The following shows are all eligible for Create Your Own (CYO) subscriptions (excluding Center Stage designations). Choose only four or more series shows and get 10% off every seat; order 8+ shows and receive 15% off. CYO subscriptions are available throughout the season.
Special Fixed Series subscriptions are also available, with a package discount of 20% on all seats – including tickets you order in addition to the Fixed Series shows. Click here for package details.
Be sure to visit available artist/event websites, linked at the bottom on our show pages and at the top of the show page right-hand link menu.
Contemporary Dance
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Cohan Center
8 pm
A company built on risk and nerves, ODC Dance is celebrating their 40th Anniversary. Known throughout the world for their athleticism, passion, and intellectual depth, ODC is on the forefront of artistic innovation. With a wide international and domestic reach, a vibrantly active community program, and an insatiable thirst for exploration, ODC delivers riveting, poignant dance with an often wicked sense of humor.
Sponsored by Bob & Beth Mott, Courtyard by Marriott, SLO, and KSBY TV
Supported in part by the InnerState Project grant, with funding from the James Irvine Foundation and Wells Fargo Bank.
“The next generation of cultural innovators.” – Critical Dance
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Pop/Rock/Vocals
Friday, September 24, 2010
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
Long considered one of pop music’s truly original figures and America’s finest songwriters, Hicks serves up sharp, dry-witted lyrics and clever musical fashion, attitude, and swagger with an outlaw eccentricity and insightful charm for a totally unique sound.
Sponsored by The Krush 92.5
“So few truly original figures exist in pop music that Dan Hicks should be a national treasure.” – San Francisco Chronicle
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Comedy
Two Performances
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Cohan Center
3pm & 7pm
One of America’s most popular comedians of all time, Bill Cosby has dazzled generations of fans with his comedy routines, also captured on his iconic albums and best-selling books such as “Fatherhood” and the groundbreaking "The Cosby Show." His comedy transcends age, gender, and cultural barriers. A Cohan Center favorite, The Cos returns for two “face-hurtingly” funny shows.
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes and Al & Patty Moriarty
“Cosby is a master storyteller who knows his audience well.” – Edmonton Journal
World Music/Dance
The Spanish Guitar
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Recently filmed for PBS, "The Spanish Guitar" is an epic tale that integrates live performance with brilliant choreography, orchestral pieces, and footage of the artist’s voyage across the globe. An evening of passion, music, and dance starring international guitar sensation Benise, this stunning concert features the enchanted Spanish guitar as the keeper of stories of glory and tragedy through times and worlds gone by.
Sponsored by Dr. Elaine K. Yin, Embassy Suites Hotel, and Frame Works
“Finally – the Latin ‘Riverdance.’” – Santa Barbara News Press
Folk/Blues/Bluegrass
Banjo & Bluegrass
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
The multi-talented Grammy and Emmy award-winning actor/comedian/musician and bestselling author continues to push his creative envelope, recently releasing a Grammy-winning, chart-topping bluegrass album. Touring with the Steep Canyon Rangers, Martin will shine with music from "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo." Really. No joke.
Sponsored by Linda McGregor, the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, and KCBX 90.1 FM
“It’s incredible. It’s thrilling. I get the feeling that people really like the songs and the music.” – Steve Martin
Live Music/Concerts
Chamber Music Society
Friday, October 8, 2010
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
Inspired by the classical training of her younger years, Esperanza creates an eight-member modern chamber music group that combines the spontaneity and intrigue of improvisation with sweet and angular string trio arrangement. The intriguing result encompasses elements of jazz, folk, and world music into the enduring foundations of classical music.
Sponsored by Barbara Bell, John & Marcie Lindvall, and KCBX 90.1 FM
Supported in part by a grant from the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) and the National Endowment for the Arts
“Spalding is passionate about bringing fresh influences, voices, and idioms to the music.” – The New Yorker
Live Music/Concerts
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
A modern-jazz innovator in New Orleans during the mid-1950’s, Marsalis created a movement with his collective American Jazz Quintet and became a renowned teacher to the next generation of jazz musicians, including today’s prolific artists like Terence Blanchard and Harry Connick Jr. – not to mention all of those Marsalis boys.
Sponsored by KCBX 90.1 FM
“One of the premier pianists in modern jazz and patriarch of the talented Marsalis family.” – eJazz News
Live Music/Concerts
& The SLO Symphony
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Cohan Center
3 pm
Discovered by Dizzy Gillespie, Diane Schuur has inspired raves from around the world as “the new First Lady of Jazz.” Winner of two Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocalist and a repeat performer at the White House, Ms. Schuur – better known as “Deedles” – will be accompanied by the San Luis Obispo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Nowak.
Sponsored by Clifford Chapman and Gene Shidler
Additional support provided by KCBX 90.1 FM
“Blessed with a clear ringing voice, Schuur (is) the singer most likely to succeed in carrying on the broad jazz-pop tradition of Ella Fitzgerald.” – The New York Times
Family
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Inspired by the film "Drumline," this international tour is based on the Historically Black College and University marching band tradition, with riveting rhythms, bold beats, and ear-pleasing energy. The staged show will be a synchronized musical showcase, with soul-infused interpretations, colorful choreographed routines, and heavy doses of drum riffs and cadences. (High volume performance)
Sponsored by Joan Sargen, Best Western Royal Oak Hotel, and KSBY TV
“(An) energetic, vibrant musical phenomenon…hot choreography and athletic feats...pulsating force.” – Broadwayworld.com
Theatre
Mark Twain Tonight!
Friday, October 15, 2010
Cohan Center
8 pm
This living, breathing American masterpiece is, quite simply, one of the most acclaimed and enduring performances in the history of theatre. Nearly 50 years ago, a young actor took the stage in a tiny off-Broadway theatre and introduced the world to a man they’d never forget. The actor was Hal Holbrook. The man was Mark Twain. The one-man Emmy and Tony Award-winning show is the celebrated "Mark Twain Tonight!"
“Holbrook’s characterization of the great novelist and raconteur is…a mesmerizing thing to behold.” – The Washington Post
Live Music/Concerts
& Vieux Farka Touré
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
In a blazing fusion of sizzling world music and cool dynamic blues, the Grammy Award-winning blues and roots legend Taj Mahal pairs up with rising star, Malian artist Vieux Farka Touré, in a collaboration of multi-instrumental mastery and vocal brilliance.
Sponsored by KPYG 94.9 FM and New Times
“In the end, ultimately the music plays you, you don’t play the music.”
– Taj Mahal
Pre-show lecture scheduled
(High volume performance)
Theatre
The Two and Only
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
An exploration of talent, whimsy, and touching charm, this Tony Award-winning comedy is an evening of heart-warming hilarity for the whole family, filled with classic ventriloquist routines and a cavalcade of original comical characters sprung from the talented mastermind of revolutionary 70’s sitcom “Soap” star, Jay Johnson.
Sponsored by K-JEWEL 1400 AM
“A surprising and extremely funny show! Very entertaining…a feat of sheer virtuosity!” – New York Post
Comedy
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Cohan Center
8 pm
The great skill with which he slices through cultural euphemisms and political correctness proves that Sedaris is a master of satire and one of the most acerbic and observant writers addressing the human condition today. The author and famed NPR personality shares his latest work in a solo speaking engagement.
Sponsored by Patricia Sims and KCBX 90.1 FM
“Sedaris’ droll assessment of the mundane and the eccentrics who inhabit the world’s crevices make him one of the greatest humorists writing today.” – Chicago Tribune
Family
ZooZoo
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Defying classification, IMAGO has populated international stages with characters and beings as diverse as comedic amphibians, animated paper bags, insomniac hippos, mischievous penguins, and metamorphosing humans. In the comical "ZooZoo," IMAGO will mesmerize the audience with acrobatic and sly movement while tantalizing the senses, the intellect, and the passions.
Sponsored by Patrick & Carol O’Daniels and La Cuesta Inn
“Wacky, thoroughly enchanting! High drama, comedy, and breathtaking visual effects... sure-fire entertainment for all ages.” – Boston Herald
Student tickets 50% off
Family
Theatreworks USA
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Cohan Center
3 pm
All day long, Farmer Brown hears “click clack moo, clickety clackety moo...” as his cows are typing and protesting their working conditions. Based on the award-winning book of the same name by Doreen Cronin, this hilariously “moo-ving” new musical by Theatreworks USA teaches the young ones all about compromise and caring. (Ages 4+)
Sponsored by Embassy Suites Hotel
“A tyke-tastic tuner with udderly charming turns from a cast that is having at least as much fun as its audience!” – Variety
Classical Music
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Five Steinways plus five virtuoso piano siblings equal the perfect combination for a stunning musical feast. These young, Julliard-trained superstars play in solo, duet, trio, and quintet sets on stage, dazzling audiences with performances of classical selections from past albums as well as selections from their newly-released album, "The 5 Browns in Hollywood."
Sponsored by John & Marcie Lindvall
“Witness the musical virtuosity of The 5 Browns… The most notes you’ve ever heard in one night!” – PBS
World Music/Dance
Friday, November 26, 2010
Cohan Center
8 pm
A true visionary, Nati Cano and his Los Camperos have been a driving force in the mariachi tradition for five decades. Commemorating their 50th anniversary and the bicentennial of Mexico, the group’s “Viva Mexico!” celebrates their country’s history and colorful traditions through popular song and rich cultural stories. This Thanksgiving weekend, come celebrate with the whole family!
Sponsored by James R. Landreth in Memory of Esther A. Landreth
Additional support provided by KCBX 90.1 FM
“Anyone who understands the range of human emotion took something away from the performance.” – Ann Arbor News
Live Music/Concerts
Go Tell It On The Mountain
With Ruthie Foster
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
The Blind Boys of Alabama have been singing gospel music for more than 70 years. "Go Tell It on the Mountain" is a special holiday engagement, celebrating the spirit of Christmas with all the energy and soul of old-time gospel, complete with the sweet harmonies and exuberant charisma for which the Blind Boys are legendary. Special guest Ruthie Foster will open the show.
Sponsored by Lois Cleworth, Apple Farm Inn, and New Times
“Inspired and relevant…borders on the miraculous.” – The Washington Post
Live Music/Concerts
Friday, January 14, 2011
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
The broad diversity and beauty of America’s favorite instrument is on display with the Guitar Masters, featuring the amazing artistry of three of the world’s foremost guitarists: American finger-stylist Andy McKee, instrumental rocker Eric Johnson, and Mediterranean steel-string musician Peppino D’Agostino. We invite you to experience these acclaimed musical veterans touring together for the first time. If you love the guitar, you will be inspired by these true guitar masters.
Sponsored by Dr. Arthur & Joyce Duarte
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Comedy
An Evening With
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Cohan Center
8 pm
The stars of TV’s “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” team up for an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Based on audience suggestions, the show becomes truly interactive as Colin and Brad use their quick wit and timing to create hilarious, original scenes – often with audience members coming right on the stage to join in the fun!
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes, Bill & Harriette Shaffner, and Rabobank
“Barely a moment passed during which the audience was not rolling with laughter!” – Lawrence Journal World
Forbes Pipe Organ & Film
Forbes Pipe Organ Recital
Friday, January 21, 2011
Cohan Center
8 pm
One of the debut performers on the Forbes Pipe Organ, Dr. James Welch returns to the Cohan Center with an encompassing program, “The Best of Bach: Bach’s Greatest Masterworks for the Organ.” Among the pieces in the evening recital will be "Sonata No. 1 in E-flat Major," "Concerto in G Major," and "Fantasie in G Major."
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes and Roy & Jane Gersten
World Music/Dance
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Cohan Center
8 pm
Around the world, audiences have been captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies that are the traditional sounds of South Africa’s premier male a cappella group. The soul of Paul Simon’s classic "Graceland" release, the nine members of LBM now serve as their country’s cultural musical ambassadors and emissaries of peace.
Sponsored by Margaret Bauman M.D., Dr. Dawn Starr & Family, and Tom & Susan Stenovec
Additional Support provided by KCBX 90.1 FM
“(They give) listeners insight into the struggle of apartheid and a unique choral tradition as rich as it is moving.” – Boston Herald
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Family
Into The Wild Live
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Cohan Center
4 pm
A long-time staple on television and recognized around the country as America’s favorite zookeeper, Jack Hanna’s live show features many of his favorite animal friends, as well as fascinating and humorous stories and footage from his adventures around the world. The entire family will be thoroughly enchanted and ultimately inspired.
(Presented by Nationwide Insurance)
Sponsored by Linda McGregor and Dr. Evelyn I. Pellaton
“The most rewarding and important type of learning is through experience, seeing something with our own eyes.” – Jack Hanna
Theatre
The Musical
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Cohan Center
7 pm
Winner of eight Tony Awards, this landmark musical with its brilliant score explores the coming-of-age journey from adolescence to adulthood with poignancy and passion. An electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality, and rock and roll, "Spring Awakening" is the powerful musical celebration of youth and rebellion that has exhilarated audiences across the nation. Daring and remarkable. (Adult content/language; brief nudity)
Sponsored by Lucia Cleveland & Paul Vanderheyden and The CW
“The most gorgeous Broadway score this decade.” – Entertainment Weekly
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Classical Music
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
The world’s most beloved boys choir has been thrilling audiences young and old for over 500 years. Comprised of talented singers between the ages of 10 and 14, the Choir’s angelic a cappella vocals have not only been the age-old sound of Austria, but their harmonic tones have served as an international vocal touchstone in concert halls around the globe.
Sponsored by the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center in Honor of its Legacy Members
“There’s no more polished ensemble of children’s voices than the Vienna Boys Choir.”
– Ft. Worth Star Telegram
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Contemporary Dance
Swan Lake
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Direct from Russia in a triumphant return to the Cohan Center, Moscow’s illustrious Russian National Ballet Theatre presents a full-scale production of Tchaikovsky’s perennial classic, "Swan Lake." Filled with colorful costumes and backed by a sweeping score, the corps of more than 50 dancers performs the beloved ballet in all its grandeur.
Sponsored by James Sargen and the Santa Maria Sun
“('Swan Lake') raised the bar for its Russian rivals...the company danced with real Russian energy and passion.” – SanDiego.com
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Theatre
The Musical
Monday, February 28, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Lovingly ripped off from the classic film, “Monty Python and The Holy Grail” – with book by Python’s own Eric Idle – Tony Award-winning "Monty Python’s Spamalot" tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights as they embark on their quest for the elusive Holy Grail. Flying cows, killer rabbits, taunting Frenchmen, and show-stopping musical numbers are just a few of the reasons audiences everywhere are eating up "Spamalot!" (Adult content/language)
Sponsored by Drs. Edwin & Janet Chen Hayashi, Dr. Howard & Stephanie Hayashi, Joan Sargen, Sheila Tiber, the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, KSBY TV, and Q104.5
Additional support provided by KCBX 90.1 FM
“Hilarious! Irresistable, irrepressible energy!” – Newsweek
Pre-show lecture scheduled
World Music/Dance
Carnival
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
In a spectacular display of color, movement, music and drama, Balé Folclórico da Bahia offers visual fireworks and feats from Brazil. Coming to SLO just in time for Mardi Gras/Carnival, this evening comes with a “fasten your seatbelts” warning as an array of singers, dancers, drummers, and vibrant color and movement fill the stage.
Sponsored by Patricia McNamara in Loving Memory of Francis McNamara
“(This) Brazilian show is a breathtaker!”– Boston Herald
High volume performance
Live Music/Concerts
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Cohan Center
7 pm
Freddie Mercury lives in this accurate and faithfully-performed spectacle. More than simply a tribute band, this touring two-hour stage show pays homage to the stage theatrics and music of Queen. Performed by The Works, a five-piece band headed by Gary Mullen, this unique event has sold out venues across Europe and the U.S., featuring Queen’s greatest hits, like “We Are the Champions” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” (High volume performance)
Sponsored by 93.3 KZOZ, Matrix Mobile Television, and Quality Suites/SLO
“Mullen (brings the) legendary Freddie Mercury back to life in an energy-filled concert.” – Salt Lake Tribune
Classical Music
Direct from Opole
Friday, March 18, 2011
Cohan Center
8 pm
One of Poland’s leading orchestras, the Philharmonic of Poland will launch their first transcontinental tour in 2011. Under the acclaimed direction of Music Director and Principal Conductor Maestro Boguslaw Dawidow, the Cohan Center program will feature Chopin’s stunning "Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 11," Mozart’s delightful "Magic Flute Overture," and Beethoven’s famed "Fifth Symphony."
Sponsored by Jay & Carol Devore and Matrix Mobile Television
Additional support provided by KCBX 90.1 FM
“Offered great melodious lines, pathos, and intense playing with great Slavic spirit.” – Wiener Zeitung
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Family
Live in 3-D
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Spanos Theatre
11:00 am
Original comedy, world-class juggling, movement, music and technology make for incredible entertainment. Whether it’s five Ping-Pong balls being thrown 20 feet in the air using only his mouth or juggling a burning propane tank, a running electric carving knife and a 16-pound bowling ball, the impossible is absolutely possible. Get your 3-D glasses at the door!
“One of the best practitioners of the art.” – Los Angeles Times
Live Music/Concerts
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
This “American Idol” Top Three finalist has the heat and passion to ignite the stage. Steeped in her wondrous interpretive vocal powers, she is a torch-passing musical revelation worthy of the R&B immortals – Gladys Knight, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner – with Melinda Doolittle emerging as the most authentic new ambassador of R&B. (High volume performance)
“Ms. Doolittle has a radiant voice, an urgent singing style, and a knack for classic R&B.” – New York Times
Theatre
The Musical
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
The hilarious MGM film is Broadway’s new smash hit musical! "Legally Blonde" follows sorority star Elle Woods, an underestimated blonde who doesn’t take “no” for an answer. When her boyfriend dumps her for someone more “serious,” Elle puts down the credit card, hits the books, and sets out to go where no Delta Nu has gone before: Harvard Law. Along the way, Elle proves that being true to yourself never goes out of style.
Sponsored by 98.1 KJUG, La Cuesta Inn, and Radiology Associates
“A feel-good song and dance juggernaut” – New York Magazine
Theatre
William Shakespeare's
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Spanos Theatre
7:30 pm
Shakespeare’s timeless comedy – filled with an endless supply of mirth, mistaken identities, and misguided passions – has delighted audiences for centuries and Aquila Theatre’s imaginative interpretation will renew the magic of Shakespeare’s farcical plot. This “Midsummer Night” will be a comic dream not soon forgotten.
Sponsored by Courtyard by Marriott, SLO
Supported in part by a grant from the Western States Arts Federation (WESTAF) and the National Endowment for the Arts
“Timely and pleasing...this ‘Dream’ soothes the eye and tickles the funny bone.” – New York Times
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Live Music/Concerts
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Spanos Theatre
8:00 pm
This famed songwriter, singer, and pianist has created the missing link between jazz and blues, layering the fusion with profound and often humorous lyrics and a unique Delta-born rustic style. Appearing with his trio, the Spanos evening will be filled with Allison songs that have been covered by such music legends as Van Morrison, The Who, Elvis Costello, and Bonnie Raitt.
“For over thirty years, (Allison has been) peppering his idiosyncratic blend of jazz and blues with mordant wit and unflinching honesty.” – Village Voice
Contemporary Dance
Garrett Moulton Productions
Friday, April 15, 2011
Spanos Theatre
8 pm
Take a string quartet and put it in the path of four dancers, blurring the boundary between music and dance, and you get “StringWreck” – an entertaining, often poignant, full-length work created by Garrett Moulton Productions and the Del Sol String Quartet. This dance/theater performance turns tradition on its head as dancers and musicians gleefully abandon their roles to search for new and unpredictable ways to coexist.
Supported in part by the InnerState Project grant, with funding from the James Irvine Foundation.
“A Wreck that soars! A deliciously entertaining, slightly wacky evening of music and dance.” - Danceviewtimes
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Live Music/Concerts
& Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spanos Theatre
7:30 pm
Lavay Smith and her Red Hot Skillet Lickers are considered one of the top swing and jump blues bands in the country. Sultry chanteuse Lavay Smith performs a large repertoire of classics by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington. Red hot indeed!
“The saucy vocalist and her seven-piece crew actually know the difference between jump music and bland R&B… and sound as tight as the legendary musicians they choose to emulate.” – Boston Globe
Theatre
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
Albert Bergeret, Artistic Director
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Gilbert’s lyrics and Sullivan’s melodies have delighted operetta lovers for more than a century. The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players and a live orchestra bring a modern playfulness to one of G&S’ beloved classics, filled with favorite characters, lush tunes, and colorful costumes. Big and bawdy, cunning and clever, G&S has never been more fun.
Sponsored by the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center
“Everything an admirer of this music could want…(plus) a fine balance of the traditional text and topical amendments!”
– New York Times
Pre-show lecture scheduled
Live Music/Concerts
Beautiful World
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
Jim Brickman revolutionized the sound of solo piano and his rhapsodic, straight-ahead piano melodies – coupled with considerable stage charm and infectious dry wit – have made him a phenomenon in concert halls around the world. Featuring a special guest vocalist, Brickman’s show will be a lush evening of smooth piano stylings.
“At the core of his music is a sense of hope and a belief in the reality of love.” – Gannett News Services
Family
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Cohan Center
7:30 pm
From the country that is the very heart and home of acrobatic performers, this multi-talented Chinese troupe performs the artistry of unbelievable, gravity-defying acrobatics, executes the discipline of ancient martial arts, and showcases the wonder of Chinese culture and traditions. An outstanding, one-of-a-kind production sure to delight and amaze the entire family.
“The most interesting show we have ever had... Audiences grew every night!” – Laughlin Riverside Resort
Classical Music
Forbes Pipe Organ Recital
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Cohan Center
8 pm
Hailing from Great Britain, David Briggs is one of the most acclaimed organists in all of Europe. In his first Cal Poly Arts engagement, Briggs will play a broad mix of classical repertoire including pieces by Bach, Haydn, and Franck. His performance will also be laced with a large dose of his remarkable improvisation work, including an improvised accompaniment of Charlie Chaplin’s “The Immigrant.”
Sponsored by Bert & Candace Forbes and Roy & Jane Gersten