Pepperdine staff, students, performers and patrons rejoiced at the return of in-person arts activities at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts. Located on Pepperdine’s breathtaking Malibu campus overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the center serves as a hub for the arts, uniquely linking professional guest artists with Pepperdine students and 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.
All visitors must purchase a ticket or make a reservation prior to arrival on the Malibu campus. Patrons should be prepared to show their ticket at the Public Safety gate to enter campus.
Here’s a rundown of this season’s lineup.
January-March 27, 2022
Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art
“The Cultivators”: Highlights from the Kinsey African American Art and History Collection
Organized by the Bernard & Shirley Kinsey Foundation for Arts & Education and KBK Enterprises, Incorporated, this exhibit is free to attend, and reservations are required.
An impressive survey of African American history and culture, this exhibition of the award-winning Kinsey African American Art and History Collection—the first major hometown presentation of the collection since 2007—includes masterful paintings and sculpture, photographs, rare books, letters, manuscripts and more.
Comprising works collected over several decades by Bernard (MBA '73) and Shirley (MA '76) Kinsey, and curated by their son Khalil, “The Cultivators” celebrates the achievements of African Americans from the 16th century through the years of slavery and Emancipation, to the Civil Rights Movement and up to the present day.
Tuesday, February 1, 8 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
Dala
Juno nominees and winners of the 2010 Canadian Folk Music Award for Vocal Group of the Year, Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala have released five albums and toured extensively across North America. Drawing upon influences like the Beatles, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young, Dala’s catchy songs and lush harmonies have made them darlings of the indie music scene.Tickets range from $15 to $35.
Thursday, February 3, 8 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
“On Broadway”
Featuring the best songs from the current New York City theatre season and sung by Broadway stars with a live band, “On Broadway” is an unforgettable night of music! The show includes hits from long-running favorites like “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Chicago,” and “The Book of Mormon,” as well as the newest sensations “Wicked,” “Dear Evan Hansen,” and even the sold-out smash, “Hamilton”! Tickets range from $22 to $50.
Thursday, March 3, 8 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
“Ailey II”
As a part of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, “Ailey II” continues the legacy of its founder Alvin Ailey by celebrating the American modern dance heritage and preserving the uniqueness of the African American cultural experience. Universally renowned for their “dynamic movement and dazzling technique” (Broadway Dance World), the members of Ailey II are “spectacular human beings” (New York Times). Tickets are $22.50 to $50.
Wednesday, March 9, 8 p.m.
Stacey Kent
Stacey Kent is a jazz singer in the mold of the greats, with a legion of fans worldwide, a host of honors and awards including a GRAMMY nomination, album sales in excess of 2 million, and gold, double-gold and platinum-selling albums that have reached a series of #1 chart positions during the span of her career. Tickets are $27.50 to $60.
Sunday, March 13 2 p.m.
Raitt Recital Hall
Tony Yun, pianist
Pianist Tony Yun is the First Prize winner and Gold Medalist at the First China International Music Competition and a recipient of the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship at the Juilliard School. With playing that combines poetry and elegance, Yun has given recitals throughout North America, Europe, and Asia, including the Juilliard School, New York’s Steinway Hall and at the Heidelberger Frühling Music Festival. Tickets are $28.
Thursday, March 24, 8 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
Bessie, Billie and Nina: Pioneering Women in Jazz
The musical and social legacies of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone remain as relevant as ever. Featuring three dynamic vocalists (Charenée Wade, Camille Thurman and Tahira Clayton) backed by an all-female band, Bessie, Billie and Nina celebrates the enduring legacy of these three iconic artists with performances of their classic songs, including Bessie Smith’s “Downhearted Blues,” Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit,” and more. Tickets are $20 to $45.
Sunday, April 3, 2 p.m.
Raitt Recital Hall
Benjamin Baker, violin
Violinist Benjamin Baker won first prize at the 2016 Young Concert Artists International Auditions and third prize at the Michael Hill Competition in New Zealand in 2017.
He demonstrates “virtuosity, refinement and youthful exuberance” (New York Times) in his music and has performed as a soloist with London’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Chamber Orchestra, the National Children's Orchestra in Manchester and more. Tickets are $28.
Tuesday, April 19, 8 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
Marc Cohn
After winning a GRAMMY for his soulful ballad, “Walking in Memphis,” Marc Cohn solidified his place as one of this generation’s most compelling singer-songwriters, combining the precision of a brilliant tunesmith with the passion of a great soul man. A natural storyteller, he is regarded as “one of the honest, emotional voices [of] this decade” (Time). Tickets are $22.50 to $50.
Saturday, April 23, 7:30 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
“Satan’s Fall” An Oratorio by Stewart Copeland
This West Coast premiere is performed by the Pepperdine Chamber Choir and the Pepperdine Pickford Ensemble under the direction of Ryan Board and N. Lincoln Hanks and is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Pepperdine Cross-School Collaborative Research Program.
Stewart Copeland, GRAMMY Award-winning founder of the rock band the Police, presents the West Coast premiere of his first oratorio, “Satan’s Fall.” Inspired by John Milton’s 17th-century epic poem “Paradise Lost,” Copeland turns the literary struggle between God and Satan into a large-scale work featuring a chorus, seven vocal soloists and a chamber orchestra. Tickets range from $20 to $40.
Monday, April 25, 8 p.m.
Smothers Theatre
Roger McGuinn
As the founder of the Byrds, Roger McGuinn is an indisputable music icon who delivers a mesmerizing evening of story and song. From his signature 12-string Rickenbacker sound to his instantly recognizable vocals on hits like “Turn, Turn, Turn,” “Eight Miles High” and “Mr. Tambourine Man,” McGuinn didn't just make music—he made history. Tickets are $25 to $55.
For event details and ticket information, visit Arts.Pepperdine.edu or call 310.506.4522.
