- A.J. Croce Presents POSTPONED – NEW 2026 DATE TBA – CROCE PLAYS CROCE:
- An Irish Christmas
- Benise
- Bruno and the Hooligans
- CAMA’s 2025-2026 Masterseries
- Caesar and Cleopatra
- Cavalleria Rusticana
- An Evening with Colin Hay
- Dawes (Duo) Tour
- Duo & Song Winners Recital Finale
- The Earthquake That Built a City
- Elmer Gantry
- Emanuel Ax, piano
- Fleetwood Mask
- Girl Named Tom
- Quips & Clips
- John Waters
- Journey Through Jazz
- Journey USA
- Beatles Experience Liverpool Legends
- Louis Lortie, piano
- MANIA: The ABBA Tribute
- The Magical Music of Motown
- Tango Meets Classical Malena
- The Marshall Tucker Band
- Peter & the Wolf (Pedro y el Lobo)
- Celebrating the music of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Petty Party
- The Pink Floyd Concert Experience: A Tribute to Pink Floyd
- Robert Glasper
- Ronstadt Revival featuring Shannon Rae
- Roy Orbison Returns
- Santa Barbara Youth Symphony
- Sphinx Virtuosi Randall Goosby, violin
- Summer Celebration of Nature
- 2025 Santa Barbara Surf Film Festival
- Tab Benoit – I Hear Thunder Tour
- Take it to the Limit
- Teaching Artists Showcase: Brahms & Schubert
- Teaching Artists Showcase: Mozart & Ravel
- James Garner’s Tribute to Johnny Cash
- Venice Baroque Orchestra
- Wild Night Out
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The Lobero Theatre is thrilled to welcome artist Pedro De La Cruz to our family of distinguished local painters who have contributed their unique artwork to the cover of BACKSTAGE. A self-taught artist born in Tijuana, Mexico, Pedro’s childhood was marked by poverty and adverse circumstances. Growing up, he was expected to help support the family financially, so there was little time left over to just be a kid. Unable to connect with the adult world around him, he turned to art as a form of self-expression and remembers always carrying around a sketchbook with him. Art became his constant.
Pedro’s family moved to Santa Barbara in the 80s and he began focusing on visual arts at Santa Barbara High School, then took some architectural classes at SBCC to further his skillset. There is a childlike innocence in his work which gives off a playful energy. The fact that he still keeps crayons in his tray makes sense. Pedro’s process is tactile. He works fast and likes to paint using acrylics on canvas while ideas are still fresh in his mind. (Oils take too long to dry and concepts may drift away while waiting.) Pedro also enjoys using inks on paper.
De La Cruz’s biggest priorities in life are art, family, and community. He says that doing what he loves is a huge blessing. Being able to contribute to different organizations in society gives him a sense of purpose and is very rewarding. The artist first became familiar with the Lobero when his daughter performed on stage with the AHA! Program, then he and his wife began attending other events over the years. When a Lobero staff member approached him to create a painting for the 2025 Winter edition of our BACKSTAGE and this year’s holiday card, he learned that fellow local artists Brad Nack and Matt Rodriguez had also painted covers for the Lobero. Once he heard that he was sold!
Pedro was given free reign regarding the subject matter and decided to create his own interpretation of the theater. After having seen Ozomatli perform outdoors for our building’s Centennial this past summer, he thought what better way to showcase the Lobero than on the day we hosted our free Community Block Party? Pedro is preoccupied with the world around him and his mission is more about bringing joy to others versus what the piece looks like. When he works, it’s like improv – with no preconceived idea of the outcome – not knowing the next stroke, but rather choosing in the moment which direction the painting will go. For this piece, he started with a realistic interpretation of the building, then distorted it, and let his imagination fill in the rest, adding performers so the viewers can “feel” the music, then nearby dwellings representing the importance of community.
Pedro works in the moment, as inspiration strikes, and often finds himself switching between different pieces if his instinct calls for him to focus on another. When asked how his art has evolved over time, he mentioned that in the beginning, he mainly studied other artists and their techniques. But that eventually, he was able to find his own voice – one of sharing love and emotion. For Pedro, it’s all about bringing people together using vibrant colors, light, and good vibes. Even when using simply black and white, there is still an element of lightheartedness… happiness.
De La Cruz is passionate about reaching out to help other artists, being present, and living in the moment. There is enough room for everyone and supporting each other as artists is deeply important to him. He also became interested in the power of social media, as it provided an opportunity to help highlight others – fellow artists and those with small businesses. By harnessing the tools available, one can really build a strong sense of community and influence how the world is interacting. It’s about sharing from your heart, not expecting anything back. The only real goal is to build community.
Pedro lives with his family in Santa Barbara and maintains a busy studio in the Funk Zone. To learn more about his work, visit his website at www.pedrodelacruz-artist.com. You can also check out his Instagram: @pedrodelacruzartstudio and read more in Santa Barbara Independent’s recent article about him at https://www.independent.com/2024/11/06/santa-barbara-seen-the-art-of-pedro-de-la-cruz/
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Standing amidst the organized chaos of his workshop — part studio, part laboratory — Joshua James brings over a decade of experience as a multidisciplinary artist to his creative endeavors. For the past five years, he has worked in box office management at the historic Lobero Theatre, where his love of the performing arts inspires much of his work.
“When I’m at the Lobero, I get to see firsthand how performance and storytelling bring people together,” Joshua shares. “I am deeply honored to have a part in the 150-year-old tradition of this amazing place, and it’s a constant source of inspiration for my own creative projects.”
Joshua’s career includes prop design for independent films, multiple productions with Broadway Sacramento, live concert set design for Kenny Loggins, and contract work in visual effects and virtual reality design. His artistic versatility was also on display in a featured local art show highlighting some of his digital work.
Drawing from his appreciation for science fiction, horror, and fantasy, Joshua’s work often explores themes of wonder, otherworldly storytelling, and the boundaries of imagination.
A notable recurring influence in his projects is theme parks — both as sources of inspiration and as a framework for creating immersive, experiential art. “Theme parks are the ultimate in storytelling,” he says. “They create entire worlds where people can lose themselves, and I think that’s something all art aspires to do in its own way.”
“A lot of artists establish themselves with a distinctive style and medium,” Joshua reflects. “I don’t really tend to think that way. My goal is to inspire a sense of whimsy and magic in people for the world around them, and if I can, maybe introduce a bit more that wasn’t there before.”
Joshua describes himself as a “jack-of-all-trades and master of some,” with a passion for collecting new skills. From painting to playing multiple instruments to an expansive foray into 3D printing, his workshop is a hub of creativity and experimentation. “Each skill I pick up adds something new to my toolkit,” he says. “It’s about creating something meaningful or simply brightening someone’s day.”
In addition to his professional work, Joshua enjoys designing small novelties and inventions. His work reflects his curiosity and dedication to creating art that tells stories and connects with people. To check out more of his gizmos, doodads, and creations, visit corneliuscogscabinet.etsy.com or follow Joshua on Instagram @molecule_studios.
In honor of the Lobero Building’s Centennial, the artist created a unique custom ornament. To purchase this special keepsake or to inquire about other custom orders, please contact Joshua directly at 805.679.6019.
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The Lobero Theatre’s Youth and Community Outreach Programs are an integral part of the Lobero’s mission to operate and maintain the historic Lobero Theatre as a performing arts center and cultural asset to the community, and to present the highest quality productions possible in music, dance, and theater. These vital programs include residency performances with Santa Barbara Vocal Jazz Foundation, school field trips to the Lobero to see live shows by Nebula Dance Lab and BOXTALES Theatre Company, performances of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony on the Lobero stage, bringing The Derek Douget Band to local high school/junior high school jazz bands for hands-on masterclasses, providing subsidies for a variety of youth organizations performing at the Lobero (such as AHA! Santa Barbara, State Street Ballet Academy, Santa Barbara Center for Aerial Arts, and the Spirit of Fiesta Auditions), and underwriting youth tickets to attend performances at the Lobero – including It’s Magic! – for children affiliated with our social services partners, like Boys & Girls Club, Transition House, CASA, and more.
The professional non-profit Santa Barbara-based touring company, now celebrating their 30th Anniversary, originally began as a literary outreach program for the Lobero Theatre Foundation in 1994.
The Lobero is proud to be a sponsoring partner of BOXTALES Theatre Company and is excited to welcome them back to perform live on our historic stage March 11-13, 2024. Their current show, Stand-Up Stories: Multicultural Tales to Live By features Michael Andrews (Executive Artistic Director and Co-Founder), Matthew Tavianini (Managing Director), and Alina Cinal. The show includes the following collection of multicultural folktales and myths: Phaethon (Greek Mythology), The Stonecutter (Chinese Folktale), The Lions Whiskers (Amhara Tribe of Ethiopia, Eastern Africa), and Too Much Noise (Jewish folktale from Central and Eastern Europe).
Michael Andrews, the grandson of writer/philosopher Alan Watts, was born into a family of poets, musicians, and social engineers – so his career is a natural progression from his background and interests. In addition to his work with BOXTALES, Andrews is also the leader of Santa Barbara’s premiere dance band Area 51, and has an executive performance coaching/consulting business with his wife Jessica Bortman, with whom he also has two sons. Michael believes storytelling is a superpower – a metaphor that we are the protagonists of our lives and possess the ability to create our own destinies through the choices we make.
After developing a proclivity for collecting eclectic instruments from around the world associated with multicultural rituals, Michael began collaborating with fellow Santa Barbara performers Michael Katz and Joseph Velasco – cross-pollinating their strengths in movement, storytelling, music, and acting to create BOXTALES Theatre Company. Many of the company’s performers over the years have trained with James Donlon at UCSB and Sigfrido Aguilar at the Estudio Busqueda de Pantomimo Teatro in Guanajuato, Mexico – whose influences on the style of the company is quite significant.
Beyond conventional theater disciplines, BOXTALES makes use of diverse methods borrowed from other performance and cultural rituals. Since the mid 90s, troupe members have been studying multicultural performance traditions to inform their work, in many cases traveling to other countries – such as Greece, Germany, Spain, England, Hungary, Mexico, India, the American South and Pacific North West – to study with master teachers. Some of these disciplines include acro-yoga, mime, aerials & circus skills, Brazilian Capoeira, Italian commedia dell’arte, and the South Indian dance and martial arts of Kalaripayattu, Kathakali, and Mohiniattam.
Using mythology and ritual, theater can carry cultural wisdom, teach values, and create a sense of social unity and integrity for a community. BOXTALES brings myths and folktales from around the world to young audiences utilizing masks, movement, music, and storytelling.
Their shows and assemblies fire imaginations, inspire creativity, strengthen cultural pride, encourage tolerance, and engage young people in the excitement and immediacy of live performance. The troupe produces four shows per season and perform approximately a hundred shows per year.
A pre-show school assembly introduces students to the nature of mythology and folktales, while providing tools for interpreting meaning in stories and how to adapt lessons in life. Then, the students enjoy a field trip to the Lobero Theatre for a fully staged production of “Stand Up Stories – Multicultural Tales to Live By,” followed by an audience-artist Q&A. And later, a follow-up assembly contextualizes the social-emotional content of the show they experienced at the theater.
BOXTALES offers touring shows, school assemblies, and 3-week summer camps. Their touring shows – engaging for both youth and adult audiences – teach compassion, self-discipline, and resourcefulness. The theater company’s school shows, crafted with the California Department of Education content standards in mind, use the same material, only edited to fit the assembly format.
And BOXTALES’ summer camps aim to help students develop their voices, bodies, and imaginations by teaching performance skills which help them to grow both as both artists and as citizens. This supportive environment enables kids to learn discipline, take risks, master new skills, overcome their fears, and develop self-esteem. Collaborating with the participants to create a completely original play based on myth or folktale, BOXTALES offers the unique opportunity for the children to perform in a professional theater, such as the Lobero or Marjorie Luke.
For more information about BOXTALES, visit www.boxtales.org or contact Michael Andrews via email at michaelandrewsa51@gmail.com
Photo Credits: David Bazemore
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Tom_Thumb
- https://www.britannica.com/art/freak-show#ref1206212
- https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-ouch-30034409
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Joshua James – Multidisciplinary Artist
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Matt’s custom painting for the cover of the Lobero’s BACKSTAGE, titled “LoBerOh,” embodies an abstract cubism style.
Renowned local artist Matt Rodriguez brings a captivating blend of refined eccentricity and counterculture street art to the forefront.
While studying media arts and web design at SBCC, he also acquired diverse skills working as a lab tech for both the ceramics and geology departments. His first mural, which he collaborated on with John Iwerks, can be found on the retaining wall behind the EBS building at City College.
Rodriguez’s current artistic endeavors showcase a versatile approach, encompassing pen and ink drawings, acrylics, oils, and mixed media on canvas. Rooted in street art within the Funk Zone, his works often take on a life of their own, embodying a metamorphic storytelling process inspired by the available mediums.
Influenced by renowned artists such as M.C. Escher and Keith Haring, Rodriguez often employs either a black and white palette, lots of color, or monochromatic elements in his paintings. The simple icon of a little house is portrayed in many of his works, representing home – simplified into its minute form, but with a human-like playfulness.
While observing some of Matt’s artwork, one may sense a type of Rorschach test “call to action,” encouraging viewers to create their own story of what they see. His images often suggest a reminder to appreciate each moment, celebrate life, embrace your community, “Do Stuff,” and “Be You.”
Rodriguez actively collaborates with local organizations and has been Co-Founder/Graphic Designer of Santa Barbara’s Lucidity Festival for the last 11 years. He aspires to extend his artistic impact globally through large-scale murals and installations, while fostering collaboration and supporting fellow artists.
In addition to his artistic accomplishments, Matt was an Outdoor Adventure Guide for 11+ years, worked as an interior and tile design consultant, and he is currently a project manager in the Airstream renovation industry.
Additionally, Rodriguez is a single father to his six-year-old daughter, Rocket Sue, after the loss of his life partner, Chelsea Bets Christenson, to cancer in September 2022.
Matt is grateful for all the support he has received from the Santa Barbara community and beyond. To see more of his work, visit rodriguezartt.com. Matt can be found on social media platforms @Rodriguezartt #RodriguezArtt, is available for commissions of varying scales, and is expanding his brand onto apparel and textiles.
His GoFundMe page for his daughter, Rocket, can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/helprocketsueanddad.
Sources
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With the mastery to create such absorbing pieces that are universally relatable, yet unique, bold, and fresh, often evoking unexpected emotions in their observers, it’s no wonder Nack’s paintings are now piquing the interest of serious collectors.
Brad Nack has always considered the Lobero to be a pillar of the performing arts community and felt it was a huge honor to be invited to take on the rewarding endeavor of painting three original artworks for the Lobero’s 2022-23 Backstage covers. The 30×40 canvas paintings are also included in the Lobero Ovation Celebration Fundraising Raffle, along with SAMsARA wine club subscriptions, restaurant gift certificates to La Paloma, Loquita, Pickle Room, Lobero show tickets, and Lobero swag.
Exposed to an onslaught of art from infancy, Nack travelled extensively throughout Europe with his parents while growing up – talented artist Jonella, and abstract painter/art professor Ken, who exhibited in numerous prominent museums across the globe. What resonates most with Brad is mid-century art, which is a core part of his identity.
The artist’s goal is to create art that is free of pretense – based on a foundation of craft, experimentation, and curiosity. As unique as it is for a musician to identify perfect pitch, Nack has an exceptional aptitude for creating palettes utilizing nuances of color, crediting late artist Robert Frame as an influential mentor.
Brad’s father, who studied with Fernand Léger in Paris, had always encouraged his son to give each piece the time it deserves, and emphasized that the real challenge is knowing when to stop. When Brad creates his paintings, he has a concept of how the piece will look when it’s finished, but allows himself to take a journey with the artwork rather than predetermining the route he will take to get there.
At first glance, Nack’s paintings may be perceived as whimsical or carefree creations – but upon closer reflection, the insightful viewer experiences a deeper realization, as one cannot deny the juxtaposition of image and perspective.
His captivating choice of colors, mingling brilliant shades and hues with a provocative usage of specific understated tones, adds an intriguing storyline to the painting’s subject – beckoning the viewer to stop and observe the subtext behind the image.
Brad has worked in different artistic mediums over the years – such as songwriting, producing, filmmaking, and marketing – with the same creative spirit, but his focus remains on painting. His body of work contains large-scale public art murals, commissioned pieces, and numerous gallery exhibitions. He especially enjoys working on sizable wall paintings, installations, and digital art.
For most artists, getting a solo show can be quite challenging. But once Brad started curating, the art world opened up to him. Having served as Executive Director of the Santa Barbara Arts Fund and curator for MichaelKate Gallery, his advice to up-and-coming artists is to adopt a collaborative sensibility. When you are not single-minded about your own personal goal, being part of a supportive arts community provides far more opportunities to network and showcase your work.
Aside from painting, the local artist enjoys traveling, music, surfing, and creating inventions. To see more of Brad’s artwork, check out his website: www.bradnack.com or visit him on Facebook @bradnack, Instagram @bradnack, or X @Brad_Nack.
Sources
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Lobero Named One Of The Most Beautiful Theaters In The World
July 21, 2023
Architectural Digest and Condé Nast Traveller spotlight the Lobero Theatre as one of “The 11 Most Beautiful Theaters in the World.”
Architectural Digest and Condé Nast Traveller recently included the Lobero Theatre among “The 11 Most Beautiful Theaters in the World.” The other ten remarkable venues cited include Walt Disney Concert Hall (Los Angeles, California), Palau de la Música Catalana (Barcelona, Spain), Palacio de Bellas Artes (Mexico City, Mexico), Opéra Garnier (Paris, France), Harbin Grand Theater (Harbin, China), Raj Mandir (Jaipur, India), Sydney Opera House (Sydney, Australia), Teatro di San Carlo (Naples, Italy), The Vienna State Opera (Vienna, Austria), and Steinmetz Hall (Orlando, Florida). Now celebrating their 150th anniversary, the Lobero is grateful to be in such good company.
Photo Credit: Patrick Price
“Spanning styles and purpose, these stunning buildings prove it’s not just the performances hosted within that can be considered art,” wrote Katherine McLaughlin. “The theaters on this list are opera houses, concert halls, and even movie theaters. Nonetheless, they shine through for their unique designs, creative innovations, and stunning appearances.”
1924 – 2023
Originally founded as José Lobero’s Opera House in 1873, the Lobero is the oldest continuously operating theater in California, and the fourth oldest performing arts theater in the country. Renowned for high quality programs presented in a welcoming intimate atmosphere, the Lobero has been the heart and rhythm of Santa Barbara since its inception.
The opera house was rebuilt in 1924, in a Spanish Colonial Revival style designed by architects George Washington Smith and Lutah Maria Riggs.
The architecture was so sound it even withstood the 1925 monumental earthquake, which destroyed the historic center of the city.
Registered as a state and city historical landmark, the Lobero is recognized as one of Santa Barbara’s architectural jewels. Today, the theater is managed by the Lobero Theatre Foundation, who works to maintain, improve, and operate this notable treasure as a performing arts theater and cultural asset to the community. The Lobero is also Santa Barbara County’s first certified Green Theater and the first historic building to earn this designation.
Photo Credit: Patrick Price
Whether hosting events of great societal importance, launching the careers of Hollywood legends, serving as an influential jazz venue, or providing a stage for some of the world’s finest performers, the Lobero inspires diverse audiences of all ages. With its relatively small seat count, it affords audiences the chance to see top talent in a more personal, intimate venue.
Photo Credit: Sherry Rayn Barnett
To commemorate their 150th historic milestone, the theater mounted a public celebration and awareness campaign to pay tribute to this remarkable landmark, and position the Lobero Theatre to be a prominent, integral, and essential stage for the performing arts in Santa Barbara well into the future.
Sources
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A tour de force!
The Lobero Associates raise vital funds to support the Lobero Theatre’s Youth and Community Outreach Programs.
David Asbell, Heidi Merrick, Barbara de L’Arbre, Paige Beard, Charles de L’Arbre Joan Crossland, Susan Tarlow, Anne Wilde, Mindy Denson, Maribel Jarchow, Annie Williams, Cynthia Glist
2023 marks The Lobero Associates’ Golden Jubilee! Established in 1972, this dynamic women’s auxiliary group has raised more than a million dollars for the Lobero over the last five decades. Their mission is to aid the Lobero financially in whatever way they can to help keep this architectural and cultural jewel vibrant for future generations.
It’s thanks to their stellar partnership that patrons can enjoy improvements to the Lobero’s courtyard, a new ticketing system, the Steinway grand piano, an updated ladies’ restroom, beautiful holiday décor on the esplanade, replacement of our historic theater’s beloved curtain, and so much more.
In addition to celebrating their 50th Anniversary and the Lobero’s historic 150th milestone, The Lobero Associates set out to raise vital funds to support the Lobero Theatre’s Youth and Community Outreach Programs. These programs are an integral part of the Lobero’s mission to operate and maintain the historic Lobero Theatre as a performing arts center and cultural asset to the community, and to present the highest quality productions possible in music, dance, and theater.
This year’s annual benefit, entitled “Dinner & Divots,” was held at the Santa Barbara Polo Field & Racquet Club on April 28, 2023. Co-chaired by Paige Beard and Heidi Merrick, the evening featured exhibition polo matches showcasing some of the intercollegiate players, with commentary by Polo Manager Melanja Jones.
The fundraiser included a Raffle, Live Auction, and Paddle Raise with exciting prizes, such as a necklace from Coast to Coast Jewelry, a Santa Barbara Staycation, a Polo Package, a Coastal Sunset Cruise on the Reel Inn with a Magnum of Brander Wine, and Santa Barbara Travel’s luxurious trip to Paris & Provence.
Catered by the club’s Fieldside restaurant, with musical entertainment by local indie rock band Kettle of Hawks, the memorable event welcomed 190 guests and surpassed initial expectations, raising more than $72,000. The co-chairs were honored to be a part of such a dedicated and passionate team of individuals who worked tirelessly to make this event a success – from the talented performers and production crew to the hardworking staff and volunteers.
Funds raised will support three residency performances with Santa Barbara Vocal Jazz Foundation, live performance field trip performances of Nebula Dance Lab or Boxtales Theatre Company, three performances of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony on the Lobero stage, a week-long jazz music residency with the Derek Douget Band at local high schools, junior highs and colleges, subsidies for a variety of youth organizations performing at the Lobero (such as AHA! – Santa Barbara’s after-school Sing It Out! program, State Street Ballet Academy, Santa Barbara Center for Aerial Arts, the Spirit of Fiesta auditions, Santa Barbara High School’s Visual Arts & Design Academy), and ticket scholarships for students to attend performances at the Lobero, including our Jazz at the Lobero series for local jazz music students, and a variety of performances, like It’s Magic, for children affiliated with our social services partners, like Boys & Girls Club, Transition House, CASA, and more.
Sources
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The Lobero Theatre Foundation Welcomes New Board President, Charles de L’Arbre
Charles is CEO of Santa Barbara Travel Bureau, a family company started in 1947, and has had a long association with both theater and the Lobero.
The Lobero Theatre Foundation is pleased to announce Charles de L’Arbre as their new Board President. Charles formerly enjoyed a long career as a stage actor and voiceover artist, performing in several shows on the Lobero stage and reading a number of times for “Speaking of Stories.” Before taking on his new role as the Lobero’s Board President, he served 20 years on the Lobero Board, spanning two tenures starting in 1976 to present. In addition, Charles has served as an officer on the Boards of The Santa Barbara Playhouse, Ensemble Theatre Company, The Music Academy, and UCSB Drama Affiliates, and was also a volunteer fire fighter for 12 years. His wife, Barbara, is also passionate about the Lobero, having served as a past Board member who is currently an active member of The Lobero Associates – a dynamic women’s auxiliary group who have raised more than a million dollars for the Lobero over the last five decades.
What motivated you to join the Board?
The first time I joined the Board, I was young, opinionated, and loved theatre. I was easily the youngest Board member at the time (and perhaps ever), and my first major assignment was to be on the Search Committee for our first paid Executive Director. After a 12-year tenure on the Board, I left to join the Music Academy Board and served another 12 years there. While all this was going on, a group of us started the Ensemble Theatre Project (later Ensemble Theatre Company), where I served as their first General Manager.
My colleagues have been working diligently to bring the Lobero back into the consciousness of the community and I hope to be able to make my contribution as well.
What is it about the Lobero that inspires you?
The Lobero has played such a significant and historic role in the cultural life of Santa Barbara over a 150-year period that one cannot fail but be awed by the fact that it remains a vibrant force. And when I say “it,” I don’t simply mean the building itself, but rather the team that keeps the building alive, technically up-to-date, and filled with artists. This includes the staff, board, and volunteers, as well as the many individual contributors and supporting foundations which have kept this jewel of a theater in the spotlight (pun intended).
What are your aspirations as the newly elected Board President?
I have been honored to serve under 3 superb Presidents this time around: Jeff Devine, Amy MacLeod, and Steve Hayes brought consistency and vision to the Foundation, along with our excellent Board. During that time, a capital campaign raised over $7,000,000 to renovate the theater. Additional capital campaigns have resulted in new lighting and sound systems, the installation of a solar system, and 2 endowment campaigns (The Heritage and the Ovation), are helping to assure the Lobero’s continued success by supporting the building and providing program underwriting.
I am hopeful that we can partner with other community arts organizations in expanding the range of our presentations. We are continuing to diversify the representation on our Board and are working hard to make the Lobero even more accessible to local presenters. For years, I felt that the Lobero was something of a forgotten treasure. My colleagues have been working diligently to bring the Lobero back into the consciousness of the community and I hope to be able to make my contribution as well.
Sources
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Their vision is to elevate appreciation for the beauty and power of choral music through inspiration, excellence, and passion.
The Choral Society was formed in 1948 at Oak Park, following a performance of Elijah! – an oratorio by Felix Mendelssohn – at the Lobero Theatre, and has been making magnificent music since. Conducted by Jaffrey Harris, the group included 32 sopranos, 19 altos, 7 tenors, 2 baritones, and 4 basses.
It is now a semi-professional community chorus, approximately 80 singers strong from a wide range of age groups, drawn primarily from Santa Barbara County, as well as the greater Los Angeles area.
Photo by David Bazemore
Members perform a minimum of three concerts per season, often appearing with a full professional orchestra, and have the opportunity to sing both in the region and internationally. Audiences enjoy the benefit of a diverse repertoire, from great classical masterpieces to contemporary choral works and popular pieces, which often give voice to the human experience through new forms of musical expression.
Photo by David Bazemore
Thrilling collaborations with other arts organizations – such as State Street Ballet, the Santa Barbara Symphony, and Opera Santa Barbara – not only enhance and expand the reach of performances, but also inspire and energize both singers and audiences. The level of musical excellence and exceptional programming are what keep bringing patrons back.
The Hallelujah Project 8, performing at the Lobero on December 10-11, is the first concert of The Choral Society’s exciting 75th Anniversary Season. This season also marks Artistic Director/Conductor Jo Anne Wasserman’s 30th year with The Choral Society.
Photo by David Bazemore
Their first Hallelujah Project family holiday concert was introduced at the Lobero in 2013, with T’was the Night Before Christmas narrated by author/comedienne Fannie Flagg (Fried Green Tomatoes), accompanied by an orchestra, and a special visit from Santa.
This became the beginning of what is now an annual holiday tradition at the Lobero. The audience-friendly program also includes a guest appearance of children from The Music Academy’s SING! Program. Reading the Christmas story this year will be Scott Reed, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Music Academy.
Photo by David Bazemore
The Lobero has become like home to The Choral Society – a strong part of Santa Barbara cultural life, a welcoming place the community can still count on to honor family-friendly traditions. Performing on such an intimate stage makes them feel at one with audiences, who become enveloped in the melodious sounds.
This year’s celebratory season has something for everyone – from October’s impressive Carmina Burana collaborative revival to the grand finale Oak Park 75 picnic on June 28, with current and former singers, friends, and families coming together to celebrate this milestone anniversary.
Tickets for The Hallelujah Project 8 are available at: https://www.lobero.org/events/hallelujah-project-8/. For more information about The Choral Society’s 2022-23 season, please visit: sbchoral.org.
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