Pepperdine Center for the Arts 2024-25 Season Brochure

2024–2025 SEASON

ABT Studio

Cirque Kalabanté

Classic Albums Live Presents: Fleetwood Mac—Rumours

Colin Hay

The Flying Karamazov Brothers: 50 Years of Juggling and Cheap Theatrics

Home for the Holidays featuring Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Ruben Studdard, and Haley Reinhart

Jake Shimabukuro

Jessica Vosk

Luca Stricagnoli

Naturally 7 PILOBOLUS

Preservation Hall Jazz Band TAIKOPROJECT

Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas

The Wailin’ Jennys PLUS MANY MORE

DEAR FRIENDS,

We’ve got what you’re looking for this year.

Familiar faces and the songs you know by heart. Discovery—new energy and new ideas. Spectacle. Joy. Wonder. Presence. Belonging. Connection. Laughter. True quality time with the people you love, with the connection that comes from shared experience. Collective effervescence—where you can feel the energy swirl between artist and audience. Good conversations in the lobby and on the drive home. Memories that last for months and years after the applause has faded away. We pride ourselves in having a little bit of something for everyone at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts. Our mission is to present an innovative, unique, entertaining, and diverse program of exceptional performances and museum exhibitions. Whatever you are looking for this year, we’re confident you will find it in this brochure and in the delightful performances and exhibitions it represents.

It’s been a delight to handpick these performances and exhibitions for you. Our friendly staff is always happy to help you discover your new favorite artist.

Thank you for your support of the arts. We hope to see you soon!

Sincerely,

Rebecca Carson Managing Director

Rebecca Carson and Lisa Smith Wengler at Smothers Theatre

Photo credit: Keith Berson

Pictured below: Graham Nash in Smothers Theatre, June 2023

Photo credit: Ron Hall

Pictured on cover: Cirque Kalabanté Courtesy of Cirque Kalabanté

7 Home for the Holidays featuring Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Ruben Studdard, and Haley Reinhart 7 PILOBOLUS 9 Colin Hay

The Wailin’ Jennys

(RECITAL

3 Fernando Grimaldo, bass-baritone* 5 Sons of Mystro

Luca Stricagnoli

6 Clayton Stephenson, piano* 7 Jake Shimabukuro

8 John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola 9 Balourdet Quartet* 10 Njioma Grevious, violin*

12 Johan Dalene, violin*

2 Classic Albums Live Presents: Fleetwood Mac—Rumours

5 Bob Eubanks’ Backstage with the Beatles, featuring “Ticket to Ride”

7 Home for the Holidays featuring Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Ruben Studdard, and Haley Reinhart

8 Voctave: It Feels Like

8 John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola

10 Cirque Kalabanté 11 ABT Studio 12 The Flying Karamazov Brothers: 50 Years of Juggling and Cheap Theatrics

OF STAGE AND SCREEN

Jessica Vosk 5 Some Enchanted Evening 5 Bob Eubanks’ Backstage with the Beatles, featuring “Ticket to Ride” 8 Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas

CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PRESENTS: FLEETWOOD MAC—RUMOURS

Sponsored by Alison and Dan Hodgkiss and Hodgkiss Insurance Brokers

“Amazing Musicianship!”—Orlando Sentinel

More than 40 years after Fleetwood Mac recorded their iconic album Rumours, a handpicked collection of world-class musicians from Classic Albums Live has come together to perform the masterpiece in its entirety. Experience a cover-to-cover performance of many of the most-recognized Fleetwood Mac songs, including “Dreams,” “Go Your Own Way,” and “The Chain” from this legendary album. classicalbumslive.com

Friday, September 13, 2024, 8 pm

$27.50–$60 | Smothers Theatre

JESSICA VOSK

“Dazzling audiences with her talent, energy, sincerity and humor . . . a perfectly crafted cabaret that sent the audience into a frenzy.” Broadway World

Jessica Vosk is a celebrated singer and actress known for starring roles on the musical theatre and concert stage. Best known for her star turn as Elphaba in the musical Wicked—first on tour and then joining the show’s 15th anniversary on Broadway—Vosk played the green witch for two years and was featured performing “Defying Gravity” in the PBS Great Performances 50th Anniversary Concert. Vosk had an unconventional journey to Broadway, beginning her career on Wall Street before taking the leap of faith to pursue her dreams on stage. Her big voice, humor, and stories will charm you through an intimate cabaret evening.

jessicavosk.com

Thursday, September 19, 2024, 7:30 pm

$25–$50 | Smothers Theatre

Photo credit: Michael Hull

PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND

Reflecting the melting pot of culture and history that is New Orleans, the Preservation Hall Jazz Band forges boldly forward into the future while proudly preserving its vibrant 50-year past. The band tours worldwide with a mission of nurturing and perpetuating the art of New Orleans jazz. Laissez les bons temps rouler with this invigorating, joyous performance! preservationhalljazzband.com

Saturday, September 28, 2024, 8 pm

$40–$75 | Smothers Theatre

NATURALLY 7

Having perfected an intriguing a cappella style it’s branded “vocal play,” Naturally 7 not only sings but also creates every backing instrument heard in soul, rap, rock, and folk music in one harmonious balance. The group has released six studio albums, count Michael Bublé, Herbie Hancock, and Quincy Jones among its famous fans, and has performed at the Hollywood Bowl and the Montreux Jazz, New Orleans Jazz, and Capital Jazz festivals, and more. naturallyseven.com

Sunday, September 22, 2024, 7 pm

$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre

FERNANDO GRIMALDO, BASS-BARITONE

Pepperdine alumnus Fernando Grimaldo (’18) returns to Pepperdine for a Spanish and English recital. His program Meditaciónes de Fe (Meditations in Faith) features work by Esteban Salas, Manuel Ponce, and Lin Manuel-Miranda.

Sunday, September 29, 2024, 2 pm

$30 | Raitt Recital Hall

Save 30% on the Recital Series; $115 for all five performances

TAIKOPROJECT

A dynamic contemporary blend of taiko, music, storytelling, and choreography, TAIKOPROJECT unites ancient Japanese tradition with 21st-century American innovation in pure “drum nirvana” (Fresno Bee). Inspired by Benzaiten, the Japanese goddess of everything that flows, TAIKOPROJECT 's concerts combine percussive power and strength with consummate grace and movement. taikoproject.org

Saturday, October 5, 2024, 7:30 pm

$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre

$22.50 for youth 17 and younger

DERINA HARVEY BAND

Fearless front woman Derina Harvey leads this Canadian Celtic rock group that offers a fresh take on traditional folk songs as well as its own original music. With its rocky, rhythmic undertow layered with guitars, fiddle, and topped by Derina's powerful voice, the group has earned praise for its high-energy live shows and pandemic-era sea shanties. Nominated for the 2024 Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year by the East Coast Music Awards. derinaharvey.com

Thursday, October 10, 2024, 7:30 pm

$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre

Photo credit: Knocking Bird Creative Photography

SOME ENCHANTED EVENING

Led by Emmy-nominated crooner Benny Benack III and social media sensation Stella Katherine Cole, Some Enchanted Evening leads audiences on a jazz-inspired journey through Broadway’s greatest hits from the Golden Age of yesterday to the freshest hits of today. From Hammerstein to Hamilton and everything in between, this multidisciplinary musical mash-up also showcases Jabu Graybeal, a one-of-a-kind talent and tap-dancing star. imgartists.com/roster/some-enchanted-evening

Wednesday, October 16, 2024, 7:30 pm

$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre

SONS OF MYSTRO

“Our protégés, Sons of Mystro, are an innovative musical force that is ready to take the world by storm”—Black Violin

Brothers Malcom and Umoja learned to play violin through South Florida’s public school system and attended Dillard High School for the Performing Arts. As Sons of Mystro, the violinists interpret reggae classics, American pop songs, and their own creations accompanied by a DJ and a drummer. The duo is the winner of the Emerging Artist Under 21 Years Old Award at the International Reggae and World Music Awards. Join us for this high-energy celebration! sonsofmystro.com

Friday, October 18, 2024, 7:30 pm

$20–$40 | Smothers Theatre

$20 for youth 17 and younger

BOB EUBANKS’ BACKSTAGE WITH THE BEATLES, FEATURING “TICKET TO RIDE”

Sponsored by Anne Marie and Mitch Bredefeld

Join us for an evening of magical music, never-before-seen photos, and behind-the-scenes stories about the Beatles from Bob Eubanks, who produced the Beatles’ American concert tours. In a nod to Eubanks’ legendary work in game shows and Beatles’ song “Drive My Car,” someone in the audience will have a chance to win a brand new car! Join us in this celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Beatles’ arrival in the United States. backstagewiththebeatles.com

Sunday, October 20, 2024, 2 pm

$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre

Photo credit: David I. Muir

LUCA STRICAGNOLI

Sponsored by the Flamminio family

With his music videos exceeding 100 million views and bookings in every corner of the globe, Luca Stricagnoli is considered one of the most interesting acoustic guitarists in the world. Using up to five guitars in the same piece, modified capos, and wholly original techniques, he continually leaves his audiences wondering what’s next. Stricagnoli brings an enthusiastic energy to the stage that makes him a true entertainer. lucastricagnoli.com

Saturday, October 26, 2024, 8 pm

$20–$40 | Smothers Theatre

CLAYTON STEPHENSON, PIANO

American pianist and Cliburn finalist Clayton Stephenson’s love for music is immediately apparent in his joyous charisma onstage, expressive power, and natural ease at the instrument. Hailed for “extraordinary narrative and poetic gifts” and interpretations that are “fresh, incisive, and characterfully alive” (Gramophone), he is committed to making an impact on the world through his music making.

Sunday, November 10, 2024, 2 pm

$30 | Raitt Recital Hall

Save 30% on the Recital Series: $115 for all five performances

Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

Photo credit: Grant Halverson

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS FEATURING PEABO BRYSON, OLETA ADAMS, RUBEN STUDDARD, AND HALEY REINHART

Sponsored by Alison and Dan Hodgkiss and Hodgkiss Insurance Brokers

Kick off the holiday season with an incredible night of music from four world-renowned artists! Home for the Holidays stars Grammy Award– and Academy Award–winner Peabo Bryson; Grammy Award–nominee Oleta Adams; American Idol–winner and Grammy Award–nominee Ruben Studdard; and double-platinum recording artist Haley Reinhart. These artists have an astounding nine platinum and gold albums between them. Home for the Holidays will feature both your holiday favorites and a selection of each artist’s biggest hits like Bryson’s “Tonight, I Celebrate My Love”; Adams’ “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”; Studdard’s “Superstar”; and Reinhart’s “My Baby Just Cares for Me.” peabobryson2.com | oletaadams.com

Friday, December 6, 2024, 8 pm

$47.50–$95 | Smothers Theatre

PILOBOLUS

JAKE SHIMABUKURO

Combining gymnastics, kinesiology, pop dance, and performance art in a delightfully whimsical human circus, the innovative award-winning dance troupe Pilobolus wears its revolutionary stripes on its sleeves. Pilobolus’s signature aptitude for combining wit, sensuality, and stunning physical acumen is sure to thrill and surprise audiences. pilobolus.org

Sunday, December 8, 2024, 7 pm

$25–$55 | Smothers Theatre

In little more than a decade of recording music and playing sold-out shows worldwide, Jake Shimabukuro has redefined the ukulele. In his hands this diminutive Hawaiian instrument becomes a complex and bold new musical force. This holiday performance will feature special guests Justin Kawika Young and Jackson Waldhoff. jakeshimabukuro.com

Thursday, December 12, 2024, 8 pm

$30–$60 | Smothers Theatre

Photo credit: Grant Halverson

Photo credit: Kurt Stevens

VOCTAVE: IT FEELS LIKE CHRISTMAS

Sponsored by Alison and Dan Hodgkiss and Hodgkiss Insurance Brokers

“Voctave brings vocal magic.”—Orlando Sentinel

Voctave’s holiday spectacular It Feels Like Christmas includes a stocking full of holiday favorites from their chart-topping album and is sure to be a magical evening of music for the whole family. Jazz Weekly raves, “Voctave bring a cappella music to a new dimension.” Voctave’s 11-member vocal ensemble brings incredible harmonies to favorites from the Disney screen to the Broadway stage. This a cappella sensation has had more than 150 million social media views of their videos and has appeared on countless recordings. voctave.net

Sunday, December 15, 2024, 2 pm

$27.50–$55 | Smothers Theatre

JOHN JORGENSON QUINTET WITH FRANK VIGNOLA

Immerse yourself in the mastery of music with John Jorgenson, a Grammy-winning virtuoso known for his stellar guitar skills and collaborations with legends like Elton John and Bob Dylan. His dynamic quintet, presents authentic gypsy jazz echoing the Parisian swing of Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli. Joining this event, Frank Vignola adds his extraordinary guitar artistry to the quartet, promising an unforgettable fusion of strings and rhythm that transcends borders and genres.

johnjorgenson.com | frankvignola.com

Saturday, January 11, 2025, 8 pm

$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre

THE PEKING ACROBATS

For the last 32 years, the Peking Acrobats have redefined audience perceptions of Chinese acrobatics. They display their technical prowess at such arts as trick cycling, precision tumbling, juggling, somersaulting, and gymnastics, defying gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility, and control. The Peking Acrobats are often accompanied by live, traditional Chinese music that coalesces with their high-tech special effects and awe-inspiring acrobatic feats, creating an exuberant entertainment event with the festive pageantry of a Chinese carnival.

Sunday, January 19, 2025, 2 pm

$25–$50 | Smothers Theatre

$25 for youth 17 and younger

COLIN HAY

Sponsored by Ellen and Doug Weitman

Beloved for his intimate live shows, Colin Hay is widely known for being the celebrated front man of Men At Work with its multiplatinum hits that include “Down Under,” “Who Can It Be Now?” and “Overkill.” Hay’s solo catalog includes such hits as “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin,” “Beautiful World,” and many more. In Hay's extraordinary new solo album, Now and the Evermore, he faces down struggle, loss, and even his own mortality with grit and wit at every turn. Written and recorded in Hay’s adopted hometown of Los Angeles, the collection is a defiantly joyful celebration of life and love, one that insists on finding silver linings and reasons to smile. colinhay.com

Thursday, January 23, 2025, 8 pm

$55–$75 | Smothers Theatre

BALOURDET QUARTET

Discover the Balourdet Quartet, currently serving as the graduate quartet-in-residence at the esteemed Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University. This quartet achieved the Grand Prize at the 2021 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition, and its unique closeness and willingness to take creative risks earned it the 2024 Avery Fisher Career Grant, as well as Chamber Music America’s 2024 Cleveland Quartet Award.

balourdetquartet.com

Sunday, January 26, 2025, 2 pm

$30 | Raitt Recital Hall

Save 30% on the Recital Series; $115 for all five performances

Photo credit: Kevin W. Condon

Photo credit: Paul Mobley

Photo credit: Tom Meinhold

CIRQUE KALABANTÉ

THE PA'AKAI WE BRING

Produced by Honolulu Theatre for Youth

This original production introduces audiences to the Native Hawaiian relationship to “pa‘akai” (salt). Traditionally, “pa‘akai” is food, medicine, a sacrament, and a treasured gift. The play follows a family with multiple generations of salt farmers on Kauai, mixing in ancient stories, hula, live music, original songs, and plenty of audience participation into a tasty potluck of performance, joyously served up with aloha.

Saturday, February 1, 2025, 11 am and 1 pm

$15–$30 | Smothers Theatre

$15 for youth 17 and younger

Sponsored by Mary and Tom Hawkins

Inspired by daily life in Guinea, Yamoussa Bangoura’s Afrique en Cirque shares the artistry of African culture. A colorful show beyond its scenery, costumes, and staging, it makes any theatre vibrate with energy and presents young Africans' strength, agility, and joy for life. The audience will see acrobats execute gravity-defying moves and human pyramids, accompanied by the contemporary sounds of live Afro-Jazz, percussion, and kora. Welcome to the universe of Kalabanté Productions and prepare for an unforgettable journey. kalabanteproductions.com

Wednesday, February 5, 2025, 7:30 pm

$25–$50 | Smothers Theatre

$25 for youth 17 and younger

NJIOMA GREVIOUS, VIOLIN

Experience the exceptional talent of violinist Njioma Chinyere Grevious, lauded as “superb” by the Chicago Classical Review. A graduate of the Juilliard School and a recipient of its prestigious John Erskine Prize, Grevious has garnered acclaim for her versatility in solo, chamber, and orchestral performances. Notable achievements include winning the Robert F. Smith First Prize and Audience Choice awards at the Sphinx Competition and top honors at the Prix Ravel in France. njiomagrevious.com

Sunday, February 16, 2025, 2 pm

$30 | Raitt Recital Hall

Save 30% on the Recital Series; $115 for all five performances

Photo credit: Jiyang Chen

Photo credit: Carl Lessard

THE WAILIN’ JENNYS

“. . . perhaps more beautiful than ever. The Wailin’ Jennys are the darlings of the North American roots music arena.”—Toronto Star

Starting as a happy accident of solo singer/songwriters getting together for a one-time-only performance at a tiny guitar shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Wailin’ Jennys are now one of today’s most beloved international folk acts. Founding members Moody and Mehta along with New York-based Masse continue to create some of the most exciting music on the folk-roots scene, stepping up their musical game with each critically lauded recording and thrilling audiences with their renowned live performances. thewailinjennys.com

Saturday, March 8, 2025, 8 pm

$37.50–$75 | Smothers Theatre

ABT STUDIO

ABT Studio Company, the junior company of American Ballet Theatre, is made up of rising stars of the ballet world between the ages of 17 and 21. The company prepares these outstanding young dancers to enter American Ballet Theatre or other leading ballet companies worldwide. Nearly 80 percent of current dancers in American Ballet Theatre are alumni of ABT Studio Company, including eight soloists and 14 principal dancers— among them Misty Copeland, Isabella Boylston, and Calvin Royal III. ABT Studio Company dancers will perform masterworks of the classical and neoclassical canons alongside contemporary works.

Thursday, March 13, 2025, 7:30 pm

$22.50–$50 | Smothers Theatre

LETTERS ALOUD: FROM THE FRONT—LETTERS OF SERVICE AND SACRIFICE

Letters Aloud delights audiences with thought-provoking, relevant, hopeful, and humorous stories told through the real voices of real people via their personal correspondence. Whether hilarious or heartfelt, these letters showcase humanity’s ability to find hope, meaning, and laughter, especially when times are tough. We honor our country’s servicepeople by presenting their powerful perspectives and heartfelt thoughts via the letters to and from the people they care about. Accounts from the first days of boot camp to the grim realities of the front line will bring the battlefields of our past—and in some cases our present—to life, providing perspectives both private and public about the act of serving and the price of sacrifice. lettersaloud.com

Thursday, March 27, 2025, 7:30 pm

$22.50–$45 | Smothers Theatre

Photo credit: Erin Baiano

THE FLYING KARAMAZOV BROTHERS: 50 YEARS OF JUGGLING AND CHEAP THEATRICS

Expect the unexpected with the Flying Karamazov Brothers, featuring the four self-proclaimed lunatics spicing things up with laugh-out-loud comedy, wild theatrics, arcane errata, and astonishing juggling feats. Formed at the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1973, the Flying Karamazov Brothers have been seen around the world and on Broadway, television, and the big screen. They are not Russian, they are not brothers, and they don’t fly, but they are “as close to a sure thing that can be found onstage, 100 minutes of cleverness and comedy that go by in a flash” (New York Times). fkb.com

Sunday, April 27, 2025, 5 PM

$25–$50 | Smothers Theatre

$25 for youth 17 and younger

JOHAN DALENE, VIOLIN

Winner of the 2019 prestigious Carl Nielsen Competition, Swedish-Norwegian violinist Johan Dalene “is not just a virtuoso like many others, he is a voice. He has a tone, a presence” (Diapason). At the age of 23, he has performed with leading orchestras and in celebrated recital halls both at home and abroad. His ability to “make his Stradivarius sing like a master” (Le Monde), coupled with his refreshingly honest musicality and engagement with musicians and audiences alike, has won him countless admirers. In 2022 he was named Gramophone’s Young Artist of the Year.

Sunday, March 30, 2025, 2 PM

$30 | Raitt Recital Hall

Save 30% on the Recital Series; $115 for all five performances

Photo credit: Marco Borregreve

VISIT THE FREDERICK R. WEISMAN MUSEUM OF ART

Open Tuesday–Sunday, 11 am–5 pm, and on most Smothers Theatre performance days until showtime

CAMERON HARVEY: THE SHAPE OF BEING

August 24–December 8, 2024

For her first solo museum exhibition, Cameron Harvey shares a new body of work inspired by her walks in the Santa Monica Mountains. Employing a strong midline as a unifying element, her work reveals the diversity and variability that exists within a repeated natural form, prompting us to reflect on the universal aspects of the human experience and our relationship to our environment.

LOOP, HUM, WAVE

August 24–December 8, 2024

Guest curated by adjunct professor Kira Shewfelt, Loop, Hum, Wave presents a selection of works by Pepperdine fine arts faculty exploring the passage and movement of time. Participating artists include Berfin Ataman, Gretchen Batcheller, Kathy Bates, Isabel Beavers, Richard Bott, Mariquita Davis, John Emison, Yvette Gellis, Michael Kennedy Costa, Kate Parsons, Ty Pownall, Renée Reizman, Conrad Ruiz, Shewfelt, and Kim Truong.

JAMES CLAR: POWERS OF TEN

January 11–March 30, 2025

Featuring the artist’s signature light sculptures, videos, and installations, James Clar’s first solo museum exhibition explores sensory experience and personal narratives through the lens of technology and new media. In this mid-career presentation, guest curated by Larissa Kolesnikova, Clar reflects on personal transformation and his journey across the globe from New York to Manila.

ISABEL YELLIN: MOTHERSHIP

January 11–March 30, 2025

Over the last decade, Los Angeles-based artist Isabel Yellin has earned a reputation for sculptures made from fabric sewn into shapes evocative of the body. Mothership, her first solo museum exhibition, represents a new era in her work, aiming to give form to the defenses we build around ourselves in the wake of profound loss. In a new series of abstract paintings and reliefs, Yellin reflects on her own experiences of trauma, loss, and grief, pairing her work for the first time with recently discovered paintings by her late mother, Anne Locksley.

STUDIO ART THESIS EXHIBITION

Opens April 2025

Organized in close collaboration with faculty and students, this exhibition features art by graduating seniors from the Seaver College Studio Art program.

Image: Cameron Harvey, Ancestor 29, 2024, acrylic on canvas. Image courtesy of the artist. Photo: David Daigle. © 2024 Cameron Harvey

Major exhibitions are held in the Gregg G. Juarez Gallery and Ron Wilson-Designer Gallery in the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art. Isabel Yellin: Mothership is supported by a grant from the Pasadena Art Alliance.

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

STUDENT PRODUCTIONS

The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division presents the Mary Pickford-Stotsenberg performances

OPERA

The Flora L. Thornton Opera Program presents

The Magic Flute

Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Lyrics by Emanuel Schikaneder

Keith Colclough, Director

With the Pepperdine University Orchestra

Mozart’s The Magic Flute has delighted audiences for centuries. Set in a mysterious foreign land, this whimsical fairy tale features larger-than-life characters. The young prince Tamino arrives as if in a dream. He learns of a beautiful princess held captive in a fortress by an unnamed evil. Tamino sets forth to rescue the maiden, accompanied by his new companion—the bird-man Papageno. But very little in this land is quite as it seems.

Lyrics in German with English supertitles. Dialogue in English.

Thursday, February 27, 2025, 7:30 pm

Saturday, March 1, 2025, 7:30 pm

$20

$10 for Pepperdine students

$16 for Pepperdine faculty and staff

Smothers Theatre

Parkening Master Class

Christopher Parkening, Director

Saturday, September 21, 2024, 2 pm

Free | Raitt Recital Hall

Pepperdine Orchestra

Scott Hosfeld, Director

Tuesday, October 22, 2024, 7:30 pm

Free | Smothers Theatre

Pepperdine Chamber Choir

Ryan Board, Director

Friday, November 1, 2024, 7:30 pm

Free | Stauffer Chapel

Pepperdine Jazz and Wind Ensembles

Vincent Trombetta, Director

Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 7:30 pm

Free | 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 20, 2025, 8 pm

Friday, March 21, 2025, 8 pm

Saturday, March 22, 2025, 2 pm and 8 pm

$20

$10 for Pepperdine students

$16 for Pepperdine faculty and staff

Smothers Theatre

Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert

Ryan Board and Scott Hosfeld, Directors

Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7:30 pm

$10 | Smothers Theatre

Parkening Master Class

Christopher Parkening, Director

Saturday, February 22, 2025, 2 pm

Free | Raitt Recital Hall

Pepperdine Jazz and Wind Ensembles

Vincent Trombetta, Director

Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 7:30 pm

Free | Smothers Theatre

Pepperdine Orchestra Masterworks Concert

Scott Hosfeld, Director

Wednesday, April 16, 2025, 7:30 pm

$10 | Smothers Theatre

Pickford Ensemble

N. Lincoln Hanks, Director

Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 7:30 pm

Free | Lindhurst Theatre

Pepperdine Choir Masterworks Concert

Ryan Board, Director

Thursday, April 24, 2025, 7:30 pm

Details to be announced.

Please visit us online for more great student productions.

@pepperdinemusic

MUSIC Free tickets to choir and orchestra concerts are available for Pepperdine students, faculty, and staff with ID.

THEATRE DEPARTMENT SERIES

$48 for four events

Lost Girl

By Kimberly Belflower

Nanci Carol Ruby, Director

Wendy is back from Neverland and everyone has questions. Splintered by the pain of lost love, Wendy retreats to the room of her childhood. The Lost Boys are growing up, Wendy’s mother is renovating the nursery to a home office, and a detective, a doctor, and a therapist all join in the call for Wendy to move on, but grief and growing up are slow, painful processes. When Wendy bravely finds connection with insightful parts of herself and with the other girls, she is inspired to complete unfinished business, to hang the laundry out to dry, and to make a forever decision to value her own worth.

Tuesday, September 24–Friday, September 27, 2024, 7:30 pm

Saturday, September 28, 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, September 25 performance.

The Luciana and Daniel Forge Fall Musical 9 to 5

The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton Book by Patricia Resnick

Kelly Todd, Director and Choreographer

Natalie Buickians, Musical Director

9 to 5 The Musical is a wild good time and will have you singing in the aisles. This popular movie was re-created for the stage with music by Dolly Parton. Set in the 1970s, three secretaries work together to take on their horrible boss to make the hours they spend from 9 to 5 much more empowering for all employees.

Friday, November 15–Saturday, November 16, 2024, 7:30 pm

Sunday, November 17, 2024, 2 pm

Thursday, November 21–Friday, November 22, 2024, 7:30 pm

Saturday, November 23, 2024, 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 21 performance.

Recommended for ages 12+ for sexual references, drug use, and profanity.

The cast of Pepperdine’s production of The Tempest.

Iphigenia Among the Taurians

By

Euripides, translated by Anne Carson Bradley Griffin, Director N. Lincoln Hanks, Composer

One of the lesser-known Greek tragedies, Iphigenia Among the Taurians reveals an alternate outcome for the title’s heroine. Rather than dying at Aulis as a sacrifice to the gods, Iphigenia has been rescued by Artemis and brought to live among the Taurians, where she serves as a priestess charged with the grisly duty to kill any Greek sailor who lands on their shores. With the arrival of two unexpected Greek visitors, however, Euripides contradicts our understanding of the tragic plot by introducing comedic elements into a play with a bloody altar at its center.

Tuesday, January 28–Friday, January 31, 2025, 7:30 pm

Saturday, February 1, 2025, 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 29 performance.

Passage

By Christopher Chen Cathy Thomas-Grant, Director

A fantasia inspired by E. M. Forster’s A Passage to India, Passage is set in the fictional Country X, colonized by Country Y. It is a meditation on how power imbalances affect personal and interpersonal dynamics and a drama about nationalism and colonialism and how they impact the friendship between a native of each country. How can citizens of two very different nations cope, relate, converse, and interact with each other?

This is a thoughtfully told story about the current state of our world. “Unashamedly political yet deeply humane, it’s a difficult journey that is well worth the trouble” (Time Out New York)

Wednesday, April 9–Friday, April 11, 2025, 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 12, 2025, 2 pm

$15

$10 for Pepperdine students

$12 for Pepperdine faculty and staff

Smothers Theatre

Join a talk back with the actors and director after the Wednesday, April 9 performance.

Recommended for ages 16+ for mature themes and profanity.

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.

WITH GRATITUDE TO THE CENTER FOR THE ARTS CHANCELLOR’S CIRCLE

Chancellor's Circle members help us achieve our mission of presenting an innovative, unique, entertaining, and diverse program of exceptional performances and museum exhibitions.

Performance Sponsors

The Office of the Chancellor of Pepperdine University

G. Beverly Bergmann

Anne Marie and Mitch Bredefeld

Melanie and Richard Flamminio

Mary and Tom Hawkins

Alison and Dan Hodgkiss

David Huenergardt*

Lisa Smith Wengler

Billie Milam Weisman

Tasia Jungbauer ’16 (center) with master class students Hannah Sedlacek, Tessa Hemphill, Jamison Rosales, and Kaiya Treash.

A Family Art Day participant creates a wolf puppet before The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Left to right: Charlie Carswell, Rachel Guettler, Bucky Heard, Bill Medley, Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Bruce Fortine.

Patrons experiencing Makoto Fujimura’s Water Flames exhibition at the Weisman Museum.

SUBSCRIBE

Buy tickets to FOUR SHOWS or more and SAVE 10 PERCENT 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

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, Wave Associates, and Pepperdine faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Call for more information.

Supporting Sponsors

Lisa and Brad Freer

Diane Reilly

Ellen and Doug Weitman

Gail and James Wilburn

Smothers Theatre

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

Contributing Sponsors

Methal and Perry Akins

Shelley and Rick Bayer

Hannah and Tom Boundy

Kathy and Lou Colombano

Gloria Mercado-Fortine and Bruce Fortine

Sara and Sam Jackson

Callie E. and R. Rick Moos

Carly Pippin

Barbara Vallone *in memoriam

Recital Hall

SEPTEMBER 2024

13 Classic Albums Live Presents: Fleetwood Mac—Rumours

19 Jessica Vosk 21 Parkening Master Class 22 Naturally 7 24-28 Pepperdine Theatre: Lost Girl 28 Preservation Hall Jazz Band 29 Fernando Grimaldo, bass-baritone OCTOBER 2024 5 TAIKOPROJECT

Derina Harvey Band

Some Enchanted Evening

Sons of Mystro 20 Bob Eubanks’ Backstage with the Beatles, featuring “Ticket to Ride”

Pepperdine Orchestra 26 Luca Stricagnoli

NOVEMBER 2024

Pepperdine Chamber Choir 10 Clayton Stephenson, piano 15-23 Pepperdine Musical Theatre: 9 to 5 The Musical DECEMBER 2024 3 Pepperdine Jazz and Wind Ensembles

Pepperdine Choir and Orchestra

Concert

Home for the Holidays featuring Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Ruben Studdard, and Haley Reinhart

PILOBOLUS

Jake Shimabukuro 15 Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas

JANUARY 2025

John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola

The Peking Acrobats

Colin Hay

Letters Aloud: From the Front—Letters of Service and Sacrifice

Johan Dalene, violin

Njioma Grevious, violin

Pickford Ensemble

The Flying Karamazov Brothers: 50 Years of Juggling and Cheap Theatrics

know in advance how we might help,

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.