GrooveLily, Susan Egan And More Announced As Part Of Pepperdine University's 2009-10 Season

Pepperdine University Center for the Arts in Malibu, Calif., announces its exciting lineup of performances and exhibitions for the 2009-10 season.

Multi-Grammy-winning singer Amy Grant takes the stage on March 4, and blues musician Keb' Mo' performs a solo concert on January 17.

Vocalist Cleo Laine, Britain's reigning queen of jazz, and saxophonist/clarinetist John Dankworth, her husband and musical collaborator of over 50 years, start off the season with a concert on September 18. Great jazz continues with violinist Regina Carter on October 4 and vocalist Sophie Milman on October 22.

Pepperdine welcomes back guitarist/vocalist Roger McGuinn, former frontman for The Byrds, on October 9. Guitarist and perennial Pepperdine favorite Tommy Emmanuel returns on February 10, and singer/songwriter/guitarist David Wilcox performs his 17th concert at the University on March 6.

Susan Egan reprises vocal numbers from some of her Broadway and Disney roles on April 14, and indie pop/rock group GrooveLily makes its Pepperdine debut on October 8.

For lovers of world music, TAO: The Martial Art of Drumming raises the roof with its taiko drumming on February 11, and the Soweto Gospel Choir brings African gospel music to Smothers Theatre on March 23.

Rockapella, the five-man vocal phenomenon, brings its unique sound to Malibu with a special holiday show on December 6.

The Stotsenberg Recital Series features Sunday afternoon programs by several promising young artists, including pianist Di Wu, one of the six winners of the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, on November 22, and guitarist Emanuele Buono, winner of the recent Parkening International Guitar Competition, on February 14.

Pepperdine's family-oriented shows include The Passing Zone, featuring comedy jugglers Jon Wee and Owen Morse of TV's America's Got Talent fame, on September 20 and the Incredible Acrobats of China on January 10.

The Kids' Playhouse Series, programmed for children ages 3 to 10, includes Saturday matinees of Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Aesop Bops! with David Gonzalez, and Harry the Dirty Dog.

The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division presents an array of student performances and productions, including the Flora L. Thornton Opera Program's staging of La boheme and the Theatre Department's productions of The Persians, Sweeney Todd, Waiting for Godot, and A Flea in Her Ear.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, open six days a week and free of admission charge, presents an exhibition of paintings by American abstract expressionist Mercedes Matter from January 23 through April 4.

Please see the complete schedule, below, for more information on these and other Pepperdine Center for the Arts performances and exhibitions.

Tickets to all events are available now by calling (310) 506-4522. Box Office hours are 12 noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and two hours prior to shows. Pepperdine University is located at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, Calif. Tickets to all events are also available through Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787.

Parking is available next to the theatre for a $5 fee and in the lower lot with shuttle service at no charge. All programs and artists are subject to change. PLEASE NOTE: $10 tickets for full-time Pepperdine students with ID, and discounted Pepperdine faculty/staff tickets ("Hot Tix" sold 24 hours prior to many shows), are offered for selected events, subject to availability. Certain restrictions apply. Call (310) 506-4522 for specifics.

BROADWAY

GrooveLily
With backgrounds in classical music, musical theatre, jazz, and rock, the three members of GrooveLily are making new music that's all their own, with intelligent, original, witty songs enlivened by lush textures and soaring vocals. Audiences rave about their aural electricity: Valerie's blazing violin, Brendan's jaunty keyboards, and Gene's unifying backbeat, all wrapped up in superb lyrics.
Thursday, October 8, 8 p.m., $40
Smothers Theatre

Susan Egan
Vocalist Susan Egan headlined on Broadway as Thoroughly Modern Millie, won critical acclaim as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, and received Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations as the original Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. She can also be heard as Meg in Disney's Hercules and is featured in many other movie and TV roles.
Wednesday, April 14, 8 p.m., $40
Smothers Theatre

For more information, visit arts.pepperdine.edu.

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