With its new season of performances and programs UCSB Arts & Lectures promises to ‘spark joy’

Continuing their commitment to fostering community, offering cultural opportunities across a wide breadth of arts disciplines, UC Santa Barbara Arts & Lectures (A&L) has announced its slate of performances for the 2023–2024 season, including dance companies, Broadway stars, musical artists and public figures.

“Gathering to witness great performers and engage in meaningful dialogue with cultural leaders sparks a joy for which there is no substitute,” said Miller McCune Executive Director Celesta M. Billeci.

Performances by some of the world’s premier dance companies, actors and musicians will take place at venues from the UCSB campus to downtown Santa Barbara and beyond. Program highlights include the U.S. premiere of a work co-commissioned by A&L 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 and the Thematic Learning Initiative, will be announced throughout the season.  

Kicking off the season Sunday, Oct. 1 is Jacob Collier, who The New York Times has called the “colorful Mozart of Gen Z.” Collier is acclaimed for his multi-instrumental musical prowess, perfect pitch and penchant for conducting improvised audience singalongs. Also in October, the award-winning New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck will perform her program “Turn It Out with Tiler Peck & Friends.” 

Sprinkled throughout the season are shows for people of many interests. Fans of Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens will have two chances to see her perform: in November with the Silkroad Ensemble and in April 2024 with her band. Broadway stars Audra McDonald and Kristin Chenoweth will also perform on the A&L stage, and writer David Sedaris will return with his latest book and customary comic showmanship. 

The new season marks A&L’s 64th year of bringing unique, world-class performances, films and lectures to Central Coast and campus audiences. With a mission to “educate, entertain and inspire,” A&L is the largest performing arts and public lectures presenter between San Francisco and Los Angeles, known to audiences for its award-winning, diverse and innovative programming. A&L’s educational outreach programs provide rare opportunities for students to meet and learn from visiting artists and speakers. In the 2023–2024 season, most of the speakers and performers will participate in master classes, lecture-demonstrations, open rehearsals and classroom discussions at UCSB and in the community.

Series subscriptions are on sale now and single tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 4 at 10 a.m.