Edhat Staff
By the edhat staff
UCSB Arts & Lectures (A&L), the Central Coast’s premier arts presenting organization, announces its 2023-2024 season of live events during a preview party at the Santa Barbara Club on Monday evening.
From fascinating talks by today’s thought leaders to command performances by some of the world’s premier dance companies, actors and musicians, A&L has cooked up a wide array of cultural and artistic experiences at venues from UCSB to downtown Santa Barbara and beyond.
The 2023-2024 season includes the U.S. premiere of a work co-commissioned by Arts & Lectures for the Danish String Quartet, along with West Coast and California premieres and multiple Santa Barbara debut performances. Additional events, including the Justice for All programming initiative, Thematic Learning Initiative and more, will be announced throughout the season.
Audra McDonald (courtesy)
“Community is at the heart of everything we do at Arts & Lectures,” says Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta M. Billeci. “The experience of coming together in person is more important now than ever. The extraordinary breadth and depth of our programming in 2023-2024 offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience vital connection. Gathering to witness great performers and engage in meaningful dialogue with cultural leaders sparks a joy for which there is no substitute. ”
The season kicks off on Sunday, October 1 with Jacob Collier, the “colorful Mozart of Gen Z” (The New York Times). With his multi-instrumental musical prowess, perfect pitch and penchant for conducting improvised audience singalongs, Collier will get this vibrant season off to an unforgettable start. Top tier tickets include a special pre-show opening night bash.
Other notable events include an evening with Audra McDonald, writer and Harvard historian Jill Lepore who focuses on the Supreme Court and Constitution, author David Sedaris, Broadway mega-star Kristin Chenoweth, blues legend Taj Mahal, fiction writer Lauren Groff, and co-founder of the think tank the Urban Ocean Lab Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson.
Broadway Star Kristin Chenoweth (courtesy)
A&L offers discounts of up to 25% off in twelve series packages including Dance, Great Performances A, Great Performances B, Great Performances Suite, Word of Mouth, Global Sounds, Jazz, Americana, Hear & Now, Speaking with Pico, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Vanguard. Another option is the popular Create Your Own series: Purchase tickets to four or more events and save 10 percent off single ticket prices.
Series subscriptions are on sale now while single tickets go on sale Friday, August 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased by phone at (805) 893-3535, online or in person at the Arts & Lectures Ticket Office in Building 402 (parking lot 12 off Mesa Road) on the UCSB campus.
The full brochure can be seen here.
