking structure. (Valid at Cal Poly Arts events only.)
Please note that in keeping with IRS regulations, the fair-market value of certain benefits is not tax deductible. The “premium” (benefits) amounts listed will be subtracted from your gift to determine the tax-deductible value and will be reflected on your gift receipt from Cal Poly University Development. To waive all benefits and receive full tax-deductible credit, please call 805-756-6383.
BLUEY’S BIG PLAY
WED-THU, AUG 7-8 | 6:00PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $40 ‒ 147
When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. “Bluey’s Big Play” is a brand-new theatrical adaptation of the Emmy Awardwinning children’s television series, with an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, and new music by Bluey composer, Joff Bush. It’s Bluey as you’ve never seen it before, brought to real life!
Note: This event went on sale in April. Seating options may be limited. CENTER STAGE EVENT: No subscription discounts available
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes, Adventist Health
“A show every parent can love”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
LILA DOWNS
La Sánchez
FRI, SEP 27 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47 ‒ 76
Iconic Grammy and Latin Grammy Award-winning singer Lila Downs is one of the world’s most singular and powerful voices, whose compelling stage presence and poignant storytelling transcend all language barriers. Raised in Minnesota and Oaxaca, this global superstar’s exquisite artistry bridges traditions from across the Americas, with influences ranging from the folk and ranchera music of Mexico and South America to North American folk, jazz, blues, and hip-hop. As a passionate human-rights activist, Lila’s lyrics often highlight issues relating to social justice, sharing stories that too often go untold.
Sponsored by Suzan Boatman, Sharon & John Dobson
“Alice fills the stage with a marvelously dizzying flow of physical activities and illusions amid expansive, artful projections.”
WALL STREET JOURNAL
MOMIX: ALICE
WED, OCT 9 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47 ‒ 79
Seamlessly blending illusion, acrobatics, magic, and whimsy, MOMIX sends audiences flying down the rabbit hole in Moses Pendleton’s newest creation, ALICE, inspired by Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice in Wonderland. “I don’t intend to retell the whole Alice story” Pendleton says, “but to use it as a taking off point for invention.” Join this dazzling company on a mind-bending adventure, as Alice encounters time-honored characters including the undulating Caterpillar, a lobster quadrille, frenzied White Rabbits, a mad Queen of Hearts, and a variety of other surprises. Filled with visual splendor and startling creative movement, ALICE reveals that nothing in MOMIX’s world is as it seems!
Sponsored by KSBY TV
AN EVENING WITH YOTAM OTTOLENGHI
SAT, OCT 12 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $38 ‒ 61
Spend a delicious evening with Yotam Ottolenghi as he talks about his new book, COMFORT, in this fun and participatory event. Live on stage, Yotam will take the audience through COMFORT, (from eggs, to noodles, to roast chicken, to a wide array of cultural and culinary themes) in conversation with Edible San Luis Obispo Managing Editor Aja Goare, and will invite the audience to participate in a second half as he prepares one of his dishes. Just as food brings people together, this event combines the culinary innovation of Ottolenghi with suggestions and questions from the audience (that’s you!) to create a one-off live experience.
Sponsored by Susan Minker M.D., Edible Magazine, My Favorite Neighbor, Quality Suites San Luis Obispo, The Krush 92.5 FM
TESSA LARK (VIOLIN),
JOSHUA ROMAN (CELLO) & EDGAR MEYER (DOUBLE BASS)
TUE, OCT 22 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $38 ‒ 71
Perhaps today’s best-known bass virtuoso, Grammy-winner Edgar Meyer has built an extraordinary career—as a soloist with leading orchestras; a musical sparring partner with the likes of Yo-Yo Ma, Zakir Hussain, Joshua Bell, Chris Thile, and Béla Fleck; and an in-demand composer and recording artist. Featuring genre-crossing violinist Tessa Lark and eclectic cellist Joshua Roman, this new collaboration of three artistically like-minded artists, will include works by Bach and Edgar Meyer.
FORBES ORGAN SERIES
CAMERON CARPENTER PLAYS NOSFERATU
THU, OCT 24 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $37
This Halloween, revolutionary organist Cameron Carpenter will transport the audience back in time with a live-to-picture performance of the original horror masterpiece Nosferatu, complete with live music on the Forbes Pipe Organ. Before vampires sparkled or donned long black capes, acclaimed silent film director F.W. Murnau created the ultimate genre-defining, blood-sucking cult classic. Now, Cameron Carpenter, known for his formidable technical prowess and the athletic showmanship of his performance, will be performing his own original score for Nosferatu in spine-chilling detail. Get ready for a haunting cinema night that’ll have you shaking in your seat.
Sponsored by Mary Baiamonte, Jim Conway in memory of Cheryl Conway, Bert & Candace Forbes, Coleen & Ray Mattison, La Cuesta Inn
“... a smasher of cultural & classical music taboos.”
LOS ANGELES TIMES
ETERNAMENTE:
A Día de los Muertos Spectacular!
WED, OCT 30 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $40 ‒ 79
Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuéllar and Ballet Folklorico del Rio Grande invite you to join in a celebration of life with lively music and dance, beautiful costumes, and a virtual altar to those we have lost. An homage to Mexico’s rich cultural heritage, this show blends graceful traditional dance with vibrant storytelling that also tips a hat to the great Mexican singers of yesteryear such as Vicente Fernandez, Pedro Infante, Lucha Villa, and more. Join the fiesta, where tradition and spectacle converge, and the spirit of Día de los Muertos is celebrated “Eternamente.” Who knows: La Muerte herself may make an appearance!
Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by Dr. Christopher Payne & Dr. Jeannette Potts, La Ley 100.3 FM
Resonance: A Cultural Art Series Sponsored by OUDI
WED-THU, NOV 6-7 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $77 ‒ 127
COME SEE HOW THE WORLD COULD BE. Welcome to HADESTOWN, where a song can change your fate. Winner of eight 2019 Tony Awards including Best Musical and the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album, this acclaimed show from celebrated singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell and innovative director Rachel Chavkin (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) is a love story for today... and always. Intertwining two mythic tales — that of young dreamers Orpheus and Eurydice, and that of King Hades and his wife Persephone — HADESTOWN is a haunting and hopeful theatrical experience that grabs you and never lets go.
Prelude Dinner available
Nov 6: Sponsored locally by Arthur & Joyce Duarte, Rossi Enterprises
Nov 7: Sponsored locally by Drs. Edwin & Janet Hayashi, Dr. Howard & Stephanie Hayashi, Anonymous – In Loving Memory of Dr. Brendan & Pat McAdams
AN EVENING WITH AMY SEDARIS
TUE, NOV 12 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47 ‒ 71
Join Amy Sedaris for a hilarious evening of moderated conversation showcasing her unique blend of wit and irreverence. Whether you’re a longtime fan or new to the world of Amy Sedaris, you will be treated to her razor-sharp humor and unforgettable charm. Amy is an actress, comedian, and writer best known for her Emmy-nominated series, the hilarious and slightly deranged world of At Home with Amy Sedaris. Her other known roles include the endearingly eccentric Jerri Blank in her hit comedy series Strangers with Candy and in the Emmy-winning Disney+ series The Mandalorian. She has also made many guest appearances on TV programs such as Harley Quinn, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Broad City, 30 Rock, The Good Wife, Sex and the City, My Name Is Earl, The Middle, and Sesame Street. She was also a regular guest on the Late Show with David Letterman. Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by Tonya & Bob Omdahl, Roxy Peck, KCBX FM, New Times
PABLO SÁINZ-VILLEGAS
Guitar Masterworks
FRI, NOV 15 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $38 ‒ 56
Join Pablo Saínz-Villegas on a musical journey through the most iconic pieces ever written for the guitar, from evocative and romantic melodies, to the most virtuoisic and fiery pieces ever written. Praised as “the soul of the Spanish guitar,” Sáinz-Villegas has become a worldwide sensation known as this generation’s great guitarist, successor of Andrés Segovia, and an ambassador of Spanish culture in the world. Since his debut with the New York Philharmonic, Sáinz-Villegas has performed in more than 40 countries and won over 30 international awards. His “virtuosic playing characterized by irresistible exuberance” (The New York Times) make him one of the most acclaimed soloists in the world.
Sponsored by India D’Avignon & Ignati Vakalis, Jeff Green, Tablas Creek Vineyard
MARK O’CONNOR’S AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS
featuring Maggie O’Connor
THU, DEC 5 | 7:30PM | HAROLD
MIOSSI
HALL | $38 ‒ 58
Three-time Grammy-winning composer and fiddler Mark O’Connor brings an elegance and earnestness to down-home bluegrass and folk music. His annual holiday tour draws on his celebrated album An Appalachian Christmas and features fresh arrangements of Christmas classics, both vocal and instrumental. The spirited performance captures the varied emotions of the season: playfulness, joy, contemplation, gratitude and more. O’Connor’s touring ensemble includes his wife Maggie O’Connor on fiddle and vocals.
“Mark is a supreme master at what he does. Between thought and execution there are no impediments, zero.”
YO-YO MA
PINK MARTINI FEATURING CHINA FORBES
30th Anniversary Tour
WED, DEC 18 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $56 ‒ 99
Now celebrating their 30th anniversary, Pink Martini is coming to SLO with their festive holiday show featuring the sublime lead singer China Forbes! Pink Martini is renowned for a dozen musicians with songs in 25 languages, so expect a concert flavored by a multilingual repertoire as the much-loved ‘little orchestra’ performs both holiday songs and other fan favorites from the band’s 11 studio albums. In the words of bandleader and pianist Thomas Lauderdale: “Pink Martini is a rollicking around-the-world musical adventure… if the United Nations had a house band in 1962, hopefully we’d be that band.”
Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes, Dr. Christopher Payne & Dr. Jeannette Potts, Adventist Health, KVEC News Talk 920 AM & 96.5 FM
MARYNA KRUT
FRI, JAN 17 | 7:30PM | PAC PAVILION | $42
Maryna Krut is a Ukrainian singer and virtuoso of the bandura, a stringed instrument unique to Ukraine that looks and sounds like a hybrid of lute and harp. At 28, Krut is an assured performing artist; her compelling, soulful performances evoke both folk traditions and modern sensibilities, with pop and jazz flourishes. A Eurovision finalist, she often represents Ukraine at official events and performs for soldiers in the current war zone, and she has appeared at the Edinburgh International Culture Summit, Andalucia Big Festival, Montreal Ukrainian Festival, and on other international stages.
Sponsored by Kathleen Copeland, Sharon & John Dobson
THE PACK DRUMLINE
SUN, JAN 26 | 2:00PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $31 ‒ 46
It’s time for a rhythm revolution with The Pack Drumline! From humble beginnings as an afterschool program in Chicago, teaching percussion and dance to at-risk youth, this dynamic performance group brings their electric rhythms and high-energy beats to the stage in a show that is anything but basic. The official drumline of the Chicago Bulls (NBA) and Chicago Sky (WNBA), their semi-finals finish in Season 17 of America’s Got Talent skyrocketed them to a Las Vegas Residency at the Luxor, a guest drumline appearance with the Los Angeles Lakers, and a performance at the NFL Super Bowl LVIII. From the opening beats to the final crescendo, this showcase of expert drumming, intricate choreography, and stunning visuals will have you on the edge of your seat!
Sponsored by Jeffrey & Sharon Armstrong, Stephen Holtzman M.D., Coleen & Ray Mattison, KSBY TV, Luna Red Bar & Restaurant, Novo Restaurant & Lounge
ALFREDO RODRIGUEZ TRIO
FRI, FEB 7 | 7:30PM | SPANOS THEATRE | $47
Get ready for an unforgettable celebration of Latin rhythms with the ultimate showman, Alfredo Rodriguez, and his dynamic ensemble of world class musical virtuosos! Rodriguez’s trio creates an electrifying fusion of Latin, pop, timba, jazz, tango and funk that will transport you straight to the heart of Havana. Their collective music chops will leave you breathless as you dance the night away at this pulsating fiesta of culture and sound. Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration of music and dance, courtesy of the Alfredo Rodriguez Trio.
Sponsored by Andi & Jeff Portney, Dr. Elaine Yin & Michael J. Wilson
“Alfredo is without a doubt one of the best young pianists I’ve ever seen, and with the enormous skills that he already possesses, his potential is limitless.”
QUINCY JONES
WED-THU, FEB 12-13 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $77 ‒ 127
Declared “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theater history” by the Washington Post, DEAR EVAN HANSEN is the first musical to take a groundbreaking look, from the point of view of both the parents and young people, at our complex, interconnected, and social media-filled lives. Including some of the most iconic musical theater songs from the last decade, including “You Will Be Found,” “Waving Through A Window,” and “For Forever,” DEAR EVAN HANSEN features an uplifting score by the Tony, Grammy, and Oscar-winning team behind The Greatest Showman and La La Land, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Tony Award-winner Steven Levenson.
Recommended for ages 12+
Prelude Dinner available
Feb 12: Sponsored locally by John & Stephanie Purvis - In order to raise awareness for the Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH) in San Luis Obispo
Feb 13: Sponsored locally by Yes Cocktail Co.
“Quite simply put, absolutely wonderful.” BROADWAYWORLD
COMPLEXIONS CONTEMPORARY BALLET
Star Dust: From Bach to Bowie
TUE, FEB 25 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47 ‒ 71
Led by dance icons Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, Complexions Contemporary Ballet has awakened audiences to a new, exciting genre with their singular approach of reinventing dance and contemporary ballet. Armed with a rich Alvin Ailey lineage and a cadre of 16 stunning dancers, Complexions has been hailed as a “matchless American dance company” by the Philadelphia Inquirer and “game changing” by London’s The Guardian. Their blockbuster hit, Star Dust: From Bach to David Bowie, honoring two musical icons, has rocked the dance world and will make your spirits soar!
Sponsored by Gina Kirk, Ann & David Lawrence, Richard & Catherine Luckett, Carol MacCurdy & Tom Nuckols, Dr. Christopher Payne & Dr. Jeannette Potts, Coast 104.5 FM
DELFEAYO MARSALIS & THE UPTOWN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Uptown on Mardi Gras Day!
THU, MAR 6 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47 ‒ 67
Join Grammy Award-winner Delfeayo Marsalis and the Uptown Jazz Orchestra for an evening of non-stop fun. Time to throw up your hands, cut the king cake, and grab some beads as we celebrate New Orleans and the greatest time of year with songs by Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Earl King, Marsalis, and more. A member of The First Family of Jazz and an NEA Jazz Master, the middle Marsalis brother leads the vibrant Uptown Jazz Orchestra from his seat in the trombone section, in a performance that is full of the joy and soul of NOLA.
Sponsored by Mary Kay Harrington & Thom Brajkovich, Dr. Elaine Yin & Michael J. Wilson, KCBX FM
SUNNY JAIN’S WILD WILD EAST
FRI, MAR 14 | 7:30PM | SPANOS THEATRE | $47
Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East encompasses myriad facets of Jain’s identity both as a first-generation South Asian-American and as a global musician, from his own family’s immigration story to his eclectic musical upbringing. In recasting the immigrant—steeped in the courage to leave a familiar homeland for a new beginning—as the modern-day cowboy and cowgirl, Jain sources musical inspiration from the scores of Bollywood classics and Spaghetti Westerns, Punjabi folk traditions, jazz improvisation, and rollicking psychedelic styles. Sunny Jain’s Wild Wild East is rooted in the contemporary global soundscape, singing in a new voice, “I am large, I contain multitudes.”
Sponsored by Sharon & John Dobson
“Jain has crafted a masterful, robust celebration of America’s immigrant cowboy soul.”
ALL MUSIC
“The BEST kids show I have ever seen.”
AUDIENCE MEMBER
ARC CIRCUS: A BEE STORY
SAT, MAR 15 | 2:00PM | SPANOS THEATRE | $34
A Bee Story is a uniquely Australian physical theatre show for children and families incorporating a kaleidoscope of circus, acrobatics, dance and live music. It tells the story of Queen Bee and Worker Bee who must work together to rebuild their hive after being destroyed by a bushfire. Join the bees on their buzzy adventures and be enchanted by their pollen-collecting skills, honey-making abilities, and superbee strength. Directed by performer Robbie Curtis (Circa, Cirque du Soleil, Circus Oz, Australian Ballet), A Bee Story has themes of environmentalism, sustainability, and community spirit.
Sponsored by Michael & Sharon Kelley, Edible Magazine, La Cuesta Inn, SLO Provisions
VINCENT DUBOIS
SUN, MAR 23 | 3:00PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $34
Titular organist at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, and newly appointed Professor of Organ Interpretation and Improvisation at the Hochschule für Musik (University of Music), Saarbrücken, Germany, Vincent Dubois is one of the finest concert organists in the world today. Mr. Dubois has performed in major concert venues throughout Europe, North America, Asia and the Pacific, including performances for numerous international music festivals.
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes, Francie Levy & Larry Akeyfor love of organ music
“… Dubois set a new standard for Bach performance, the freedom and accuracy of his playing captivating from start to finish; the tempo relationships judged to perfection.”
THE CALGARY HERALD
MARGARET CHO
Live & LIVID
SAT, MAR 29 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $50 ‒ 67
Comedian. Actor. Musician. Advocate. Entrepreneur. Five-time Grammy and Emmy nominee Margaret Cho is coming to SLO! Margaret staunchly supports the causes that are important to her: anti-racism, anti-bullying, gay rights, all while fulfilling her successful creative side with a legendary stand up career that has yielded 10+ comedy tours, dozens of television guest spots, and named her one of the 9 best female comedians of all time (Vogue). “Live and Livid is a show celebrating my 40 years as a stand up comedian. I will be radiating rage about homophobia, sexism, racism and the fight to stay alive in a culture that is killing us daily. You will love seeing me Live and Livid!”
For mature audiences
Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by George & Esther Pudlo, KCBX FM
BRANDEE YOUNGER TRIO
TUE, APR 1 | 7:30PM | SPANOS THEATRE | $47
This sonically-innovative harpist is revolutionizing her instrument for the digital era. Over the past 15 years, she has worked relentlessly to stretch boundaries and limitations for harpists. In 2022, she made history by becoming the first black woman to be nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition. That same year, she was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Her trio will include jazz standards and original works.
Sponsored by Sharon & John Dobson, Coleen & Ray Mattison
“Younger has almost single-handedly made a persuasive argument for the harp’s role in contemporary jazz…”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
UKULELE ORCHESTRA OF GREAT BRITAIN
40th Anniversary Tour
WED, APR 2 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $32 ‒ 67
Formed in 1985 as the antidote to mindless pop, egocentric rock, and the indulgent, bluster of the music business, The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain donned black tuxedos, and began giving ‘concerts’ in tiny rooms above old pubs. Four decades later, they’re still thrilling audiences with their off-beat humor and four-stringed virtuosity. There are no drums, pianos, backing tracks, guitars, or banjos, no pitch shifters or electronic trickery—just an astonishing revelation of the rich palette of orchestration afforded by ukuleles and a menagerie of voices in a collision of post-punk performance and old classics. Come and celebrate the 40th anniversary of this much-loved institution, on a white-knuckle shopping-trolley dash through every kind of musical genre. From ABBA to ZZ Top, Tchaikovsky to Nirvana, Bluegrass to Broadway, all played on the ‘bonsai guitar.’
“An oversized dose of unexpected hipness”
THE NEW YORK TIMES
IRA GLASS: SEVEN THINGS I’VE LEARNED
SAT, APR 5 | 8:00PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $50 ‒ 73
Ira Glass is the creator, producer & host of This American Life, the iconic weekly public radio program with millions of listeners around the world. Using audio clips, music, and video, Ira Glass shares lessons from his life and career in storytelling: What inspires him to create? What drives his passion? How have failures and successes informed his decisions? During his presentation, Ira Glass will mix stories live onstage and help his audience better follow the creative process of one of our foremost storytellers.
Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by Tonya & Bob Omdahl, Edible Magazine, KCBX FM
CONRAD TAO & CALEB TEICHER COUNTERPOINT
TUE, APR 8 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47-65
Counterpoint is a collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher. The duo explore the dichotomy of their different perspectives and artistic practices, expanding their individual expressive capacity through a collective experience. Harmonic, rhythmic, and theatrical counterpoint between the artists seeks to map out constellations linking their disparate traditions, driving the imagination and opening the heart. Experience two artistic disciplines seemlessly come together to create a vision one has to see to believe.
Sponsored by The Charles Becker Foundation – Celebrating the Love of Diversity!
“Tao’s
athleticism, rising from the bench with blistering runs, nearly rivals Teicher, whose constant inventions, Charlie Chaplin charm and pretzel-like flexibility create a cinematic flair.”
VIEUX FARKA TOURÉ
FRI, APR 18 | 7:30PM | SPANOS THEATRE | $47
Often referred to as “The Hendrix of the Sahara,” Vieux Farka Touré is a singer, composer, and guitarist from Niafunké, Mali. His live performances are highly energized and Vieux is known for dazzling crowds with his speed and dexterity on the guitar, referencing elements of rock, Latin music, and other African influences to captivate all audiences in spite of any language barriers (though Vieux does speak 8 languages).
Sponsored by Max Mbarka Diop, Hotel San Luis Obispo, KCBX FM
“Set to be Africa’s next guitar hero. ”
THE GUARDIAN
WED-THU, MAY 7-8 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $77 ‒ 127
TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is the triumphant story of the Queen of Rock and Roll set to the pulse-pounding soundtrack of her most beloved hits! TINA – The Tina Turner Musical presents Tina’s journey against all odds to become one of the world’s most beloved artists of all time. Featuring her much loved songs, TINA – The Tina Turner Musical is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall.
Recommended for ages 14+
Prelude Dinner available
May 7: Sponsored locally by Adamski Moroski Madden Cumberland & Green, LLC, Lindsey Harn Group - Christie’s International Real Estate, Popolo Catering
May 8: Sponsored locally by Geri LaChance, Radiology Associates, SESLOC
FORBES ORGAN SERIES
AMANDA MOLE
Broadway & Beyond
THU, MAY 22 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $34
Hailed as a rising star, Amanda Mole is quickly earning a reputation as one of the leading concert organists of her generation. Her performances have been described as “elegant, lucid” (The American Organist), and having an “excellent balance of technical accuracy, rhythm, and structure” (The Diapason). Mole will be presenting a collection of classical repertoire, alongside pieces from Broadway’s illustrious musical theatre history.
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes, Kathleen L. Long
“Mole played with authority and flair.”
THE AMERICAN ORGANIST
ELVIN BISHOP & CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE
FRI, MAY 23 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $47 ‒ 67
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Elvin Bishop has been performing his rollicking brand of front porch blues for over 50 years. Grammy-winner and Blues Music Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Musselwhite is one of music’s most important active blues musicians. Together, they’ll share the stage for a stripped-down set of American roots music—a journey through rock, blues, and folk from two of music’s most engaging band leaders.
Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by Roxy Peck, KCBX FM, Timbre Winery
CHOIR! CHOIR! CHOIR!
An EPIC Anthems Sing-Along!
FRI, MAY 30 | 7:30PM | HAROLD MIOSSI HALL | $35
Choir! Choir! Choir! is the fully interactive, participatory show that turns audience into performer—so get ready to laugh, dance and SING your hearts out with hundreds of other music-lovers just like you. It’s like a big birthday party for the greatest songs of all time and you’re invited! So grab a friend (or ten), and come out ready to GIVE IT ALL YOU’VE GOT!—all voices welcome, no experience necessary. They Teach, You Sing! Everyone Wins!
Since 2011, Choir! Choir! Choir! directors Daveed Goldman and Nobu Adilman have blurred the lines between performer and audience, traveling the world to create harmony with strangers and friends alike. They’ve collaborated with renowned artists like Patti Smith, David Byrne, Brandi Carlile, Rick Astley, Rufus Wainwright, and even Kermit The Frog at New York’s Lincoln Center, creating memorable videos that have garnered views in the millions.
Prelude Dinner available
Sponsored by The Duffy Family, Marti Lindholm & Allan Smith, Pirate Radio 104.1 FM
“Why see a show when you can BE the show!”
PASSPORT TO THE ARTS
Providing arts access for all
Cal Poly Arts believes the arts should not be a luxury reserved for the privileged few, but rather, available and accessible to everyone.
Founded in 2022, Passport to the Arts provides free or deeply subsidized access to performing arts experiences on the Central Coast to low-income and marginalized communities who have not historically had access to high-quality, live, artistic programming. This includes providing free tickets to public performances, delivering transformative performing arts workshops on and off campus, and making deeply subsidized student tickets available for the majority of Cal Poly Arts’ shows.
community members reached last season by the Passport to the Arts program
1,000
10,000 discounted student tickets distributed last season
1,350
free tickets offered (valued at over $51,000) to low-income & marginalized community residents last season
Ann Robinson
PROGRAM SPONSORS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Would
Philip Williams & Victoria Condor-Williams
POLY ARTS FOR YOUTH
Arts education enrichment for K-12 students
Poly Arts for Youth (PAFY) is Cal Poly Arts’ education enrichment program for K-12 students. Our world-class touring artists engage directly with children in their own schools allowing for rich cultural, and artistic workshop experiences that extend the performing arts beyond the stage. PAFY is vital because students who have access to arts education have better grade point averages, score better on standardized tests in reading and math and have lower dropout rates. Last year, PAFY held 8 in-person workshops impacting over 1,200 students!
“It’s been years since we’ve had this type of arts opportunity, and the students left inspired and enriched. We are fortunate that we were able to be included.”
LOS RANCHOS TEACHER
Workshops for the 2024-25 Season will include:
• Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime Cuellar: music workshop with vibrant mariachi music ensemble
• Ami Vitale: lecture with award-winning photojournalist celebrated for her powerful visual storytelling including wildlife conservation & environmental issues
• The Pack Drumline: interactive engagement with energetic percussion ensemble
• ARC Circus: circus and dance workshop with Australiabased performing arts company
• Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra: music workshop with Grammy-winning trombonist & New Orleans jazz ensemble
• JazzReach: workshop with ensemble dedicated to the promotion, creation and teaching of jazz music and its history
• David Gonzalez: bilingual performance with renowned storyteller and musician telling Cuentos: Tales from the Latinx World
For more information and to request an artist visit at your school, visit calpolyarts.org/PAFY
PROGRAM SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR 2024/25 SEASON SPONSOR