Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts Unveils 2026–27 Season Lineup

The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts at Pepperdine University has announced its 2026–27 season, running from September 2026 through April 2027. The center’s stellar catalog features 27 professional presentations, as well as an assortment of student concerts and productions, including the Theatre Department series and the annual opera and dance performance.

"We are delighted to announce our new season, with abundant options for joy and connection through the arts," says Rebecca Carson, managing director for the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts. "We look forward to connecting our devoted audiences with these outstanding performances."  

Among the musicians and bands coming to Pepperdine's Malibu campus are Mavis Staples, five-time Grammy Award winner, Kennedy Center honoree, and Blues, Rock, and Gospel Halls of Fame inductee; Roger McGuinn, founder and front man of the Byrds; and Classic Albums Live, a dynamic band that will perform a nostalgic favorite The Eagles—Their Greatest Hits in its entirety. 

Peking Acrobats

Internet sensation and guitar virtuoso Andy McKee is slated to perform this year, as well as American violinist Amaryn Olmeda. A host of exceptional guitarists will also take the stage, including blues slide guitar powerhouse Minnie Marks from Australia and the acoustic rock dynamo Luca Stricagnoli from Italy will appear as part of the International Guitar Night program. 

Dance and spectacle offerings include the athletic artistry of PILOBOLUS: Trips and dynamic female tap dance band Syncopated Ladies. Attendees will also be delighted to witness the breathtaking acrobatics of Australian company Circa, performing alongside pianist Vitaly Starikov in a masterful interpretation of J. S. Bach's The Art of Fugue.

Stars of stage and screen shows include Artifishal Idiots, a hilarious and imaginative new show by the Flying Karamazov Brothers; the spirited ensemble Broadway Boys; and a screening of the Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense hosted by co-star Jerry Harrison.

Families in the local community are invited to attend Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia's The Three Little Pigs and Other Tales, Childsplay's The Snowy Day and Other Stories, instrumental trio Simply Three, and the thrilling performance of the Peking Acrobats. 

Showcasing the talents of young classical musicians, the Recital Series includes performances by pianist Chaeyoung Park, violinist Amaryn Olmeda, accordionist Radu Ratoi, and the Katarina String Quartet. 

Pepperdine's student-run Dance in Flight

Student theatrical productions this year include Branden Jacobs-Jenkins's play Everybody, the fast-paced comedy Boeing Boeing, and Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard. The Flora L. Thornton Opera program will present The Merry Wives of Windsor—a Shakespearean tale in which two women devise a series of mischievous plans to curb the romantic advances of the boisterous lothario, Jolly Knight Sir John Falstaff. 

Audiences may also enjoy the annual Dance in Flight, the beloved student-run dance troupe that has embodied the essence of Seaver College’s passion for the arts for more than 30 years. Additional performances will include those by the Pepperdine Orchestra, Chamber Choir, Pickford Ensemble, and Jazz and Wind Ensembles. Guitar virtuoso Christopher Parkening will also lead two master classes in Raitt Recital Hall.

Season subscription packages and individual tickets are on sale now. Tickets may be purchased at the box office from noon to 5 PM, Tuesday through Friday, and two hours prior to curtain time or online at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts events page. 

Explore the digital season brochure or the Center for the Arts website for a complete list of upcoming performances.