Pepperdine Center For The Arts Announces 2018–2019 Season
By: A.A. Cristi Jun. 11, 2018
Leading interpreter of the Great American Songbook Michael Feinstein, ukulele virtuosi Jake Shimabukuro, Grammy Award winning singer Sheena Easton, and acrobatic troupe Cirque Mechanics, are just a few of the artists set to appear at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University during its 2018-2019 season.
Among the musicians and bands coming to Pepperdine's Malibu campus are legendary Grammy-winning songwriter Jimmy Webb with special guest Ashley Campbell; joyful jazz band Sammy Miller and the Congregation; Americana country group The Lone Bellow; acoustic folk trio I'm With Her; Songwriters Hall of Fame inductee JD Souther; Celtic bluegrass quartet We Banjo 3; acclaimed jazz singer Nicole Henry; the Lovin' Spoonful founder John Sebastian; dynamic string duo Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas; and a special collaboration between roots and folk groups The Dustbowl Revival and Hot Club of Cowtown as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of The Band.
This season also features the Parkening International Guitar Competition, the world's preeminent classical guitar competition, including the Final Round and Awards Ceremony where guitarists compete for a $30,000 cash prize and the Jack Marshall Gold Medal.
The thrilling Chinese Warriors of Peking kicks off the season's dance and spectacle offerings, which includes the visionary Ailey II, visually striking Jessica Lang Dance, and the L.A.-based Pacifico Dance Company, with their focus on fostering appreciation for Mexican culture.
The Gregg G. Juarez Stars of Stage and Screen series includes guitarist and composer Bill Frisell and his interpretations of music from film and television, New York theatre celebration concert On Broadway, and the innovative illusions of Vitaly: An Evening of Wonders.
This season, the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts will once again present Family Arts Fest, a day of face painting, food trucks, backstage and museum tours, art projects, and two public performances by Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards, a family-friendly New Orleans Jazz band. Other family shows throughout the year include Childsplay's Tomás and the Library Lady, and children's musicians Dan Zanes and Claudia Eliaza.
The Recital Series, featuring the talents of young classical musicians, includes performances by the pianist Fei-Fei, harpist Cristina Montes Mateo with flutist Susan Greenberg Norman, pianist Kenny Broberg, and violinist YooJin Jang.
The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art will feature an exhibition highlighting the influence of pop art, as well as two separate exhibitions focused on iconic California artists Richard Diebenkorn and Squeak Carnwath. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and one hour prior to most shows through intermission. There is no admission charge.
The Pepperdine Fine Arts Division presents Gilbert & Sullivan's operetta Die Fledermaus; theatre productions of Deanna Jent's Falling; the Tony-nominated murder mystery musical Curtains; Lisa Kron's family drama Well; a gender-flipped version of The Taming of the Shrew; and a series of performances by Pepperdine student music ensembles throughout the fall and spring semesters.
Additionally, Pepperdine Student Activities presents its popular Dance in Flight and Songfest.
"It's my pleasure to announce our new season at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts. Each year, we present an innovative, unique, entertaining, and diverse program of exceptional performances and museum exhibitions. The 2018-2019 season will include several returning favorites as well as many new-to-Pepperdine performances," says Rebecca Carson, Managing Director of the Center for the Arts. "I look forward to connecting these talented artists with our enthusiastic audience!"
Tickets for all performances are available beginning June 25 by calling (310) 506-4522 from noon to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and two hours prior to curtain time. Tickets to all events are also available at: arts.pepperdine.edu/tickets/
Season subscribers (those who purchase tickets to four or more shows) are entitled to a 10 percent discount on select ticket prices.
The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University provides high-quality activities for over 55,000 people from over 1,000 zip codes annually through performances, rehearsals, museum exhibitions, and master classes. Located on Pepperdine's breathtaking Malibu campus overlooking the Pacific, the center serves as a hub for the arts, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students as well as patrons from surrounding Southern California communities. Facilities include the 450-seat Smothers Theatre, the 118-seat Raitt Recital Hall, the "black box" Helen E. Lindhurst Theatre, and the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art.
The Center for the Arts is located on the Pepperdine University campus at 24255 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, CA. Parking is available during performances next to Smothers Theatre for a fee and in the Theme Tower lot with shuttle service at no charge. All programs and artists are subject to change.
For more information about these and other Center for the Arts performances and exhibitions, visit: arts.pepperdine.edu.
PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR THE ARTS 2018-2019 SEASON
Jimmy Webb with special guest Ashley Campbell
Sponsored by the Office of Andrew K. Benton, President of Pepperdine University
The legendary Grammy-winning songwriter Jimmy Webb (with cross-genre hits including "Wichita Lineman," "MacArthur Park," and "Highwayman") shares songs and humorous behind-the-scenes stories. Webb is joined by rising star Ashley Campbell, daughter of his best friend, the late Glen Campbell. The elegant duo performs a few songs together from the Webb/Campbell songbook. Ashley Campbell opens the show with songs from her debut album, The Lonely One.
Saturday, September 22, 2018, 8 PM
$22-$50
Smothers Theatre
Fei-Fei, Piano
Part of the Recital Series
Praised for her "bountiful gifts and passionate immersion into the music she touches" (Plain Dealer), Chinese pianist Fei-Fei is a winner of the Concert Artists Guild Competition and a top finalist at the Fourteenth Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She is also the winner of Juilliard's 33rd annual William Petschek Recital Award, and she continues to build a reputation for her poetic interpretations, charming audiences with her "winning stage presence" (Dallas Morning News).
Sunday, September 23, 2018, 2 PM
$28
Raitt Recital Hall
Sammy Miller and the Congregation
Sammy Miller and the Congregation are on a mission to put the generosity back into jazz and bring art back to the people. With their feel-good, joyful sound, they share the power of community through their music in a unique style that entertains, enriches, but most of all, uplifts.
Thursday, September 27, 2018, 8 PM
$15-$40
Smothers Theatre
Chinese Warriors of Peking
The Chinese Warriors of Peking tell the tale of two rival martial arts disciplines competing in the ancient Chinese capital of Peking during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). With juggling acts, dazzling acrobatics, weapons handling, and live stage combat, the Chinese Warriors of Peking provide a culturally enriching experience that's ". . . an entertaining show for the whole family" (Eastbourne Herald).
Friday, September 28, 2018, 7:30 PM
$20-$45 for adults
$20 for youth 17 and under
Smothers Theatre
Childsplay presents
Tomás and the Library Lady
Book, Music and Lyrics by José Cruz González
Music Arranged and Performed by Adam Jacobson
Adapted from the book "Tomás and the Library Lady" by Pat Mora
Based on the inspiring true story of Mexican American author and educator Tomás Rivera, this inspirational performance suggests what libraries-and education-can make possible.
September 30, 2018, 2 PM
$10-$15 for adults
$10 for youth 17 and under
Smothers Theatre
Family Art Day
Join us for special art projects and Weisman Museum tours.
Sunday, September 30, 2018, Noon-2 pm
Family Art Day is free and open to the public.
Gregg G. Juarez Palm Courtyard
The Lone Bellow
Americana country trio The Lone Bellow is known for its transcendent harmonies, serious musicianship, and raucous live performances, which display its "open-hearted, vein-bursting conviction" (NPR Music). The group continues its introspective and poignant music with the acoustic tour for its latest release, Walk into a Storm, which features some of the band's most personal material to date.
Thursday, October 4, 2018, 8 PM
$20-$40
Smothers Theatre
The Great American Songbook
Sponsored by Anne Marie and Mitch Bredefeld
Through his live performances, recordings, film and television appearances, and songwriting, Michael Feinstein has established himself as the ambassador of the Great American Songbook. Over the three decades of his career, Feinstein's five Grammy Award nominations, Emmy-nominated PBS-TV specials, and critically acclaimed concerts spanning the globe have established him as one of the most important musical forces of our time.
Sunday, October 7, 2018, 2 PM
$40-$70
Smothers Theatre
I'm With Her-Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan
Sponsored by the Pepperdine University Crest Associates
Comprised of critically acclaimed musicians Sara Watkins, Sarah Jarosz, and Aoife O'Donovan, acoustic folk trio I'm With Her has garnered praise for its exquisite musicianship, family-like chemistry, and "sweetly ethereal" indelible harmonies (New York Times).
Thursday, October 11, 2018, 8 PM
$20-$45
Smothers Theatre
An Evening with JD Souther
Sponsored by the Law Offices of Hiepler & Hiepler
Grammy-nominated JD Souther has penned countless hits for the Eagles, Linda Ronstadt, Roy Orbison, James Taylor, Don Henley, George Strait, Trisha Yearwood, and Brooks & Dunn and found success as a solo artist. This led him to being inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013 and becoming one of the most celebrated songwriters of his generation.
Sunday, October 14, 2018, 7 PM
$20-$40
Smothers Theatre
Cirque Mechanics: 42FT-A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels
Thrills, laughs, and excitement are on full display as Cirque Mechanics' 42FT-A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels transports audiences back to the timeless thrills of the big top circus ring. The action in 42FT (a name derived from the traditional diameter of a circus ring), is full of theatricality and a modern sensibility, in what Spectacle Magazinecalls "the greatest contribution to the American circus since Cirque du Soleil."
Tuesday, October 16, 2018, 7:30 PM
$20-$45 for adults
$20 for youth 17 and under
Smothers Theatre
We Banjo 3
Pioneers of the innovative musical-fusion style dubbed "Celtgrass," We Banjo 3's unique blend of the traditional Irish and authentic Americana genres has made it one of the music world's most celebrated ensembles. With rousing revelry and undeniable passion, the group has been recognized as "an Irish quartet transcending even the best superlatives" (Huffington Post).
Friday, October 19, 2018, 8 PM
$15-$35
Smothers Theatre
Cristina Montes Mateo, Harp, and Susan Greenberg, Flute
Part of the Recital Series
As the first-prize winner in the XII Edition of the Torneo Internazionale di Musica (Rome, 2006), Cristina Montes Mateo is recognized internationally as one of the leading harpists of her generation. Flutist Susan Greenberg is a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra as well as a soloist, chamber musician, symphony player, and recording artist.
Sunday, October 28, 2018, 2 PM
$28
Raitt Recital Hall
Nicole Henry, Set for the Season
Renowned for her potent combination of dynamic vocals, impeccable phrasing, and powerful emotional resonance, acclaimed jazz singer Nicole Henry brings new life to classic holiday repertoire. Her expressive vocals and stage-commanding charisma have earned her a Soul Train Award for Best Traditional Jazz Performance, three Top 10 Billboard albums, and rave reviews in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Jazz Times, Essence, and more. Performing favorites such as "O Holy Night," "The Christmas Song," and "Angels We Have Heard on High," her heartwarming holiday show is not only nostalgic, but inspiring.
Friday, November 30, 2018, 8 PM
$20-$40
Smothers Theatre
Sponsored by the Flamminio Family
In just over a decade of recording music and playing sold-out shows worldwide, Jake Shimabukuro has already redefined the ukulele. In his hands this diminutive Hawaiian instrument becomes a complex and bold new musical force.
Saturday, December 1, 2018, 8 PM
Sunday, December 2, 2018, 2 PM
$25-$55
Smothers Theatre
As the founder, singer, and songwriter of the Lovin' Spoonful, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee John Sebastian has made an indelible mark on the fabric of American music. Boasting numerous top 10 hits like "Do You Believe In Magic," "Daydream," and the theme song to "Welcome Back, Kotter," Sebastian's catalog, as well as his commentary on seminal rock history events like Woodstock, make him one of the best ambassadors American music has ever had.
Thursday, January 10, 2019, 8 PM
$20-$45
Smothers Theatre
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas
The musical partnership between consummate performer Alasdair Fraser, "the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling" (San Francisco Examiner), and brilliant Californian cellist Natalie Haas spans the spectrum between intimate chamber music and ecstatic dance energy. They continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their joyful spontaneity, and the sheer physical presence of their music.
Sunday, January 13, 2019, 2 PM
$15-$35
Smothers Theatre
Sponsored by the Office of Andrew K. Benton, President of Pepperdine University
Known for numerous hit songs, including "U Got the Look" with Prince, "We've Got Tonight" with Kenny Rogers, as well as the James Bond theme "For Your Eyes Only," Sheena Easton has sold over 20 million records, and is the first-and still only-artist to have the top five records on five major Billboard charts.
Saturday, January 19, 2019, 8 PM
$40-$70
Smothers Theatre
Bill Frisell "When You Wish Upon A Star" featuring Petra Haden, Thomas Morgan, & Rudy Royston
With a career that has spanned more than 35 years, guitarist and composer Bill Frisell's diverse catalog has been described as "the best recorded output of the decade" (Downbeat). His latest project, When You Wish Upon a Star, features Frisell with Petra Haden (vocals), Thomas Morgan (bass), and Rudy Royston (drums) performing Frisell's arrangements and interpretations of music from film and television in a display of "ingenuity, wit, and affection" (Jazz Times).
Tuesday, January 22, 2019, 8 PM
$20-$45
Smothers Theatre
Dan Zanes and Claudia Eliaza
Multi-instrumentalist and Grammy Award-winner Dan Zanes and Haitian American jazz vocalist Claudia Eliaza celebrate the children's music of folk and blues icon Lead Belly in a positive, interactive, and educational family performance.
Sunday, January 27, 2019, 2 PM
$10-$15 for adults, $10 for youth 17 and under
Smothers Theatre
Family Art Day
Join us for special art projects and Weisman Museum tours.
Sunday, January 27, 2019, Noon-2 PM
Family Art Day is free and open to the public.
Gregg G. Juarez Palm Courtyard
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