at different local venues, a representative group from the Miraflores and Rivera choirs, as well as the larger ensemble, takes listeners on a musical journey through the animal kingdom, the songs extolling species ranging from crickets and larks to frogs, crows and, yes, ponyfish. The young singers will weave together beloved poetry, folk traditions, and choral favorites in a wealth of languages including in French, Spanish, Italian, Malay and Japanese. WHEN: 6:30 pm Sunday, 6 pm Tuesday WHERE: Sunday at Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West campus, 1070 Fairway Road; Tuesday at Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High, 721 East Cota St. COST: $10; under 18 free INFO: (805) 969-8787 or www.musicacademy.org
SUNDAY, MAY 17
TUESDAY, MAY 19
Philip Glass and The Poets – A few months before legendary American composer Philip Glass’ 90th birthday, UCSB Arts & Lectures celebrates extraordinary relationships and collaborations with poets in an evening’s performance co-commissioned by the arts organization. Glass has long drawn inspiration from poets’ words, lives and the depths of their creative practice, with poetry ranging from Rumi to Leonard Cohen playing a key role in the evolution of his music. American beat poet Allen Ginsberg – who posthumously celebrates his own centennial in 2026 – was one of Glass’ closest friends and collaborators. For this program, Glass composed original intimate chamber music for Ginsberg’s poems including “Wichita Vortex Sutra” and “Magic Psalm” to accompany previously unreleased recordings of Ginsberg reading the pieces. The evening features performances by longtime Glass interpreter, pianist and fellow composer Timo Andres – a 2024 guest artist at the Music Academy of the West’s summer festival, who memorably joined longtime pianist-colleague Conor Hanick in coaching the fellows and performing the complete collection of Glass’ 20 Piano Études – plus theater artist and MacArthur fellow Taylor Mac, Pulitzer Prize finalist and Tony Award nominee for Best Play. Choreographer and artist Lucinda Childs, who won an Obie Award for her performance in the premiere of the landmark avant-garde opera Einstein on the Beach by Glass and Robert Wilson, will perform poetry excerpts from the piece, while members of the San Francisco Girls Chorus will also be featured. This tribute and celebration of collaboration across generations is not to be missed. WHEN: 7 pm WHERE: Campbell Hall, 574 Mesa Rd., UCSB campus COST: $23-$43 INFO: (805) 893-3535 or https://artsandlectures.ucsb.edu explore a re-imagining of great African songs and Indian melodies through the art of spontaneous improvisation. WHEN: 6 pm WHERE: Marjorie Luke Theatre at Santa Barbara Junior High, 721 East Cota St. COST: $39-$49 INFO: https://luketheatre.org/events SUNDAY, MAY 17 & TUESDAY, MAY 19 SINGing ‘In the Menagerie’ – The Music Academy of the West’s Sing! program, its free after-school children’s choral ensemble available to Santa Barbara County students in grades 1-10, has grown to number nearly 300 participants from over 40 area schools. Over the course of two concerts
Selleck Dishes with Danson – Octogenarian actor Tom Selleck’s most famous role was the one that provided his breakout success – the eponymous private investigator in the hit 1980s TV series Magnum, P.I. Twenty years later, he scored big again as NYC Police Commissioner Frank Reagan in Blue Bloods. Along the way, Selleck played one of the bachelors in Three Men and a Baby and its sequel, appeared in a recurring role as Monica’s love interest Richard in Friends, and enjoyed some 50 other film and TV roles. In his 2024 memoir You Never Know, Selleck shares details about his journey from USC’s business school and basketball court to becoming one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors, including a co-star turn with Mae West, his appearance on The Dating Game, and working alongside Farrah Fawcett in TV commercials. The actor and longtime NRA supporter clears up a lifetime of misconceptions and shares dozens of never-told stories from every corner of his personal and professional life. He reflects on what it meant to emerge as a mega-star in his mid-thirties—and on the deliberate choices he made to protect his family’s privacy and sense of normalcy amid the glare of celebrity. Now he’ll expand on those stories and share others in conversation with longtime friend and fellow Emmy Award-winner Ted Danson; Selleck’s fellow actor in the Three Men series and best known for his iconic and beloved portrayal of Boston bartender Sam Malone on TV’s mega-hit sitcom Cheers. Danson has lived for years in Ojai and has appeared more recently as the devil’s disciple in The Good Place and as himself in Curb Your Enthusiasm. All tickets include a signed copy of You Never Know. WHEN: 7:30 pm WHERE: Granada Theatre, 1214 State Street COST: $69-$89 INFO: (805) 899-2222 or www.granadasb.org
NOTE TO READERS This entertainment calendar is a subjective sampling of arts and entertainment events taking place in the Santa Barbara area for the next seven days or so. It is by no means comprehensive. Please also see my feature stories elsewhere in this issue for more events. In order to be considered for inclusion in this calendar, please submit information – including hi-res photos – by 12 noon Wednesday eight days prior to publication date. Email: slibowitz@yahoo.com. 14 – 21 May 2026
• Voice of theVillage •
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