UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Musical America’s 2019 Artist of the Year, Daniil Trifonov, piano on Saturday, April 30th at 7:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall. The performance is part of the CREATING HOPE programming initiative.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents photographer and filmmaker, Ami Vitale, Wild Hope on Sunday, May 1st at 3:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall.
Photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale’s award-winning work illuminates the unsung heroes and communities working to protect our wildlife and find harmony in our natural world. From the reintroduction of northern white rhinos and giant pandas to the wild, to Kenya’s first indigenous-owned and run elephant sanctuary, Vitale’s awe-inspiring images and adventures will enthrall audiences of all ages.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Data Scientist and Bestselling Author Cathy O’Neil, The Shame Machine: Who Profits in the New Age of Humiliation on Tuesday, May 3rd at 7:30 p.m. Pacific at Campbell Hall.
Mathematician and data scientist Cathy O’Neil explores the realities and dangers of social networking, the consequences of algorithm design, and defending human dignity in the context of predatory capitalism.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Dazzling French Masters, Gautier Capuçon, cello Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano on Wednesday, May 4th at 7:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall.
A 21st century ambassador for the cello, Gautier Capuçon is a multiple award winner celebrated for his “extraordinary sophistication, dynamic daring and supple phrasing” (The Times, U.K.).
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Roots/Alt-rock Powerhouse, Amythyst Kiah on Thursday, May 5th at 8:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall.
With an unforgettable voice that’s both unfettered and exquisitely controlled, singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah has been dubbed “one of Americana’s great up-and-coming secrets” by Rolling Stone.
David Sedaris is a master of satire, known for his wit, weirdness and seriously funny observations about himself and the world around him. Through his legendary live events, numerous personal essay collections and regular contributions to the New Yorker and NPR’s This American Life, Sedaris has become one of today’s most beloved writers addressing the human condition.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents “Ted Chiang,” moderated by Melody Jue, Associate Professor, UCSB English on Tuesday, May 10th at 7:30 p.m. at Campbell Hall.
Acclaimed science fiction and fantasy short story writer Ted Chiang has won four Hugo, four Nebula, and four Locus awards.
Acclaimed science fiction and fantasy short story writer Ted Chiang has won four Hugo, four Nebula, and four Locus awards.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents The Joffrey Ballet on Thursday, May 12th at 8:00 p.m. Pacific at the Granada Theatre.
Classically trained to the highest standards, the Chicago-based Joffrey Ballet is considered one of the premier dance companies performing today. Heralded as “America’s Company of Firsts,” the Joffrey was the first dance company to perform at the White House (at Jacqueline Kennedy’s invitation), the first to appear on American television, the first to create a ballet set to rock music and the first to appear on the cover of Time magazine. Committed to artistic excellence and innovation, the company performs a unique repertoire encompassing past masterpieces and cutting-edge works.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Bestselling Author and Pulitzer Prize Winner Elizabeth Strout in conversation with Pico Iyer at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 13 at UCSB Campbell Hall.
??A New York Times Best Seller List mainstay, Elizabeth Strout captivates audiences with her finely drawn characters, incisive prose and powerful ability to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: American Graffiti, on Friday, July 8th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Dirty Dancing, on Friday, July 15th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
Set in the summer of 1963, an innocent teen vacationing with her upper-middle-class parents at an upscale resort in the Catskills gets a jolt of culture shock when she crushes on the hotel’s slick, handsome dance instructor. Starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, the film’s stirring soundtrack yielded the Oscar-winning Best Song “(I’ve Had the) Time of My Life.” (Emile Ardolino, 1987, PG-13, 97 min.)
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Thelma & Louise, on Friday, July 22nd at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
Housewife Thelma (Geena Davis) joins her friend Louise (Susan Sarandon), an independent waitress, on a short fishing trip. However, their trip becomes a flight from the law when Louise shoots and kills a man who assaults Thelma at a bar. Louise decides to flee to Mexico, and Thelma joins her. On the way, Thelma falls for sexy young thief J.D. (Brad Pitt) and the sympathetic Detective Slocumb (Harvey Keitel) tries to convince the two women to surrender before their fates are sealed. (Ridley Scott, 1991, R, 130 min.)
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, on Friday, July 29th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
When drag queen Anthony (Hugo Weaving) agrees to take his act on the road, he invites fellow performers Adam (Guy Pearce) and Bernadette (Terence Stamp) to come along. In their colorful bus, named Priscilla, the three performers travel across the Australian desert performing for enthusiastic crowds and less-enthusiastic locals. But when the other two performers learn the truth about why Anthony took the job, it threatens their act and their friendship. (Stephan Elliott, 1994, R, 105 min.)
Single (non-series) tickets for the 2022-2023 season of UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) go on sale Friday, August 5 at 10 AM. Series subscriptions with savings of up to 25% are available now; as are single tickets to the season opener, Charley Crockett, at the Arlington Theatre on Sunday, October 2.
A&L’s big 2022-2023 opening week continues on Thursday, October 6, at the Granada, where DakhaBrakha, the world music quartet from Kyiv, Ukraine, will perform their electrifying blend of Ukrainian melodies and contemporary rhythms from around the world.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Moonrise Kingdom, on Friday, August 12th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two 12-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing offshore – and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in every which way. The all-star cast features Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray and Frances McDormand among others, and introduces Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as Sam and Suzy, the boy and girl. (Wes Anderson, 2012, PG-13, 94 min.)
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, on Friday, August 19th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
Four teenagers in detention discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of. When they decide to play, they are immediately sucked into the jungle world of Jumanji in the bodies of their avatars (Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart and Karen Gillan). They’ll have to complete the adventure of their lives filled with fun, thrills and danger or be stuck in the game forever! (Jake Casdan, 2017, PG-13, 119 min.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Hot Fun in the Summertime: In the Heights, on Friday, August 26th at the County Courthouse Sunken Garden at 8:30 p.m.
Usnavi is a bodega owner who longs to go back to his native Dominican Republic. In the meantime, he spends his time in a small neighborhood in Washington Heights pining after Vanessa, who works at the beauty salon, and looking after Abuela Claudia, the elderly Cuban lady living next door who raised him. One day, Usnavi’s childhood friend Nina comes back from college with a secret, and Abuela Claudia wins the lottery. (Jon M. Chu, 2021, PG-13, 142 min.)
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is thrilled to announce the return of their annual free summer cinema series to its original home in the Sunken Garden of the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. The 2022 theme, Hot Fun in the Summertime, means that there will be something exciting for everyone. Bring breathable blankets, low chairs, a picnic and your friends!
UCSB students can see the films on Wednesday evenings at Campbell Hall. These screenings are co-presented with UCSB Summer Sessions. Students must present a valid current UCSB ID for admission.
“After a challenging three years I can say with confidence and unfettered joy that the SUMMER FILMS ARE BACK at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse,” says A&L Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta M. Billeci. “Our community can gather at the Sunken Garden once again to laugh and be moved by these summer-inspired buddy and adventure films – some nostalgic, some silly, and some just plain fun! Our partners at the County Office of Arts & Culture and Montecito Bank & Trust didn’t skip a beat when we asked them to join us to bring back this beloved summer tradition. Together, we’re doing this once again Santa Barbara!”
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents a free screening of Take Every Wave: The Life of Laird Hamilton at the Arlington Theatre on Thursday, Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m.
Perhaps the greatest big wave surfer of all time, Laird Hamilton is a living legend who has tamed some of the world’s mightiest waves. Amongst the surf community, he is also one of the most controversial figures, an innovator who has revolutionized the sport often to the dismay of purists. This thrilling, up-close portrait traces Hamilton’s remarkable journey, from his rebellious childhood in Hawaii to his fearless first forays into surfing to his relentless pursuit of ever-bigger waves, a quest that ultimately led him to conquer what’s been called “the heaviest wave ever ridden.” Blending candid interviews with breathtaking action footage, Take Every Wave is a visceral, white-knuckle look at a life lived on the edge. (Rory Kennedy, 2017, 118 min.)
This screening is part of the Arts & Lectures Thematic Learning Initiative and is presented in association with The Arlington Theatre.
UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Rising Star of American Music Charley Crockett, at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct.2 at the Arlington Theatre
Crockett’s concert kicks off the opening week of A&L’s 2022-2023 season of performances and special events, and is followed by Ukrainian rock band Dakha Brakha, Lindy hop sensation SW!NG OUT, CNN analyst David Gergen, and more than 40 additional events.
An authentic and prolific songwriter, Crockett has released five albums of original material since 2020, culminating with September 2022’s The Man from Waco. His latest single, “I’m Just a Clown,” blends classic country craftsmanship with the soulful sounds of Memphis-style horns and reverb-drenched blues guitar.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) is proud to present an evening of Ukrainian culture featuring DakhaBrakha. From Kyiv, DakhaBrakha creates a world of unexpected new music, weaving ancient folk melodies into a subversive musical tapestry that embraces indie rock, pop, hip hop, the avant-garde and traditional instrumentation from around the world. At the crossroads of folklore and theater, DakhaBrakha has honed an evocative musical approach that “brings a beguiling blend of music from an anguished nation” (The Boston Globe). Prepare yourself for a sonic feast that celebrates the spirit and determination of Ukraine.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents David Gergen, former White House adviser to four U.S. presidents, CNN analyst and founder of the Harvard Center for Public Leadership. Gergen will draw from his experiences as a trusted voice on national issues to uncover the fundamental elements of effective leadership. In his new book, Hearts Touched with Fire: How Great Leaders Are Made, Gergen traces the journeys of iconic leaders past and present, including pathbreakers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Lewis, John McCain and Harvey Milk; historic icons like Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, Winston Churchill and Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt; and contemporary game changers like Greta Thunberg, the Parkland students and the Black Lives Matter movement.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Sacre by Circa on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Campbell Hall. Poetic tenderness. Raw emotion. Physical strength. Ten acrobats from the critically-acclaimed Australian ensemble Circa bring Stravinsky’s seminal Rite of Spring to the circus stage. Pulsating with tension and infused with dark humor, this distinctive production from Artistic Director Yaron Lifschitz confronts humanity’s interconnectivity, our inherent sexual desire and relationship with divinity. At the forefront of the new wave of contemporary Australian circus, Circa pushes the boundaries of the art form, blurring the lines between movement, dance, theater and circus. (Recommended for ages 12 and up.)
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents The Linda Lindas on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Campbell Hall. The Linda Lindas may have broken out in 2021 with their viral video, “Racist, Sexist Boy,” an original song performed at the Los Angeles Public Library, but they have been carrying on LA’s spirit of ’70s punk, power pop and new wave since 2018, sharing the stage with indie heroes like Best Coast, Bleached, Money Mark and Bikini Kill. Ranging in age from 11 to 17, half Asian/half Latinx sisters, cousins and friends Bela, Lucia, Eloise and Mila are ascending rock’s new feminist front, coolly shredding through songs about identity, friendship, power and cats.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents The Nrityagram Dance Ensemble on Wednesday, Oct. 19 at Campbell Hall. One of the premier Indian dance ensembles performing today, the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble has the unprecedented distinction of making The New York Times’ Best Dance of the Year list two years in a row. More than a dance company, Nrityagram was founded as a Gurukula (school) devoted to Indian dance. The all-female ensemble’s daily life of intensive training and meditation produces captivating performances that are at once sensual and lyrical. For ?huti, men and women of the Sri Lankan company Chitrasena join the women of Nrityagram’s Odissi troupe, comprising a large ensemble of dancers and musicians.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Carla Morrison on Thursday, Oct. 27 at Campbell Hall. “One the major lyricists of her generation” (NPR), Latin Grammy Award winner and international sensation Carla Morrison makes her Santa Barbara debut. She describes her 2021 release, El Renacimiento, as her “most personal album yet.” That’s something coming from an artist renowned for her raw, emotional retellings of heartbreak and loss. In concert, Morrison delivers multi-dimensional versions of her songs in a voice saturated with genuine emotions.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Soweto Gospel Choir on Wednesday, Nov. 2 at Campbell Hall. Brimming with energy and thrilling transcendent harmonies, the three-time Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir is beloved the world over for its ensemble flair and indomitable spirit. Commemorating South Africa’s Freedom Movement and the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S., they’ll perform a rousing program of South African gospel and spirituals in a variety of languages, and heartfelt renditions of songs made famous by Billie Holiday, James Brown, Otis Redding, Curtis Mayfield and Aretha Franklin. Prepare to be uplifted by 17 transcendent voices and a driving percussion section!
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Jack E. Davis, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf and now the author of The Bald Eagle: The Improbable Journey of America’s Bird, on Thursday, November 3 at 7:30 p.m. at Fleischmann Auditorium, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. Davis’s The Bald Eagle is a sweeping work of cultural and natural history that asks us to reconsider the story of America through the lens of our relationship to the natural world. Using spectacular stories of founding fathers, rapacious hunters, heroic bird rescuers and the lives of bald eagles themselves, Davis demonstrates how one bird’s wondrous journey provides inspiration today, as we grapple with environmental peril on a larger scale.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents Jean Rondeau, harpsichord on Friday, November 4 at 7:00 PM at Hahn Hall, Music Academy of the West. As a solo artist and a member of the Baroque ensemble Nevermind, Jean Rondeau has expanded the boundaries of early music and earned universal acclaim for his recordings and live performances. His outstanding talent and innovative approach to keyboard repertoire will be on full display with his performance of Bach’s Goldberg Variations, presented in its complete form, with the indicated repeats and judicious insertion of moments of silence.
UCSB Arts & Lectures will present Jennifer Egan in Conversation with Pico Iyer at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6 at Campbell Hall, Isla Vista. …
Jennifer Egan is a novelist, short story writer and journalist whose innovative literary fiction routinely makes the New York Times bestseller list. Her works include the Pulitzer Prize-winning A Visit From the Goon Squad, Manhattan Beach and her latest, The Candy House. Egan’s rare combination of imaginative daring and comprehensive understanding has made her a favorite of both popular audiences and other authors. Funny, fierce and unafraid of contradiction, Egan brings wit and humor to a wide range of subjects including music, technology, memory and love. Expect fireworks as Pico takes the audience on a whirlwind tour of Egan’s colorful life and fascinating work.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents An Evening with Ian Bremmer, Thursday, November 10 at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. As a leading global political risk expert, Ian Bremmer understands the social, economic and technological forces shaping the next wave of global politics. In his new book, The Power of Crisis, the renowned political scientist draws lessons from global challenges of the past 100 years – including global health emergencies, transformative climate change and the AI revolution – to demonstrate how we can respond to the great crises unfolding over the next decade. Bremmer provides a roadmap for surviving – even thriving in – the 21st century, showing how we can create worldwide prosperity and opportunity.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents an evening with Nigella Lawson, Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Granada Theatre. An iconic home chef, bestselling cookbook author, and star of countless television specials. Nigella Lawson has become an unstoppable and empowering force in the world of food since publishing her first cookbook, How To Eat, in 1998. She is the author of 12 bestselling books, including her latest, Cook, Eat, Repeat, and the beloved personality of TV series including Nigella Bites. She was voted Author of the Year at the British Book Awards and Best Food Personality at the Observer Food Monthly Awards. In conversation with Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW’s Good Food, the culinary powerhouse and global food icon will recount her trajectory by way of the people, food, and recipes that have shaped her unique life of cooking, eating, and repeating.
UCSB Arts & Lectures will present Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15 at The Granada Theatre.
“All of my work is in pursuit of the ‘we.’ What Problem? is the notion of ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’“ – Choreographer Bill T. Jones
This new work from Tony Award-winning MacArthur “Genius“ Bill T. Jones features a live original score and excerpts from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech.
Jones is known for his ability to visualize the human condition through choreography and dance. The recipient of the National Medal of Arts, a MacArthur Fellowship, a Kennedy Center Honors Award and multiple Tony Awards, there is little imaginative territory Jones has not attempted. His latest, highly-personal work, What Problem? is performed to live music, in part by local community members.
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L) presents pianist and composer Matthew Whitaker, Thursday, November 17 at 8:00 p.m. at Campbell Hall. At 10, Matthew Whitaker opened for Stevie Wonder’s induction into the Apollo Theater Hall of Fame. At 15, he became a Yamaha Artist, the youngest musician to join the stellar group of jazz pianists. Now, the 21-year-old composer and pianist – one of the hottest new names in jazz – makes his Santa Barbara debut following two acclaimed albums and a feature on CBS’ 60 Minutes. “I am a musician, who happens to be blind,” says Whitaker. “I have been blessed with a God-given gift and my prayer is that I can continue to be a blessing and inspiration to others.”
UCSB Arts & Lectures present Watkins Family Hour at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Campbell Hall.
Get ready for a lively evening of authentic Americana as brother and sister Sean and Sara Watkins bring a special 20th anniversary edition of their bluegrass musical variety show to town. Get tickets for Watkins Family Hour on Nov 29, 2022 at Campbell Hall in Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures.
UCSB Arts & Lectures to present Jake Shimabukuro at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 1 at The Granada Theatre, 1214 State St., Santa Barbara.
Drawing on signature favorites, a vibrant catalog of holiday classics, and selections from his recent album, Jake Shimabukuro’s merry live show Christmas in Hawai’i is sure to make spirits bright. Get tickets for Jake Shimabukuro on Dec 1, 2022 at The Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures.
CSB Arts & Lectures will present Mariachi Sol de México at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7 at the Arlington Theatre, 1317 State St., Santa Barbara.
“Mariachi is the heart, the soul and the passion of Mexico.” – José Hernández
One of the world’s foremost mariachi groups, Mariachi Sol de México incorporates elements of Las Posadas alongside traditional Christmas carols in this festive musical tribute to Mexico’s holiday traditions. Get tickets for Mariachi Sol de México on Dec 7, 2022 at Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara. Presented by UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures — artsandlectures.ucsb.edu
UCSB Arts & Lectures proudly presented She & Him: A Very She & Him Christmas Party on Thursday, December 2nd at 8:00 p.m. Pacific at Arlington Theatre. The performance is part of the 2021-2022 CREATING HOPE programming initiative.
Drawing inspiration from a shared love of vintage pop, “subtle and sophisticated” (Pitchfork) super-duo She & Him pairs indie-folk artist M. Ward and actress/singer-songwriter Zooey Deschanel. Usher in the holiday season with the twosome’s “old-school studio-pop sensibility” (NPR) and Deschanel’s “perfectly airy and retro vocals” (Paste) as they celebrate the tenth anniversary of their 2011 album A Very She & Him Christmas.
This holiday season, do something different and meaningful for the special people in your life. With Black Friday and Cyber Monday fast approaching, now is a great time to wrap up your holiday shopping with inspirational cultural experiences that create great memories. Peruse UCSB Arts & Lectures’ diverse array of events and you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list.
For maximum savings (up to 20%), purchase a curated package of complementary events such as the ever-popular Dance Series, which begins on January 21, 2022 with Ballet Hispánico. For maximum flexibility, opt for a Create Your Own series; make your own package of four or more events for a savings of 10% on each ticket (some exclusions apply).
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L), the Central and South Coasts’ premier cultural arts presenting organization, proudly showcased Arturo O’Farrill and the Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra Fandango at the Wall with the Villalobos Brothers on Friday, October 15 / 8:00 p.m. Pacific at Campbell Hall. The performance was part of the Soul of America series featured in the 2021-2022 CREATING HOPE programming initiative.
