Charo, Jake Shimabukuro, Ailey II, and More to Perform at Pepperdine University

MALIBU, CA – July 8, 2025 – The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts has announced its 2025–2026 season, running from August 2025 through April 2026, featuring 26 professional presentations, 7 student concerts, and 6 student productions, including the Theatre Department series, opera, and the annual dance performance.

"It is my pleasure to share this season's performances and exhibitions," said Rebecca Carson, managing director for the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts. "The Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts is proud to be a place where people from Malibu and Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties can gather in community and be connected and be inspired by the arts. We are pleased to share this innovative, unique, entertaining, and diverse program of exceptional performances and museum exhibitions." 

Notable shows will include the legendary dance companies Ailey II and Les Ballets Africains, ukelele virtuoso Jake Shimabukuro, a heartfelt tribute to the music and spirit of Laurel Canyon in Sounds of Laurel Canyon: A Back to the Garden Story Concert, and well-known songs by Colin Hay, the front man of Men At Work. Beloved radio personality Garrison Keillor brings An Evening with Garrison Keillor—a night of wry humor, tender music, and reflections on aging, featuring poetry, storytelling, and spirited sing-alongs with longtime musical director Richard Dworsky. Audiences can also enjoy Charo, the world-renowned flamenco guitarist whose performances blend classical brilliance, Latin rhythms, and her signature sense of humor. Festive performances include Holiday Swingin’! A Kat Edmonson Christmas, along with cultural exchanges such as Noche Flamenca, known for their emotionally charged performances that blend flamenco dance, music, and storytelling in a powerful tribute to Spanish heritage.

Featuring the talents of young classical musicians, the Recital Series includes performances by violinist Adé Williams, saxophonist Valentin Kovalev, pianist Janice Carissa, and cellist Leland Ko.

Presented by the Pepperdine Theatre Department, a highlight of the fall season, “The Good War” opens on Veterans Day and brings to life firsthand accounts of World War II—stories from basic training to the battlefield, from factory workers to nurses, and from those interned in camps to those on the front lines—all drawn from Studs Terkel’s in-depth interviews. Additional theatrical productions this year include Bright Star, no one is coming to save us, and The Light in the Piazza. Audiences can also enjoy the annual Dance in Flight, presented by Student Activities, along with performances 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.

The Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art will present Hold My Hand in Yours, a season-long exhibition exploring the hand as a powerful symbol of labor, intimacy, and communication. Featuring work across painting, sculpture, performance, and video, the exhibition includes artists such as Christine Mitchell Adams, Kelly Akashi, Carmen Argote, Karl Haendel, Christine Sun Kim and Thomas Mader, Elana Mann, Roksana Pirouzmand, Yvonne Rainer, Samantha Roth, and Stephanie Syjuco.

Season subscription packages are available now and individual tickets will be on sale starting July 8, 2025. Tickets are available 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 Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts 2025–2026 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 and individual tickets are on sale now. 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 Jake Shimabukuro
Download a photo of Les Ballets Africains
Download a photo of Charo
Download a photo of Sounds of Laurel Canyon: A Back to the Garden Story Concert
Download a photo of Colin Hay
Download a photo of Garrison Keillor
Download a photo of Kat Edmonson
Download a photo of Ailey II

Pepperdine University Center for the Arts 2025-2026 Season

Tommy Emmanuel, CGP
WHEN: Thursday, August 21, 2025 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Tommy Emmanuel event page

Sounds of Laurel Canyon: A Back to the Garden Story Concert
WHEN: Thursday, September 18, 2025 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Sounds of Laurel Canyon event page

Janice Carissa, Piano
WHEN: Sunday, September 21, 2025 at 2 PM
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Janice Carissa event page

Ryanhood
WHEN: Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Ryanhood event page

Noche Flamenca
WHEN: Thursday, October 2, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Noche Flamenca event page

Greek Rebetiko Trio
WHEN: Saturday, October 4, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Greek Rebetiko Trio event page

Cirque Mechanics: Tilt!
WHEN: Tuesday, October 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Cirque Mechanics event page

Colin Hay
WHEN: Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Colin Hay event page

On Broadway
WHEN: Tuesday, October 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or On Broadway event page

Noam Pikelny and Friends
WHEN: Friday, October 17, 2025 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506‑4522 or Noam Pikelny event page

123 Andrés
WHEN: Sunday, October 26, 2025 at 3 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or 123 Andrés event page

Reduced Shakespeare Company in All the Great Books (Abridged)
WHEN: Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or All the Great Books (Abridged) event page

Pablo Sáinz-Villegas: Spanish Night
WHEN: Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Pablo Sáinz-Villegas event page

Valentin Kovalev, Saxophone
WHEN: Sunday, November 9, 2025 at 2 PM
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Valentin Kovalev event page

Jake Shimabukuro
WHEN: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Jake Shimabukuro event page

Holiday Swingin’! A Kat Edmonson Christmas
WHEN: Sunday, December 14, 2025 at 5 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Kat Edmonson event page

John Jorgenson Quintet with Frank Vignola
WHEN: Saturday, January 10, 2026 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or John Jorgenson Quintet event page

An Evening with Garrison Keillor
WHEN: Friday, January 16, 2026 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Garrison Keillor event page

Leland Ko, Cello
WHEN: Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 2 PM
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Leland Ko event page

Ailey II
WHEN: Sunday, February 1, 2026 at 7 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Ailey II event page

Charo
WHEN: Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Charo event page

Les Ballets Africains
WHEN: Sunday, February 8, 2026 at 5 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Les Ballets Africains event page

Hare and Tortoise
WHEN: Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11 AM and 1 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Hare and Tortoise event page

Kings Return
WHEN: Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 5 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Kings Return event page

Women of Americana: A Celebration of American Music
WHEN: Friday, March 13, 2026 at 8 PM
WHERE: Smothers Theatre, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Women of Americana event page

Adé Williams, Violin
WHEN: Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 2 PM
WHERE: Raitt Recital Hall, Pepperdine University, 24255 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA
TICKETS: (310) 506-4522 or Adé Williams event page

Media Contact

Spencer Rodrigues
Marketing Project Manager
spencer.rodrigues@pepperdine.edu
310.506.4055