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Friday December 6
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Saturday December 7
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Sunday December 8
12 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Enjoy unique gift shopping this holiday season for your family and friends while browsing through 40 professional artists studios and additional guest vendors! There will be free activities for kids, delicious food and treats available for purchase, and craft beer and wine. Free admission and plenty of free parking.

As our community continues to recover from the Mountain Fire, we want to provide a space and more opportunities to get some temporary reprieve through art and creation.

In the days leading up to our Holiday Art Market, we will be hosting free-to-attend events in the gallery, including activities within the fields of music, visual art and literature.

This programming is kindly being put together with the help of world-class artists who wish to support the community and respond to adversity through their various forms of creativity. Everyone is invited to join us in the gallery, as these events have been designed for a general audience with no prior experience necessary. Come along to learn, explore your own creativity or just hang out with like-minded members of the community.

If you would like to show appreciation for these programs and help support Mountain Fire relief efforts, please consider making a donation to the VCCF Ventura County Wildfire Relief & Recovery Fund.

SBCC School of Extended Learning Presents
The 2024 Arts & Crafts Fair

Saturday, Dec. 7
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
SBCC Wake Campus, 300 N. Turnpike Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93111

Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, more than 50 arts and crafts faculty and students from the SBCC School of Extended Learning will be selling their wares at Wake Campus from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. Community members are encouraged to stop by and view and/or purchase one-of-a-kind works including Fine Arts, Paintings, Ceramics, Jewelry, Weaving, Sewing & Fabric Arts, Cards and Art Glass— crafted by their very own friends and neighbors.

SBCC's Wake Campus (front patio)
300 N. Turnpike Rd., Santa Barbara, CA 93111
Free parking on all Wake Campus lots

Areté Symphonic Choir presents the Christmas portion of G.F.Handel’s timeless classic Messiah. Dr. Wyant Morton, Professor of Music at California Lutheran University, conducts.

“It is an honor to conduct one of the best-loved and best-known works of Handel,” says Dr. Morton. “Filled with joyous refrains and exultant arias, including the iconic “Hallelujah” Chorus, it is an exultant music tradition of the Christmas season.”

The concert is on Sunday, December 15, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. in Samuelson Chapel, California Lutheran University, 165 Chapel Lane, Thousand Oaks. $20 advance purchase tickets are available online at aretevocalensemble.org and $25 at the door.

Upcoming performances: Areté Vocal Ensemble Sings the Best of Broadway, Sunday, April 13, 2025, 2:00 PM, Samuelson Chapel. Dr. Morton will conduct.

For more information: aretevocalensemble.org

The Show includes: Exhibits featuring minerals, fossils, rocks and lapidary; Vendors of jewelry, minerals, gems and fossils; a Silent Auction with rocks, fossils and other related items; Youth Room with games for prizes and learning opportunities; a Plant sale; Demonstrators of our hobby; and an Hourly raffle for a prize.
See our Website: www.CGAMC.org

Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-4pm

On October 15th the Ventura County Interfaith Community presented the first of a two part series exploring the approaches of several faith communities to the ways in which they either welcome or discourage conversions.

The second forum will take place at 7:00 PM on November 19th at the Ventura Church of Scientology (2151 Alessandro Dr, Ventura, CA 93001). The moderator for that forum will be Rabbi Michael Lotker. Presenters will include Imam Mehtar of the Islamic Center of Conejo Valley and Mayesvara and Brajarani Roberts of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. They will speak to the role of conversion in their communities as well as their practices for welcoming converts into the community. Also speaking will be Hariharan Pothulu who will add an important additional perspective – that of the impact of conversion in the Hindu community both here and abroad.

These forums are presented free of charge and open to all, so please spread the word to friends and family who might find them interesting.

We hope to see you on November 19th!

"Debra Ehrhardt possesses a rare ability to mesmerize!" Washington Post

Debra Ehrhardt of Jamaica, Farewell fame is back, with acclaimed performer Christopher Grossett and iconic Hall of Famer Paul Williams as director.

A true story about the importance of forgiveness and the power of vulnerability, because running away from something is not being free. in Look What Fell Out de Mango Tree, Debra uncovers a long-held secret that unlocks her ability to forgive and transforms her relationship with men. Expect to leave the theatre energized with the reaffirmation that vulnerability can be transformed into strength, frown into laughter, and sadness into joy. Starring Debra Ehrhardt and Christopher Grossett (Last Life, A Raisin in the Sun – Syracuse Stage; A Wrinkle in Time – Lincoln Center), directed by Hall of Fame Songwriter/Grammy-Award Winner Paul Williams, this delicious new play is written by Ehrhardt.

Last performance of the year – Sunday, November 10 at 4:00pm.

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the Ahmanson Foundation, the We Are Santa Monica Fund, and Playhouse PALS.

Join Theatre R.A.W. for the world premiere of a cheerfully mysterious, unexpectedly amorous unveiling of the remarkable secret life of the dolls we left behind as your favorite dolls of olde (sic) burst onto the Santa Monica Playhouse stage, baring their souls, and their startling private lives, for all to see. This is NOT a children’s show.

Admission includes post-show wine and dessert reception with the cast.

Crafted and performed through the ShortBurst Theatre® process by Theatre R.A.W. members crafted and performed by Amanda Antunes, Smita Bagla, Victoria Bemis, Aiste Berman, Marty Cohen, Caitlin Crowley, Christie Evans, Kim Jarvis, Parris Kaspszk, Hugo Kim, Linda Kohn, Grainne Morgan, Maziar Rad, Warren Sata, Addie Walsh, Theda Weston and Playhouse Associate Director of Adult Education Berkeley Sanjay. Written by Evelyn Rudie, directed by Playhouse Co-Artistic Director Chris DeCarlo.

ShortBurst Theatre® is a collaboration in which professional artists, tyro performers and members of the community at large pool their resources, their time, and their concerns, to create theatre that is relevant on a personal, local and global level, and do it all in a very short span of time, hence the name.

Over the past 36 years, ShortBurst Theatre® has created 50+ collaborative productions locally, nationally and with companies from 11 countries, many that have later become main stage and touring productions, fostering cultural exchange and understanding and making a tangible difference across the city and around the world. “The performances and collaborations are excellent and very educative. Their work is brilliant!” Fusami Sugimine, Director Global Project, International Human Network, Japan.

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are supported in part by generous grants from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, the We Are Santa Monica Fund and Playhouse PALS.

“An afternoon of theatre magic in which audience participation and brotherly love pave the way for another happy yuletide season!” raves LA Splash Magazine. It’s the timeless Rudie-DeCarlo musical comedy ALL ABOUT SANTA. Where has Santa gone? And how can the inhabitants of the North Pole save the spirit of the holidays from the diabolical machinations of an all-too-commercial world? Complete with perky elves, zany inventors, toy soldiers and porcelain dolls, audiences boo the villain, cheer the heroine, and help to save the day in this delightful holiday event, perfect for the whole family!

“ ‘Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist.’ (Francis P. Church, NY Sun editor, 1897) That’s the message of Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie at Santa Monica Playhouse. They have a way of writing a play that speaks on many levels, even when it’s as simple as a Santa story. All About Santa explores the commercialization of Christmas, over-spending, and the value of love and personal involvement. Laughter is nearly continuous and certainly is contagious!” exclaims The Outlook.

It's holiday time at the North Pole and everyone is in a tizzy – Santa has disappeared. Is he taking a vacation? Did the sleigh run out of spirits? Can Mrs. Claus keep the home fires burning and the toy shop churning until he can be found? And to make matters worse, who should appear on the scene but the Suits from Badison Avenue, ready and willing to “solve” the problem with a host of plans to make the holidays even more commercial than ever. The good North Pole folk in this heart-warming Victorian yuletide musical almost succumb to these sinister hijinks, but, with the help of the audience, love and good cheer conquers all, leaving the way clear for still another happy holiday season!

Written and helmed by Playhouse Co-Artistic Directors Chris DeCarlo and Evelyn Rudie, All About Santa features Sarah Hajmomenian, Madeleine LeMay, Isabel Lindley, JT Melaragno, Michala Peltz. Megan Wright, Words and music by E. Rudie, gorgeously detailed Victorian costumes by Ashley Hayes, and an outrageously delightful holiday set by James Cooper. Great for family gatherings, birthdays and holiday parties, too!

Saturdays at 2pm, Sundays at 12:30, December 7 - 15

Santa Monica Playhouse programs are sponsored in part by generous grants from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, We Are Santa Monica, the Ahmanson Foundation and Playhouse PALS.

A creative exploration of the relationships we nurture and the ones we set free on our journey to collective liberation starring Savion, Lena Winner and Adya Mohanty. One night only!

Raised in rural Virginia, Savion moved to the Left Coast - to serve her country in the armed forces -- then never left. Savion is a life coach, a yoga instructor, a physical trainer, a passionate and improving beach volleyball player, a model, an actor, a musician, a performer, a vocalist, now realizing a lifelong dream by creating and performing this musical theatrical showcase production.

Lena Winner is an actress with a background in psychology and a love for helping her community. She studied the Meisner technique at the Ruskin School of Acting where she learned how to access a deep vulnerability and developed her love of acting. She hopes to continue growing her acting skills and proclivity for empathy through both performance and pursuing a degree in social work.

Adya Mohanty is an actor, singer, and writer. Since graduating from the USC School of Dramatic Arts in 2022 and training at the Ruskin School of Acting in Meisner technique, Adya has quickly landed a series regular role in an independent pilot, a network TV guest star, several leads in independent short films, a featured role in a Nike commercial for the Women’s World Cup. She also recently performed at the Apollo Theater in New York City.

Produced by Berkeley Sanjay, Santa Monica Playhouse Associate Director of Adult Education.

Santa Monica Playhouse is supported in part by generous grants from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture, the We Are Santa Monica Fund, the City of Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Arts Commission, and Playhouse PALS.