Colin Hay, Cirque Kalabanté, ABT Studio, and more to Perform at Pepperdine University

MALIBU, CA – June 17, 2024 – The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University announces its iconic 2024–2025 season featuring 28 professional presentations, 8 student music performances, and 6 student productions including the theatre department series, opera, and annual dance performance. Be dazzled by Yamoussa Bangoura’s artistic display of African culture in Cirque Kalabanté; the awe-inspiring feats of The Peking Acrobats; the stunning spectacles of award-winning dance troupe PILOBOLUS; and the skillful masterworks of the legendary dance company ABT Studio. 

“We are proud to announce our 2024–2025 season,” said Rebecca Carson, managing director for the Center for the Arts. “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.” 

Experience a cover-to-cover performance of Fleetwood Mac's timeless album Rumours presented by Classic Albums Live and jam out to the well-known songs of celebrated frontman of Men At Work Colin Hay. Hear behind-the-scenes stories with Bob Eubanks’ Backstage with the Beatles, featuring “Ticket to Ride.” Festive performances such as Home for the Holidays featuring Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Ruben Studdard, and Haley Reinhart; Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas; and a special holiday performance by ukulelist Jake Shimabukuro will be sure to get you into the holiday spirit. Enjoy the unique musical talents of harmonious a cappella group Naturally 7; beloved international folk act The Wailin’ Jennys; and Canadian Celtic rock group Derina Harvey Band.

Immerse yourself in the mastery of music with John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola and innovative guitarist Luca Stricagnoli playing multiple modified guitars. High-energy violinists Sons of Mystro bring traditional violin techniques to new genres including reggae and American pop. Be transported to New Orleans with the jazz legends Preservation Hall Jazz Band. 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, while showcasing tap-dancing star Jabu Graybeal. From Wall Street to Wicked, Broadway star Jessica Vosk who played Elphaba will charm you through an intimate cabaret evening. Letters Aloud: From the Front—Letters of Service and Sacrifice delights audiences with thought-provoking stories told through personal correspondence of real people. 

Feel the beat of the drum as TAIKOPROJECT unites ancient Japanese tradition with 21st-century American innovation. The Pa'akai We Bring introduces audiences to the ancient stories of the Native Hawaiians with hula, live music, and audience participation. Ending the season with a bang, The Flying Karamazov Brothers: 50 Years of Juggling and Cheap Theatrics features laugh-out-loud comedy, wild theatrics, and astonishing juggling feats.

Featuring the talents of young classical musicians, the recital series includes performances by bass-baritone Fernando Grimaldo, pianist Clayton Stephenson, violinist Njioma Grevious, violinist Johan Dalene, and the Balourdet Quartet.

Throughout the season, Seaver College Fine Arts Division and Theatre Department students will present productions of Lost Girl, 9 to 5 The Musical, Iphigenia Among the Taurians, Passage, The Magic Flute, and the annual Dance in Flight. The Pepperdine Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Pickford Ensemble, and Jazz and Wind Ensembles will present a selection of classical performances, and guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening will conduct two master classes in Raitt Recital Hall.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art will feature four exhibits including Cameron Harvey: The Shape of Being; Loop, Hum, Wave; James Clar: Powers of Ten; and Isabel Yellin: Mothership. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday, and one hour prior to most Smothers Theatre performances until showtime. There is no admission charge. 

Explore the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts 2024–2025 season brochure or the Center for the Arts website for a complete list of upcoming performances. The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts is 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 a shuttle service at no charge. All programs and artists are subject to change. Season subscription packages available now. Individual tickets on sale starting July 9. Subscribers receive a 10 percent discount on the best seats and exchanges without fees. Purchase tickets by calling our Box Office at 310.506.4522 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and two hours prior to curtain time or online at arts.pepperdine.edu/events. 

 

About the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts

Delighting more than 50,000 patrons and participants annually with live performances, art exhibitions, and local outreach opportunities, the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts serves as a hub for the arts on Pepperdine University’s Malibu campus, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students as well as patrons from surrounding Southern California communities. Three performance spaces, including the 450-seat Smothers Theatre, the 124-seat Raitt Recital Hall, and the “black box” Lindhurst Theatre, host hundreds of performances, rehearsals, and master classes throughout the year. The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, a dynamic, two-story exhibition space, showcases a revolving selection of modern and contemporary art with a focus on art made in California.

 

Photos

Download a photo of Colin Hay 
Download a photo of Cirque Kalabanté
Download a photo of ABT Studio
Download a photo of Peking Acrobats
Download a photo of Jessica Vosk
Download a photo of The Flying Karamazov Brothers
Download a photo of Classic Albums Live 
Download a photo of Pilobolus

 

Media Contact 

Jessica Burdzinski
Marketing and Publicity Manager
Jessica.burdzinski@pepperdine.edu
310.506.4055

 

Pepperdine University Center for the Arts 2024-2025 Season

Classic Albums Live Presents: Fleetwood Mac—Rumours
WHEN: Friday, September 13, 2024 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Classic Albums Live event page

Jessica Vosk
WHEN: Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Jessica Vosk event page 

Naturally 7
WHEN: Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Naturally 7 event page

Preservation Hall Jazz Band
WHEN: Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Preservation Hall Jazz Band event page

Fernando Grimaldo, Bass-Baritone
WHEN: Sunday, September 29, 2024, at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Fernando Grimaldo event page

TAIKOPROJECT
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or TAIKOPROJECT event page

Derina Harvey Band
WHEN: Thursday, October 10, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Derina Harvey Band event page 

Some Enchanted Evening
WHEN: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Some Enchanted Evening event page 

Sons of Mystro
WHEN: Friday, October 18, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Sons of Mystro event page

Bob Eubanks' Backstage with the Beatles, featuring Ticket to Ride
WHEN: Sunday, October 20, 2024 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Bob Eubanks' Backstage with the Beatles event page

Luca Stricagnoli
WHEN: Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Luca Stricagnoli event page

Clayton Stephenson, Piano
WHEN: Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Clayton Stephenson event page 

Home for the Holidays featuring Peabo Bryson, Oleta Adams, Ruben Studdard, and Haley Reinhart
WHEN: Friday, December 6, 2024 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Home for the Holidays event page

PILOBOLUS 
WHEN: Sunday, December 8, 2024 at 7 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or PILOBOLUS event page

Jake Shimabukuro
WHEN: Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Jake Shimabukuro event page

Voctave: It Feels Like Christmas
WHEN: Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Voctave event page

John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola 
WHEN: Saturday, January 11, 2025 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola event page 

The Peking Acrobats
WHEN: Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or The Peking Acrobats event page 

Colin Hay
WHEN: Thursday, January 23, 2025 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Colin Hay event page 

Balourdet Quartet
WHEN: Sunday, January 26, 2025 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Balourdet Quartet event page

The Pa'akai We Bring
WHEN: Saturday, February 1, 2025 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or The Pa'akai We Bring event page

Cirque Kalabanté
WHEN: Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Cirque Kalabanté event page

Njioma Grevious, Violin
WHEN: Sunday, February 16, 2025 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Njioma Grevious event page

The Wailin' Jennys
WHEN: Saturday, March 8, 2025 at 8 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or The Wailin' Jennys event page

ABT Studio
WHEN: Thursday, March 13, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or ABT Studio event page

Letters Aloud: From the Front—Letters of Service and Sacrifice
WHEN: Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Letters Aloud event page 

Johan Dalene, Violin
WHEN: Sunday, March 30, 2025 at 2 p.m.
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Johan Dalene event page 

The Flying Karamazov Brothers: 50 Years of Juggling and Cheap Theatrics
WHEN: Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or The Flying Karamazov Brothers event page